Cosplay café with its own shopfront

Anime, gaming and cosplay fans, friend groups, tourists, and people booking birthdays or small private events.

Sales of drinks and food, plus themed specials, private bookings, ticketed theme nights and merchandise. Repeat visits from a loyal fan community matter most.

• Running a café or hospitality venue
• Managing and rostering a small team
• Social media and community building
• Costume and décor creativity

• Food business registration with your local council and food safety requirements, including a food safety supervisor in some states. Check your state rules
• Using copyrighted or trademarked characters in your name, menu or décor can cause legal problems. Check intellectual property rules or use original or generic themes
• Council or landlord approval for fit-out, signage and change of use
• Public liability insurance, and workers compensation insurance once you hire
• Check Fair Work awards and pay rates for hospitality staff, and your costume policy for staff comfort and safety
• A liquor licence is needed if you want to serve alcohol. Check your state's liquor licensing body
• High fixed costs from rent and wages, so test demand before signing a long lease

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on the premises, fit-out, equipment and how much stock and costume you need. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes for your own location.

Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on location, opening hours, menu and how many events you run. Rent and wages are high fixed costs, so test demand before signing a long lease.

Check food business registration and food safety requirements with your council and state, plus approvals for fit-out and signage. Also check intellectual property rules for characters, liquor licensing if serving alcohol, insurance and Fair Work pay rates.