Complete Guide to Starting a Café in Iran: From Scratch to Profit

Opening a cozy café where you can brighten people’s day with delicious items is a common dream among many food and coffee enthusiasts (and of course, those who want to get rich!). Setting up a café in Iran has long been considered a profitable business idea, but is having enough capital enough? Certainly not!

The success of a café, besides capital, depends on careful planning, creativity, and understanding the target market. If you think that simply buying a few tables and chairs, getting an espresso machine, and hiring a barista will guarantee loyal customers, you should know that the reality is much more complex!

Types and Models of Coffee Shops

To implement the idea of setting up a café in your city, you should know that there are several models to consider.

Franchise:

If you want to leverage the reputation of a well-known brand, a franchise is the best option. Brands like Café Vienna or Starbucks (outside Iran, of course!) allow you to open a branch by paying a fee and following their standards. The advantage of this method is that you don’t have to start from scratch; the brand, menu, guidelines, and even marketing are ready! However, keep in mind that this approach offers limited freedom.

Buying an existing café:

Some people sell their cafés for various reasons. If you are lucky and find a café with a loyal customer base, you can start a ready-made business at a lower cost. But you need to investigate the reasons for selling; are there financial issues? Has the location lost its popularity? Conduct thorough research before making a purchase!

Starting from scratch:

Setting up a café from scratch is ideal for those who have unique ideas and want to build their own brand. This approach gives you full freedom to design the menu, interior, location, and style of service according to your preferences. While this path requires more effort and investment, if done correctly, you can establish your brand in the market.

Steps for Setting Up a Café: A Guide for the Iranian Market

It can be said that setting up a café in Iran is both challenging and easy. Knowing the process can simplify many obstacles. But without proper planning, you may struggle halfway through. Below, we outline the most important steps for setting up a café.

1.Careful Planning for a Profitable Café

Setting up a café, like any other business, requires precise planning. First, you must determine your goal: do you want to create a cozy and unique environment for coffee lovers, or are you solely focused on financial profit? This decision affects everything from the menu to the interior design.

Creating a business plan is the first essential step. This plan should include defining the target market, budgeting, analyzing competitors, and developing a marketing strategy. Without a clear roadmap, the risk of failure is high!

2.Budgeting and Key Costs of a Café

One of the first challenges is managing initial costs. Expenses vary depending on the type of café and the location, but key costs include:

• Initial equipment: Items like an industrial espresso machine (≈73 million IRR), coffee grinder (≈21 million IRR), and point-of-sale system (≈1.5 million IRR) are essential. In total, you will need at least 155 million IRR for initial equipment.
• Rent or property purchase: Costs vary depending on location.
• Interior design: Interior planning significantly impacts customer attraction.

3.Obtaining Necessary Permits

No café can operate without permits. Required documents include national ID, lease or property deed, health certificate, and military service certificate for men. There are also specific regulations, such as distance from girls’ schools or women’s salons, that must be observed.

4.Location and Interior Design: Two Key Success Factors

Even if you serve the best coffee in town, a hidden or low-traffic location can lead to failure. A suitable location should:

• Be in a high-traffic area
• Be near universities, commercial centers, or office districts
• Have parking or easy access

Interior design must also align with your brand image. Choices like modern, industrial, vintage, or minimal styles depend on your café type and target audience.

5.Design Your Menu

Menu creation is one of the most exciting yet challenging steps. You can have a simple, standard menu or design something unique and exclusive, such as:

• Drinks: Brewed coffee, espresso, flavored lattes
• Snacks: Light toasts, homemade cakes, croissants
• Special items: Unique combinations like coffee mocktails or seasonal drinks

A good idea is to adjust your menu seasonally and use customer feedback. For the best quality coffee beverages, feel free to purchase roasted coffee beans for cafés from the online Diamante Specialty Coffee store. You can also explore high quality coffee brands for cafés to enrich your menu.

6.Marketing, Especially on Social Media

A café without customers is a failure! Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok play a huge role in a café’s success. Tips include:

• Professional photography of products and café space
• Creative content such as barista videos
• Using influencer marketing to attract new customers

7.Proper Operational Management

Managing finances, sourcing ingredients, workforce management, and maintaining service quality are the main challenges after opening. Without a strong management system, even the best cafés can struggle.

Remember! A café means good vibes and security

Setting up a café in Iran, like any business, requires careful planning. If you only focus on profit, you may have a bustling but ordinary café. But if you aim to create a unique customer experience, attention to every detail is crucial—from menu design to customer interaction.

So, if you love coffee and café culture, what are you waiting for? Turn your dream into reality!