Franchise opportunities compared
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland vs Tim Hortons USA, Inc.
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland and Tim Hortons USA, Inc. disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland: 19, Tim Hortons USA, Inc.: 3). Different groups are not directly comparable.
| Disclosure |  The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland |  Tim Hortons USA, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Financial commitment | ||
| Estimated initial investment (Item 7) | $531,500 – $1,468,000 2026 FDD · Item 7 | $60,150 – $3,312,500 2026 FDD · Item 7 |
| Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5) | $25,000 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16 | $50,000 2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 27 |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 5.5% Royalty Fee — 5.5% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 20 | 4.5% Franchise royalty rate low 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 29 |
| Brand / advertising fund (Item 6) | 2% Central Marketing Fee — 2% — 2% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21 | 4% Advertising contribution rate — 4% 2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 29 |
| System scale & health | ||
| Total outlets (Item 20) | 53 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 77 | 669 Outlets at end of 2025 2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 85 |
| Net outlet change (Item 20) | −3 Calculated: 56 at end of 2023 → 53 at end of 2025 | −615 Calculated: 1,284 at end of 2023 → 669 at end of 2025 |
| Outlet exits (Item 20) | Not available No complete exit records for a year | Not available No complete exit records for a year |
| Franchising since (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | 1984 From a verified franchisor listing |
| Franchisor founded (Item 1) | Not available Not in reviewed records | Not available Not in reviewed records |
| Performance (Item 19) | ||
| Financial performance (Item 19), by location group | Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Company DriveThru All $1,759,582 other Table1 Company DriveThru All · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 74 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Company DriveThru Bottom25% $1,536,370 other Table1 Company DriveThru Bottom25% · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 74 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Company DriveThru Top25% $2,419,953 other Table1 Company DriveThru Top25% · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 74 +16 more groups in the full report | Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Standard Shops reporting at least 10 months of 2025 sales; Gross Sal… 17 units other New Model shops in 2025 Shops · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 82 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Standard Shops in 2025 Shops with COGS and labor expense information 266 units other Shops at/above average COGS · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 82 Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 2025 Shops reporting comparable same-month Standard Shop Gross Sales for 2024 a… 2 percent other Same shop gross sales growth average 2024–2025 · 2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 83 |
Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland vs Tim Hortons USA, Inc.: common questions
- Which costs less to open, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland or Tim Hortons USA, Inc.?
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland: $531,500 – $1,468,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Tim Hortons USA, Inc.: $60,150 – $3,312,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Tim Hortons USA, Inc.. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland and Tim Hortons USA, Inc. royalties compare?
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland: 5.5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 20); Tim Hortons USA, Inc.: 4.5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 29). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland or Tim Hortons USA, Inc.?
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland: 53 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 77); Tim Hortons USA, Inc.: 669 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 85). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland and Tim Hortons USA, Inc. disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Ireland has reviewed Item 19 figures for 19 location groups; Tim Hortons USA, Inc. has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.