Small chinese tea house

Locals after a quiet place to meet, office workers, students, tea lovers and people from Chinese and wider Asian communities.

Pots and cups of tea, snack sales and takeaway loose-leaf tea. Many tea houses add tastings, small group sessions or teaware sales.

• Knowledge of Chinese teas and brewing
• Hospitality and customer service
• Basic cash flow and stock management
• Food handling and hygiene

• Food business registration with your local council, and whether your state requires a food safety supervisor
• Council approval for fit-out and change of use of the premises
• Lease terms, bond and rent, since premises are the biggest fixed cost
• Public liability insurance, plus workers compensation insurance once you hire staff
• Labelling and import rules if you bring in tea yourself, so check with the relevant authorities
• Quiet periods, so plan cash reserves for the first months

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $180,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and stock. These are estimates, and lease terms and bond are the biggest fixed costs to check.

Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $45,000, depending on location, opening hours and how much tea you sell to take away. These are estimates only, and rent and wages come out of that.

Check food business registration with your local council, whether your state requires a food safety supervisor, council approval for fit-out and change of use, and labelling and import rules if you import tea yourself.