Are you considering starting a coffee shop and need to know what expenses to plan for? You’re in the right place. From initial coffee shop startup costs like location and build out to ongoing expenditures such as equipment and utilities, our cost breakdown covers it all, and more.
Coffee Industry Perks
Before making any type of business investment, it’s important to understand the state of the overall industry. Fortunately, the global coffee market is growing by the day. Originally valued at $269.27 billion in 2024, the coffee industry will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% from now until 2030—resulting in a total value of $369.46 billion by the end of the forecast period.
According to a recent survey, nearly 73% of Americans drink coffee every day. Furthermore, 51% of people purchase coffee from a coffee shop at least once a week. Demand is high, but so is the competition. Independent coffee shops often struggle to secure prime real estate, manage build-out costs, and compete with established brands. Partnering with a proven franchise gives you an edge—a trusted name, built-in support, and a tested roadmap to help you stand out in a crowded market.
Coffee Franchise Costs
But how much does it cost to open a coffee shop? The short answer: it depends on location, size, and how much support you have behind you. Below is a breakdown of the most common costs, along with how a franchise system helps simplify and optimize each one.
Location, location, location!
Finding the right site is your biggest hurdle and your biggest opportunity. A high-visibility location with drive-thru potential can make or break your business—but these sites are increasingly competitive and come with complex zoning, permitting, and traffic considerations. Independently, new operators often spend months navigating brokers, landlords, and city regulations.
Franchise Advantage:
Beans & Brews works with experienced brokers and uses data-driven site scoring tools to help franchisees secure high-performing drive-thru sites faster—saving time, avoiding missteps, and protecting your investment.
Insurance and Permits
Crucial to have before opening your doors, you must factor in the expense of purchasing an insurance policy into your initial coffee shop startup costs. A small business insurance policy will cost about $3,000 annually, depending on the type of coverage you purchase or bundle. Additionally, you’ll need to pay for business licenses and permits, which can cost an additional $1,000 to $3,000 every year.
Franchise Advantage:
Beans & Brews’ real estate and construction teams guide franchisees through permitting and compliance—ensuring all documentation meets city and state standards the first time.
Marketing and Branding
Your initial marketing efforts, including website development, social media campaigns, and out-of-home advertising should all be included in your coffee shop startup costs. Depending on whether you handle the marketing yourself or hire an agency to help you, your grand opening marketing costs could run you approximately $5,000 to $15,000.
Keep in mind that your outdoor signage should also be included in these costs. Based on the vendor you partner with to create your sign, you could end up paying between $30,000 and $60,000.
Franchise Advantage:
Beans & Brews franchisees launch with built-in brand recognition and professionally designed marketing assets. From grand opening campaigns to ongoing digital promotions, the brand’s marketing team helps generate local buzz while maintaining consistent quality and messaging across all markets.
Training
Training your staff is essential to providing top-notch customer service. To ensure consistency and quality across every shift, set aside at least $1,000 to $2,000 in training expenses. Investing in training not only reinforces your brand standards but also boosts team confidence, reduces turnover, and improves efficiency behind the counter.
Franchise Advantage:
Beans & Brews provides a comprehensive 147-hour training program (66 classroom and 81 on-the-job hours), ensuring teams are confident, consistent, and ready to deliver on day one.
Equipment and Furniture
Now it’s time for the fun part—decorating. Using high-quality espresso machines, grinders, refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers are essential to providing first-rate service. Additionally, you’ll want to create a welcoming atmosphere for customers by making the right choices for seating, tables, décor, and lighting. Combined, these expenses typically range from $110,000 to $140,000, depending on the brands you purchase and the size of your coffee shop.
Franchise Advantage:
With Beans & Brews, franchisees gain access to preferred vendor pricing and standardized equipment lists, cutting procurement costs and ensuring everything meets operational specs and brand quality standards.
Ongoing Expenses
It’s important to note that you’ll have ongoing expenses even after your coffee shop launches. Consider the following as part of your monthly budget:
- Inventory restocking
- Employee wages
- Utility bills
- Equipment maintenance
- Marketing efforts
- Technology subscriptions (POS or scheduling software)
- Loyalty program incentives
Forecasting these costs ahead of time helps keep your cash flow healthy and prepares you for any potential seasonal fluctuations.
Franchise Advantage: Franchise systems provide ongoing operational support and bulk purchasing power to stabilize costs. Beans & Brews also helps franchisees track performance through data analytics, identifying efficiencies and new growth opportunities.
The Beans and Brews Advantage
When you add it all up—site selection, design, permits, training, and marketing—running a coffee shop independently can become a full-time job before your doors even open. Partnering with Beans & Brews Coffeehouse helps you bypass the guesswork and start strong. We’ve developed systems, vendor relationships, and market mapping analyses to help mitigate your risk and add ease to the development process. Still weighing the pros and cons of franchising? Our proven model offers a compelling case.
With coffee franchise costs ranging from $407,050 to $812,500, our franchisees receive:
- A proven business model and flexible shop designs
- Real estate and construction guidance every step of the way
- Vendor and supply chain advantages
- 147 hours of comprehensive training
- Local and national marketing support
At Beans & Brews, franchisees are empowered to stay rooted in a proven strategy while reaching high toward their goals—confident in the support, systems, and community behind them.
Ready to brew up something different? With Beans & Brews, you can boldly go—blazing new trails with confidence. To learn more about our franchise opportunity, contact us today
