Opening a Gloria Jean’s in Australia is an attractive option if you want a recognised coffee brand with established systems behind it — but it’s not a cheap hobby. The total cost to get a Gloria Jean’s store open varies a lot depending on the outlet format (kiosk, traditional store, or drive-thru), the size and condition of the site, fit-out standards and whether you’re converting an existing outlet or building new. The brand publishes broad ranges so prospective franchisees can understand the scale of investment before requesting the franchise information pack.
What the numbers look like
For a new traditional Gloria Jean’s store the franchisor’s public estimates put the total start-up cost in the ballpark of AUD 380,000 to AUD 600,000 plus GST. Drive-thru formats are substantially more expensive because of land, construction and additional equipment: Gloria Jean’s estimates AUD 550,000 up to AUD 1,000,000+ plus GST for a new drive-thru. Smaller kiosk options can start much lower — though even kiosks require fit-out, equipment and working capital so you should expect a mid-five-figure to low-six-figure outlay depending on location and scope. These are ranges rather than exact quotes: each site’s needs and lease negotiations materially affect the final figure.
How the money is typically spent
The initial investment covers a number of line items: the one-off franchise fee, leasehold improvements and fit-out, coffee machines and other equipment, initial inventory, signage, point-of-sale systems, professional design and project management fees, and opening promotions and training costs. Independent summaries of the franchise disclosure document (FDD) show itemised examples where leasehold improvements and equipment can each run into tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a grand-opening budget and training expenses are also factored in. Those breakdowns help explain why two seemingly similar sites can end up with very different price tags.
Fees, financial requirements and ongoing costs
Beyond the capital required to open, Gloria Jean’s charges ongoing fees that affect cash flow. The franchisor’s published model specifies a weekly franchise service (royalty) fee of 6% of gross sales and a marketing contribution of 2% of gross sales that funds national advertising and promotions. Prospective franchisees should also plan for standard business costs (rent, wages, utilities, stock replenishment) and a contingency buffer for the first months while the store builds regular trade. Some third-party franchise summaries also note suggested financial thresholds for applicants — for example, minimum net worth and liquid capital figures to be eligible — so you should expect franchisors to ask for proof of financial capacity as part of the application.
What else to factor in before you sign
A franchise is not a turnkey guarantee of profit, so due diligence is essential. Read the full Franchise Disclosure Document, speak to existing franchisees about real trading results and unexpected costs, and model cash flow conservatively (including slower ramp-up months). Consider lease length and conditions, local competition, and whether you’ll operate the store yourself or hire a manager. The franchisor provides training and operational support, but site selection, staff recruitment and day-to-day execution will largely determine success.
Summary
If you’re planning to open a Gloria Jean’s in Australia, expect to invest from the low hundreds of thousands for a kiosk or smaller store to well over half a million for a full-size store, and up to around a million or more for purpose-built drive-thru locations. On top of start-up costs you’ll pay a weekly royalty of around 6% and a marketing levy of about 2% of gross sales. Those headline figures are helpful as a starting point, but the precise cost for your project will depend on site-specific factors — so request the franchisor’s information pack and FDD, and run conservative financial projections before committing.
