About MACU-UNIT Franchise
MACU is a Taiwanese tea brand that has been franchising individual unit opportunities in the United States since 2022, backed by Macu Company Limited.
The brand serves handcrafted teas, specialty fruit drinks, and signature beverages using premium tea leaves and fresh ingredients.
MACU locations bring authentic Taiwanese tea culture to local communities through a polished retail experience.
MACU-UNIT Franchise Cost & Fees
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | $2,000/month of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | None | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $108,000 – $165,000 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $108K–$165K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty ($2,000/month) and marketing fee (None) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Design Fee | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Security Deposit | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Equipment and Inventory Fee | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Know-How Transfer Fee | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Training expenses | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| Lease of Outlet premises and lease security deposit | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Leasehold improvements | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Point of Sale System | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Interior and Exterior Signs and Graphics | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Professional fees | $3,000 | $10,000 |
| Business licenses and permits | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Business insurance | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Additional funds – 3 months | $20,000 | $30,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $10,000.00 |
| Renewal Fee | $20,000 |
| Audit Fee | Reimbursement of actual costs if underpayment is 5% or more, or if audit is made necessary by franchisee's failure to furnish required information. |
| First Stage Training (if failure) | $1,000 |
| Second Stage Training (extended) | $2,800 for each trainer |
| Optional Training | $3,500 for each trainer |
| Design Fee (if requested for outlet design) | $3/ft2 |
| De-identification Fees (violation) | $2,000/day |
| Reimbursement Fees to De-identification (actual cost) | Actual Cost of Removal |
| POS System Maintenance/Support (annual) | $500 to $1,000 |
| E-mail Account Maintenance/Support (annual) | $200 to $500 |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 21 days (First Stage Training), 14 days (Second Stage Training), 14 days (Optional Training), 5 days (Periodic Training) |
| Classroom Training | 80 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 40 hours |
| Training Location | Taichung, Taiwan (classroom and on-the-job for initial training) |
| Additional Training | Franchisor may require additional training courses, seminars, or conferences, with costs for transportation and lodging borne by the franchisee. Optional training is available for $3,500 per trainer for 14 days. Extended First Stage Training due to failure costs $1,000. Extended Second Stage Training costs $2,800 per trainer. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | Typically varying from ¼ mile in densely populated areas to 1 mile in rural areas |
| Description | The FDD contains contradictory statements regarding territory exclusivity. Item 12 initially states that the franchisee will receive an exclusive territory, typically defined by a radius (¼ mile to 1 mile). However, it then states, 'You will not receive an exclusive territory. You may face competition from other franchisees, outlets that we own, or other distribution channels or competitive brands that we control.' The Franchise Agreement also contains conflicting clauses (3.1(a) grants exclusivity, 3.1(c) denies it). The franchisor reserves the right to develop other systems with similar/dissimilar services within the territory. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 3 years |
| Renewal Term | 4-year terms |
| Renewal Fee | $20,000 |
| Renewal Conditions | Franchisee must provide written notice 90 days before term end, be solvent, not have abandoned the Outlet, not endanger public health/safety or harm MACU brand, not submit false reports. Must sign a new Renewal Agreement (which may have materially different terms), remodel the Outlet if necessary, pay the renewal fee, and sign a release. All monetary obligations must be satisfied. |
| Transfer Fee | $10,000.00 |
| Transfer Conditions | New franchisee must qualify, pay transfer fee, purchase agreement approved, training arranged, release signed by current franchisee, and new agreement signed by new franchisee. Assignee must complete franchisor's application, disclose all terms of assignment, demonstrate skills, qualifications, moral/ethical reputation, and economic resources, assume all obligations, and ensure a trained General Manager is employed. |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor can terminate for material default, including purchasing from unapproved suppliers, making statements affecting reputation, bankruptcy, abandoning the business, failure to comply with laws/regulations, repeated noncompliance, seizure of business premises, felony conviction, knowingly maintaining false records, underreporting by 5% or more, imminent danger to public health/safety, public statements affecting franchisor's reputation, or using unauthorized raw materials causing public safety issues. |
| Non-Compete Period | During the term of the franchise and for 3 years after termination or expiration |
| Non-Compete Details | During the franchise term, franchisee cannot operate, manage, own, assist, or hold an interest in any competing business selling MACU Products or similar services, or divert customers. After termination/expiration, franchisee cannot engage in a competing business selling MACU Products or similar services within a 25-mile radius of the former Outlet or any other MACU® Outlet for 3 years. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | The principal owner is expected to actively participate in the direct licensing, management, and operation of the franchise business. Additionally, at least one designated Manager (who must be a Principal Equity Owner if the franchisee is an entity, or the sole proprietor if an individual) must successfully complete initial training and devote full time during normal business hours to the management, operation, and development of the Franchised Business. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisee must purchase all proprietary tea and other ingredients, and administrative supplies containing the MACU® logo from the franchisor or designated suppliers. Other items bearing trademarks must be purchased from franchisor, affiliates, or other reputable suppliers. Fixtures and equipment must be approved by franchisor. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisee is not allowed to purchase proprietary tea, ingredients, or administrative supplies from third parties unless approved by the franchisor. All fixtures and equipment must meet franchisor specifications and standards. Franchisor may approve or disapprove alternative suppliers based on quality control and capacity, with testing costs borne by the franchisee. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | None in the last twelve months. However, if designated suppliers make payments to the franchisor based on franchisee purchases, the percentage will range from 2.5% to 4% of the total purchase amount. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing. We do not guarantee your note, lease, or other obligation. |
MACU-UNIT Franchise Earnings — Item 19
MACU-UNIT does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
MACU-UNIT Litigation & Risk Flags
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
MACU-UNIT System Growth
MACU-UNIT currently operates 0 franchised locations and 0 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Audited by KAIZEN CPA PLLC for year ending December 31.
MACU-UNIT Franchise — FAQ
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