- Zarraffa’s Coffee was founded on the Gold Coast in 1996 and now has more than 85 locations across five states.
- The brand is focused on drive-thru stores. Its smaller drive-thru only format was reported to start from about $650,000.
- Drive-thru stores trade very early hours, so wages and staffing need careful modelling.
Zarraffa’s Coffee started in Southport on Queensland’s Gold Coast in 1996 and opened its first drive-thru in 2009. It now has more than 85 locations across Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria, most of them franchised.
This guide covers the Zarraffa’s formats, what has been reported about costs, and what to test before you buy.
Zarraffa’s Coffee franchise at a glance
| Founded | 1996, Southport, Gold Coast |
|---|---|
| First drive-thru | 2009 |
| Locations | More than 85 across five states (2025 reporting) |
| Formats | Shopping centre, strip and drive-thru stores |
| Reported drive-thru only cost | From about $650,000 (2023 reporting) |
| Trading hours | Drive-thru sites often open from 4:30am |
Figures come from the public sources listed at the end of this guide and can change. Treat them as a starting point and confirm current numbers in the franchise disclosure document.
How the Zarraffa’s Coffee model works financially
A Zarraffa’s drive-thru earns most of its sales in the early morning, when commuters and tradespeople buy coffee on the way to work. Coffee carries strong margins, but staffing a store from before dawn through to evening is expensive. Site costs vary widely depending on whether the store sits in a service centre development, a strip or a standalone pad.
Zarraffa’s introduced a smaller drive-thru only format in 2023 to lower the entry cost. Many new stores have been opened by existing multi-site franchisees, which suggests the model suits operators who can spread management across several sites.
The numbers to test before you buy a Zarraffa’s Coffee franchise
- Sales by daypart, especially the morning peak.
- Coffee and food cost of goods as a percentage of sales.
- Wages, including early morning and weekend rates.
- Site rent or ground lease terms and outgoings.
- Royalty, marketing and supply arrangements for coffee.
- Car queue capacity and site access, which limit peak sales.
Buying an existing Zarraffa’s Coffee store
Existing Zarraffa’s stores, including drive-thrus, come up for sale through the franchisor. Ask for sales by hour, wages reports and the lease. For drive-thrus, check whether any road or development changes nearby could affect traffic flow.
How Franchise Co. can help with a Zarraffa’s Coffee purchase
We work with buyers and owners of franchise businesses across Australia. For a Zarraffa’s Coffee store we can:
- Review the numbers before you sign. Our business due diligence starts from $2,000 + GST and tests sales by daypart, coffee and wage costs, and site lease terms.
- Set up the structure and the books. Entity choice, GST, payroll and a chart of accounts that tracks sales by daypart and staff costs by shift. See accounting and tax and bookkeeping, BAS and payroll.
- Check your franchise fees. We reconcile royalties, marketing and coffee supply to the sales they’re calculated on. See royalties and franchise fees.
- Plan the next store. If a second site is on the cards, we model the cash flow and funding first. See multi-site reporting.
Zarraffa’s Coffee franchise FAQs
How much does a Zarraffa’s Coffee franchise cost?
Zarraffa’s said in 2023 that its drive-thru only model starts from around $650,000. Larger traditional and drive-thru stores require more. Confirm current figures in the disclosure document.
How many Zarraffa’s stores are there?
Zarraffa’s reported more than 85 locations across Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria in 2025.
What hours do Zarraffa’s drive-thrus trade?
Many drive-thru sites open very early, for example from 4:30am, which affects staffing costs.
Can you review a drive-thru coffee store purchase?
Yes. We review sales by daypart, wages, the lease and fees as part of our business due diligence.
Are there Zarraffa’s Coffee franchises for sale?
Yes, existing Zarraffa’s Coffee businesses come up for sale from time to time. Look for resale listings from the franchisor, business brokers and sites such as SEEK Business. Any purchase needs the franchisor’s consent, and you should receive the disclosure document and franchise agreement at least 14 days before the transfer is approved. Ask for three years of accounts, sales reports and the lease, and check how long is left on the franchise term.
Franchise Co. is an independent accounting practice. We aren’t affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Zarraffa’s Coffee. Zarraffa’s Coffee is a trademark of its owner and is used here only to identify the brand this guide discusses.
Sources and further reading
- C-Store: Zarraffa’s launches drive-through only store
- Zarraffa’s Coffee: franchising
- ACCC: Franchise disclosure document
Sources checked November 2026. Franchise costs and fees change. Confirm current figures with the franchisor before acting.
This guide is general information for people considering a franchise in Australia. It doesn’t take your circumstances into account and isn’t personal tax, legal or financial advice.
Talk it through
Every franchise is different. Ask us how this applies to yours.
