Black Rock Coffee Bar, Inc.

Current report

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed under Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2026. These factors could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and capital position, and could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical results or the results contemplated by any forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. There have been no material changes in the risks affecting the Company since the filing of our Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2026.

Previous report

Investing in our Class A common stock involves a high degree of risk because our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, as further described below as well as the other information in this Form 10-Q, including the “Forward-Looking Statements” safe harbor and our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, before making an investment decision. The risks described below could have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such risks and uncertainties, they may include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed below. The risks described herein are not the only risks we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In such an event, the market price of our Class A common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Previous report

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

Previous report

We have a history of losses and, especially if we continue to grow at an accelerated rate, we may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future.

Previous report

We have incurred net losses each year since our inception, including net losses of $7.2 million and $8.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2024, we incurred net losses of $18.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively. We anticipate that our operating expenses will increase substantially in the foreseeable future, in particular, as we continue to open new stores, expand marketing channels and operations, hire additional team members and increase other general and administrative costs. Furthermore, as a newly public company, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur additional legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. As a result, our net losses may continue and we may not achieve profitability for the foreseeable future.

Previous report

In addition, the capital expenditure requirements to open a new store have increased and may continue to increase. Further, we currently expect that all of our new store openings in 2025 and beyond will have drive-thru pick-up capabilities, which require significant additional capital expenditures as stores with drive-thru pick-up capabilities are typically larger, resulting in higher real estate costs as well as incremental infrastructure and construction costs.

Previous report

These efforts and additional expenses may prove more expensive than we expect, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to increase our revenue to offset such expenses. Our revenue growth may slow or our revenue may decline for a number of other reasons, including reduced demand for our products, increased competition, or if we cannot capitalize on growth opportunities. If our revenue does not grow at a greater rate than our operating expenses, we will not be able to achieve profitability.

Previous report

Food safety and quality concerns may negatively impact our brand, business and results of operations.

Previous report

Incidents or reports, whether true or not, of food-borne or water-borne illness or other food safety issues, food contamination or tampering, employee hygiene and cleanliness failures, allergen cross-contamination or improper employee conduct at our stores could lead to product liability or other claims. Such incidents or reports could negatively affect our brand and reputation as well as our business, revenue and results of operations. Similar incidents or reports occurring at coffee and convenience stores unrelated to us could likewise create negative publicity, which could negatively impact consumer behavior towards us. If any guest becomes, or is under the belief that they have become, ill due to a food safety issue, we may temporarily close some stores, which would adversely impact our results of operations. Furthermore, while we require our third-party suppliers and distributors to comply with our food safety standards, we do not have control over their manufacturing and packaging processes. In addition, we also do not have control over handling procedures once our products have been shipped for distribution. We may need to recall or withdraw some or all of our products if they become damaged, contaminated, adulterated, or misbranded, whether caused by us or someone in our manufacturing or supply chain. Our products may also be subject to food recalls or other regulatory warnings promulgated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) or other regulatory bodies. A recall or withdrawal could result in destruction of ingredients and inventory, negative publicity, temporary facility closings for us or our third-party suppliers and distributors, supply chain interruption, substantial costs of compliance or remediation, fines, and increased scrutiny by federal, state, and foreign regulatory agencies.

Previous report

Food safety issues may be caused by a variety of factors, many of which are out of our control. For example, these incidents may occur when guests or other individuals, including employees, enter our store while ill and contaminate ingredients, surfaces, or other individuals. We cannot guarantee that food and beverage items will be properly maintained throughout the supply and delivery chain. Any food safety issue arising from a distributor or supplier will likely affect multiple locations rather than a single store. The risk of food safety issues is also increased with respect to orders delivered through third-party delivery service providers, as we often have limited or no control over how the food or beverages are delivered. In addition, our stores and roasteries are subject to review and examination by local, state and federal authorities, which may result in temporary or permanent closures. Such closures may negatively impact results and damage our brand.

Previous report

We cannot guarantee that our internal controls and training will be fully effective in preventing all food-borne illnesses. Our future initiatives may require new or increased food safety measures, which we may not be successful in implementing. New illnesses resistant to our, or our third-party suppliers or distributors’, current precautions may develop in the future, or diseases with long incubation periods could arise, that could give rise to claims or allegations on a retroactive basis. One or more instances of food-borne illness in one of our stores could negatively affect sales at all our stores if highly publicized. This risk exists even if it were later determined that the illness was wrongly attributed to one of our stores. Additionally, even if food-borne illnesses were not identified at our stores, our revenue could be adversely affected if instances of food-borne illnesses at other coffee and beverage chains were highly publicized.

Previous report

Evolving consumer preferences and tastes, including public or medical opinions about caffeine and sugar consumption, or changes in consumer spending may adversely affect our business.

Previous report

Our continued success depends on our ability to attract and retain guests. Our financial results could be adversely affected by a shift in consumer spending away from our products, changes in attitudes regarding diet and health (including use of weight-loss or appetite-suppressing drugs), decreases in general discretionary consumer spending (including due to lack of or decreasing consumer confidence or inflation), lack of guest acceptance of new products (including due to price increases necessary to cover the costs of new products or higher input costs) or platforms (including changes to our mobile application or loyalty rewards programs or other marketing initiatives), decline in our brand perception or competitiveness in the marketplace (including due to the emergence of new competitors or expansion of our existing competitors), a reduction in individual vehicle ownership, which in turn may reduce the usefulness and convenience of our stores, or a reduction in guest demand for our current offerings as new products are introduced. We may not be successful in introducing new products to our menu or new features to our mobile application, including in connection with the ongoing implementation of our loyalty program, which was introduced in June 2024.

Previous report

In addition, most of our beverages contain sugar, caffeine, dairy products, and other compounds, such as artificial coloring, the health effects of which are the subject of public and regulatory scrutiny, including the suggestion of linkages to a variety of adverse health effects. There is increasing consumer awareness of health risks that are attributed to ingredients we use, including obesity, increased blood pressure and heart rate, anxiety and insomnia, as well as increased consumer litigation based on alleged adverse health impacts of consumption of various food and beverage products, including those associated with caffeine and sugar. While we offer alternatives, including caffeine-free beverages and reduced sugar and sugar-free items, negative publicity, or an unfavorable report on the health effects of sugar, caffeine or other ingredients in our products or changes in public perception of these ingredients could significantly reduce the demand for our products.

Previous report

In addition, social media has contributed to an increase in “secret menu” style drinks that are not created or marketed by us. Such drinks can be ordered by guests, for example, by asking for specific combinations of flavors or ingredients. We have no control over such trends and may not become timely aware of them. Such trends may also result in the mixture of ingredients in ways that could be perceived negatively, including with regard to health effects, and such perception could harm our business.

Previous report

Further, an unfavorable report on the health effects of caffeine, other ingredients in energy drinks or energy drinks generally, or criticism or negative publicity regarding the caffeine content and/or any other ingredients in our Fuel energy drink or energy drinks generally, including product safety concerns, could have an adverse effect on our business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations. Articles critical of the caffeine content and/or other ingredients in energy drinks and/or articles indicating certain health risks of energy drinks have been published in recent years. We believe the overall growth of the energy drink market in the United States may have been negatively impacted by the ongoing negative publicity and comments that continue to appear in the media questioning the safety of energy drinks, and suggesting limitations on their ingredients (including caffeine), and/or the levels thereof, and/or imposing minimum age restrictions for consumers. If reports, studies or articles critical of caffeine and/or energy drinks continue to be published or are published in the future, or additional voluntary measures are taken, they could adversely affect the demand for our products. If we are unable to satisfy all criteria set forth in any model energy drink guidelines, including, without limitation, those adopted by the American Beverage Association, and/or any international beverage associations, it could negatively affect our overall reputation, which in turn could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Previous report

A decrease in guest traffic as a result of these health concerns or negative publicity could significantly reduce the demand for our products and could harm our business.

Previous report

We may not be able to compete successfully with other coffee stores, quick service restaurants and convenience stores, including the growing number of coffee delivery options.

Previous report

The food service and restaurant industry, including the specialty coffee market, is intensely competitive. We expect competition in this market to continue to be fierce as we compete on a variety of fronts, including convenience, taste preferences, price, quality, service, location brand reputation, digital engagement, loyalty incentives, quality of user experience on and consistent performance of our website and mobile application, and the ambience and condition of each store. Our stores compete with national, regional and local coffee chains, quick service restaurants (“QSRs”), and convenience stores for guests, store locations and qualified management and other staff. If our stores cannot compete successfully with other beverage and coffee stores, including Starbucks and Dutch Bros, other specialty coffee stores, drive-thru QSRs and the growing number of coffee delivery options in new and existing markets, we could lose guests and our brand perception and revenue could decline.

Previous report

Compared to us, some of our competitors have substantially greater financial and other resources, have been in business longer, have greater brand recognition or are better established in the markets where our stores are located or are planned to be located. In some markets that we may enter, there are already well-funded competitors in the coffee or beverage business that may challenge our ability to grow into those regions. Furthermore, certain markets where we compete or may compete in the future may limit the number of drive-thru businesses operating within their geographic region, which could negatively affect our ability to grow into those markets. Some of our competitors also have substantially greater financial and other resources to devote to innovation in products, technology, and market and consumer data analytics, including integration, use, or offering of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (“AI”). We may be unable to offer new or innovative products and technologies to our guests that are offered by our competitors, or there may be a delay in our ability to innovate or implement new technologies. Any of these competitive factors may impair our ability to compete effectively in the marketplace and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Previous report

Additionally, if our competitors begin to evolve their business strategies and adopt aspects of our business model, such as our modern and welcoming in-store experience, drive-thru convenience, digital ordering, loyalty program and similar product offerings or branding, our guests may be drawn to those competitors for their beverage needs and our business and the distinctiveness of our brand could be harmed.

Previous report

Our growth strategy depends in part on opening new stores in existing and new markets. We may be unsuccessful in opening new stores or establishing new markets, which could adversely affect our growth.

Previous report

As of September 30, 2025, we had 169 stores across seven states. One of the key means to executing on our growth strategy will be through opening new stores and operating those stores on a profitable basis. For example, we opened 24 new stores in 2024 and twenty new stores in the first nine months of 2025. Our ability to open new stores is dependent upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including our ability to:

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•identify available and suitable sites, specifically for drive-thru locations;

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•compete for such sites;

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•reach acceptable agreements regarding the lease of locations;

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•obtain or have available the financing required to acquire and operate a store, including construction and opening costs, which includes access to build-to-suit leases and ground lease construction arrangements;

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•respond to unforeseen engineering or environmental problems with leased premises;

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•avoid the impact of inclement weather, natural disasters and other calamities;

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•hire, train and retain the skilled management and other employees necessary to meet staffing needs;

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•ensure that the guest experience, ambience and condition of each new location is cohesive with and of substantially the same quality as our existing locations;

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•obtain, in a timely manner and for an acceptable cost, required licenses, permits and regulatory approvals and respond effectively to any changes in local, state or federal law and regulations, such as regulatory bans on new drive-through businesses, that adversely affect our costs or ability to open new stores; and

Previous report

•control construction and equipment cost increases for new stores and secure the services of qualified contractors and subcontractors in an increasingly competitive environment.

Previous report

As we look to expand geographically into new markets in which we have little or no prior operating experience, our exposure to the above factors may be further amplified as we have less familiarity with such new markets, including any regulatory restrictions or store-opening processes. There is no guarantee that a sufficient number of suitable sites for stores will be available in desirable areas or on terms that are acceptable to us in order to achieve our growth plan. Therefore, our historical growth rates may not be indicative of our future growth. If we are unable to open new stores or if store openings are significantly delayed, our revenue or earnings growth could be adversely affected and our business may be harmed.

Previous report

In addition, we may experience delays in our store development and expansion plans due to unexpectedly long processing times or delays on the part of governmental agencies who issue necessary licenses, permits, and approvals. Delays in the permitting or licensure processes that may result from government shutdowns, staffing shortages, or similar actions that are out of our control, due to, among other things, loss of or uncertainty around federal funding, including the receipt of federal funding by states or state agencies where we operate, could lead to delays in building our stores and affect our store development and expansion plans, which could harm our results of operations and financial condition.

Previous report

New stores, once opened, may not be profitable or may close, and the increases in average per store sales and comparable sales that we have experienced in the past may not be indicative of future results.

Previous report

We have opened and plan to open additional stores in markets where we have little or no operating experience. The target consumer base of our stores varies by location, depending on a number of factors, including population density, other local coffee and convenience beverage distributors, area demographics, geography and weather. Our results have been, and in the future may continue to be, significantly impacted by the timing of new store openings. We have typically incurred the most significant portion of pre-opening expenses associated with a given store within approximately three months preceding the opening of the store. Due to the impact of inflation and other factors, including building and material costs, we are experiencing and expect to experience in the future increased costs in connection with new stores. Our experience has been that labor and operating costs associated with a newly opened store for the first several months of operation are materially greater than what can be expected after that time, both in aggregate dollars and as a percentage of sales. Our new stores commonly take several months or more to reach planned operating levels due to inefficiencies typically associated with new stores, including the training of new personnel, new market learning curves, inability to hire sufficient qualified staff, and other factors. We may incur additional costs in new markets, particularly for transportation and distribution, which may impact sales and the profitability of those stores. Accordingly, the volume and timing of new store openings may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

Previous report

Although we target specified operating and financial metrics, new stores may never meet these targets or may take longer than anticipated to do so. Stores we open in new markets may take longer to reach expected sales and profit levels on a consistent basis or may never reach such expected levels at all and may have higher construction, production, hiring and training, occupancy, or operating costs than stores we open in existing markets, thereby affecting our overall productivity. Any new store we open may never achieve operating results similar to those of our existing stores, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Previous report

Some of our stores open with an initial start-up period of higher-than-normal sales volumes and related costs, which subsequently decrease to stabilized levels over time. In new markets, the length of time before average sales for new stores stabilize is less predictable and can be longer as a result of our limited knowledge of these markets and consumers’ limited awareness of our brand. In addition, our AUV and comparable sales may not increase at the rates achieved over the past several years. Our ability to operate new stores profitably and increase average store sales and comparable store sales will depend on many factors, some of which are beyond our control.

Previous report

We may need to make greater investments than we originally planned in advertising and promotional activity in new markets to build brand awareness and/or maintain such awareness. We may find it more difficult in new markets to hire, motivate and keep qualified employees who share our values and maintain our same level of desired guest experience. We may also incur higher costs from entering new markets if, for example, we assign area managers to manage comparatively fewer stores than we assign in more developed markets. Also, until we attain a critical mass in a market, the stores we do open will have reduced operating leverage. As a result, these new stores may take longer to reach expected sales and profit levels on a consistent basis and may have higher construction, occupancy and operating costs than existing stores, and so may achieve target operating profit margins more slowly than existing stores or may never achieve such target margins.

Previous report

Additionally, opening new stores in existing markets may negatively impact sales at our existing stores, even if it increases overall AUV in a region over time. The consumer target area of our stores varies by location, depending on a number of factors, including population density, other local retail and business attractions, area demographics and geography. As a result, the opening of a new store in or near markets in which we already have stores could adversely impact sales at these existing stores while ultimately growing the overall AUV in a region. However, existing stores could also make it more difficult to build our consumer base for a new store in the same market. Sales transfer between our stores may be significant in the future as we continue to expand our operations and could affect our revenue growth, which could, in turn, harm our business.