Franopolis
    GC

    Gong cha

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Researching Gong cha franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.

    Reviewed sources

    Gong cha franchises operate stores selling bubble tea blends, coffees, teas, smoothies, juices and related products. Each store operates from an approved location under a general manager, using the brand's recipes, ingredients, design standards and operating procedures.

    Headline figures

    Gong cha quick facts

    Is Gong cha a franchise?
    Yes. Gong cha offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 36 franchised and 0 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 81).
    How much does it cost to open a Gong cha franchise?
    The Gong cha Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $207,450–$648,460 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 31). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What is the Gong cha initial franchise fee?
    The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $18,500 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 35). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
    What ongoing fees does Gong cha charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 6% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 22). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 1% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 22). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does Gong cha disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The Gong cha FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 80). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
    How many Gong cha locations are there?
    The FDD reports 36 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 81). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is Gong cha a good franchise to buy?
    Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    What the disclosures show

    1. 1Opening costs are estimated at $207,450 – $648,460 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 covers 7 separate groups: revenue and other measures for 55 locations; revenue and other measures for 111 locations; other measures and revenue for 55 locations; other measures and revenue for 56 locations; revenue and other measures for 56 locations; revenue and other measures for 111 locations; revenue and other measures for 222 locations. They are not combined.
    3. 3Outlets grew by 32 in 2025, to 36 (Franchisor systemwide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    Costs · Items 5–7

    What does it cost to open?

    Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.

    Startup Investment — Item 7

    Total estimated initial investment

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 31

    Standard single-unit franchise fee

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 35
    Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.

    Ongoing Fees — Item 6

    Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.

    Royalty feeMain ongoing fee

    37 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.

    Financial Performance — Item 19

    What results are disclosed—and for which locations?

    7 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 55 locations

    Who is counted
    Second Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States
    Period
    Second Quartile
    Excluded
    Table 1 excludes 17 stores opened for the first time in 2025 that did not report Net Sales for all 12 months; it separately notes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025, none open fewer than 12 months before closure.
    Method
    Historical Net Sales from reports/materials submitted by direct unit franchises, Existing Master Franchisees and/or their subfranchisees/sublicensees; not independently audited or verified

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 111 locations

    Who is counted
    Top Two Quartiles of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States
    Period
    Top Two Quartiles
    Excluded
    Table 1 excludes 17 stores opened for the first time in 2025 that did not report Net Sales for all 12 months; it separately notes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025, none open fewer than 12 months before closure.
    Method
    Historical Net Sales from reports/materials submitted by direct unit franchises, Existing Master Franchisees and/or their subfranchisees/sublicensees; not independently audited or verified

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 55 locations

    Who is counted
    Third Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States
    Period
    Third Quartile
    Excluded
    Table 1 excludes 17 stores opened for the first time in 2025 that did not report Net Sales for all 12 months; the filing separately notes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025, none open fewer than 12 months before closure.
    Method
    Historical Net Sales from reports/materials submitted by direct unit franchises, Existing Master Franchisees and/or their subfranchisees/sublicensees; not independently audited or verified

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 56 locations

    Who is counted
    Top Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States
    Period
    Top Quartile
    Excluded
    Table 1 excludes 17 stores opened for the first time in 2025 that did not report Net Sales for all 12 months; it separately notes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025, none open fewer than 12 months before closure.
    Method
    Historical Net Sales from reports/materials submitted by direct unit franchises, Existing Master Franchisees and/or their subfranchisees/sublicensees; not independently audited or verified

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 56 locations

    Who is counted
    Bottom Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States
    Period
    Bottom Quartile
    Excluded
    Table 1 excludes 17 stores opened for the first time in 2025 that did not report Net Sales for all 12 months; the filing separately notes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025, none open fewer than 12 months before closure.
    Method
    Historical Net Sales from reports/materials submitted by direct unit franchises, Existing Master Franchisees and/or their subfranchisees/sublicensees; not independently audited or verified

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 111 locations

    Who is counted
    Bottom Two Quartiles of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States
    Period
    Bottom Two Quartiles
    Excluded
    Table 1 excludes 17 stores opened for the first time in 2025 that did not report Net Sales for all 12 months; the filing separately notes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025.
    Method
    Historical Net Sales from reports/materials submitted by direct unit franchises, Existing Master Franchisees and/or their subfranchisees/sublicensees; not independently audited or verified

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 222 locations

    Who is counted
    All Stores of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States
    Period
    All Stores
    Excluded
    Table 1 excludes 17 stores opened for the first time in 2025 that did not report Net Sales for all 12 months; the filing separately notes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025.
    Method
    Historical Net Sales from reports/materials submitted by direct unit franchises, Existing Master Franchisees and/or their subfranchisees/sublicensees; not independently audited or verified

    These groups are never combined.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    Franchisor systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 81

    Net +34 outlets, 2023–2025

    02202362024362025+4+30

    Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.

    Questions to investigate

    Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.

    For the franchisor

    • Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($207,450 – $648,460) vary most by market, and why?

    • Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?

    • Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?

    • Reported units went from 4 to 36 in 2025. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?

    • Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?

    For current and former owners

    • How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?

    • How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?

    • How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?

    • What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?

    For your advisors

    • Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.

    • Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.

    Sources & vintage history

    Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.

    Citations (2026 FDD)

    1. [1]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 31
    2. [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 35
    3. [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Second Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States · PDF p. 80
    4. [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top Two Quartiles of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States · PDF p. 80
    5. [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Third Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States · PDF p. 80
    6. [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States · PDF p. 80
    7. [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Bottom Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States · PDF p. 80
    8. [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Bottom Two Quartiles of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States · PDF p. 80
    9. [9]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All Stores of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores in the United States · PDF p. 80
    10. [10]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 81

    "PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.

    Territory & operations

    These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.

    Legal & agreement

    Franchisor financial statements

    Fiscal yearMeasureReported value
    2025net income-$1,357,234
    2025net cash fromMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing-$4,238,500
    2025net cash provided by financing activities 2025$4,946,176
    2025net increase-$205,990
    2025cash ending 2025$359,906
    2025total assets 2025$7,834,392
    2025total current assets 2025$2,841,831
    2025total liabilities 2025$8,263,406
    2025member's equity-$429,014
    2025total revenues 2025$4,926,519
    2025net cash fromMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing-$913,666
    2025operating expenses 2025$5,932,767
    2025income-$1,006,248
    2024income$361,302
    2024net increase$505,285
    2024total assets 2024$2,172,781
    2024total current assets 2024$1,019,437
    2024total liabilities 2024$1,157,296
    2024member's equity$1,015,485
    2024total revenues 2024$4,100,742
    2024net income$361,302
    2024net cash fromMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$505,285
    2024cash ending 2024$565,896
    2024net cash provided by financing activities 2024$0
    2024operating expenses 2024$3,739,440
    2024net cash fromMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$0
    2023income$139,124
    2023net cash fromMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing$317,098
    2023net cash provided by financing activities 2023$500,000
    2023net increase$60,611
    2023net income$154,183
    2023net cash fromMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing-$756,487
    2023cash ending 2023$60,611
    2023total revenues 2023$2,893,580
    2023operating expenses 2023$2,754,456

    These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.

    SBA-backed loans to franchisees

    Loading…

    Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.

    Related research

    Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format and overlapping investment range. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

    ShareteaDonatos PizzaHaraz Coffee HouseHDHurts Donut CompanyIHOP and International House of PancakesIIIHOP International House of Pancakes

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Gong cha vs ShareteaGong cha vs Donatos PizzaGong cha vs Haraz Coffee HouseGong cha vs Hurts Donut CompanyGong cha vs IHOP and International House of PancakesGong cha vs IHOP International House of Pancakes
    Compare reviewed facts

    At a glance

    Business history

    Not reviewed

    Owner participation

    Not reviewed

    Territory language

    Litigation disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Bankruptcy disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Agreement term

    Not reviewed

    Reader notes on wording

    Our automated check found that these summaries may not match the FDD's exact wording. Read the FDD excerpt itself; it is the authoritative text. Core cost, fee, Item 19 and outlet figures are not affected.

    • Item 21 · PDF p. 143 · 2026 FDD

      Our summary: Net cash provided by financing activities 2024

      “Net cash provided by financing activities 4,946,176 - 500,000”

      Note: The cited statement displays a dash for this period; it does not state a numeric zero.

    • Item 21 · PDF p. 143 · 2026 FDD

      Our summary: Net cash from (used in) investing activities 2024

      “Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (4,238,500) - 317,098”

      Note: The cited statement displays a dash for this period; it does not state a numeric zero.

    Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.