Written By: Resham Daswani

Cafe franchises in India have become very common in recent years. India is a promising market for cafe franchises thanks to its burgeoning coffee culture and rising demand for speciality cafés.

This blog will take you through the top 10 cafe franchises in India, why it is the right time to invest in a cafe franchise in India and more.

Once you have decided on the segment you wish to invest in, here’s some basic information that you need to consider before investing in a Cafe Franchise in India.

• Famous Cafe Franchise Brands - Several well-known café franchises have been taken up in India. Cafe Coffee Day, Starbucks, Barista, Costa Coffee, Gloria Jean's Coffees, and Dunkin' Donuts are just a few of the many popular coffee shops.
• Investment and other costs - The initial investment can range widely in India depending on the cafe’s brand, location, and size. The starting capital can be anywhere from 20 lakhs to many crores of Indian rupees. The franchise fee, building costs, machinery, furnishings, employee education, and stock of starting materials are all included in this budget.
• Franchise & Royalty Fees - In exchange for the use of their trademarks, trade name, and business model, most popular cafe franchise businesses require an initial franchise fee. For continuous maintenance, advertising, and brand promotion, they may additionally demand a royalty payment or a cut of the profits.
• Location - The fate of a cafe franchise rests heavily on the decision of where to set up shop. Shopping centres, central business districts, campuses, and other high-traffic commercial areas are common choices. While prime locations may incur more costs, they also have the potential to attract more customers.
• Training & Support by the Franchisor - Franchise systems that offer cafes often provide their franchisees with both initial and ongoing training and assistance. Help is provided in a variety of areas, including but not limited to location choice, store layout, advertising, inventory control, and employee education. Franchisees can save time and effort by following the brand's tried-and-true procedures.
• Competition - Local and foreign café chains are locked in a heated battle for customers in India. Before buying into a cafe franchise, it's smart to check out the local market and see how other businesses fare. You can attract and keep consumers at your cafe if you provide them with a memorable experience that they won't get anywhere else.
• Legal & License Requisites - Franchised cafes in India are subject to the same regulations and laws that apply to any other type of business there. Permits and licences, such as those pertaining to food and hygiene, fire safety, and GST (Goods and Services Tax) registration, may be required.
• Market Trends - Demand for healthier fare, speciality coffees and novel beverages is driving change in India's cafe industry. Your cafe business can stand out if you provide vegan and gluten-free options.

Top Cafe Franchises in India for 2023

This is a profitable opportunity for all those budding entrepreneurs considering starting a cafe franchise in India.  Consider the various cafe segment opportunities you can invest in before taking the leap.

Profitable Cafe Segments in India are:

• Juice Bar Cafes
• Coffee Cafes
• Chai Cafes
• Lassi Cafes

1. Dr Bubbles

Drinking a cold or hot fruit tea or milk tea flavoured with cherry natural tapioca balls and sucked through a thick straw is known as "Bubble Tea." What a tasty combination of unique food and refreshing beverage! The tapioca balls are also known as "Pearls" or "Boba," both of which may have evolved into the modern English word "Bubble." It's fascinating how words can do that, isn't it?

However, the violent shaking required to make Bubble tea is actually responsible for the tiny floating bubbles that give the drink its name. A specialised shaking machine perfectly times this procedure.

• Investment Required: Rs 15-16 lakhs

2. Madras Premium Coffee

Our mission is to provide all coffee connoisseurs with the finest south Indian filter coffee. Our mission is to show that a pleasant social experience over coffee does not need overpriced beverages, ostentatious surroundings, or subpar fare. In order to achieve this goal, we have placed Madras Coffee House locations in numerous public gathering places, like shopping centres, theatres, corporate offices, etc.

• Investment Required: Rs 5-10 lakhs

3. Tea Trails

Tea Trails provides a selection of the world's best teas and the perfect accompaniments to enjoy them, lending credence to the concept of tea pairing. The restaurant is known for its extensive tea-infused menu, which include delicacies such as the Burmese tea salad, tea-marbled eggs, and tea-infused Thai bowl.

From hot to cold, standard to extravagant, they provide an outstanding selection of gourmet teas sourced from all over the world. There are over 80 unique types of tea available, including White tea, Green tea, Oolong tea, Herbal tea, and Black tea, all with their own unique flavour profiles and health benefits. Bubble teas are available at Tea Trails as well, including the Taiwanese variety and the Tapioca Bubble style.

• Investment Required: Rs 25-30 lakhs

4. Lassi Bistro

Lassi Bistro is a popular ice cream, milkshake, and Lassi chain in India. For what reason should you visit Lassi Bistro? Very Straightforward!! We pride ourselves on our top-notch interior design. Our menu is unparalleled. In terms of franchisee assistance, we are second to none. Our business strategy has been successful, and all of our franchisees make a healthy profit. We are constantly experimenting with new looks, flavours, and models. As a young company, we treat every franchisee location as if it were our own.

• Investment Required: Rs 5-10 lakhs

5. Drunken Monkey

In February of 2016, Samrat Reddy opened the doors to the first Drunken Monkey location. According to the company's founder, smoothies are the next big thing after tea and coffee because they are both nutritious and relatively undiscovered.

The nutritious smoothies offered by Drunken Monkey have played a significant role in the brand's meteoric rise in popularity. The brand also believes in establishing a very tranquil and nostalgic atmosphere in its stores, with the goal of encouraging customers to put down their phones and engage in meaningful conversation with the person they are with.

• Investment Required: Rs 15-20 lakhs

6. Juice Lounge

Fresh cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies that can replace a meal, power juices, and energy boosters made from organic ingredients are available at Juice Lounge.

We made these special Super Boosters for all those gym rats and athletes out there. In addition to our burgers and fries, we provide salads, low-calorie sub sandwiches, grill sandwiches, pizza, pasta, risotto, and healthy main courses.

• Investment Required: Around Rs 10 lakhs

7. Barista

In 2000, we began the process by which coffee goes from the bean to the cup. There was no trace of café culture, and coffee was still a luxury. We started the Barista brand because we wanted to give customers a taste of Italy while they travelled the world. Barista was a pioneer in India's café scene, where one could learn about coffee and pastry making.

• Investment Required: Around Rs 10-15 lakhs

8. Chai Point

The first Chai Point Franchise location opened in Bangalore, India, in 2010. Over the succeeding years, Chai Point expanded in a variety of ways: they now have a 24x7 electric chai outlet at airports; they added Vada Pao to their menu; they started making their own Chai Point glasses; and they opened more locations.

• Investment Required: Around Rs 25-30 lakhs

9. Rasna Buzz

RASNA BUZZ is a bar without alcohol where you can get the best tongue-tingling experience from simply over exotic fruit drinks.Its lively ambience makes it ideal for social gatherings of many kinds, including birthday parties, group outings with coworkers or friends, date nights, and family get-togethers.

Our mocktail bar mixologists are experts at whipping up delicious concoctions without the use of alcohol, and our kitchen staff consistently turns out delicious meals with a smile and lightning-fast service.

• Investment Required: Around Rs 10-20 lakhs

10. The Lassi Shop

The Lassi Shop is a QSR (quick service restaurant) and F&B (food and beverage) retail franchise devoted to the sale of lassi, the most well-known traditional drink of the Subcontinent. It first opened in 2008 and offers a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. The quality of the craftsmanship and the high quality of the ingredients used to make this brand stand out.

• Investment Required: Around Rs 10-15 lakhs

Also read: How all-day dining cafes are gaining popularity and expanding using the franchising model in India.

Is Cafe Franchises in India a profitable opportunity?

There are a number of reasons why opening a café as a franchise in India could be successful. Here are some factors which show that investing in a cafe franchise is both profitable and bright.

• Rising disposable income of the middle class.
• Change in customer preferences.
• Lifestyle changes and urbanization.
• Demand for coffee culture and other speciality beverages.
• Support that you will receive from the franchisor.

Conclusion,

There's a bright future ahead for café franchises in India. The rise of the middle class and the urbanisation of India over the past decade have both contributed to the flourishing of India's café culture. Franchises in the café industry should expect to benefit greatly from this trend.

Now that we have taken a look at how the cafe franchises in India are growing at a rapid pace and based on the best cafe franchises in India, you can get in touch with us at FranchiseBazar to know more about the latest cafe franchises in India.

Disclaimer: The brands mentioned in this blog are the recommendations provided by the author. FranchiseBAZAR does not claim to work with these brands / represent them / or are associated with them in any manner. Investors and prospective franchisees are to do their own due diligence before investing in any franchise business at their own risk and discretion. FranchiseBAZAR or its Directors disclaim any liability or risks arising out of any transactions that may take place due to the information provided in this blog.