How to Finance an Apocalypse Coffee Roasters Franchise: Cafe Plan
By Chris Cornella
An Apocalypse Coffee Roasters franchise loan funds a young, family-owned cafe concept from Melbourne, Florida that pairs certified organic, house-roasted coffee with a full food menu. Franchising is new for the brand, so buyers will be among its earliest owners and should expect lenders to focus on their own capital, experience and site.
This article covers what the franchisor publishes, what its SBA Franchise Directory listing and lease note mean, and which loan structures fit a coffee cafe build-out.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Apocalypse Coffee Roasters; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice, and buyers should review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Apocalypse Coffee Roasters Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a coffee cafe serving certified organic coffee roasted by the brand, plus bagel sandwiches, rice bowls, salads and toasts.
- Founded: 2020, as a family-owned and operated business in Melbourne, Florida.
- Company cafes: the brand lists locations in Melbourne and West Melbourne, Florida, with its roasting headquarters, which it calls the Mothership, in Melbourne.
- Revenue streams: cafe sales, retail coffee beans and merchandise, according to the franchisor.
- Coffee supply: all coffee is roasted by the company’s team and shipped fresh to each location.
- Fees, investment and capital requirements: not published on the franchise page; the franchisor provides them in its franchise kit and FDD.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as “Apocalypse Coffee Roasters” (code S8582), with a note about lease documents when real estate secures the loan.
What Is Apocalypse Coffee Roasters?
Apocalypse Coffee Roasters started in 2020 on Florida’s Space Coast. The name is a wink: the company says the apocalypse it has in mind is the end of bad coffee. It describes itself as family-owned, obsessively roasted and certified organic, and it sells roasted beans online, promising to roast fresh and ship within 24 hours.
Cafe plus roastery. The brand’s cafes serve espresso drinks and brewed coffee alongside a food menu. Franchised cafes do not roast on site; the company roasts all coffee centrally and ships it to each location. That keeps quality consistent and spares franchisees the cost of a roaster, but it also makes the franchisor a key supplier, which lenders will note when they review the FDD.
Brand personality. The franchisor leans into an edgy look, providing visuals, social media templates and community event guides from day one. A distinctive brand can help a new cafe stand out, though lenders will still judge the site and the owner more than the branding.
Why lenders view it the way they do. Coffee cafes are a familiar category for lenders, with recurring daily traffic and modest equipment needs compared with full-service restaurants. But a young franchise system has little franchisee operating history, so lenders lean on the borrower’s liquidity, food service experience and a well-supported business plan.
Apocalypse Coffee Roasters Franchise Costs
The franchise page does not publish an initial fee, royalty or investment range. It invites buyers to request a franchise kit covering the opportunity, the investment and the steps to ownership. Use Items 5, 6 and 7 of the FDD as the basis for any Apocalypse Coffee Roasters franchise loan request.
Initial franchise fee. Paid when the franchise agreement is signed; the amount appears in Item 5.
Real estate and build-out. Most cafes lease space in a shopping center or freestanding building. Build-out covers plumbing, electrical, a coffee bar and counter, seating, restrooms, finishes and signage. The franchisor says it helps with real estate and build-out management, which can keep a first-time owner on schedule. Our page on restaurant start-up financing explains how lenders structure these costs.
Equipment. Commercial espresso machines, grinders, brewers, water filtration, refrigeration, ice machines, blenders, food prep and toasting equipment, display cases and point-of-sale hardware. The franchisor says it helps with equipment and inventory acquisition.
Opening inventory and working capital. Coffee, food ingredients, cups and packaging, retail bean inventory and merchandise, plus payroll, rent and marketing during the ramp-up. The franchisor’s grand-opening marketing campaign also carries costs to budget for.
A complete budget typically includes these categories, each confirmed against Item 7:
- Initial franchise fee: see Item 5.
- Leasehold improvements and construction.
- Coffee and kitchen equipment, furniture and fixtures.
- Signage and decor.
- Opening inventory: coffee, food, packaging, retail beans and merchandise.
- Training expenses: travel and lodging for training at the Melbourne headquarters.
- Grand opening marketing.
- Rent, deposits, insurance and licenses.
- Additional funds: working capital for the period stated in Item 7.
The total of these lines should reconcile with the Item 7 range for your cafe format.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Royalty, marketing fund and technology fees are not published on the franchise page; they are disclosed in Item 6 of the FDD. Because coffee is supplied by the franchisor, also review Item 8 for required purchases and how product pricing is set.
How lenders factor these in. A lender starts with projected sales, subtracts cost of goods, labor, rent, royalties and marketing fees, then tests whether what remains covers loan payments with a cushion. Coffee margins are generally healthy, but labor during early-morning peaks and rent at a high-traffic site are the biggest variables.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchise page does not list minimum net worth or liquid capital. Ask for these in the franchise kit and confirm them in the FDD. Lenders will also expect enough cash for your equity injection plus reserves.
Approval process. The franchisor describes four steps: reach out, a discovery call, territory selection and build-out, then training and launch. Training starts at the Melbourne headquarters, then continues side by side in your own cafe, and the company says ongoing coaching continues long after opening.
Ways to Own an Apocalypse Coffee Roasters
A new cafe. This is the main path today. Financing is based on projections, the FDD, your capital and the site. See franchise start-up financing for the structure.
Converting an existing coffee shop. If the franchisor allows conversions, an independent cafe owner could switch brands. Existing sales history helps a lender, but conversion costs and new fees must fit current cash flow. Ask whether the FDD addresses this.
Buying an existing cafe. Because franchising is new, resales are unlikely for now. Our guide to buying a coffee shop covers what to review when that opportunity comes.
Financing Options for an Apocalypse Coffee Roasters Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because the brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan can combine the franchise fee, build-out, equipment and working capital, subject to approval.
SBA 504 loans. An SBA 504 loan fits an owner buying or building a freestanding cafe, which is the scenario the directory note addresses.
Conventional term loans. Experienced operators with strong liquidity may use a conventional business loan.
Equipment financing. Espresso machines, grinders and refrigeration can be financed or leased separately. See restaurant equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. A new cafe needs cash for payroll and inventory while traffic builds, and Florida cafes can see seasonal swings with tourists and part-year residents. See restaurant working capital.
Seller financing on resales. When resales occur, a seller may carry part of the price. A seller note must be acceptable to the senior lender, is typically subordinate to it, and may be limited by loan program rules.
SBA Loans for Apocalypse Coffee Roasters Franchisees
SBA lenders generally require a franchise brand to appear on the SBA Franchise Directory before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to one of its franchisees. Apocalypse Coffee Roasters is listed under code S8582. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
The directory note. The listing says that when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the franchisor’s Rider to Lease and Collateral Assignment of Lease may not be executed. In plain English, those documents give the franchisor rights in a leased location. If you own the building and pledge it as loan collateral, they are not used, so the lender’s lien on the property is not complicated by them.
Application tips. Bring the FDD, a signed or proposed lease or purchase contract, build-out bids, equipment quotes, a staffing plan and monthly projections. Our SBA loan calculator can help with early payment estimates, which are for planning only.
How Lenders Evaluate an Apocalypse Coffee Roasters Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, and usually require personal guarantees.
Net worth and liquidity. Meeting the franchisor’s requirements is the starting point; lenders also want reserves after your equity injection.
Industry and management experience. Cafe, restaurant or retail management experience carries real weight with a young brand.
Business plan and projections. A strong Apocalypse Coffee Roasters franchise loan request models morning and afternoon traffic, average ticket, food attachment, retail bean sales, labor and a realistic ramp.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review fees, supply requirements, term, renewal, transfer and territory. Item 19 shows whether the FDD includes financial performance representations, and Item 10 shows whether the franchisor offers financing. Our article on reading an FDD for financing explains what matters.
Site and lease. Lenders want a lease at least as long as the loan, with renewals, and a site with morning traffic, visibility and parking.
Equipment and the Central Roasting Model
Because coffee arrives roasted from the Melbourne headquarters, a franchised cafe’s equipment list centers on espresso, brewing, grinding and food prep rather than roasting. That keeps the equipment package smaller than a roaster-cafe would need. The trade-off is supply dependence: lenders will check delivery terms, product pricing and what happens if shipments are delayed.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Lenders usually finance a first cafe on its own, then fund a second once the first shows steady sales and a capable manager. If the FDD offers a development agreement, make sure its schedule fits what your cash flow can support. Read more on multi-unit franchise financing.
Real-World Scenarios
A cafe manager opening a first unit. An experienced coffee shop manager meets the capital requirements and uses an SBA 7(a) loan for the franchise fee, build-out, equipment and working capital.
An owner buying a small building. A buyer purchases a freestanding building with a drive-up window. The real estate secures the loan, so the lease rider and collateral assignment are not executed, as the directory note describes.
An independent shop owner converting. An independent cafe owner explores joining the brand. The lender reviews existing sales, conversion costs and the new fee load before approving.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Signing a lease before reviewing the FDD and supply terms
- Underestimating build-out costs for plumbing and electrical
- Overlooking early-morning labor needs
- Leaving too little working capital for the ramp-up
- Choosing a site without strong morning traffic
For more pitfalls, read the restaurant loan mistakes to avoid.
Next Steps to Finance Your Apocalypse Coffee Roasters Franchise
Step 1: Request the franchise kit and FDD. Review Items 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 2: Confirm your capital. Match your liquidity and net worth to the franchisor’s requirements.
Step 3: Secure a site. Get lease terms or a purchase contract, plus build-out bids.
Step 4: Price equipment. Get quotes for espresso, refrigeration and food prep equipment.
Step 5: Build projections. Model traffic, ticket, labor, fees and seasonality month by month.
Step 6: Compare financing. Talk with a financing specialist about SBA and conventional options.
Apocalypse Coffee Roasters Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does an Apocalypse Coffee Roasters franchise cost?
The franchise page does not publish an investment range. The full estimate is in Item 7 of the FDD, which the franchisor provides with its franchise kit.
What is the franchise fee and royalty?
Neither is published on the franchise page. Check Items 5 and 6 of the FDD.
How much liquid capital do I need?
The franchisor does not publish minimums online. Ask for them during the discovery call and confirm them in the FDD.
Is Apocalypse Coffee Roasters eligible for SBA loans?
Yes. The brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8582, so qualified borrowers can apply for SBA-guaranteed loans, subject to lender approval.
Do franchisees roast their own coffee?
No. The franchisor says all coffee is roasted by its team and shipped fresh to each location.
Can I finance equipment separately?
Yes. Espresso machines, grinders and refrigeration can often be financed or leased apart from the main loan.
Can a first-time owner qualify?
Possibly, with strong capital and a solid plan. Cafe or restaurant experience makes the file much stronger with a young brand.
Does the franchisor offer financing?
The franchise page does not mention it. Item 10 of the FDD discloses any financing offered.
How long is the franchise term?
The term, renewal and transfer conditions are in Item 17 of the FDD.
Final Thoughts
Apocalypse Coffee Roasters offers a bold brand, centrally roasted organic coffee and a broad food menu, but it is early in its franchising life. A well-prepared Apocalypse Coffee Roasters franchise loan request, built on the FDD, a strong site and realistic projections, gives you the best chance of approval.
US Professional Funding helps buyers compare SBA and conventional options across many franchise industries, including restaurants and cafes. We can help you organize your package and match your plan to the right structure.
