Neighborhood chinese tea house

Locals looking for a quiet place to meet or work, tea enthusiasts, students, and people who want to take good loose-leaf tea home.

Sales of tea by the pot or cup, snacks, and take-away loose-leaf tea and teaware. Tasting flights and small group tea sessions can add extra income.

• Knowledge of Chinese teas and brewing
• Welcoming customer service
• Basic cost control and ordering
• Food safety habits

• Health department permit and plan review for the premises, check requirements with your county
• Local business license, zoning and sales tax registration, check with your city and state
• General liability insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
• Lease terms, build-out costs and a slow first few months while regulars build
• Check whether the snacks you want to make on site need a commercial kitchen setup
• Check rules on labeling and sourcing for any tea you sell packaged

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on your lease, build-out, equipment and opening stock of tea and teaware. Expect a slow first few months while regulars build.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on location, menu, seating and whether you sell loose-leaf tea and teaware. The estimate assumes about 35 or more hours a week.

Check health department permit and plan review requirements with your county, plus your local business license, zoning and sales tax registration. Check whether snacks made on site need a commercial kitchen, and labeling rules for packaged tea.