Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck Franchising FAQs

This is the most important question you can ask. Jumping into a new business is a big decision. Joining the Travelin’ Tom’s family puts you in the driver’s seat of the world’s largest mobile coffee shop franchise. When you open your own Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck location, you’re set up for success. Our franchisees are driven by entrepreneurship and a passion for delivering premium beverages and exceptional customer experiences. Check out some of the great reasons to join Travelin’ Tom’s:

1. Premium Products – From our high quality coffee beans to our proprietary beverages like TILT Nitro-Energy Drink and our Gourmet Best-You-Ever-Had-In-Your-Life Hot Chocolate, you will be offering the best beverages on wheels.
2. Unparalleled Corporate Support – Your success and satisfaction are our top priorities. In fact, they are our only priorities. With a franchisee-first mentality, we work night and day to provide top-notch support. Our exclusive event and employee scheduling software, along with our industry-leading marketing, are just two examples of the tools you’ll have at your disposal to run a successful business. Learn more about our system.
3. Next Generation Equipment – Gone are the days of food trucks needing loud, noisy generators to operate. How do we do it? By staying ahead of the game when it comes to powering the BEV (Beverage Entertainment Vehicle) with the latest and greatest technology. Plus, our custom-designed equipment inside the food truck delivers the fastest serve times in the industry—now that’s a pretty sweet perk!
4. Fast Growing Brand – From the first Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Trucks that hit the streets in 2021, we now have nearly 300 trucks on the road and counting. With one likely coming to your area soon, why not be a part of the next American Success Story?
5. Fixed Royalty – With a fixed royalty that allows you to be the beneficiary of your own hard work, the more you make is literally… the more you make.
6. Successful Business Model – With low startup costs, minimal overhead, a proven playbook for community engagement, and decades of food truck success behind us, you can be sure you’re joining Travelin’ Tom’s at exactly the right time and that you’ll have everything you need to start a coffee truck successfully!
   

Interested in buying your own Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck? In order to be a successful Travelin’ Tom’s Franchisee, you are required to have a strong, personal commitment and active involvement in opening your business. In the beginning, an owner/operator mentality pays dividends when it comes to learning every aspect of the equipment and business.

Successful franchisees often end up leading a team of high-performing, well-trained employees. 

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who will promote and protect the Travelin’ Tom’s Brand.

Every new franchisee attends Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Academy—a four-day immersive training experience designed to prepare you for life on the road. You’ll meet the team, dive into operations, marketing, and customer service, and learn exactly how to run a successful mobile coffee business.

In addition to the Academy, you’ll have access to ongoing support, extensive digital resources, and tools designed to help you succeed.

Not at all. You don’t need a background in food service or coffee to succeed with Travelin’ Tom’s. Our comprehensive training program—Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Academy—covers everything you need to know to confidently run your mobile coffee business.

We’re looking for driven individuals with a passion for customer service, a strong work ethic, and a desire to build something of their own. Whether you’re coming from retail, insurance, education, or anywhere in between, if you’re ready to lead and learn, you’ll fit right in. Check out our franchisee testimonials to hear how real owners made the leap.

Wondering how much a coffee truck costs compared to a traditional coffee shop? Travelin’ Tom’s offers a lower barrier to entry with high-profit potential. We’re proud of the fact that the initial investment to start a Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck location is lower than most other franchise systems. To demonstrate that, check out the specifics below:

Cost to Open a Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck:

• $15,000 Franchise Fee
• $171,950 Truck
• $186,950 Total Cost

To get a full list of financials, please refer to our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). 

Optional Financing:

Once your $20,000 deposit is received and credit is approved, Travelin’ Tom’s can assist with financing options through our strategic lenders. They offer a variety of solutions to help make starting a coffee truck franchise more accessible than ever.

Annual Royalties: 

• $3,000 for years 1-2
• $4,000 for years 3-6
• $5,000 for years 7-10

Our territories are designed to support strong growth, each covering 80,000 to 100,000 people. We focus on geographic continuity and population size to ensure your mobile coffee business has a solid foundation to thrive. Availability varies by region, so reach out to see what’s open near you!

Absolutely! You’re more than welcome to purchase additional units—each with the same level of market coverage (typically a population of 80,000–100,000). There’s no cap on the number of trucks you can own!

Multi-unit ownership is actually quite common in our system. Whether you’re looking to scale quickly or take a more measured approach, we’re here to support sustainable growth every step of the way.

We call this “event mining”—and it’s a skill we’ve built proven strategies and dedicated curriculum around. During your training at the Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Academy, you’ll learn how to identify the best opportunities, build relationships, and create a steady stream of events.

Thanks to our versatile menu—featuring not only coffee, but also coffee-adjacent beverages like Tilt Nitro Energy and Refreshers—there’s no shortage of opportunities. Whether you’re in a bustling city or a small-town community, our offerings are a value-add at just about any event: schools, sports tournaments, private parties, corporate functions, and more.

Ready to start your own coffee truck and join the Travelin’ Tom’s family? Here’s how to buy a franchise and what to expect during the process:

1. Gather information: Take a look around our website – there’s plenty of information to gather and digest.
2. Contact us: After you’ve checked things out, fill out our interest form and a Travelin’ Tom’s representative will contact you.

One of the best parts of our model is the flexibility it offers—you truly get to move at your own speed. Once you’re approved, attend the Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Academy, and drive your truck home, it’s all about what works best for you.

Some franchisees are ready to hit the ground running and book their first event the very next day. Others prefer a more methodical approach, taking 30 days or so to get fully dialed in. Either way, we’re here to support your timeline and help set you up for success—at whatever pace feels right for you.