Fixed coffee kiosk or drive-up stand
Run a small coffee kiosk at a busy spot and build a base of daily regulars.
- $15k-75k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
12,487 US businesses with employees in this field, +7.5% in a year
NAICS 722330 “Mobile food services”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A small permanent or semi-permanent kiosk, converted shed or drive-up stand in a high-traffic spot such as a commuter route, office park, hospital, college or busy parking lot, selling coffee, tea and simple pastries.
Your first three steps
- Count foot and car traffic at two or three possible spots at different times of day, then ask the owners about lease or lot rental terms
- Check with your city or county on zoning, health permits and building rules for a kiosk or drive-up stand
- Get quotes for a kiosk build or used unit and for commercial equipment, then draft a simple budget and break-even estimate
Who pays
Commuters, office and hospital workers, students and local residents who stop by on their daily routine.
How it makes money
Cup-by-cup sales with a focus on morning rush and repeat customers. Add-ons like pastries, flavored drinks and loyalty cards lift the average sale.
Skills that help
- Fast, consistent drink making
- Managing a daily rush alone or with a barista
- Inventory and cost control
- Local marketing
Watch out for
- Zoning, signage and building permits, which differ by city and county
- Health department plan review and permit before you open
- Lease terms, rent increases and who owns the structure
- General liability and property insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire
- Heavy dependence on one location and on weather and foot traffic
- Long early mornings, often with few days off at first
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: fixed coffee kiosk or drive-up stand
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a coffee kiosk?
Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $75,000, depending on the location, whether you build or convert a structure, and your equipment. Lease terms and who owns the structure can also affect what you pay, so check them first.
How much can a coffee kiosk make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on location, foot traffic, weather and your opening hours. These are revenue estimates, not profit, so rent, supplies and any staff costs come out of that figure.
What permits and rules apply to a coffee kiosk?
Check zoning, signage and building permits, which differ by city and county, plus health department plan review and a permit before you open. Also check lease terms and insurance, including general liability, property and workers' compensation once you hire.
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