Convert Without Compromise
How Dope Coffee’s Conversion Licensing Program Helps Independent Cafés Grow on Their Terms
In a time when franchising often means giving up your identity, Dope Coffee has created a smarter path forward. Our Conversion Licensing Program is designed to support existing café owners who want to retain full ownership of their business while gaining access to the advantages of a fast-growing, culturally relevant coffee brand.
This program is not about replacing what you’ve built — it’s about enhancing it. You keep your name, your vibe, your team, and your decision-making power. We provide premium products, shared marketing muscle, and access to our nationally recognized brand system.
What Is a Conversion License?
A conversion license allows independent cafés to join the Dope Coffee network without becoming a franchisee. Instead of rigid control or costly royalty payments, you receive a flexible brand licensing agreement that enables you to:
- Maintain your business identity and legal ownership
- Access Dope Coffee’s full catalog of roasted coffee, RTDs, oat milk, and merch at favorable wholesale pricing
- Tap into national and regional marketing campaigns through our co-op model
- Adopt the elements of the Dope Coffee brand that work for you — signage, merch, music, design, and community activation
Who Is This Program For?
This opportunity is ideal for existing café operators who are:
- Looking to improve product quality and pricing without sacrificing independence
- Ready to modernize their brand appeal while staying local and authentic
- Interested in participating in a larger cultural and retail movement
- Seeking collaborative growth, not control-based partnerships
Flexible Branding Options
| Tier | Description |
|---|---|
| Product-Only | Wholesale pricing and menu integration with no brand visuals required |
| Co-Branded | Your name + Dope Coffee (e.g., “Luna Café x Dope Coffee”) with shared marketing and light brand assets |
| Full Conversion | Adopt full Dope Coffee visual identity, signage, interior design elements, and merchandising systems |
How It Works
- 📞 Step 1: Discovery Call — We evaluate brand fit and discuss goals
- 📝 Step 2: Licensing Agreement — Custom agreement with no royalty fees
- 📦 Step 3: Product Integration — Update your menu with Dope Coffee products
- 🎯 Step 4: Brand Access — Choose your level of branding and marketing participation
- 🚀 Step 5: Go Live — Receive launch assets, support, and co-marketing tools
Strategic Benefits
- Lower COGS: High-quality, price-controlled inventory from a trusted supplier
- Marketing Lift: Access to national campaigns, artist partnerships, and local activations
- Operational Freedom: No required software, uniforms, or POS — use what works
- Cultural Equity: Partner with a Black-owned, culture-forward brand built on community, quality, and music
Built for the Real World
We’ve pressure-tested this program across three dimensions:
- Legal: Clean license agreement — not a franchise, not a leaseback
- Operational: Flexible by design — adopt only what fits your model
- Brand Alignment: Our team reviews every applicant for cultural and product fit
📧 partners@realdope.coffee
📲 @realdopecoffee on Instagram
🔗 Apply Now →
Keep your name. Accessorize with our culture. Scale on your terms.