Anyone have any experience in operating cafe or kopitiam? I would like to know what is the cost to setup the biz and what to expect in daily operation. Where to buy the table, fridge and other equipment? I'm more interested in setting up my own cafe rather than paying for franchise fees. Thanks!

I guess you would have to do your own research. Or at least get a consultant. No easy way in, and once you invest, no easy way out!

im also planning to open one kopitiam a penang in future...at least no need to work as employee...

Depends on how you want your kopitiam to look like. High class cafe or normal kopitiam selling "tai chau" & "chap fan"? The renovation itself will cost a lot.

Not those "tai chau" and "chap fan" kopitiam. Something like old town or station 1.

those tai chau and chap fan kopitiam earn alot from drinks it self and rent their spaces to those hawkers and food stall its very profitable but location is a very important factor you need to consider

those type of cafes only attract young hippie type of customers, you hardly find ppl going there for the sake of "find something to eat", you are more likely selling your reputation aka goodwill, and most likely only your speciality menu is the only stuff that are sell-able which usually charge at a higher price than usual.

so far these type of f&b business had already dominated by those who started early, it's very hard to find 2 competitors selling the same product both doing very good, for example cold coffee by starbucks, hot coffee by old town, donut by dunkin donut, ice cream by baskin robbins etc, so you need to find something to be branded as your "speciality" that no one had it before.

most of the customers if you try to observe are chinese youngsters, may be you can try to travel to taiwan or china to find some ideas of whats popular there.

Yes I totally agree. Those successful coffee house nowadays has already built their own reputation & customer goodwil. They've already sell its name to the public. Therefore, not only you have to think out of the box for new ideas, you gotta tear it up & look for new ways to attract new business market.

I've also thought about opening a cafe' or coffee house someday. But come and think of it, the startup cost is really high. Only for the renovation itself, already sink out a ton of capital. Not forgetting other equipments you need like refridgerator, coffee maker, oven, toaster etc. Also nowadays, these equipments comes with value added technology and all I can say is it ain't cheap.

I'm kinda into the old skool kopitiam whereby I'll just sell drinks and rent out stalls to hawkers. But as mention, location of the shop lot is the biggest issue. Its the backbone that determines the success of your business.

Don't engage in old skool kopitiam business! My parents are doing exactly that. You will regret it!

:blinkHow's the business doing?

Main issue is good place and good food ie) your hawkers must serve quality stuff o/w you gonna die fast death.

1 guy in bandar baru ampang , nice guy , location + food only so so , couldn't tahan for more than a year . Shame couldn't help him live to far to be regular.

ermm, you can consider opening a kopitiam in Shah Alam. According to my frens working there, they can hardly find any chinese food restaurant during lunch time. So those few outlets there always packed although the food is not really nice. I don't how true is this, u gotta go find out lor.

To open a F&B line, the most challenging is how to hire a kitchen cook .The most advantage is if yourself know how the food receipt, then it easier....
Secondly, my advise, dont spend so much on renovation. The most important in a F&B line is the kitchen. I suggest you survey around all the F&B line, there is a way to renovate it & look luxurious with simple & lesser cost renovation.(i did observe quite a lot that just renovate simple but their restaurant look luxurious)

I do agree with Gary1981, no need to spend so much on renovation, just do a simple and modern clean type. The menu is the core thing, must have something out of box. I guess nobody here have any experience in term of such biz start-up cost.

The start up cost will definitely be "at least" RM200,000. First of all, do you have that kind of money?
Operating cost would be more than RM20,000, if you do not have live band. With live band, easily costing up to RM40,000.
So, unless you are "filthy" rich, then no point to even think of such a business.
People's expectations for such cafeteria are VERY high. If you can't deliver, your business will die off just like that.

True true.. lots of things get copied frm overseas. Eg these dessert cafe & char chan theng is actually very old in hk.. even unc & aunts patronise them for a refreshing dessert at their neighbourhood. My fren actually suggested doing that b4 the trend started in m'sia but too bad no $ dat time.

Taiwan famous for tidbits i heard. Mayb u can make a tour there , holiday & study at same time.

TS!

I suggest you can ignore to have live band....you can anytime play ur own songs..eventually live band cost a lot & it can be not that attractive....the most important is your quality of food & convenience of feeling when the consumer step into your restaurant....
I could suggest you that a sum of RM100k would help you the start up cost...

A F&B line have 3 major categories which are the
1.) Bar & cashier
2.) Shop floor
3.) kitchen

The most important you should concentrate is kitchen & the most investment of cost is the kitchen because the equipement for cooking(is stainless steel), i can suggest you opt for a used god condition kitchen equipment.
From the 100k breakdown, spend abt RM35k to 45k for kitchen, renovation abt Rm30k(try to minimize), 15k for small items(table,chair,glass,cutlery,cabinet) & 10k for others. No need spend on high hp air conditions as i did survey nowadays malaysian tends to seat with fan only(this could save u a lot).....
Last but not least, your head count from bar to kitchen. At initial stage, try minimize your head count not more than 10 ppl(kitchen=4, shop floor=3, bar =2).

My last advise, try to persoanally work in a restaurant & experience the tail & head of the business.I did that for a part time to understand the entire busineess. I had plan my F&B restaurant abt 5 years ago & now im still waiting for the right time.

no need 10 staff la, that's gonna cost more than 10k just human resource alone , as a starter, 2 kitchen, 3 floor and 1 bar is sufficient, the boss do the cashier and runner.

kitchen equipment you can lease for it, it will save you a lot of start up cost (although it will definitely cost more it the long run).

a big chunk should be spend on PR , advertising and marketing. you need to let ppl know your existence, a regular promotion during special occasion is a good strategy.

Business so so only because of current economic situation and location wise its not very good.


Yes, kitchen cook is the most important but what will happen if the kitchen cook ask for a pay raise or something while your business are just about to grow or become black?? Trust me this thing happens more often than you think.


If you want to open a trendy restaurant/kopitiam i don't think you can forgo renovation. Bear in mind my parents started the business 5 years ago and the renovation costs already costs more than 200k. They converted the kopitiam into a mamak style setting if you understand what i mean (lots of tiles to cover the walls). Now imagine the cost now if you take into account the recent fuel price hke and the increase in the price of cement, tiles, paint etc. Heck with just 30k for renovation, the most you can do is repaint the interior wall with a new paint and just that. Interior is very important, customers wont come eating at your restaurant if you have bad interiror.

Again i am not trying to pour cold water on the business, i am just giving out an opinion based on my experience in working there. The good thing about kopitiam business is that you receive cash. But bear in mind you also need to pay cash as ur expenses as well. You should also think about the long hours you are gonna spend on the business (need to wake up early and close late and also no weekend holidays!!). Long hours is not a bad thing but what if there are no customers patronising your shop? You will be sitting there squatting flies and wonder whether you are doing the right decision with your idle time!!!

you also got a big competitor: OLD TOWN KOPITIAM

unless you have something diiferent from theirs, a niche.