7 Leaves Cafe is a Vietnamese-American-inspired coffee and tea concept that has grown from a single Southern California shop into a multi-state café brand. For entrepreneurs interested in the fast-casual beverage space, it presents a niche, community-rooted alternative to the big coffee chains.
Franchise · Food & Restaurant
7 Leaves Café Franchise
Vietnamese-inspired coffee and tea drinks fueling a growing U.S. café franchise since 2012.
$35,000
franchise fee
USD 244k – 490kk
investment
37
U.S. locations
How much does a 7 Leaves Café franchise cost?
Franchise fee
Amount paid when signing the contract
$35,000
Total investment
Estimated total budget for the opening
$244,000 – $490,000
Ongoing royalty
6%
Advertising royalty
2%
Contract term
10 years
Locations in the U.S.
37
Figures declared by the franchisor — sources and verification date at the bottom of the page.
What it's about
- Founded
- 2012
- Units in the market
- 37
- Locations
- 37
- Type of business
- Coffee and tea café
- Company
- 7 Leaves Franchise, LLC
Fact sheet
The right questions before you start
Concept Overview
Founded in 2012 in Westminster, California, 7 Leaves Cafe was created by four brothers and a group of friends who opened their first location in the Little Saigon area. The menu centers on handcrafted drinks such as Thai tea, matcha, hibiscus tea, jasmine tea, and Vietnamese iced coffee, alongside light snacks. The brand began franchising in 2017 and has since expanded its footprint across California, Texas, Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona.
Why Join This Network
7 Leaves Cafe offers franchisees a differentiated menu built around Vietnamese-style beverages, a format that stands out from typical American coffeehouse offerings. The brand combines a compact, efficient café model with a loyal following built over more than a decade, and it continues to actively seek new franchise partners to expand into additional U.S. markets.
Ideal Franchisee Profile
The brand is looking for hands-on operators who are passionate about coffee and tea culture and comfortable running a fast-paced, service-driven café. While specific minimum net worth and liquidity requirements were not confirmed in available sources, prospective candidates should expect the standard franchise vetting process, including financial qualification review as part of the application on the brand's official franchising portal.
Investment and Entry Conditions
According to figures tied to the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document, the total investment for a single 7 Leaves Cafe unit ranges from approximately $244,000 to $490,000. The initial franchise fee is reported at $35,000. Ongoing fees include a 6% royalty on gross sales and a 2% marketing fee. For multi-unit development, an Area Development Agreement has been cited at a total investment around $285,000, which includes a $250,000 developer fee plus the initial $35,000 franchise fee for the first location. Additional one-time fees mentioned in FDD-based sources include a $10,000 grand-opening marketing contribution and an optional $3,000 pre-opening assistance fee. Franchise agreements reportedly run for a 10-year term, typically renewable for another 10 years.
Key Facts
- Founded in 2012 in Westminster, California
- Franchising since 2017
- Approximately 37 total U.S. locations, with roughly 25 company-owned and 12 franchised units (some sources cite over 40 locations)
- Present in California, Texas, Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona
- Total investment: approximately $244,000 to $490,000
- Franchise fee: $35,000
- Royalty: 6% of gross sales; marketing fee: 2% of gross sales
- Initial training reported at approximately three weeks at company headquarters
If you're drawn to a distinctive café concept with a growing U.S. presence, reach out today to request more information about joining the 7 Leaves Cafe franchise network.
How much does it cost to open a 7 Leaves Cafe franchise?
Based on figures tied to the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document, the total investment for a single unit ranges from approximately $244,000 to $490,000, which includes the $35,000 initial franchise fee along with build-out, equipment, and other opening costs. Actual costs can vary by location and market. For the most current and location-specific figures, prospective franchisees should request the official FDD directly from the franchisor.
What are the ongoing royalty and marketing fees for 7 Leaves Cafe franchisees?
Franchisees reportedly pay an ongoing royalty of 6% of gross sales plus a marketing fee of 2% of gross sales, which supports national and local advertising efforts. These fees are in addition to the initial $35,000 franchise fee. As always, exact terms should be confirmed in the current Franchise Disclosure Document before signing any agreement.
How many 7 Leaves Cafe locations are there in the United States?
Reports place the network at around 37 total U.S. locations, split roughly between 25 company-owned cafés and 12 franchised units, though some sources cite over 40 locations across states like California, Texas, Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona. Because figures vary slightly between sources, interested candidates should confirm current unit counts directly with the franchisor.
What kind of training and support does 7 Leaves Cafe provide to new franchisees?
New franchisees reportedly receive around three weeks of initial training at the company's headquarters, covering café operations and brand standards. Ongoing support includes an operations manual and continued operational guidance, along with marketing support funded through the 2% marketing fee. Specific details on field support frequency were not available and should be requested from the franchisor.
Does 7 Leaves Cafe offer exclusive territory protection to franchisees?
According to available reports, standard single-unit franchise agreements do not include exclusive territory protection, meaning rights are granted only for a specific location. However, under an Area Development Agreement, the franchisor may define a specific development area, within which no additional franchises are granted during the agreement term, though company-owned units may still be opened there.
Sources and data verification
The figures on this page come from the following sources:
The first step is the brochure
We'll send it to you, with the franchisor's official information document. Free and with no obligation.
7 Leaves Café
Free and with no obligation.
With the same budget, also worth a look
More opportunities in the category Food & Restaurant
7 Leaves Café
Investment $244,000 to $490,000