My dad has a franchise of 5 months that is already starting to fail. He has 250k+ put into it, and thats with a shared business partner (500k+ total.) It is located in a great plaza of food and grocery, BUT there is another boba shop 2 minutes from it. I dont know why they chose to build one so close to it. By the end of the second month things started to go downhill and getting worse and worse, only making average of $100-170 dollars a day with $135 dollars needed to pay workers hours for that day. Is there really any way to save this business? Sell the business? Bankrupcy? Any advice helpful
First of all, how’s your boba? As a boba freak, we only care about one thing: if the boba is good. Not what flavors you have. Do you ever find even one hard, uncooked boba in your batch? Cuz when I do, I’m not coming back. Too sticky? Nope. Are your straws too small and it’s impossible to suck up the boba? Not coming back. Is the boba bland? Uh-uh.
Second, assuming your boba is good, you need reasons for YOUNG customers to hang out there. Board games or video games? Or is it more of a study spot? Young people are the fuel for boba spots. Maybe something that incentivizes good grades or discount for student ID holders. Magic Mic? Get some car clubs to do a meet up at your shop.
But it all boils down to your boba. Is it good? Cuz if it’s meh (like are you a donut store that happens to sell boba? Ugh.), the boba drinking community ain’t having it. Asian establishments are notoriously bad at aesthetics and customer service, but great at food. Make sure the boba is good. That has to be #1 priority.
Also it might be worthwhile to look into other products to sell…it doesn’t necessarily need to be Boba-related but it would help to first figure out what your customer demographics are and what all they’re interested in purchasing…could make use of surveys!
If it’s a franchise, there are not likely options for additions to the menu unless they already have that development done.
Yeah, part of being in a franchise is that you get access to an approved supply chain. So your ingredients are kinda locked and they tend to have legal agreements for maintaining consistency across all their franchise locations. Maybe some are open to regionalized items though…
Yep. You can’t play with the formula.
I love boba and this person is 100% correct. While I switch from franchise to franchise at times based on convenience I always go back to places that did it right.
Boba that is cooked properly, not over cook sitting under the broiler forever.
Consistency in your franchise recipes. Nothing worse when getting a 50% sweet only to find out the person is just eyeballing the measurements.
Speed. Boba in general takes a few min. Your workers need to be efficient, pleasant, and accurate
I think the business can be saved if there is a market for it where u are located. I know several friends that also run franchises and they do okay.
Make sure u improve on the things u can change. And don’t give up on standards, boba is one of those things that if u don’t do it right u can tell.
100% this! Boba freaks like consistency in their teas and if OOP is “playing” the Russian roulette on the Boba pearls and the sugar and flavor measurements then is game over. I’ve started drinking Boba very recently (seven years or so, max) and at the beginning, I’ve tried as many Boba shops as possible. Pretty soon I realized what a great, consistent, and reliable Boba tea cup was. As soon as my earlier favorites started failing on the Boba quality I was done with them. I don’t care how fancy the store is, how they use hard almost reusable plastic cups, or if they have 200 flavors.
as an avid boba enjoyer I completely concur
This. If the boba is consistently cooked right I’m coming back.
OP mention his dad owns a Ding Tea… if you visited a Ding Tea….you know the answer…
This guy Bobas. Great product and make the place a third space for kids and teens. Games and study spot. Activities. Anime watch parties ect.