Gong Cha Franchise

Gong cha began in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, in 2006. Its name translates to “tribute tea for the emperor,” and the brand developed around Taiwanese-style bubble tea, including milk tea with tapioca pearls. Expansion reached Korea in 2012, continued across Asia from 2013 and entered the United States in April 2014.

The company’s international structure evolved alongside that expansion. Gong Cha Global purchased the existing Gong Cha group in November 2019. A July 2020 restructuring transferred intellectual property and franchise agreements from the Taiwanese predecessor, formerly Royal Tea Taiwan, to Gong Cha Global, which became the global franchisor outside the United States.

The current U.S. franchisor, Gong cha USA Franchising LLC, was formed in Delaware on January 10, 2023. A May 2023 U.S. restructuring placed U.S. franchise responsibilities with that company and established an affiliated product supplier. It began offering the unit and multi-unit franchises covered by this FDD in October 2023. The March 2026 disclosure identifies Paul Reynish as global chief executive officer and Geoffrey Henry as president, with dedicated franchise operations, development and supply-chain leadership.

As of December 31, 2025, Item 1 reports 2,172 Gong cha stores in 32 markets. The U.S. total was 241: 36 direct unit-franchise stores, 175 third-party subfranchise or sublicense stores, 28 stores operated by master franchisees or their affiliates, and two operated by the franchisor’s U.S. affiliates. These figures describe different ownership arrangements and are a dated network snapshot, not a count of current direct U.S. unit franchises.

The disclosure also records a March 2025 acquisition of California master-franchise rights and a February 2026 acquisition of another master franchisee’s rights spanning 13 states. The associated subfranchise agreements were assigned to the U.S. franchisor. As of issuance, new U.S. master franchises were no longer being offered, apart from possible renewals for existing master franchisees. The opportunity described here is the U.S. unit-store program, with separately contracted area development available to qualified multi-store owners.

The March 25, 2026 FDD estimates $207,450–$648,460 to open a single store. Its investment assumptions generally cover 500–1,500 square feet of leased space; area-development commitments and fees are separate from that single-store estimate.

Source: Gong cha USA Franchising LLC, U.S. Unit FDD issued March 25, 2026, Items 1, 2 and 7.

Initial training and product preparation

Gong cha trains the owner or designated principal, the general manager where applicable, and up to one additional required person, with no more than three initial attendees. Those required attendees receive initial training without a separate tuition charge and must complete it to the franchisor’s satisfaction. Additional or replacement attendees may incur the current $2,000-per-person initial-training fee. Owners pay travel, accommodation, meals, wages, benefits and other attendee expenses; Item 7 estimates $3,600–$7,200 for initial training expenses.

Item 11 describes a five-day curriculum and lists 36 classroom hours plus 55 on-the-job hours. The accompanying agreement describes approximately two to three weeks depending on the attendee’s function. Because these descriptions differ, neither five days nor two to three weeks should be treated as a uniform guaranteed schedule. Training must be completed no later than 30 days before the scheduled opening.

The published curriculum moves from product knowledge, raw-material acceptance, eLearning and the Zenput operations platform into brewing tea, cooking tapioca pearls, making milk foam and preparing drinks. Later modules cover milk tea and other beverage series, equipment settings and cleaning, opening and closing procedures, store marketing, point-of-sale systems, operating surveys and sales reporting. The final academic and skills assessment requires an 80% score. Instruction uses manuals, handouts, visual aids, lectures, discussion, demonstrations and practice.

Practical training typically takes place in a certified Gong cha training store operated by an affiliate or franchisee, with classroom work in an office or conference setting. Other designated locations may be used. The program is overseen by the Americas training and operations-services team and a certified tea sommelier. Later training may take place at headquarters, certified stores, other designated locations or remotely.

Store development and opening support

Preopening assistance includes site-selection guidelines, review of proposed locations and leases, a sample interior layout and décor specifications, approved-supplier lists and loaned manuals totaling 151 pages at issuance. Owners select the site, retain qualified design and construction professionals, obtain permits and insurance, and adapt the brand’s prototype plans to local requirements. The franchisor’s plan review concerns brand design standards rather than assuming responsibility for local code compliance.

For the first store, the FDD describes five days of on-site opening support by a representative: two days before opening, opening day and two days afterward. The agreement makes the assistance and its timing subject to the franchisor’s judgment. Extra requested opening or on-site assistance is subject to acceptance and additional daily charges and expenses. Under an area-development agreement, the owner conducts opening training for the second and later stores; the agreement also applies that limitation to other subsequent-store openings.

Opening requires completion of training, a prepared staff, the required approvals, insurance and licenses, and the franchisor’s permission to open. Item 11 estimates a typical 150–300-day development period. The agreement’s opening deadline is the earlier of six months after its effective date or four months after the approved site is secured, subject to its force-majeure provision. The development estimate does not extend that deadline. Grand-opening advertising requires at least $5,000 and a program completed within 90 days after opening, with the franchisor assisting development and execution of the approved plan.

Ongoing operations, marketing and technology

The franchise system provides access to approved sourcing, operating materials and periodic marketing, management and operational guidance. The agreement leaves the timing and manner of that guidance to the franchisor; it does not promise a fixed coaching frequency. Additional requested or required training may carry charges. The online learning platform currently costs $35 monthly.

The franchisor may require refresher, technology, product or procedure training for up to four days per person annually, plus attendance at conventions for up to three days per person annually. Retraining may also be required. A trained designated principal or other acceptable trained personnel may prepare subsequent general managers under the franchisor’s standards, but the franchisor can evaluate them and require attendance at its program. For the fourth and later stores developed under an area-development agreement, the developer becomes responsible for initial management training under prescribed conditions.

Required technology supports point-of-sale transactions, ordering, inventory, accounting, reporting and operations. The system may include ordering kiosks, beverage-maker connections, online-ordering and loyalty applications, administrative computers, store communications, Wi-Fi and security equipment. Owners purchase, license or lease and maintain the required systems; the franchisor does not undertake ongoing repairs or upgrades. Training and technology costs remain distinct from the franchise’s initial training tuition.

The Brand Marketing Fund fee is currently 1% of net sales and may rise to 2% on 90 days’ notice. Local marketing requirements may be set up to 2%, with regional cooperative contributions credited against the local requirement. Cooperative members may vote for higher contributions. Advertising, promotions, gift cards, websites and social-media activity follow the system’s approval and participation rules.

Management and staff responsibilities

Gong cha prefers personal full-time owner participation. An entity franchisee must name an approved designated principal holding at least a 10% beneficial interest. The designated principal or an experienced trained general manager must assume full-time daily supervision, including food safety, quality and operating standards. The owner must maintain sufficient trained staff and is responsible for their preparation. This structure permits an experienced manager to lead daily operations while retaining owner oversight responsibilities.

Source: March 25, 2026 U.S. Unit FDD, Items 6, 7, 11 and 15; Franchise Agreement sections 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Gong cha offers a focused way to build a hospitality business around tea: a recognizable store concept, distinctive beverage recipes and a menu that gives the team different products to prepare and serve. Its Taiwanese origins and international development provide a specific brand story for an owner to bring into a local retail setting.

The appeal is especially clear for entrepreneurs who enjoy product quality, customer interaction and developing a capable store team. Classroom instruction and practical drink preparation connect the brand’s recipes with everyday execution, while store-design standards, approved ingredients and operating systems give that work a common framework. Owners can concentrate on leading their business and serving their community within a defined beverage concept. The opportunity suits someone willing to stay involved in hospitality operations, whether as the daily operator or through an experienced, trained full-time manager.

Explore the business in more detail in our Gong Cha store operations and ownership guide.