How to Finance a Bikini Beans Coffee Franchise: Drive-Thru Costs
By Anthony Cornella
A Bikini Beans Coffee franchise loan pays for opening a small drive-thru coffee shop: the franchise fee, a compact building or pad site, espresso and blending equipment, a drive-thru window and the cash to carry the shop until morning regulars settle in. Because the brand appears on the SBA Franchise Directory, buyers can compare SBA-backed loans with conventional, equipment and working capital financing.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Bikini Beans Coffee; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures in the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to review and approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice, so read the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Bikini Beans Coffee Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a drive-thru coffee brand serving espresso drinks, blended frappes, smoothies and protein shakes, staffed by baristas in the brand’s signature swimwear-style uniforms.
- Roots: a family-owned chain in the Phoenix, Arizona area, with shops in cities including Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix and Goodyear.
- Format: small-footprint shops built around a drive-thru lane.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as “Bikini Beans Coffee” (code S8715), with a note about lease documents when real estate secures the loan.
- Franchise fee, royalty and investment range: not published in franchisor materials we could verify; see Items 5, 6 and 7 of the current FDD.
- Net worth and liquidity requirements: not published; ask the franchisor for its current thresholds.
- Typical financing mix: an SBA 7(a) or conventional loan for construction and opening costs, an SBA 504 loan if you buy the pad site, and equipment financing for the espresso bar.
What Is Bikini Beans Coffee?
Bikini Beans Coffee is a drive-thru coffee brand from the Phoenix area. Its menu centers on espresso drinks, blended frappes, smoothies and protein shakes, and the brand has highlighted coffee roasted locally in the Valley. Its baristas wear swimwear-style uniforms, which the company presents as a statement of confidence and self-expression.
The shops are compact. A typical location is a small building with one or more service windows and a stacking lane for cars, designed for speed during the morning rush.
How lenders see a drive-thru coffee franchise. Lenders like the modest footprint and repeat daily traffic of drive-thru coffee, but they look hard at the site: visibility, ease of entering and leaving, stacking room and the commute pattern. Because the concept draws attention, buyers should also confirm early that local zoning, permits and landlord approvals are in place.
Bikini Beans Coffee Franchise Costs
We could not verify published fees or an investment range from the franchisor, so every figure in a Bikini Beans Coffee franchise loan request should come from the current FDD and from bids for your site. Lenders will expect these categories to be covered.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 of the FDD discloses the initial franchise fee and any development fees. It is usually paid at signing, before the loan closes.
Real estate and construction. Drive-thru coffee shops are often built on a small pad site, either leased as ground or bought outright, or placed in an existing building with a drive-thru lane. Costs include site work, utilities, paving, the building or modular structure, and signage. Our article on franchise real estate financing explains how lenders treat owned and leased sites.
Equipment. Espresso machines, grinders, blenders, refrigeration, ice machines, water filtration, drive-thru headsets and point-of-sale systems make up the core package.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening inventory, uniforms, training, insurance, permits, grand-opening marketing and a reserve for early months belong in the budget.
Total investment. Item 7 of the FDD totals the initial investment as a low-to-high range. Check each line against your site plan:
- Initial franchise fee
- Land or ground lease, deposits and site work
- Building construction or conversion
- Espresso, blending and refrigeration equipment
- Signage, menu boards and drive-thru technology
- Opening inventory and supplies
- Training, uniforms and pre-opening payroll
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists the royalty, any brand or advertising fund contribution, technology fees and transfer or renewal fees. Fees tied to sales come off the top before rent, labor, supplies and debt service.
Drive-thru coffee runs on many small tickets, so labor scheduling, product costs and speed of service drive the margin. Lenders sizing a Bikini Beans Coffee franchise loan build the FDD fees, ground rent and staffing into projections and look for loan payments covered with a cushion.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
Bikini Beans Coffee does not publish minimum net worth or liquid capital figures in materials we could verify. Ask the franchisor for its current requirements, since they shape how much equity you will need.
Franchisors of drive-thru beverage concepts generally look for owners who can recruit and manage a young, fast-moving team, protect the brand’s standards and fund the equity portion of the project. Expect an application, FDD review, site approval and training. Your lender will want evidence of franchisor approval of you and your site.
Ways to Own a Bikini Beans Coffee
A new shop. Many owners start with a new location, financed on projections, the site and the owner’s background. See our overview of franchise start-up financing.
Buying an existing shop. If a franchisee sells, the buyer finances equipment, the lease or real estate and goodwill, and the lender can review actual sales. The franchisor must approve the transfer. Our article on buying a coffee shop covers what to evaluate.
Multiple shops. Drive-thru coffee lends itself to clusters of nearby shops. Each additional location is usually financed separately, supported by the first shop’s results.
Financing Options for a Bikini Beans Coffee Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because Bikini Beans Coffee is on the SBA Franchise Directory, the SBA 7(a) loan program can fund construction, equipment, the franchise fee, working capital and, in some cases, real estate in one loan.
SBA 504 loans. If you buy the pad site and build, an SBA 504 loan is designed for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment, usually alongside separate financing for soft costs.
Conventional term loans. Owners with strong financials may use a conventional business loan, with terms set by the lender.
Equipment financing. Espresso machines, grinders, blenders, ice machines and drive-thru systems can be financed separately to preserve cash. See our restaurant equipment financing and leasing options.
Working capital and lines of credit. Opening inventory, payroll during training and weather swings in traffic, including hot-summer shifts toward cold drinks, call for a cash reserve. Learn about restaurant working capital.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may agree to carry part of the price on an existing shop. A seller note is typically subordinate to the senior loan, and SBA program rules may limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for Bikini Beans Coffee Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose agreements have been reviewed for SBA eligibility. SBA lenders generally require a listing before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to a franchisee.
Bikini Beans Coffee is listed. The directory shows “Bikini Beans Coffee” under code S8715 with this note: when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Conditional Assignment of Lease and Consent and Agreement of Landlord may not be executed.
What the note means. The brand’s franchise documents include lease-related forms that give the franchisor rights in a franchisee’s lease. When the borrower owns the property and pledges it as collateral for the SBA loan, there is no third-party lease to assign, so those forms are not signed. If you lease your site instead, expect them to be part of the closing package, and confirm with your lender how they fit with its own lease requirements.
A listing does not approve any borrower. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change.
SBA application tips. Bring the FDD and franchise agreement, your lease or purchase contract, a site plan showing the drive-thru lane, construction bids, equipment quotes, monthly projections, personal financial statements, tax returns and a résumé. Our article on how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document covers the key items.
How Lenders Evaluate a Bikini Beans Coffee Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Expect a review of credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, plus a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders want the equity injection plus reserves to carry the shop through ramp-up.
Industry and management experience. Food service, coffee or retail management experience helps, especially in hiring and scheduling hourly staff.
Business plan and projections. Projections should reflect traffic counts, morning and afternoon peaks, average ticket, labor, product costs, ground rent and FDD fees, with a realistic ramp-up.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review the term, renewal and transfer rights, territory and any franchisor financing (Item 10).
Site, lease or real estate. Lenders look at stacking room, access, zoning approvals, the lease term or ownership, and whether the site supports drive-thru volume.
Historical financials for existing shops. For a resale, expect several years of profit and loss statements, tax returns and sales reports.
The Drive-Thru Site: Where the Deal Is Won
For a small coffee shop, the site matters more than the building. A location on the morning-commute side of a busy road, with easy turns in and out and enough stacking room to keep cars off the street, can make a modest investment work. A poor site can strain even a well-run shop.
Buyers should weigh owning versus leasing early. Owning a pad site can open SBA 504 financing and avoids the lease-related franchise forms described in the directory note, but it raises the upfront cost. Leasing keeps the initial investment lower but ties the loan to the lease term.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Owners who succeed with one shop often look to add nearby locations that share managers and supplies. The first shop’s results anchor each new Bikini Beans Coffee franchise loan, along with projections for the new site. If the franchisor offers development agreements, their schedule appears in the FDD; plan financing so each opening has adequate equity and reserves.
Real-World Scenarios
A first-time owner leasing a pad site. A buyer with retail management experience leases a small pad near a commuter route. An SBA 7(a) loan covers construction, equipment and working capital, and the lease-related franchise forms are part of closing.
An investor buying the land. A buyer purchases a corner lot and builds a new shop. An SBA 504 loan finances the land and building, and because the real estate secures the loan, the lease-related forms are not executed.
An owner adding a second shop. After a steady first year, an owner opens a second location a few miles away, supported by the first shop’s statements.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a site with too little stacking room or awkward access
- Skipping a zoning and permitting check before signing a lease
- Projecting full sales from opening day
- Underestimating labor costs for long operating hours
- Signing a lease shorter than the loan term
For more industry pitfalls, read the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Bikini Beans Coffee Franchise
Step 1: Request the current FDD. Review Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 2: Confirm franchisor requirements. Ask about net worth, liquidity, experience and site criteria.
Step 3: Estimate payments. Our SBA loan calculator gives planning estimates only, not an offer or approval.
Step 4: Secure a site. Confirm zoning, drive-thru approval and lease or purchase terms.
Step 5: Build your business plan. Prepare monthly projections with ramp-up, labor and franchise fees.
Step 6: Apply for financing. Submit your loan package with personal financial documents, the FDD, site documents and bids.
Step 7: Close and build. Coordinate franchisor approval, permits and construction so the shop opens on schedule.
Bikini Beans Coffee Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Bikini Beans Coffee franchise?
The franchisor does not publish an investment range in materials we could verify. Item 7 of the current FDD lists the estimate, and owning versus leasing the site makes a large difference.
What is the Bikini Beans Coffee franchise fee?
The initial franchise fee appears in Item 5 of the FDD. Ask the franchisor for the current figure.
What royalty does Bikini Beans Coffee charge?
Royalty and other ongoing fees appear in Item 6 of the FDD. Build them into projections before deciding how much to borrow.
How much liquid capital or net worth do I need?
These thresholds are not published in materials we could verify. Ask the franchisor, and expect lenders to look for equity plus reserves.
Can I get an SBA loan for a Bikini Beans Coffee franchise?
Yes, subject to approval. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8715, with a note on lease documents when real estate secures the loan.
Can I finance the espresso equipment separately?
Yes. Equipment financing or leasing can cover espresso machines, grinders, blenders and drive-thru systems.
Can I buy an existing Bikini Beans Coffee shop?
Yes, if a franchisee sells and the franchisor approves the transfer. Lenders review the shop’s actual sales and the remaining lease term.
Can a first-time owner get a Bikini Beans Coffee franchise loan?
Possibly. Management experience, solid credit, adequate reserves and a strong site help a first-time owner’s request.
Does Bikini Beans Coffee offer financing?
Check Item 10 of the current FDD, which discloses any financing the franchisor offers.
How long is the franchise term?
The term, renewal and transfer conditions appear in Item 17 of the FDD. Lenders generally want the remaining term to cover the loan.
Final Thoughts
A Bikini Beans Coffee shop is a small building with a big dependence on its site and its team. Buyers who secure the right drive-thru location, understand the directory’s lease note and keep a working capital cushion give themselves a strong footing with lenders.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, real estate, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing programs and restaurant financing solutions.
