Seattle's Best Coffee franchise: cost, fees and total investment
Short answer: The Seattle's Best Coffee franchise fee is $30,000 and the total initial investment ranges from $181,835 to $445,035, with about $50,000 in liquid cash required, based on franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. Confirm current figures in Items 5 and 7 of the Seattle's Best Coffee FDD.
What are the Seattle's Best Coffee franchise fees and investment?
The Seattle's Best Coffee franchise requires a franchise fee of $30,000 and a total initial investment of $181,835 to $445,035. The franchise fee is one line inside the total investment, which also covers location, equipment, opening inventory and working capital.
| Franchise fee (FDD Item 5) | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Total initial investment (FDD Item 7) | $181,835 to $445,035 |
| Minimum liquid cash | $50,000 |
| US locations | Not reported |
| Industry | Food & Restaurant (Coffee, Tea, & Drinks) |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Franchising since | 1992 |
How does the Seattle's Best Coffee investment compare with other food & restaurant franchises?
Seattle's Best Coffee's minimum investment of $181,835 is at or below the median minimum investment of $297,082 across the 1213 food & restaurant franchises in the SelectFranchiseList database. 891 of the other 1211 brands in this industry start at a higher investment. Its franchise fee starting at $30,000 compares with an industry median of $35,000.
By minimum investment, Seattle's Best Coffee belongs with franchises from $100,000 to $250,000.
What should you verify in the Seattle's Best Coffee FDD?
Verify six parts of the Seattle's Best Coffee Franchise Disclosure Document before you sign, because figures change with every annual FDD:
- Item 5 and Item 6: the current franchise fee, royalty, marketing fund and technology fees.
- Item 7: the full investment range by expense line, including working capital.
- Item 19: whether Seattle's Best Coffee discloses financial performance data, and which units it covers.
- Item 20: openings, closures and transfers, plus contacts for current and former franchisees.
- Item 21: the franchisor's audited financial statements.
- Item 12: whether your territory is protected.
The full list of Items is in the FDD guide. You must receive the FDD at least 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement or pay any money.
Which franchises are similar to Seattle's Best Coffee?
These food & restaurant franchises have the closest minimum investment to Seattle's Best Coffee:
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment |
|---|---|---|
| Jersey Mike's | $18,500 | $181,903 to $1,413,592 |
| CoCoHoDo | $35,000 | $182,500 to $300,000 |
| Submarina California Subs | $10,000 to $15,000 | $182,500 to $370,250 |
| BP Smokehouse | $40,000 | $181,150 to $282,000 |
| Jazen Tea | $10,000 | $182,600 to $389,930 |
See every brand in food & restaurant franchises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Seattle's Best Coffee franchise cost?
The total initial investment for a Seattle's Best Coffee franchise ranges from $181,835 to $445,035, including a franchise fee of $30,000, according to franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. The exact amount depends on location, build-out and working capital, as shown in Item 7 of the FDD.
How much cash do you need to open a Seattle's Best Coffee franchise?
Seattle's Best Coffee lists a minimum of about $50,000 in liquid cash. Lenders usually finance part of the remaining investment, and the franchisor confirms its capital requirements during qualification.
How many Seattle's Best Coffee locations are there?
A current US unit count for Seattle's Best Coffee is not reported in our data. Item 20 of the FDD lists the number of franchised and company-owned outlets.
How long has Seattle's Best Coffee been franchising?
Seattle's Best Coffee started offering franchises in 1992 after the company was founded in 1970.
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public franchise listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Seattle's Best Coffee and its trademarks belong to their owner; SelectFranchiseList is not affiliated with or endorsed by Seattle's Best Coffee. This page is not an offer to sell a franchise. Only the franchisor's current FDD is authoritative.