The Human Bean franchise
The Human Bean is an espresso chain selling coffee drinks, smoothies and pastries mainly from drive-thru stands, with a strong presence in the West. It started in southern Oregon. At the end of 2025 there were 188 The Human Bean locations in the US, 176 franchised and 12 company-owned. The Human Bean charges no royalty; it earns from the coffee and supplies franchisees buy from it.
- Cost to open
- $672K–$1.53M
- Franchise fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- None
- Locations, 2025
- 188+43 in 3 yrs
Compare with similar brands Estimate your costs
Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2002
- First location
- 1998
- Franchisor based in
- Medford, Oregon
- Time to open
- About 12 months after signing
- Territory
- Protected territory, a 1-mile radius
- Financing
- None offered
From Casey Hawkins, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a The Human Bean franchise costs
Opening one Human Bean drive-thru costs an estimated $672,000 to $1,532,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Casey Hawkins, Inc, 2026 filing, page 16
The Human Bean franchise fee
The franchise fee is $35,000, per outlet. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Casey Hawkins, Inc, 2026 filing, page 10
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | No royalty. The franchisor earns from the coffee and supplies franchisees buy from it or its designated suppliers. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | A brand fee of 1% of adjusted gross sales, paid monthly. |
Source: Casey Hawkins, Inc, 2026 filing, page 12
Sales and earnings
Shares figures The Human Bean publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2025 results including EBITDA for affiliate-owned stores and sales for franchised outlets. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Casey Hawkins, Inc, 2026 filing, page 45
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 146 (+13) | 12 | 9 |
| 2024 | 165 (+19) | 12 | 3 |
| 2025 | 176 (+11) | 12 | 3 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Casey Hawkins, Inc, 2026 filing, page 49
How The Human Bean compares
Of the 6 coffee franchises on this site, The Human Bean is the 5th cheapest to open and the 5th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | The Human Bean | Typical coffee |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $672K | $596K |
| Closed or left per year | 3.5% | 2.6% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +32.3% | +20.2% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 5 of 6 |
Typical is the median across the 6 brands in coffee franchises.
Other coffee franchises
The Human Bean franchise questions
How long does it take to open a The Human Bean?
About 12 months after signing, according to The Human Bean's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does The Human Bean help with financing?
No. The Human Bean does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do The Human Bean franchisees get a protected territory?
Yes. The Human Bean assigns a protected territory (a 1-mile radius) where it won't open or license another location while you meet the agreement's terms.
Is The Human Bean growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 58 franchised locations opened and 15 closed or left, a net change of +32.3%. About 3.5% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 2.6% typical for coffee franchises.
How does The Human Bean compare with other coffee franchises?
Of the 6 coffee franchises here, The Human Bean is the 5th cheapest to open (low end $672K against a $596K median) and the 5th largest by number of locations.
Does The Human Bean say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2025 results including EBITDA for affiliate-owned stores and sales for franchised outlets. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is The Human Bean based?
Casey Hawkins, Inc is based in Medford, Oregon and the brand has sold franchises since 2002; the first location opened in 1998.