steaming latte your idea of comfort food? Do you consider coffee its own
separate food group? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then a
coffee franchise may be for you! When someone says “coffee shop,” the name that
most often comes to mind is Starbucks. So it's only natural that coffee
connoisseurs and entrepreneurs will immediately want to know if this wildly
successful java chain offers the opportunity to buy Starbucks franchises.Despite
its seemingly ubiquitous presence the Starbucks brand does not franchise or
sub-franchise its operations. Rather, the company operates most North American
Starbucks stores. The exception to this is situations in which Starbucks will
enter into an agreement with companies that may provide physical locations that
might otherwise not be available to Starbucks, such as space in airports,
grocery chains, hospitals, and on college and university campuses. In addition,
in certain areas, Starbucks may enter into an agreement with a group of
individuals or a company in which the company or group is permitted to manage
and operate Starbucks outlets within a certain region.The unavailability of
Starbucks franchises, however, should in no way dissuade the coffee lover from
pursuing a coffee franchise business opportunity. There are numerous coffee
companies that do, indeed, franchise their operations, and many even venture
beyond the traditional coffee bean to provide gourmet coffees, food options, and
even catering services.The following represents a partial listing of the many
coffee franchise opportunities available to java lovers everywhere.CaffinoWith
its “60-second guarantee,” Caffino is a drive-through coffee bar that first
opened its company doors in 1993 in Napa, California. Franchising since 2003,
Caffino currently has 27 locations in 3 states, and it is actively expanding.
Caffino prides itself on roasting its coffee on-site using only the world's best
coffee beans, Arabica Grade 1. The startup cost for a Caffino franchise ranges
from $212,900 to $373,000.Beaner's CoffeeFounded in 1994 and franchising since
1999, Beaner's Coffee offers a variety of the coffee beverages made from
flavoured, decaf, signature, organic, and fair trade beans. In addition, Beaner's
goes beyond coffee service and ventures into the world of sandwiches, salads,
and baked goods. Beaner's carries a startup cost of $240,000 to $300,000 and
offers the option of express or kiosk franchises. Beaner's is currently seeking
franchisees nationwide, and for its franchise owners, exclusive territories are
available.Woody's Chicago StyleCoffee and hot dogs? Not your typical
combination, but Woody's Chicago Style has no problem combining the two. Begun
in Honolulu, Hawaii, Woody's Chicago Style is a hot dog, beverage, and coffee
cart business that has been franchising its operations since 1991. While
franchises are not currently available in every state, Woody's is seeking
franchisees in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Washington, and Wyoming. And with a
price tag ranging from $54,100 to $464,000, Woody's just may be the right option
for your pocketbook!Scooter's CoffeehouseWith franchise opportunities existing
both in the United States and worldwide, Scooter's Coffeehouse ranked #26 in
Entrepreneur.com's 2007 listing of the top new franchises. In business since
1998 and franchising since 2002, Scooter's is a specialty coffee franchise that
also serves up brewed coffees, espressos, flavoured coffees including sugar-free
options, teas, and a wide selection of smoothies. Startup cost ranges from
$60,000 to $410,000, and, in addition to training, Scooter's offers significant
ongoing and marketing support, including regional advertising, national media,
field operations/evaluations, purchasing cooperatives, newsletter, meetings, and
a grand opening.Dunkin DonutsWho doesn't recognize this household name in the
coffee and donut industry? Established in 1950 and franchising since 1955,
Dunkin Donuts now boasts more than 7,000 stores worldwide, including 1900
locations in 30 countries. In the United States, more than 5,200 Dunkin Donuts
locations dot the landscape in 36 states. Based on years of operation and
experience, Dunkin Donuts has a 5-phase franchising process, which begins with
an application, credit check, and criminal background check, among other things,
proceeds through several steps including an interview, business plan
development, application approval, training, site location, and financing, and
ends with restaurant construction and crew training. To ease financing costs,
Dunkin Donuts has partnered with preferred lenders who offer franchisees
flexible financing options, including Small Business Administration (SBA)-backed
loans for certain transactions.In addition to the five coffee franchise
opportunities briefly profiled above, no fewer than twenty franchise
opportunities exist for entrepreneurs seeking to turn their coffee passion into
a profession.From Café Ala Carte cappuccino catering service and Grabbajabba
gourmet coffee and European sandwiches to It's a Grind Coffee House and Maui
Wowi Hawaiian Coffee and Smoothies, numerous coffee franchises ranging from
low-cost to high investment are available for serving up that morning cup of
Joe, mid-day sandwich on the run, or afternoon tea or smoothie.So next time you
walk into your neighborhood coffee shop to fill your latte craving, imagine
providing that same satisfaction to other coffee lovers like you
…and even better yet, making a living at it!