Comic book café with seating

Comic and manga fans, students, families, remote workers and locals who want a relaxed place to sit.

Mainly drink and snack sales, with extra income from events, small cover or membership fees, and optional merchandise or comics for sale.

• Making good coffee and simple food
• Customer service and community building
• Managing stock, staff and a budget

• Health department permit and inspections, plus food handler training requirements in your state
• General liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire staff
• Don't use Marvel, DC or other characters in your name, decor or merchandise without checking trademark and licensing rules
• Sales tax registration with your state, and a local business license from your city or county
• Lease costs, build-out and equipment can be high, so test your numbers before signing
• Keep drinks away from comics, and check accessibility rules for your space

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on your lease, build-out and equipment. Rent and fit-out can be high, so test your numbers before signing a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $12,000 to $60,000, depending on location, size, opening hours and how many events you run. These are revenue estimates, not profit, so work out your own costs.

Check for a health department permit and inspections, plus food handler training in your state. Also check sales tax registration, a local business license, general liability insurance, workers' compensation once you hire, and trademark rules for comic characters.