Coffee Shop
Startup Cost Calculator

Most US specialty coffee shops cost $80,000 to $300,000 to open. A small espresso bar or kiosk can launch for $50,000–$100,000; a full café with seating and a kitchen typically runs $150,000–$400,000; drive-thrus tend to start around $250,000. The biggest variables are location tier (rent and buildout), equipment quality, and how much sweat equity the founder brings.

Working capital for the first 6 months. Most first-time owners budget construction and equipment but underestimate that they need to cover payroll, rent, ingredients, marketing, and utilities while traffic builds. Plan for 4–6 months of operating expenses on top of buildout costs.

Yes — kiosks, mobile coffee carts, drive-thru trailers, and ghost-kitchen pop-ups can launch in the $20,000–$50,000 range. The trade-off is smaller revenue potential and less brand visibility. Most operators we work with treat this as a launchpad to a full café within 2–3 years.

It's based on real numbers from 30+ independent specialty cafés that have opened in the past three years. Expect actual costs to land within ±15% of the estimate for a similar concept and location tier. Use it as a budget anchor, not a final number — get real quotes from contractors, equipment vendors, and landlords for your specific build.

Ongoing monthly: rent (10–15% of revenue target), labor (25–35%), COGS (28–32%), utilities, insurance, software stack, marketing, and maintenance. A common rookie mistake is underestimating equipment maintenance and software — both are unsexy line items that quietly add up.