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The Human Bean®

Food & Beverage Year: 2025
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What Is The Human Bean?

The Human Bean is a retail franchise focused on espresso drinks, coffee products, tea drinks and fruit smoothies. Franchise outlets operate as drive-thru retail locations and must have at least one drive-thru lane; outlets may be freestanding or attached structures. The Human Bean outlets also sell BRIGHT‑branded energy drinks in cans and blends at the outlets.

The Human Bean Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchisor has a remarkably clean legal and enforcement record—zero disclosed lawsuits, government penalties, enforcement actions, judgments/settlements, outlet terminations or non‑renewals, placing it in the bottom 5% for Food & Beverage—but managers are not required to complete initial training (about 89.7% of peers do), shifting training burden and cost to you.

Pros

Zero disclosed lawsuits, government penalties, franchisor enforcement actions, franchisee-initiated judgments/settlements, outlet terminations, and non-renewals — all well below typical for Food & Beverage (bottom 5%). This clean legal and enforcement record reduces legal friction and makes financing, operations, and eventual resale simpler.
Initial franchise fees are refundable on failure — an uncommon policy in Food & Beverage (only about 14% offer this). Refundable initial fees materially lower your upfront risk if the opening doesn’t proceed as planned.
The franchisor cannot operate in alternative venues, cannot use different trademarks, and cannot sell in retail — unusual absences (90%+ of peers normally retain these rights). Those limits reduce the chance the brand will compete with you through other channels or unexpected product lines.

Cons

Managers are not required to complete initial training — an unusual absence (about 89.7% of peers require manager training). That shifts the burden to you to ensure store managers are properly trained, which could increase your time and training costs initially.

Territory Protection

56/100
Good

Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. Franchisor retains e-commerce and alternative distribution channels within the market, may develop nearby units (no right of first refusal) affecting market density, and conditions protection on performance quotas; the franchisee retains site-specific relocation rights.

Training & Support

70/100
NORMAL

The Human Bean provides a robust 120-hour training curriculum designed to prepare two staff members for launch and to support operational readiness. The program includes on-site launch assistance as part of its operational readiness support, with on-site services available for an additional fee, and franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses.

Unit Growth Analysis

Unit Growth Chart

Units grew from 113 in 2021 to 158 in 2025 — a net +45 units (+39.8%) — but annual growth is decelerating: +14.2% (2021→2022), +12.4% (2022→2023) and most recently +9.0% YoY. This signals healthy, positive expansion (continued unit additions) but a slowing growth trajectory consistent with a maturing footprint; investors can expect steadier, lower‑risk growth rather than rapid scaling and should watch whether the decline from 14.2% to 9.0% stabilizes.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a The Human Bean Franchise?

Opening a The Human Bean franchise requires a total initial investment of $562,090 to $1,290,931, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$562,090
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Franchise Fee
Real Estate
Equipment & Assets
Reserves
Training
Other

Maximum Investment

$1,290,931
Maximum Investment Breakdown

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$30,000
Real Estate$470,000
Equipment & Assets$23,375
Reserves$20,000
Training$8,700
Other$10,015

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$30,000
Real Estate$1,120,000
Equipment & Assets$26,523
Reserves$70,000
Training$24,348
Other$20,060

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

The Human Bean Franchise Earnings: Not Disclosed

The Human Bean did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information, which can make it harder for prospective owners to evaluate expected revenue before investing.

This franchise company did not publish these results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open a The Human Bean franchise?

The total initial investment for a The Human Bean franchise ranges from $562,090 to $1,290,931, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.

What is the The Human Bean initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for The Human Bean is $30,000, as stated in the 2025 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

Does The Human Bean disclose franchise revenue data?

The Human Bean did not disclose financial performance data (Item 19) in their 2025 FDD. Not all franchisors choose to publish this information.

Does The Human Bean have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

The Human Bean received a legal risk score of 100 out of 100 in the 2025 FDD analysis. The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Does The Human Bean offer exclusive franchise territories?

The Human Bean received a territory protection score of 56 out of 100. Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.

What training does The Human Bean provide to new franchisees?

The Human Bean received a training and support score of 70 out of 100. The Human Bean provides a robust 120-hour training curriculum designed to prepare two staff members for launch and to support operational readiness.

How many The Human Bean franchise locations are there?

The Human Bean had 158 total locations as of the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business is The Human Bean?

The Human Bean is a retail franchise focused on espresso drinks, coffee products, tea drinks and fruit smoothies.

Interested in The Human Bean?

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