The Human Bean Franchise Review 2026: Ratings & Verdict

Product details

Contents

Key facts


The Verdict

Quick Verdict · who it fits

The Human Bean fits first-time franchise buyers looking for a mid-scale food & beverage concept.

✓ Strengths

⚠ Risks to review

Key FDD Facts

The numbers a buyer needs first — straight from the filing.

Initial investment (Item 7)

$572K - $1.3M

Franchise fee (Item 5)

$35K

Royalty (Item 6)

0% + 1% ad

System size (Item 20)

165 +21

Agreement term

10 yrs

Years in business

24+ yrs

Training (Item 11)

120 days

Item 3 litigation

None disclosed

Model The Human Bean's costs in the investment calculator → Prefilled from this filing — startup cost, cash flow and break-even.

Buyer qualifications

•No exclusive territory✓Semi-absentee eligible✓No bankruptcy disclosed✓No Item 3 litigation

Data extracted from the 2026 FDD filed with state regulators. Fees and terms may have changed since filing — request the current FDD from the franchisor before deciding. Not legal, financial, or investment advice. Full disclaimer.

Executive Summary

Free AI summary — the first read on the filing.

Key Numbers

176

Total units open

14

Units opened last year

3

Units closed last year

11

Net unit growth

AI Due Diligence Findings PREMIUM

What our analysis flagged across the 2026 filing.

5

Risks to review

4

Strengths identified

5

Questions to ask

Industry Benchmarks

How The Human Bean ranks against 749 Food & Beverage peers we've analyzed.

Initial investment

73rd pct · of 749 peers

Franchise fee

36th pct · of 749 peers

System size

81st pct · of 749 peers

Food & Beverage industry averages

Avg investment

$589K - $1.4M

Avg franchise fee

$37K

Avg system size

261

Franchises analyzed

749

How The Human Bean stacks up

Closest concepts by category and investment.

Brand Item 19 Fee Investment Royalty Units
The Human Bean Disclosed $35K $572K - $1.3M 0% 165
Blaze PizzaSimilar price Disclosed $30K $757K - $1.3M 5% 230
Doctor's AssociatesBiggest system None $15K $227K - $630K 8% 18,773
Vintage Hospitality GroupTop-rated in category Disclosed $50K $3.5M - $6.4M 5.5% 33

Compare side-by-side ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a The Human Bean franchise cost?

The Human Bean requires a $35,000 initial franchise fee and a total initial investment range of $572,090–$1,298,903, per the most recent FDD on file.

Who owns The Human Bean?

The Human Bean is franchised by Casey Hawkins, Inc, the franchisor entity of record on its Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 1 of the FDD discloses the franchisor's corporate history, parents, and predecessors.

Does The Human Bean disclose financial performance (Item 19)?

Yes. The Human Bean discloses Item 19 financial performance representations in its FDD. See the financials sub-page for the disclosed figures.

What ongoing fees does The Human Bean charge?

Franchisees pay a royalty of 0% and an advertising fund contribution of 1% of gross revenue on gross sales as defined in Item 6 of the FDD.

How many The Human Bean locations are there?

As of their 2026 FDD, The Human Bean has 165 total locations, with 21 new locations opened in the most recent reporting year. This information comes from Item 20 of the FDD.

Does The Human Bean offer franchisee training and support?

Yes. The Human Bean's most recent FDD documents approximately 120 days of initial training, typically split between classroom and on-site components. See Item 11 of the FDD for the full training and support schedule.

Does The Human Bean grant exclusive territory?

No. The Human Bean does not grant exclusive territory rights under Item 12. The franchisor retains the right to operate or grant additional units inside or adjacent to your trade area.

What are the renewal and exit terms?

Per the FDD, The Human Bean discloses an initial agreement term of 10 years, a renewal fee of $3,000. Review Items 10 and 17 for the full renewal and termination provisions.

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