{"id":1817608,"date":"2026-09-11T10:35:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T08:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-coffee-shop-in-the-uk\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T09:37:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T07:37:06","slug":"how-to-open-a-coffee-shop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-coffee-shop-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"How to open a coffee shop in the UK in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The UK&#8217;s branded coffee shop market is estimated at \u00a36.8 billion across 12,313 outlets on the most recent annual industry survey, a fifth consecutive year of growth. Behind that headline, opening a coffee shop turns on four things: the site, the lease, the fit-out and the working capital.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-primary-color\">How to open a coffee shop in the UK, step by step<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The checklist, in the order openings usually run:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Format and food offer chosen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Catchment researched by hour, not by population<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building surveyed for water, power, drainage and bins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Roaster and service agreement chosen before the machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Business registered and till set up for VAT<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Funding arranged<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lease negotiated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food business registered 28 days before trading, licences obtained<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shop fitted out and equipment installed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staff recruited and trained, then opening<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opening under an established brand is the other route: the brands recruiting in the UK, with their published costs, are listed in our guide to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/our-franchises\/coffee\/\">coffee franchises in the UK<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pour-over-coffee-drip-kettle-glass-dripper.jpg\" alt=\"pour over coffee brewing in glass dripper\" class=\"wp-image-1817627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pour-over-coffee-drip-kettle-glass-dripper.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/coffee-pour-over-brewing-scene.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pour-over-coffee-chemex-kettle-brewing.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pour-over-coffee-brewing.jpg 480w, https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/coffee-pour-over-dripper-kettle-brewing.jpg 640w, https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pour-over-coffee-brewing-setup.jpg 359w, https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pour-over-coffee-brewing-glass-carafe.jpg 960w, https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/pour-over-coffee-brewing-chemex-kettle.jpg 1168w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1\">How to open a coffee shop in the UK, step by step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operators commonly describe the sequence below. The site drives the licences, the fit-out and most of the budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Settle the format and the offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A mobile van serving business parks, a counter inside somebody else&#8217;s site, a 40-cover eat-in shop and a roadside drive-thru are four different businesses selling the same drink. The food offer follows, and a kitchen changes the equipment and the hygiene plan. Two coffee businesses need no counter at all: an online brand selling roasted or repacked beans, often on subscription, and coffee added to an existing bakery, shop or salon to lift the average spend. Both still register as food businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Research the catchment and the competition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Coffee is a repeat-visit trade, so catchment work centres on the weekday rhythm of a postcode: commuter flow, office occupancy, anchor stores and the hours when footfall appears. With more than 12,000 branded outlets before independents, most viable sites already have competing coffee within a short walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Site type<\/th><th>What it gives<\/th><th>What it costs<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>High street<\/td><td>Footfall and visibility<\/td><td>Highest rent and rates, competition next door<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Office district<\/td><td>Strong weekday mornings, office accounts<\/td><td>Quiet weekends and holidays<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Residential parade<\/td><td>Loyal regulars, lower rent<\/td><td>Little passing trade, slower build<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Shopping centre or retail park<\/td><td>Footfall the landlord generates<\/td><td>Service charge, set opening hours<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Transport hub or hospital<\/td><td>Captive, all-day demand<\/td><td>Won by tender, host sets the terms<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Survey the building before you sign<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These cost nothing to check at viewing stage and each of them can make a unit unworkable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bin space.<\/strong> Coffee grounds are wet, heavy and daily, and waste is priced by weight<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water hardness.<\/strong> Hard water scales an espresso boiler, and much of England is hard-water country. Filtration and softening are specified against the local supply, not chosen from a catalogue, and the machine warranty usually depends on it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Power capacity.<\/strong> A multi-group machine plus grinders, fridges and an oven can exceed what a small unit&#8217;s supply delivers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drainage position.<\/strong> It decides where the counter can physically sit, and moving it means digging up a floor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Where the queue stands.<\/strong> A morning queue that spills onto the pavement loses the customers at the back<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Choose the roaster before the machine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In most UK independents the roaster supplies the beans, installs the equipment, services it and trains the staff, which makes that relationship worth more than the badge on the machine. The question to ask is not what the warranty covers but what happens when the machine fails at eight on a Saturday: response time, and whether a loan machine arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grinder count matters more than group count. Switching one grinder between decaf and a second bean kills a queue, and an espresso grind moves daily with humidity and bean age, so a quantity of coffee goes in the bin every morning before a single sale. That is stock, and it belongs in the forecast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Choose a structure and register the business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>sole trader<\/strong> registers for Self Assessment with HMRC. A <strong>private company limited by shares<\/strong> is incorporated at Companies House, with directors carrying statutory duties and now verifying their identity. The comparison is set out in the guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/sole-trader-vs-limited-company\/\">sole trader or limited company status<\/a>. A PAYE scheme follows before the first payday, and VAT registration once taxable turnover passes <strong>\u00a390,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VAT is where coffee shops lose money quietly. Anything consumed on the premises is a supply in the course of catering and is <strong>standard-rated at 20%<\/strong>, hot or cold. Hot drinks are standard-rated whether drunk in or taken away. Cold takeaway food is generally <strong>zero-rated<\/strong>, unless it is an excepted item such as confectionery, crisps, ice cream or a soft drink. Retail coffee beans are zero-rated. So the identical cold sandwich is 0% in a bag and 20% at a table, which is why caf\u00e9s track eat-in against takeaway separately at the till, and why getting the till categories wrong is expensive at the first inspection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Registrations that commonly follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Self Assessment or incorporation<\/strong> : with HMRC or Companies House<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A PAYE scheme<\/strong> : with HMRC, reporting on or before every payday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>VAT registration<\/strong> : once taxable turnover passes <strong>\u00a390,000<\/strong>, and voluntarily below it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A business bank account<\/strong> : separate from personal banking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n        <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider-wrapper\" data-slider-id=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider-6acdd860e32f2\">\n            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider swiper\">\n                <div 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class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title-content\">\n                                    <div>\n                                        <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-header-link\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/creams-cafe\/\">\n                                            <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title\">Creams Cafe<\/p>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                        <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-tag-line\">Dessert restaurant chain<\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                    <ul class=\"lf-gut-franchise-info-list\">\n                                        <li data-field=\"category\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M12.5852 21.9314H4.92807C3.01378 21.9314 2.05664 20.9355 2.05664 18.9438V10.9771C2.05664 8.98542 3.01378 7.98957 4.92807 7.98957M12.5852 21.9314C10.6709 21.9314 9.71378 20.9355 9.71378 18.9438M12.5852 21.9314H18.3281C20.2424 21.9314 21.1995 20.9355 21.1995 18.9438V5.00205C21.1995 3.01037 20.2424 2.01453 18.3281 2.01453H12.5852C10.6709 2.01453 9.71378 3.01037 9.71378 5.00205M4.92807 7.98957H9.71378M4.92807 7.98957V5.99789C4.92807 4.90247 5.7895 4.00621 6.84235 4.00621H9.81905C9.74248 4.30496 9.71378 4.63359 9.71378 5.00205M9.71378 7.98957V18.9438M9.71378 7.98957V5.00205M9.71378 18.9438V5.00205M13.5424 7.98957V12.9688M17.3709 7.98957V12.9688M5.88521 12.9688V16.9521M16.4138 16.9521H14.4995C13.9731 16.9521 13.5424 17.4003 13.5424 17.948V21.9314H17.3709V17.948C17.3709 17.4003 16.9402 16.9521 16.4138 16.9521Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Restaurant                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"locations\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M9.62821 12.2473C11.2775 12.2473 12.6145 10.8563 12.6145 9.14032C12.6145 7.42435 11.2775 6.03329 9.62821 6.03329C7.97893 6.03329 6.64192 7.42435 6.64192 9.14032C6.64192 10.8563 7.97893 12.2473 9.62821 12.2473Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><path d=\"M1.60735 7.32788C3.49292 -1.29611 15.7731 -1.28615 17.6491 7.33784C18.7498 12.3967 15.7252 16.6788 13.0739 19.3278C11.1501 21.2597 8.10635 21.2597 6.17292 19.3278C3.53121 16.6788 0.506638 12.3868 1.60735 7.32788Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>96 Locations                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"contribution\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 25\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M2.05664 9.19308H21.1995M5.88521 17.1598H7.7995M10.1924 17.1598H14.0209M6.30635 4.21387H16.9402C20.3476 4.21387 21.1995 5.09021 21.1995 8.58561V16.7615C21.1995 20.2569 20.3476 21.1332 16.9498 21.1332H6.30635C2.9085 21.1432 2.05664 20.2668 2.05664 16.7714V8.58561C2.05664 5.09021 2.9085 4.21387 6.30635 4.21387Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Liquid capital: \u00a385000                                        <\/li>\n                                                                            <\/ul>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-button\" rel=\"follow\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/creams-cafe\/?demandedocumentation=1&#038;utm_source=media&#038;utm_campaign=cta-slider&#038;utm_medium=https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-coffee-shop-in-the-uk\/\">I want more info<\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                            <div class=\"swiper-slide lf-gut-franchise-card\">\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image-wrapper\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/popotes_v2_no-logo_-7339-360x240.jpg\" class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image\" alt=\"Popotes\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-logo-center\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/new-popotes-150x150.png\" alt=\"Logo\">\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-content\">\n                                <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title-content\">\n                                    <div>\n                                        <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-header-link\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/popotes\/\">\n                                            <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title\">Popotes<\/p>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                        <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-tag-line\">Made-to-measure caf\u00e9-cantine<\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                    <ul class=\"lf-gut-franchise-info-list\">\n                                        <li data-field=\"category\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M12.5852 21.9314H4.92807C3.01378 21.9314 2.05664 20.9355 2.05664 18.9438V10.9771C2.05664 8.98542 3.01378 7.98957 4.92807 7.98957M12.5852 21.9314C10.6709 21.9314 9.71378 20.9355 9.71378 18.9438M12.5852 21.9314H18.3281C20.2424 21.9314 21.1995 20.9355 21.1995 18.9438V5.00205C21.1995 3.01037 20.2424 2.01453 18.3281 2.01453H12.5852C10.6709 2.01453 9.71378 3.01037 9.71378 5.00205M4.92807 7.98957H9.71378M4.92807 7.98957V5.99789C4.92807 4.90247 5.7895 4.00621 6.84235 4.00621H9.81905C9.74248 4.30496 9.71378 4.63359 9.71378 5.00205M9.71378 7.98957V18.9438M9.71378 7.98957V5.00205M9.71378 18.9438V5.00205M13.5424 7.98957V12.9688M17.3709 7.98957V12.9688M5.88521 12.9688V16.9521M16.4138 16.9521H14.4995C13.9731 16.9521 13.5424 17.4003 13.5424 17.948V21.9314H17.3709V17.948C17.3709 17.4003 16.9402 16.9521 16.4138 16.9521Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Restaurant                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"locations\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M9.62821 12.2473C11.2775 12.2473 12.6145 10.8563 12.6145 9.14032C12.6145 7.42435 11.2775 6.03329 9.62821 6.03329C7.97893 6.03329 6.64192 7.42435 6.64192 9.14032C6.64192 10.8563 7.97893 12.2473 9.62821 12.2473Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><path d=\"M1.60735 7.32788C3.49292 -1.29611 15.7731 -1.28615 17.6491 7.33784C18.7498 12.3967 15.7252 16.6788 13.0739 19.3278C11.1501 21.2597 8.10635 21.2597 6.17292 19.3278C3.53121 16.6788 0.506638 12.3868 1.60735 7.32788Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>11 locations                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"contribution\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 25\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M2.05664 9.19308H21.1995M5.88521 17.1598H7.7995M10.1924 17.1598H14.0209M6.30635 4.21387H16.9402C20.3476 4.21387 21.1995 5.09021 21.1995 8.58561V16.7615C21.1995 20.2569 20.3476 21.1332 16.9498 21.1332H6.30635C2.9085 21.1432 2.05664 20.2668 2.05664 16.7714V8.58561C2.05664 5.09021 2.9085 4.21387 6.30635 4.21387Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Liquid capital: \u00a370000                                        <\/li>\n                                                                            <\/ul>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-button\" rel=\"follow\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/popotes\/?demandedocumentation=1&#038;utm_source=media&#038;utm_campaign=cta-slider&#038;utm_medium=https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-coffee-shop-in-the-uk\/\">I want more info<\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                            <div class=\"swiper-slide lf-gut-franchise-card\">\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image-wrapper\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/hands-binoculars-on-pink-background.webp\" class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image\" alt=\"Costa Coffee\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-logo-center\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/costa-coffee-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Logo\">\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-content\">\n                                <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title-content\">\n                                    <div>\n                                        <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-header-link\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/costa-coffee\/\">\n                                            <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title\">Costa Coffee<\/p>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                        <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-tag-line\">Mocha Italia, roasted and served since 1971<\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                    <ul class=\"lf-gut-franchise-info-list\">\n                                        <li data-field=\"category\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M12.5852 21.9314H4.92807C3.01378 21.9314 2.05664 20.9355 2.05664 18.9438V10.9771C2.05664 8.98542 3.01378 7.98957 4.92807 7.98957M12.5852 21.9314C10.6709 21.9314 9.71378 20.9355 9.71378 18.9438M12.5852 21.9314H18.3281C20.2424 21.9314 21.1995 20.9355 21.1995 18.9438V5.00205C21.1995 3.01037 20.2424 2.01453 18.3281 2.01453H12.5852C10.6709 2.01453 9.71378 3.01037 9.71378 5.00205M4.92807 7.98957H9.71378M4.92807 7.98957V5.99789C4.92807 4.90247 5.7895 4.00621 6.84235 4.00621H9.81905C9.74248 4.30496 9.71378 4.63359 9.71378 5.00205M9.71378 7.98957V18.9438M9.71378 7.98957V5.00205M9.71378 18.9438V5.00205M13.5424 7.98957V12.9688M17.3709 7.98957V12.9688M5.88521 12.9688V16.9521M16.4138 16.9521H14.4995C13.9731 16.9521 13.5424 17.4003 13.5424 17.948V21.9314H17.3709V17.948C17.3709 17.4003 16.9402 16.9521 16.4138 16.9521Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Restaurant                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"locations\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M9.62821 12.2473C11.2775 12.2473 12.6145 10.8563 12.6145 9.14032C12.6145 7.42435 11.2775 6.03329 9.62821 6.03329C7.97893 6.03329 6.64192 7.42435 6.64192 9.14032C6.64192 10.8563 7.97893 12.2473 9.62821 12.2473Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><path d=\"M1.60735 7.32788C3.49292 -1.29611 15.7731 -1.28615 17.6491 7.33784C18.7498 12.3967 15.7252 16.6788 13.0739 19.3278C11.1501 21.2597 8.10635 21.2597 6.17292 19.3278C3.53121 16.6788 0.506638 12.3868 1.60735 7.32788Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"contribution\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 25\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M2.05664 9.19308H21.1995M5.88521 17.1598H7.7995M10.1924 17.1598H14.0209M6.30635 4.21387H16.9402C20.3476 4.21387 21.1995 5.09021 21.1995 8.58561V16.7615C21.1995 20.2569 20.3476 21.1332 16.9498 21.1332H6.30635C2.9085 21.1432 2.05664 20.2668 2.05664 16.7714V8.58561C2.05664 5.09021 2.9085 4.21387 6.30635 4.21387Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Liquid capital: \u00a3                                        <\/li>\n                                                                            <\/ul>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-button\" rel=\"follow\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/costa-coffee\/?demandedocumentation=1&#038;utm_source=media&#038;utm_campaign=cta-slider&#038;utm_medium=https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-coffee-shop-in-the-uk\/\">I want more info<\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                            <div class=\"swiper-slide lf-gut-franchise-card\">\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image-wrapper\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/hands-binoculars-on-pink-background.webp\" class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image\" alt=\"Tim Hortons\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-logo-center\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/tim-hortons-red-script-logo.png\" alt=\"Logo\">\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-content\">\n                                <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title-content\">\n                                    <div>\n                                        <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-header-link\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/tim-hortons\/\">\n                                            <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title\">Tim Hortons<\/p>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                        <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-tag-line\">Coffee, Timbits and an all-day menu<\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                    <ul class=\"lf-gut-franchise-info-list\">\n                                        <li data-field=\"category\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M12.5852 21.9314H4.92807C3.01378 21.9314 2.05664 20.9355 2.05664 18.9438V10.9771C2.05664 8.98542 3.01378 7.98957 4.92807 7.98957M12.5852 21.9314C10.6709 21.9314 9.71378 20.9355 9.71378 18.9438M12.5852 21.9314H18.3281C20.2424 21.9314 21.1995 20.9355 21.1995 18.9438V5.00205C21.1995 3.01037 20.2424 2.01453 18.3281 2.01453H12.5852C10.6709 2.01453 9.71378 3.01037 9.71378 5.00205M4.92807 7.98957H9.71378M4.92807 7.98957V5.99789C4.92807 4.90247 5.7895 4.00621 6.84235 4.00621H9.81905C9.74248 4.30496 9.71378 4.63359 9.71378 5.00205M9.71378 7.98957V18.9438M9.71378 7.98957V5.00205M9.71378 18.9438V5.00205M13.5424 7.98957V12.9688M17.3709 7.98957V12.9688M5.88521 12.9688V16.9521M16.4138 16.9521H14.4995C13.9731 16.9521 13.5424 17.4003 13.5424 17.948V21.9314H17.3709V17.948C17.3709 17.4003 16.9402 16.9521 16.4138 16.9521Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Coffee                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"locations\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M9.62821 12.2473C11.2775 12.2473 12.6145 10.8563 12.6145 9.14032C12.6145 7.42435 11.2775 6.03329 9.62821 6.03329C7.97893 6.03329 6.64192 7.42435 6.64192 9.14032C6.64192 10.8563 7.97893 12.2473 9.62821 12.2473Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><path d=\"M1.60735 7.32788C3.49292 -1.29611 15.7731 -1.28615 17.6491 7.33784C18.7498 12.3967 15.7252 16.6788 13.0739 19.3278C11.1501 21.2597 8.10635 21.2597 6.17292 19.3278C3.53121 16.6788 0.506638 12.3868 1.60735 7.32788Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"contribution\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 25\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M2.05664 9.19308H21.1995M5.88521 17.1598H7.7995M10.1924 17.1598H14.0209M6.30635 4.21387H16.9402C20.3476 4.21387 21.1995 5.09021 21.1995 8.58561V16.7615C21.1995 20.2569 20.3476 21.1332 16.9498 21.1332H6.30635C2.9085 21.1432 2.05664 20.2668 2.05664 16.7714V8.58561C2.05664 5.09021 2.9085 4.21387 6.30635 4.21387Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Liquid capital: \u00a3                                        <\/li>\n                                                                            <\/ul>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-button\" rel=\"follow\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/tim-hortons\/?demandedocumentation=1&#038;utm_source=media&#038;utm_campaign=cta-slider&#038;utm_medium=https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-coffee-shop-in-the-uk\/\">I want more info<\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                            <div class=\"swiper-slide lf-gut-franchise-card\">\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image-wrapper\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/hands-binoculars-on-pink-background.webp\" class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image\" alt=\"Cafe2U\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-logo-center\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/cafe-2u-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Logo\">\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-content\">\n                                <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title-content\">\n                                    <div>\n                                        <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-header-link\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/cafe2u\/\">\n                                            <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title\">Cafe2U<\/p>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                        <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-tag-line\">A mobile caf\u00e9 on a fixed weekly round<\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                    <ul class=\"lf-gut-franchise-info-list\">\n                                        <li data-field=\"category\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M12.5852 21.9314H4.92807C3.01378 21.9314 2.05664 20.9355 2.05664 18.9438V10.9771C2.05664 8.98542 3.01378 7.98957 4.92807 7.98957M12.5852 21.9314C10.6709 21.9314 9.71378 20.9355 9.71378 18.9438M12.5852 21.9314H18.3281C20.2424 21.9314 21.1995 20.9355 21.1995 18.9438V5.00205C21.1995 3.01037 20.2424 2.01453 18.3281 2.01453H12.5852C10.6709 2.01453 9.71378 3.01037 9.71378 5.00205M4.92807 7.98957H9.71378M4.92807 7.98957V5.99789C4.92807 4.90247 5.7895 4.00621 6.84235 4.00621H9.81905C9.74248 4.30496 9.71378 4.63359 9.71378 5.00205M9.71378 7.98957V18.9438M9.71378 7.98957V5.00205M9.71378 18.9438V5.00205M13.5424 7.98957V12.9688M17.3709 7.98957V12.9688M5.88521 12.9688V16.9521M16.4138 16.9521H14.4995C13.9731 16.9521 13.5424 17.4003 13.5424 17.948V21.9314H17.3709V17.948C17.3709 17.4003 16.9402 16.9521 16.4138 16.9521Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Coffee                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"locations\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M9.62821 12.2473C11.2775 12.2473 12.6145 10.8563 12.6145 9.14032C12.6145 7.42435 11.2775 6.03329 9.62821 6.03329C7.97893 6.03329 6.64192 7.42435 6.64192 9.14032C6.64192 10.8563 7.97893 12.2473 9.62821 12.2473Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><path d=\"M1.60735 7.32788C3.49292 -1.29611 15.7731 -1.28615 17.6491 7.33784C18.7498 12.3967 15.7252 16.6788 13.0739 19.3278C11.1501 21.2597 8.10635 21.2597 6.17292 19.3278C3.53121 16.6788 0.506638 12.3868 1.60735 7.32788Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"contribution\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 25\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M2.05664 9.19308H21.1995M5.88521 17.1598H7.7995M10.1924 17.1598H14.0209M6.30635 4.21387H16.9402C20.3476 4.21387 21.1995 5.09021 21.1995 8.58561V16.7615C21.1995 20.2569 20.3476 21.1332 16.9498 21.1332H6.30635C2.9085 21.1432 2.05664 20.2668 2.05664 16.7714V8.58561C2.05664 5.09021 2.9085 4.21387 6.30635 4.21387Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Liquid capital: \u00a315000                                        <\/li>\n                                                                            <\/ul>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-button\" rel=\"follow\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/cafe2u\/?demandedocumentation=1&#038;utm_source=media&#038;utm_campaign=cta-slider&#038;utm_medium=https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-coffee-shop-in-the-uk\/\">I want more info<\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                            <div class=\"swiper-slide lf-gut-franchise-card\">\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image-wrapper\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/hands-binoculars-on-pink-background.webp\" class=\"lf-gut-franchise-image\" alt=\"Esquires Coffee\">\n                                                                    <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-logo-center\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/esquires-coffee-logo.jpg\" alt=\"Logo\">\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-content\">\n                                <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title-content\">\n                                    <div>\n                                        <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-header-link\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/esquires-coffee\/\">\n                                            <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-title\">Esquires Coffee<\/p>\n                                        <\/a>\n                                        <p class=\"lf-gut-franchise-tag-line\">Organic, Fairtrade coffee with an independent feel<\/p>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                    <ul class=\"lf-gut-franchise-info-list\">\n                                        <li data-field=\"category\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M12.5852 21.9314H4.92807C3.01378 21.9314 2.05664 20.9355 2.05664 18.9438V10.9771C2.05664 8.98542 3.01378 7.98957 4.92807 7.98957M12.5852 21.9314C10.6709 21.9314 9.71378 20.9355 9.71378 18.9438M12.5852 21.9314H18.3281C20.2424 21.9314 21.1995 20.9355 21.1995 18.9438V5.00205C21.1995 3.01037 20.2424 2.01453 18.3281 2.01453H12.5852C10.6709 2.01453 9.71378 3.01037 9.71378 5.00205M4.92807 7.98957H9.71378M4.92807 7.98957V5.99789C4.92807 4.90247 5.7895 4.00621 6.84235 4.00621H9.81905C9.74248 4.30496 9.71378 4.63359 9.71378 5.00205M9.71378 7.98957V18.9438M9.71378 7.98957V5.00205M9.71378 18.9438V5.00205M13.5424 7.98957V12.9688M17.3709 7.98957V12.9688M5.88521 12.9688V16.9521M16.4138 16.9521H14.4995C13.9731 16.9521 13.5424 17.4003 13.5424 17.948V21.9314H17.3709V17.948C17.3709 17.4003 16.9402 16.9521 16.4138 16.9521Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Coffee                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"locations\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M9.62821 12.2473C11.2775 12.2473 12.6145 10.8563 12.6145 9.14032C12.6145 7.42435 11.2775 6.03329 9.62821 6.03329C7.97893 6.03329 6.64192 7.42435 6.64192 9.14032C6.64192 10.8563 7.97893 12.2473 9.62821 12.2473Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><path d=\"M1.60735 7.32788C3.49292 -1.29611 15.7731 -1.28615 17.6491 7.33784C18.7498 12.3967 15.7252 16.6788 13.0739 19.3278C11.1501 21.2597 8.10635 21.2597 6.17292 19.3278C3.53121 16.6788 0.506638 12.3868 1.60735 7.32788Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>                                        <\/li>\n                                        <li data-field=\"contribution\">\n                                            <span class=\"lf-gut-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"25\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 25\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M2.05664 9.19308H21.1995M5.88521 17.1598H7.7995M10.1924 17.1598H14.0209M6.30635 4.21387H16.9402C20.3476 4.21387 21.1995 5.09021 21.1995 8.58561V16.7615C21.1995 20.2569 20.3476 21.1332 16.9498 21.1332H6.30635C2.9085 21.1432 2.05664 20.2668 2.05664 16.7714V8.58561C2.05664 5.09021 2.9085 4.21387 6.30635 4.21387Z\" stroke=\"#E53B12\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg> <\/span>Liquid capital: \u00a3100000                                        <\/li>\n                                                                            <\/ul>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                <a class=\"lf-gut-franchise-button\" rel=\"follow\" href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/franchise\/esquires-coffee\/?demandedocumentation=1&#038;utm_source=media&#038;utm_campaign=cta-slider&#038;utm_medium=https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/how-to-open-a-coffee-shop-in-the-uk\/\">I want more info<\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"lf-gut-franchise-slider-nav\">\n                <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div>\n                <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Arrange the funding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Funding usually combines own capital with a commercial loan, and sometimes asset finance on the machine or the vehicle. <strong>Start Up Loans<\/strong>, run by a British Business Bank subsidiary, lends up to <strong>\u00a325,000<\/strong> per applicant at a fixed <strong>7.5%<\/strong> over one to five years, unsecured, to a maximum of \u00a3100,000 per business. The British Business Bank&#8217;s guidance indicates that with an established franchise brand the franchisee will need at least 30% of total set-up costs, including working capital, from their own funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Find a site and negotiate the lease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UK commercial leases carry no statutory term structure and no automatic renewal right, so the term, the reviews and the exit are all negotiated. Most small hospitality units are let on a <strong>fully repairing and insuring<\/strong> basis, putting the repairing obligation on the tenant and creating a dilapidations liability at expiry. Personal guarantees are routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The clauses that decide the value:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Security of tenure<\/strong> : in England and Wales the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Part II confers a renewal right, and contracting out requires the prescribed notice and declaration procedure. Scotland has no Part II equivalent, and Northern Ireland does not permit contracting out<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rent review<\/strong> : upward-only reviews are common<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Break clause and alienation<\/strong> : the exit route, and whether the lease can be assigned<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>VAT on rent<\/strong> : normally exempt, but a landlord that has opted to tax charges VAT at 20% on it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Register the food business and obtain the licences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food business registration goes to the local authority <strong>at least 28 days before trading<\/strong>. It is free, it cannot be refused, and it applies to fixed premises, mobile units and stalls. Registration is not permission, and it is separate from planning: in England a coffee shop with seating falls within <strong>Use Class E<\/strong>, so a move between uses inside that class is not a material change, while a hot food takeaway sits outside it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Requirements commonly include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Planning permission or a change of use<\/strong> : depending on the unit&#8217;s current Use Class and any alterations to the shopfront<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A pavement licence<\/strong> : for removable tables and chairs on the highway in England, under the Business and Planning Act 2020 as amended by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The fee is capped at <strong>\u00a3500<\/strong> for a first application and <strong>\u00a3350<\/strong> on renewal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A premises licence, and a personal licence for the named holder<\/strong> : where alcohol is sold<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A documented food safety management system<\/strong> : with allergen information for prepacked for direct sale and loose items, ahead of the environmental health inspection that sets the published food hygiene rating<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Employers&#8217; liability insurance and public liability cover<\/strong> : the first is a legal requirement once staff are taken on<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Fit out the shop and source the equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fit-out is normally the largest single line in a fixed-site budget, driven less by furniture than by services: extraction, water treatment, power, refrigeration and drainage. Most units are let in shell condition or as the previous tenant left them, so a former caf\u00e9 and a former retail unit are very different propositions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Recruit, train and open<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The morning peak sets headcount. Staff need food hygiene training proportionate to their role, and right to work checks apply to every recruit. Training usually covers espresso and milk standards, allergens, the till&#8217;s eat-in and takeaway keys, and opening and closing routines. Since 1 October 2021, anything packed on site before a customer chooses it, such as a wrapped sandwich or a bagged cookie, carries a full ingredients label with allergens emphasised. On pay, the statutory floor is the National Living Wage, while the voluntary real Living Wage set by the Living Wage Foundation is \u00a313.45 an hour, or \u00a314.80 in London, for 2025-26, and many independents recruit against it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marketing starts before the fit-out ends: securing the coffee shop&#8217;s name on social platforms, setting up a Google Business Profile with accurate hours, showing the fit-out as it happens, and a soft opening for neighbours and nearby offices so the first reviews arrive before the first busy week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-primary-color\">What licences does a coffee shop need in the UK?<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Registration is the only step every coffee shop takes; the rest depends on the site, the hours and the offer. In England and Wales:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Licence or registration<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">When it is needed<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Food business registration<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Always, with the local authority, at least 28 days before trading. Free<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Planning or change of use<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">When the unit is not already in a use that covers a caf\u00e9, or the shopfront changes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Pavement licence<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">For tables and chairs on the highway in England. Fee capped at \u00a3500, \u00a3350 on renewal<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Premises licence for alcohol<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">When alcohol is sold, plus a personal licence for the designated premises supervisor<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Premises licence for late night refreshment<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">When hot drinks or hot food are served between 11pm and 5am, including from a van<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">When any music is played, including a radio in the kitchen for staff<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Street trading consent<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">For a van, cart or stall trading in a consent street, from each council traded in<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Advertisement consent<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">For some shop signs, typically illuminated or projecting ones, and most signs in conservation areas<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Employers&#8217; liability insurance<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">A legal requirement from the first employee; public liability is not compulsory but landlords usually require it<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Sources: Licensing Act 2003; council licensing pages; PPL PRS. Scotland and Northern Ireland run separate licensing regimes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waste is a duty rather than a licence: in England, coffee grounds count as food waste and must be separated, since 31 March 2025 for businesses with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees and from 31 March 2027 for smaller ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-primary-color\">Coffee shop equipment: what a new shop needs<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Espresso machine<\/strong>: sized to the morning peak, with group count following the queue, not the floor area<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Grinders<\/strong>: one per coffee on offer, plus one for decaf, since switching a grinder mid-service stops the queue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water filtration or softening<\/strong>: specified against the local water supply and usually a warranty condition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Refrigeration<\/strong>: under-counter milk fridges at the machine, plus a display chiller if food is sold<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dishwasher or glasswasher<\/strong>: and a separate wash-hand basin, since food hygiene rules require handwashing facilities apart from food preparation sinks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Oven<\/strong>: for bake-off pastries or toasties, which changes the power load and the hygiene plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Till system<\/strong>: with separate eat-in and takeaway buttons so each sale carries the right VAT rate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supply route<\/strong>: bought outright, leased, or supplied by the roaster on a bean contract, which usually trades a lower upfront cost for a commitment to buy the roaster&#8217;s coffee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In-house roasting<\/strong>: usually a later step. Gas roasters need extraction and often an afterburner; compact electric roasters reduce the ventilation work but still need power capacity, space and a roasting skill the coffee shop has to build<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2\">What the trading day actually looks like<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A large share of the day happens in about ninety minutes.<\/strong>&nbsp;Speed of service at eight in the morning is the whole operation, and everything else is a rounding error<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Afternoons are the problem to solve<\/strong>, not the morning. Most shops are busy at eight and empty at three, and what fills that gap decides the week<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Food carries the margin coffee alone will not.<\/strong>&nbsp;A pastry cabinet changes the basket; a kitchen changes the business<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Retail beans and equipment are high margin<\/strong>&nbsp;and take no extra labour, and they are zero-rated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Barista turnover is high and training is the cost.<\/strong>&nbsp;Losing someone in week six means paying to train twice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>An owner behind the machine cannot grow the business<\/strong>, and cannot easily sell it either<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3\">Types of coffee shop business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Five formats account for most of the UK market, and they differ on who controls the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mobile van or trailer<\/strong> : serves business parks, industrial estates and events. No premises, no lease and no business rates on a shop, with the vehicle as the main asset<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kiosk or counter concession<\/strong> : inside a transport hub, supermarket or hospital. Lower fit-out, but the host controls the site and it is usually won by tender<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High street eat-in shop<\/strong> : the classic format, with the highest exposure to rent, rates and dilapidations, and goodwill attached to the site<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drive-thru<\/strong> : roadside and retail park sites, high volume, and the most capital-intensive, since it usually involves land, construction and planning consent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Roastery-caf\u00e9 or food-led hybrid<\/strong> : adds wholesale, e-commerce or a bakery offer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4\">How much does it cost to open a coffee shop?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no official UK average start-up cost for a coffee shop, and no disclosure filing to consult, because the UK has none. What is citable is what named franchisors publish about their own models, which at least shows the spread between formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lines that move a start-up budget most are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The site and the lease<\/strong> : any premium, the rent deposit, and on an FRI lease the repairing obligation and dilapidations at expiry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The fit-out, the equipment and the opening stock<\/strong> : extraction, water treatment, power, refrigeration, counter and seating, plus the machine, the grinders and the opening coffee order<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Business rates<\/strong> : rateable value multiplied by the applicable multiplier, net of any relief<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Staff<\/strong> : the National Living Wage is <strong>\u00a312.71<\/strong> an hour for those aged 21 and over from 1 April 2026 and <strong>\u00a310.85<\/strong> for 18 to 20 year olds, plus employer National Insurance at <strong>15%<\/strong> above \u00a35,000 a year per employee, less the <strong>\u00a310,500<\/strong> Employment Allowance, and a 3% employer pension minimum on qualifying earnings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Licences and professional fees<\/strong> : registration is free and a pavement licence is capped at \u00a3500 in England, solicitors&#8217; fees are not<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Working capital<\/strong> : the months between opening and settled trade, and the line the British Business Bank&#8217;s 30% indication explicitly includes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference\" style=\"border-color: #fcb900;\"><div class=\"lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference__icon\" style=\"color: #fcb900;\"><svg class=\"icon-thumb-up\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"35\" height=\"35\" viewBox=\"0 0 48 48\" fill=\"none\" style=\"color: #fcb900;\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M21.4998 4.89989L20.8499 4.13985L20.8474 4.14202L21.4998 4.89989ZM26.5397 4.89989L27.1922 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7.49976 12.4199H9.49976ZM12.3597 9.56005H15.8198V7.56005H12.3597V9.56005ZM15.8198 9.56005C16.3651 9.56005 16.9669 9.4189 17.4956 9.22247C18.0244 9.02599 18.5762 8.7385 18.9947 8.3758L17.6849 6.86442C17.5034 7.02171 17.1852 7.2042 16.799 7.34769C16.4127 7.49123 16.0544 7.56005 15.8198 7.56005V9.56005ZM18.9922 8.37798L22.1522 5.65777L20.8474 4.14202L17.6874 6.86224L18.9922 8.37798ZM19.1685 30.4314L22.0685 32.6714L23.291 31.0886L20.3911 28.8486L19.1685 30.4314ZM21.9726 32.5871C22.3408 32.9552 22.8395 33.1544 23.2304 33.2648C23.645 33.3819 24.0864 33.44 24.4598 33.44V31.44C24.2731 31.44 24.0145 31.4081 23.7741 31.3401C23.6565 31.3069 23.5592 31.2695 23.4859 31.233C23.4093 31.1948 23.3839 31.1699 23.3869 31.1729L21.9726 32.5871ZM24.4598 33.44H27.9998V31.44H24.4598V33.44ZM27.9998 33.44C28.799 33.44 29.5865 33.1456 30.2139 32.6881C30.842 32.2301 31.3818 31.5549 31.5899 30.7226L29.6496 30.2375C29.5777 30.5252 29.3675 30.83 29.0356 31.072C28.7031 31.3145 28.3205 31.44 27.9998 31.44V33.44ZM31.5701 30.7913L33.8101 23.9512L31.9094 23.3288L29.6694 30.1688L31.5701 30.7913ZM33.8025 23.9735C34.1312 23.0445 34.0165 22.0828 33.4742 21.3419C32.9352 20.6053 32.0571 20.2 31.0798 20.2V22.2C31.5024 22.2 31.7444 22.3647 31.8603 22.5231C31.973 22.6772 32.0483 22.9354 31.917 23.3064L33.8025 23.9735ZM31.0798 20.2H27.3398V22.2H31.0798V20.2ZM27.3398 20.2C27.3373 20.2 27.3416 20.1997 27.3504 20.2035C27.359 20.2074 27.3692 20.2142 27.3782 20.2243C27.3876 20.235 27.3914 20.2444 27.3923 20.2472C27.3932 20.2503 27.3881 20.2367 27.3925 20.2005L25.407 19.9598C25.2548 21.2156 26.1799 22.2 27.3398 22.2V20.2ZM27.3882 20.2317L27.8482 17.2317L25.8713 16.9286L25.4113 19.9286L27.3882 20.2317ZM27.8375 17.2897C28.1304 15.9229 27.2511 14.5031 25.956 14.0714L25.3235 15.9688C25.7084 16.0971 25.949 16.5575 25.8819 16.8706L27.8375 17.2897ZM25.9937 14.0848C25.3555 13.8433 24.6881 13.9027 24.1473 14.0902C23.612 14.2757 23.0868 14.6256 22.7523 15.1185L24.4072 16.2415C24.4528 16.1744 24.5875 16.0543 24.8023 15.9799C25.0114 15.9074 25.1841 15.9169 25.2859 15.9554L25.9937 14.0848ZM22.7504 15.1213L18.9104 20.8212L20.5691 21.9387L24.4091 16.2387L22.7504 15.1213ZM15.9998 29.6399V20.48H13.9998V29.6399H15.9998ZM15.9998 20.48C15.9998 20.2144 16.0287 20.0485 16.0604 19.9495C16.0888 19.8605 16.1152 19.837 16.121 19.8316C16.1424 19.812 16.2914 19.7 16.8798 19.7V17.7C16.1482 17.7 15.3571 17.8179 14.7685 18.3583C14.1585 18.9183 13.9998 19.7102 13.9998 20.48H15.9998ZM16.8798 19.7H17.8198V17.7H16.8798V19.7ZM17.8198 19.7C18.3941 19.7 18.5477 19.8104 18.574 19.8344C18.5776 19.8376 18.6998 19.9386 18.6998 20.48H20.6998C20.6998 19.7014 20.532 18.9123 19.9205 18.3556C19.3318 17.8195 18.5455 17.7 17.8198 17.7V19.7ZM18.6998 20.48V29.6399H20.6998V20.48H18.6998ZM18.6998 29.6399C18.6998 30.1755 18.5805 30.2788 18.5752 30.2838C18.5511 30.3061 18.3996 30.4199 17.8198 30.4199V32.4199C18.56 32.4199 19.3484 32.2937 19.9343 31.751C20.539 31.191 20.6998 30.4043 20.6998 29.6399H18.6998ZM17.8198 30.4199H16.8798V32.4199H17.8198V30.4199ZM16.8798 30.4199C16.2914 30.4199 16.1424 30.3079 16.121 30.2883C16.1152 30.2829 16.0888 30.2593 16.0604 30.1704C16.0287 30.0714 15.9998 29.9055 15.9998 29.6399H13.9998C13.9998 30.4097 14.1585 31.2015 14.7685 31.7616C15.3571 32.302 16.1482 32.4199 16.8798 32.4199V30.4199Z\"\/><\/svg><\/div><h3 class=\"lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference__title lf-transform-none\">Good to know<\/h3><div class=\"lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference__lede\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-lexpress-highlighted-text-v2 lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference__lede\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Business rates are the line most often left out of a coffee shop budget, and they changed in England on 1 April 2026. Five multipliers now apply, including a <strong>small business retail, hospitality and leisure multiplier of 38.2p<\/strong> under \u00a351,000 rateable value and a <strong>standard RHL multiplier of 43.0p<\/strong> up to \u00a3499,999, replacing the temporary 40% RHL discount. Small Business Rate Relief still gives <strong>100%<\/strong> relief up to <strong>\u00a312,000<\/strong>, tapering to nil at \u00a315,000. England only: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run separate schemes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Opening a caf\u00e9 on a low budget or with no money<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no zero-capital route into coffee, but the low-budget routes share one feature: they avoid the fit-out. Operators commonly start with a van, cart or market stall; a counter or concession inside a host site such as an office, gym or garden centre; the assignment of an existing caf\u00e9 lease with the kit already in place; or a pop-up on short-term licence. An online bean brand can start from home, registered as a food business, with the council consulted if the home is used for trade. A roaster-supplied machine removes the largest equipment cost, and Start Up Loans funds up to \u00a325,000 unsecured. Food registration is free and cannot be refused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What changes when opening a coffee shop in London<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rent is the obvious difference. Business rates differ too: London valuations rose by an average of 22.3% at the 2026 revaluation, transitional relief caps 2026\/27 increases at 5% for London properties up to \u00a328,000 rateable value against \u00a320,000 elsewhere, and the Crossrail Business Rate Supplement of 2p in the pound applies only above \u00a392,000 rateable value, so most small caf\u00e9s fall below it. The National Living Wage is the same as everywhere else; the London Living Wage is voluntary. Pavement licences and street trading are handled borough by borough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5\">Coffee shop franchise opportunities in the UK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/articles\/what-is-a-franchise\/\">Franchising in the UK is governed by general contract law<\/a>. There is no franchise statute, no register and no statutory pre-contract disclosure requirement, and the British Franchise Association&#8217;s Code of Ethics binds its voluntary members rather than the market. Per-brand figures therefore come from what each franchisor publishes on its own pages, dated, and nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In coffee, as in much of UK franchising, several of the largest brands recruit operators who already hold the site or the operating business. &#8220;It is a franchise&#8221; and &#8220;an individual can buy one&#8221; are two separate statements.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference\" style=\"border-color: #9b51e0;\"><div class=\"lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference__icon\" style=\"color: #9b51e0;\"><svg class=\"icon-thumb-up\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"35\" height=\"35\" viewBox=\"0 0 48 48\" fill=\"none\" style=\"color: #9b51e0;\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M21.4998 4.89989L20.8499 4.13985L20.8474 4.14202L21.4998 4.89989ZM26.5397 4.89989L27.1922 4.14197L27.1842 4.13526L26.5397 4.89989ZM29.6998 7.62011L30.3547 6.86441L30.3522 6.86223L29.6998 7.62011ZM40.4197 18.3401L41.1776 17.6877L41.1754 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30.7913ZM33.8025 23.9735C34.1312 23.0445 34.0165 22.0828 33.4742 21.3419C32.9352 20.6053 32.0571 20.2 31.0798 20.2V22.2C31.5024 22.2 31.7444 22.3647 31.8603 22.5231C31.973 22.6772 32.0483 22.9354 31.917 23.3064L33.8025 23.9735ZM31.0798 20.2H27.3398V22.2H31.0798V20.2ZM27.3398 20.2C27.3373 20.2 27.3416 20.1997 27.3504 20.2035C27.359 20.2074 27.3692 20.2142 27.3782 20.2243C27.3876 20.235 27.3914 20.2444 27.3923 20.2472C27.3932 20.2503 27.3881 20.2367 27.3925 20.2005L25.407 19.9598C25.2548 21.2156 26.1799 22.2 27.3398 22.2V20.2ZM27.3882 20.2317L27.8482 17.2317L25.8713 16.9286L25.4113 19.9286L27.3882 20.2317ZM27.8375 17.2897C28.1304 15.9229 27.2511 14.5031 25.956 14.0714L25.3235 15.9688C25.7084 16.0971 25.949 16.5575 25.8819 16.8706L27.8375 17.2897ZM25.9937 14.0848C25.3555 13.8433 24.6881 13.9027 24.1473 14.0902C23.612 14.2757 23.0868 14.6256 22.7523 15.1185L24.4072 16.2415C24.4528 16.1744 24.5875 16.0543 24.8023 15.9799C25.0114 15.9074 25.1841 15.9169 25.2859 15.9554L25.9937 14.0848ZM22.7504 15.1213L18.9104 20.8212L20.5691 21.9387L24.4091 16.2387L22.7504 15.1213ZM15.9998 29.6399V20.48H13.9998V29.6399H15.9998ZM15.9998 20.48C15.9998 20.2144 16.0287 20.0485 16.0604 19.9495C16.0888 19.8605 16.1152 19.837 16.121 19.8316C16.1424 19.812 16.2914 19.7 16.8798 19.7V17.7C16.1482 17.7 15.3571 17.8179 14.7685 18.3583C14.1585 18.9183 13.9998 19.7102 13.9998 20.48H15.9998ZM16.8798 19.7H17.8198V17.7H16.8798V19.7ZM17.8198 19.7C18.3941 19.7 18.5477 19.8104 18.574 19.8344C18.5776 19.8376 18.6998 19.9386 18.6998 20.48H20.6998C20.6998 19.7014 20.532 18.9123 19.9205 18.3556C19.3318 17.8195 18.5455 17.7 17.8198 17.7V19.7ZM18.6998 20.48V29.6399H20.6998V20.48H18.6998ZM18.6998 29.6399C18.6998 30.1755 18.5805 30.2788 18.5752 30.2838C18.5511 30.3061 18.3996 30.4199 17.8198 30.4199V32.4199C18.56 32.4199 19.3484 32.2937 19.9343 31.751C20.539 31.191 20.6998 30.4043 20.6998 29.6399H18.6998ZM17.8198 30.4199H16.8798V32.4199H17.8198V30.4199ZM16.8798 30.4199C16.2914 30.4199 16.1424 30.3079 16.121 30.2883C16.1152 30.2829 16.0888 30.2593 16.0604 30.1704C16.0287 30.0714 15.9998 29.9055 15.9998 29.6399H13.9998C13.9998 30.4097 14.1585 31.2015 14.7685 31.7616C15.3571 32.302 16.1482 32.4199 16.8798 32.4199V30.4199Z\"\/><\/svg><\/div><p class=\"lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference__title lf-transform-none\">Editor&#8217;s tip<\/p><div class=\"lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference__lede\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-lexpress-highlighted-text-v2 lf-gut-blog-post-cta-efference__lede\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What separates the mobile model from the high street model is not the coffee, it is the property. A van carries no rent, no service charge, no business rates on a shop and no dilapidations, and its goodwill travels with the round. A fixed shop attaches its goodwill to a site, which is why the renewal position on the lease decides what the business is worth on a resale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6\">How to market a coffee shop locally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Coffee is a repeat trade, so marketing is about frequency rather than reach. A Google Business Profile, accurate opening hours and photographs that look like the actual shop do more than paid advertising, because most people searching for coffee are within walking distance and deciding in the moment. Reviews arrive early and persist, which is the argument for that soft launch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond that the things that work are unglamorous: a loyalty scheme rewarding the fifth visit rather than the fiftieth, a relationship with nearby offices, and being the shop that opens reliably at seven when the one opposite opens at eight. Wholesale bags and office accounts are worth the effort for the same reason, because they generate revenue that does not depend on someone walking through the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7\">The practical difficulties operators report<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four pressures dominate trade coverage in 2026, and none is about the coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Labour cost<\/strong> : the 18 to 20 band rose <strong>8.5%<\/strong> to \u00a310.85 an hour on 1 April 2026, the steepest of the four bands and the one matching the age profile food service tends to employ. There is no tipped wage in the UK: the minimum must be met in pay before tips<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Occupancy cost reset<\/strong> : the 2026 revaluation gave every property in England a new rateable value from 1 April 2026, based on rents at 1 April 2024, at the same time as the multipliers changed. A lower multiplier does not automatically mean a lower bill<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Green coffee volatility<\/strong> : Arabica futures reached a record in February 2025 and have traded well above their pre-2024 range since, in a market priced in US dollars. Suppliers report that energy, labour and packaging costs have not come down with it<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Density of competition<\/strong> : more than 12,300 branded outlets on top of the independents, in a category that now takes in bakery chains and forecourt sites<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8\">The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check <strong>water hardness, power capacity and drainage<\/strong> before signing anything<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set the <strong>till categories<\/strong> correctly on day one: eat-in is 20%, cold takeaway is 0%, hot drinks are 20% either way<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose the <strong>roaster and the service agreement<\/strong> before the machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ninety minutes<\/strong> in the morning carries the day, and the afternoon is the problem to solve<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Separate <strong>food waste<\/strong> from 31 March 2025 at 10 or more staff, 31 March 2027 below that<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>alienation clause<\/strong> decides whether the business can ever be sold<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opening a coffee shop in the UK runs through the same sequence whatever the format: format and catchment, plan and funding, site and lease, registration and licences, fit-out, then staff and opening. On the franchisors&#8217; own published figures the capital spans from around \u00a342,500 for a franchised van to \u00a3250,000 or more for a high street shop, with no official UK average in between. Property, labour and the coffee price are the variables that move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <div class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block\">\n                            <span                    class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__title\"\n                    style=\"text-transform: none;\"\n                >\n                    Frequently asked questions about opening a coffee shop in the UK                <\/span>\n                        \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-lexpress-faq-v2-item lf-gut-faq-v2-block__item\"><h3 class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-wrapper\"><button class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-target=\".lf-gut-answer-k3mq7rz1p\"><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-text\">How much does it cost to open a coffee shop in the UK?<\/span><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-icon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"icon-thumb-up\" src=\"https:\/\/feb26.lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/i-chevron-white.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__answer lf-gut-faq-v2-answer-k3mq7rz1plf-gut-answer-k3mq7rz1p\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No official UK average exists and there is no disclosure filing to consult. The citable figures are franchisor-published: Cafe2U gives around \u00a342,500 for a mobile van including a vehicle deposit and equipment, and Esquires Coffee gives \u00a3250,000 to \u00a3300,000 for a high street shop, excluding stock, marketing and working capital.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-lexpress-faq-v2-item lf-gut-faq-v2-block__item\"><h3 class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-wrapper\"><button class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-target=\".lf-gut-answer-b8vt2xnd5\"><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-text\">What licences does a coffee shop need in the UK?<\/span><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-icon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"icon-thumb-up\" src=\"https:\/\/feb26.lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/i-chevron-white.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__answer lf-gut-faq-v2-answer-b8vt2xnd5lf-gut-answer-b8vt2xnd5\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food business registration with the local authority is required at least 28 days before trading, and it is free and cannot be refused. Beyond that it depends on the site: planning permission or a change of use, a pavement licence for tables on the highway, and a premises licence where alcohol is sold. Procedures differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-lexpress-faq-v2-item lf-gut-faq-v2-block__item\"><h3 class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-wrapper\"><button class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-target=\".lf-gut-answer-3ks5lajuz\"><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-text\">Do you charge VAT on coffee in the UK?<\/span><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-icon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"icon-thumb-up\" src=\"https:\/\/feb26.lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/i-chevron-white.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__answer lf-gut-faq-v2-answer-3ks5lajuzlf-gut-answer-3ks5lajuz\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, at 20%. Hot drinks including tea, coffee and hot chocolate are standard-rated whether drunk on the premises or taken away. Anything consumed on the premises is a supply in the course of catering and is standard-rated regardless of what it is, so a cold sandwich eaten at a table is 20% while the same sandwich in a bag is zero-rated. Retail coffee beans sold to take home are zero-rated. This is why caf\u00e9s record eat-in and takeaway separately at the till.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-lexpress-faq-v2-item lf-gut-faq-v2-block__item\"><h3 class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-wrapper\"><button class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-target=\".lf-gut-answer-rorz87jwa\"><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-text\">Does a coffee shop have to separate food waste?<\/span><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-icon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"icon-thumb-up\" src=\"https:\/\/feb26.lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/i-chevron-white.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__answer lf-gut-faq-v2-answer-rorz87jwalf-gut-answer-rorz87jwa\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In England, yes, and the deadline depends on size. Under Simpler Recycling, businesses and non-domestic premises with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees have had to separate food waste, dry recyclables and residual waste since 31 March 2025. Businesses below that threshold have until 31 March 2027, when flexible plastics are added for everyone. Coffee grounds and tea bags count as food waste and must be separated, whatever the quantity. Wales operates equivalent workplace recycling rules.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-lexpress-faq-v2-item lf-gut-faq-v2-block__item\"><h3 class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-wrapper\"><button class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-target=\".lf-gut-answer-wf7ul6n3e\"><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-text\">What is the biggest mistake when opening a coffee shop?<\/span><span class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__question-icon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"icon-thumb-up\" src=\"https:\/\/feb26.lexpress-franchise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/i-chevron-white.svg\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"lf-gut-faq-v2-block__answer lf-gut-faq-v2-answer-wf7ul6n3elf-gut-answer-wf7ul6n3e\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three recur. Signing a lease before checking water hardness, power capacity and drainage, any of which can make a unit unworkable or expensive. Designing the counter for looks rather than for the morning queue, when order sequencing is what limits throughput at peak. And planning for the morning while ignoring the afternoon, which is where most shops are empty and where the week is actually won or lost.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n        ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UK&#8217;s branded coffee shop market is estimated at \u00a36.8 billion across 12,313 outlets on the most recent annual industry survey, a fifth consecutive year of growth. Behind that headline, opening a coffee shop turns on four things: the site, the lease, the fit-out and the working capital. How to open a coffee shop in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":994,"featured_media":1817626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"How to open a coffee shop in the UK in %%currentyear%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"How to open a coffee shop in the UK: the steps, the licences, the lease, business rates, and what UK coffee franchisors publish about start-up costs.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"content-type":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"242384,1585361,1381359,1498666,415486,81609","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[875,887,3583],"tags":[],"type-de-post":[438],"class_list":["post-1817608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-getting-started","category-market-entry","category-entrepreneurship","type-de-post-articles"],"acf":[],"permalink_manager":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1817608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/994"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1817608"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1817608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1817671,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1817608\/revisions\/1817671"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1817626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1817608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1817608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1817608"},{"taxonomy":"type-de-post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lexpress-franchise.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-de-post?post=1817608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}