Japanese sweets café

Dessert fans, students, families, office workers and people who like Japanese food and culture, mostly from the neighborhood or a nearby shopping area.

Sales of individual sweets, dessert plates and drinks, with extra income from gift boxes, seasonal specials and catering orders for small events.

• Baking or dessert making
• Basic food costing and ordering
• Customer service
• Managing staff and opening hours

• Health department permit and plan review for the space, check your county's rules before signing a lease
• Zoning and business license requirements from your city or county
• General liability insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
• Food allergen labeling and handling, as sweets often contain wheat, dairy, soy and nuts
• Specialty ingredients like matcha and red bean paste can be costly or hard to source, so check suppliers and prices
• Long hours and tight margins in the first year

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $50,000 to $250,000, depending on the size and fit-out of the space, equipment and opening stock. Specialty ingredients like matcha and red bean paste can be costly, so check suppliers and prices early.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $12,000 to $60,000, depending on location, menu, opening hours and seating. The estimate assumes working about 40 hours a week or more, and margins can be tight in the first year.

Check health department permit and plan review for the space before signing a lease, plus zoning and business license requirements from your city or county. Also check allergen labeling and handling, general liability insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire.