Franopolis

    Spice Tea Exchange

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Researching Spice Tea Exchange franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.

    Reviewed sources

    The Spice & Tea Exchange operates specialty retail shops and an online store selling teas, spices, herbs, seasoning blends, salts, sugars, and related kitchen products. Its customers include home cooks, tea drinkers, and people buying food-related gifts.

    Headline figures

    Spice Tea Exchange quick facts

    Is Spice Tea Exchange a franchise?
    Yes. Spice Tea Exchange offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 194 franchised and 2 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 59).
    How much does it cost to open a Spice Tea Exchange franchise?
    The Spice Tea Exchange Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $312,900 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 19). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What ongoing fees does Spice Tea Exchange charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 7% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 12). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does Spice Tea Exchange disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The Spice Tea Exchange FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 56). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
    How many Spice Tea Exchange locations are there?
    The FDD reports 196 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 59). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is Spice Tea Exchange 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 lists every recurring fee beyond 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 $312,900 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 reports other measures for 1 Company-owned nontraditional locations.
    3. 3Outlets grew by 8 in 2025, to 196 (United States, 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. 19

    Ongoing Fees — Item 6

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

    Royalty — gross sales monthly or minimumMain ongoing fee

    39 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?

    One reported population. Revenue is not owner income.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Other measures · 1 locations

    Who is counted
    One company-owned nontraditional unit
    Period
    Gross sales change
    Excluded
    Nontraditional format, traffic, operations may not represent storefront franchises.
    Method
    Unaudited franchisee reports. Full calendar year and continuous ownership. Gross sales=retail sales less returns/discounts; gross margin=gross sales less cost of goods including inbound shipping. No other expenses deducted.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 59

    Net +16 outlets, 2023–2025

    0180202318820241962025+8+8

    Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; 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 ($312,900) 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 188 to 196 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. 19
    2. [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record · PDF p. 56
    3. [3]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 59

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

    Territory & operations

    104 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.

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

    Legal & agreement

    Franchisor financial statements

    Fiscal yearMeasureReported value
    2025trade$22,500
    2025royalties and system development fees$688,051
    2025total current assets$1,939,334
    2025deferred franchise fees$1,343,072
    2025total current liabilities$2,404,385
    2025member's equity$1,384,949
    2025deferred revenue-$137,462
    2025net change in cash$819,630
    2025franchise fee revenue$201,212
    2025franchise fee revenue share of revenue$4
    2025royalty revenue share of revenue$76
    2025system development fees share of revenue$11
    2025pos/miscellaneous revenue$441,795
    2025total revenue$4,997,407
    2025total revenue share of revenue$100
    2025interest income$25,059
    2025interest income share of revenue$1
    2025net income$1,853,679
    2025net income share of revenue$37
    2025retained earnings ending$1,384,949
    2025total assets$3,789,334
    2025assets current assets cash$1,228,783
    2025other assets notes receivable - related parties$1,850,000
    2025system development fees$537,357
    2025liabilities and member's equity current liabilities accounts payable$1,061,313
    2025accounts receivable - royalties and system development fees-$107,900
    2025net cash provided by$2,669,630
    2025investing activitiy related party receivables-$1,850,000
    2025pos/miscellaneous revenue share of revenue$9
    2025royalty revenue$3,817,043
    2025operating expenses share of revenue-$63
    2025operating expenses-$3,168,787
    2024trade$10,000
    2024total current assets$1,011,804
    2024deferred franchise fees$1,480,534
    2024accounts receivable - royalties and system development fees$63,884
    2024deferred revenue$19,472
    2024net cash provided by$1,722,567
    2024financing activitiy member's distributions-$3,000,000
    2024net change in cash-$1,277,433
    2024franchise fee revenue share of revenue$7
    2024royalty revenue$3,376,067
    2024royalty revenue share of revenue$75
    2024system development fees$473,925
    2024system development fees share of revenue$11
    2024pos/miscellaneous revenue$333,892
    2024pos/miscellaneous revenue share of revenue$7
    2024total revenue$4,484,725
    2024operating expenses-$2,887,823
    2024operating expenses share of revenue-$64
    2024interest income$42,309
    2024distributions-$3,000,000
    2024retained earnings ending-$468,730
    2024total assets$1,011,804
    2024assets current assets cash$409,153
    2024royalties and system development fees$592,651
    2024member's equity-$468,730
    2024franchise fee revenue$300,841
    2024interest income share of revenue$1
    2024net income$1,639,211
    2024total revenue share of revenue$100
    2024net income share of revenue$37
    2023assets current assets cash$1,686,586
    2023trade$83,556
    2023royalties and system development fees$582,979
    2023total current assets$2,353,121
    2023total assets$2,353,121
    2023deferred franchise fees$1,461,062
    2023member's equity$892,059
    2023accounts receivable - royalties and system development fees-$157,590
    2023accounts payable-$2
    2023franchise deposits-$145,000
    2023deferred revenue$129,852
    2023net cash provided by$1,746,637
    2023investing activitiy related party receivables$3,716,264
    2023net change in cash-$239,480
    2023cash, beginning$1,926,066
    2023franchise fee revenue$463,596
    2023franchise fee revenue share of revenue$11
    2023royalty revenue$3,193,374
    2023royalty revenue share of revenue$74
    2023system development fees share of revenue$11
    2023pos/miscellaneous revenue$213,834
    2023pos/miscellaneous revenue share of revenue$5
    2023total revenue$4,323,269
    2023total revenue share of revenue$100
    2023operating expenses-$2,438,532
    2023operating expenses share of revenue-$56
    2023interest income$34,640
    2023interest income share of revenue$1
    2023net income$1,919,377
    2023net income share of revenue$44
    2023retained earnings opening$4,675,063
    2023distributions-$5,702,381
    2023retained earnings ending$892,059
    2023financing activitiy member's distributions-$5,702,381
    2023system development fees$452,465

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

    SBA-backed loans to franchisees

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

    Related research

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    Bricks MinifigsMainstream BoutiqueAbbey Carpet and Floor ShowroomsDo The BeachLELearning ExpressMac Tools

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Spice Tea Exchange vs Bricks MinifigsSpice Tea Exchange vs Mainstream BoutiqueSpice Tea Exchange vs Abbey Carpet and Floor ShowroomsSpice Tea Exchange vs Do The BeachSpice Tea Exchange vs Learning ExpressSpice Tea Exchange vs Mac Tools
    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

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