Gong Cha Americas, Inc
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Gong Cha Americas, Inc franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Franchising since
- 2006 Source: franchise.org
- Headquarters
- Arlington, MA United States Source: franchise.org
Gong Cha is the world's premier bubble tea brand. " Gong Cha's success in Taiwan launched stores all over the globe with guests loving our premium quality tea, products & services.
Headline figures
Gong Cha Americas, Inc quick facts
- Is Gong Cha Americas, Inc a franchise?
- Yes. Gong Cha Americas, Inc offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 36 franchised and 2 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 78).
- How much does it cost to open a Gong Cha Americas, Inc franchise?
- The Gong Cha Americas, Inc Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $207,450–$648,460 for total estimated initial investment — low end (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 31); $648,460 for total estimated initial investment — high end (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 31). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Gong Cha Americas, Inc initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $18,500 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 1). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Gong Cha Americas, Inc 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 Americas, Inc disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Gong Cha Americas, Inc FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 77). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Gong Cha Americas, Inc locations are there?
- The FDD reports 38 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 78). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Gong Cha Americas, Inc 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
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $207,450 – $648,460 (Total estimated initial investment — low end); $648,460 (Total estimated initial investment — high end); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 7 separate groups: revenue for 56 direct unit franchisees, existing master franchisees or their subfranchisees/sublicensees locations; revenue for 55 direct unit franchisees, existing master franchisees or their subfranchisees/sublicensees locations; revenue for 111 direct unit franchisees, existing master franchisees or their subfranchisees/sublicensees locations; revenue for 55 direct unit franchisees, existing master franchisees or their subfranchisees/sublicensees locations; revenue for 56 direct unit franchisees, existing master franchisees or their subfranchisees/sublicensees locations; revenue for 111 direct unit franchisees, existing master franchisees or their subfranchisees/sublicensees locations; revenue for 222 direct unit franchisees, existing master franchisees or their subfranchisees/sublicensees locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets grew by 34 in 2025, to 38 (systemwide — franchisor-operated program, 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
Range across 2 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- low endPDF p. 31$207,450 – $648,460
- high endPDF p. 31$648,460
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 1
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
35 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 · 56 locations
- Who is counted
- Top Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores
- Period
- Top Quartile
- Excluded
- Excludes 17 stores that opened for the first time in 2025 and did not report Net Sales for all 12 months of 2025; also excludes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025. The filing states none of those 15 had been open for less than 12 months before termination or closure.
- Method
- Item 19 Table 1, reported Net Sales
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Revenue · 55 locations
- Who is counted
- 2nd Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores
- Period
- 2nd Quartile
- Excluded
- Excludes 17 stores that opened for the first time in 2025 and did not report Net Sales for all 12 months of 2025; also excludes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025. The filing states none of those 15 had been open for less than 12 months before termination or closure.
- Method
- Item 19 Table 1, reported Net Sales
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Revenue · 111 locations
- Who is counted
- Top Two Quartiles of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores
- Period
- Top Two Quartiles
- Excluded
- Excludes 17 stores that opened for the first time in 2025 and did not report Net Sales for all 12 months of 2025; also excludes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025. The filing states none of those 15 had been open for less than 12 months before termination or closure.
- Method
- Item 19 Table 1, reported Net Sales
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Revenue · 55 locations
- Who is counted
- 3rd Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores
- Period
- 3rd Quartile
- Excluded
- Excludes 17 stores that opened for the first time in 2025 and did not report Net Sales for all 12 months of 2025; also excludes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025. The filing states none of those 15 had been open for less than 12 months before termination or closure.
- Method
- Item 19 Table 1, reported Net Sales
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Revenue · 56 locations
- Who is counted
- Bottom Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores
- Period
- Bottom Quartile
- Excluded
- Excludes 17 stores that opened for the first time in 2025 and did not report Net Sales for all 12 months of 2025; also excludes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025. The filing states none of those 15 had been open for less than 12 months before termination or closure.
- Method
- Item 19 Table 1, reported Net Sales
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Revenue · 111 locations
- Who is counted
- Bottom Two Quartiles of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores
- Period
- Bottom Two Quartiles
- Excluded
- Excludes 17 stores that opened for the first time in 2025 and did not report Net Sales for all 12 months of 2025; also excludes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025. The filing states none of those 15 had been open for less than 12 months before termination or closure.
- Method
- Item 19 Table 1, reported Net Sales
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Revenue · 222 locations
- Who is counted
- All 222 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores
- Period
- All 222 Stores
- Excluded
- Excludes 17 stores that opened for the first time in 2025 and did not report Net Sales for all 12 months of 2025; also excludes 15 stores terminated or closed during 2025. The filing states none of those 15 had been open for less than 12 months before termination or closure.
- Method
- Item 19 Table 1, reported Net Sales
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
systemwide — franchisor-operated program, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of December 31 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 78
Net +36 outlets, 2023–2025
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 38 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]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 1
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores · PDF p. 77
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 2nd Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores · PDF p. 77
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top Two Quartiles of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores · PDF p. 77
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 3rd Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores · PDF p. 77
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Bottom Quartile of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores · PDF p. 77
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Bottom Two Quartiles of 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores · PDF p. 77
- [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All 222 2025 Established Gong Cha Stores · PDF p. 77
- [9]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 78
"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 year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | net income | -$1,357,234 |
| 2025 | total liabilities | $8,263,406 |
| 2025 | member's equity | -$429,014 |
| 2025 | cash | $359,906 |
| 2025 | total revenues | $4,926,519 |
| 2025 | total assets | $7,834,392 |
| 2024 | total revenues | $4,100,742 |
| 2024 | net income | $361,302 |
| 2024 | total liabilities | $1,157,296 |
| 2024 | member's equity | $1,015,485 |
| 2024 | cash | $565,896 |
| 2024 | total assets | $2,172,781 |
| 2023 | total revenues | $2,893,580 |
| 2023 | net income | $154,183 |
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.
Sharetea
Donatos Pizza
Haraz Coffee HouseHDHurts Donut Company
IHOP and International House of PancakesIIIHOP International House of PancakesHead-to-head comparisons
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
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.