Tous les Jours Franchise Cost: US vs Korea (2026)
Tous les Jours, launched in 1997 and franchising since 1998, is the bakery-cafe brand of CJ Foodville — a CJ Group subsidiary headquartered in Seoul. The brand sells French-inspired baked goods, cakes, and coffee in a self-serve bakery-cafe format, and operates more than 1,650 stores, including roughly 560 overseas across 11 markets such as the US, Canada, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia [4]. If you are comparing Korean bakery franchises, Tous les Jours publishes cost information in two very different regulatory systems: the US Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and Korea's KFTC franchise disclosure registry. This guide lays out what each discloses — and why the two markets are not directly comparable.
Tous les Jours at a glance
- Launched 1997; franchising since 1998; operated by CJ Foodville (CJ Group), headquartered in Seoul [4]
- More than 1,650 stores, with roughly 560 overseas across 11 countries [4]
- US franchising since 2009; overseas growth combines direct subsidiaries (US, Vietnam, Indonesia) with master-franchise agreements [4]
- Notable overseas deals: a 2025 Malaysia re-entry master franchise with Stream Empire Holdings and a Cambodia master franchise with EFG (5 stores) [4]
US franchise costs
In the United States, the brand's own franchise page lists an initial franchise fee of $40,000 [2], a royalty of 5% [2], and an advertising fee of 3% — defined in the FDD but described as currently not collected [2]. The same page lists required liquid capital of $400,000 [2].
For the total project, the 2025 US FDD discloses an initial investment ranging from $718,230 [3] to $1,599,644 [3]. Note a vintage gap worth knowing about: the official site still cites a lower maximum of $938,894 from a prior FDD [3], so always anchor on the newest FDD rather than marketing pages. A bakery-cafe build-out with baking equipment sits at the heavier end of food-service construction, which is why these totals run high.
Korea franchise costs
In Korea, franchise costs are disclosed through the KFTC's mandatory information disclosure system (정보공개서). Per the disclosure figures as reported by Changupdo, the domestic franchise fee (가맹비) is ₩14,300,000 [1], and the total startup cost on a 25-pyeong basis is ₩327,510,000 [1] — excluding the premises: the lease deposit and key money (권리금), which in Korea are often the single largest outlay, are not included. The disclosure summary does not state its year, so treat the vintage as unconfirmed.
US vs Korea: side by side
| Cost item | United States | South Korea (KFTC disclosure) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $40,000 [2] | ₩14,300,000 [1] |
| Total initial investment (low) | $718,230 [3] | ₩327,510,000 (25-pyeong, excl. premises) [1] |
| Total initial investment (high) | $1,599,644 [3] | Not separately disclosed |
| Ongoing royalty | 5% [2] | Not cited here |
| Advertising | 3% (defined, currently not collected) [2] | Not cited here |
| Liquid capital required | $400,000 [2] | Not cited here |
How to read these numbers
Three caveats before comparing across the table:
- The scopes differ. The Korean startup figure of ₩327,510,000 [1] excludes the premises deposit and key money; US FDD Item 7 ranges treat real estate variably. Neither number is "everything you will spend."
- The documents differ in vintage. The US range comes from the 2025 FDD [3], while the brand's own page still reflects an older maximum [3]; the Korean disclosure summary carries no explicit year [1]. Always re-check against the latest filings.
- The formats differ. A US Tous les Jours is typically a full bakery-cafe build with ovens and seating, while the Korean 25-pyeong reference store [1] is a smaller footprint — a structural reason the dollar totals run higher.
Other markets
Beyond the US and Korea, Tous les Jours grows through a mix of direct subsidiaries (US, Vietnam, Indonesia) and master-franchise partners — including the 2025 Malaysia re-entry with Stream Empire Holdings and Cambodia with EFG [4]. Costs for master- or sub-franchise arrangements in those markets are negotiated case by case and are not published in the disclosures cited here.
How to verify
Before making any decision, confirm every figure directly in the franchisor's current disclosure document: in the United States, request the latest Tous les Jours FDD and read Items 5-7 for fees and initial investment — and note where the official page and the FDD disagree, the FDD governs; in Korea, pull CJ Foodville's current 정보공개서 from the KFTC franchise disclosure system. Third-party summaries — including this guide — can lag the most recent filing, and the only binding numbers are those in the disclosure document and franchise agreement you are actually offered.
Figures are historical, come from the named source, and are not a promise or projection of your results. Costs and outcomes vary by market, site and operator.
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This website is not an offer to sell a franchise. We are an independent consultancy, not a franchisor, and we do not offer or sell franchises. A franchise is offered only through the franchisor's own disclosure document in jurisdictions where such documents are required. Investment figures are compiled from the named public sources; costs and results vary.