It's A Grind Coffee House

Founded: 1995 Franchising since: 2000
Husband-and-wife team Marty Cox and Louise Montgomery opened the first It's A Grind coffee shop in Long Beach, California, in 1995. Locations feature a blues and jazz theme, and wingback chairs that allow customers to relax while enjoying whole bean coffees, espresso drinks, teas, pastries, muffins and bagels.

6272 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., #E Long Beach, California 90803

Phone: (562)594-5600

Franchisor is a privately-held company with 31 employee(s); 4 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth

Year	U.S. Franchises	Canadian Franchises	Foreign Franchises	Company Owned
2008	106	0	0	5
2007	106	0	0	5
2006	105	0	0	4
2005	60	0	0	5

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South carolina, Tennessee, Texas, United states, Utah, Vermont, West virginia, Wyoming

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: Defined by number of units purchased

Special Programs
It's A Grind supports DARE, AIDS Walk of Greater Long Beach, the Long Beach Police Officers Association, Seal Beach Animal Shelter, Parents Against Cancer and other local organizations.

Total investment: $324K-499.5K Franchise fee: $36K

Ongoing royalty fee: 6% Term of agreement: 10 years, renewable

Express/kiosk option available

Type of Financing Available

	In-House	Third Party
Franchise Fee	No	Yes
Startup Costs	No	Yes
Equipment	No	Yes
Inventory	No	Yes
Accounts Receivable	No	No
Payroll	No	No

Third-party financing source(s): the SBA

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $450K
Cash liquidity requirement: $125K
Business Experience:

• General business experience
• Strong people skills

Operations

• 40% of all franchisees own more than one unit
• Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 14 - 16
• Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training

• Available at headquarters: 2 weeks
• At franchisee's location: 10 days
• Additional training as needed

Ongoing Support

• Newsletter
• Meetings
• Toll-free phone line
• Grand opening
• Internet
• Security/safety procedures
• Field operations/evaluations
• Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing Support

• Co-op advertising
• Ad slicks
• Regional advertising

Other marketing support

• Franchisee Advertising Council

Franchise 500® rank:
#403 (2008); #427 (2007); #467 (2006); #456 (2005);

Top New Ranking:
#47 (2005);