Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii Secures Spot on 2026 Inc. 5000 List

With a 28% year-over-year increase in systemwide sales, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii has earned the No. 4034 position on the 2026 Inc. 5000 ranking. The recognition highlights the franchise's rapid expansion and its strategic pivot toward nontraditional store locations to capture high-traffic consumer markets across the United States.

Corp and Tech·August 17, 2026·reads: 1,419

The brand, which traces its origins to the Big Island of Hawai'i in 1989, currently operates more than 45 locations with over 100 additional shops in development. Tom Wylie, President and COO, attributes the company's growth to a disciplined focus on franchisee operations and market flexibility. By integrating nontraditional units alongside traditional café pipelines, the company is bypassing the limitations of singular retail footprints to accelerate its national scale.

Financial data from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document underscores this momentum, noting that 44% of existing stores are currently exceeding average unit volume. With 12 new openings planned for the remainder of the year and a heavy concentration of new development focused on the East Coast and Florida, the company is leveraging its multi-unit operator model to maintain its trajectory. The Inc. 5000 list, which requires consistent revenue growth and job creation, serves as a benchmark for the brand's ongoing transition from a regional favorite into a significant player in the national coffee franchise landscape.