Q&A: Does Chaiiwala Franchise in the UK?

Cara Squires, writer

Published at 20/12/2021 , Updated on 04/05/2022, Reading time: 5 min

Q&A: Does Chaiiwala Franchise in the UK?

Running your own business can be immensely rewarding, and running a franchise can offer the best of both worlds in terms of support and flexibility. If you’re interested in franchising, and are particularly taken with the idea of launching a restaurant or cafe franchise - and you’re a big lover of Indian cuisine - why not consider starting your own Chaiiwala business? Combine multiple passions in a highly profitable sub-sector of food service!

For Chaiiwala, Indian food and drink served speedily to happy, hungry customers has always been the name of the game. And given that the Indian food and drink industry was valued at just under £200 billion in April 2018 [UK India Business Council], it could be the name of your highly profitable game, too. Read on, and discover how to make a career change with a restaurant franchise like Chaiiwala.

>> Read more:

Does Chaiiwala franchise in the UK?

Yes, you’ll be pleased to know that Chaiiwala does franchise in the UK. The franchisor team is always looking for hard-working investors with growth mindsets to welcome into the fold, and the unique cafe-style vibes of Chaiiwala make it a distinct market offering. And there’s no better place to invest, with Indian ranking as the UK’s second favourite takeaway option (only pipped to the post by Chinese food) [Statista].

Chaiiwala might be especially perfect for you if you’re looking to launch a London-based business, as the franchise looks to make its London debut next year, aiming for a target of 240 total franchise businesses by the end of 2024. Chaiiwala’s Franchise Director Nil Naik said of these plans, “We will open in central London, give it six months.” [MCA].

The history of Chaiiwala

At Chaiiwala, coffee and Indian street food come together in the perfect setting. This business started its journey all the way back in 1927, when its founder began selling chaii on the streets of Delhi. Since then, it’s become a company dedicated to paying homage to the amazing taste of classic Indian street food and rich Indian coffee - with a few fun, modern twists in the mix here and there.

Chaiiwala first came to the UK in 2015, launching its first location in Leicester. Two years later, the company started actively franchising and expanding up and down the UK, and there are, as of November 2021, over 45 active stores - with more on the horizon. By launching a Chaiiwala franchise and diving into both the coffee sector and the restaurant sector, you’ll become a part of the Chaiiwala family’s storied and impressive history. (And you’ll also join a highly supportive network.)

It started 90 years ago with a simple dream - a street vendor’s burning desire to feed his family and send his children to school. That dream began with a stall in Delhi proclaiming ‘Tea for a Rupee’. From those humble beginnings, Chaiiwala has grown into one of the fastest-growing purveyors in the UK of a unique dining experience.
- Chaiiwala

Start a franchise in the Indian food sector with a Chaiiwala restaurant

More interested than ever in all things Chaiiwala and starting your own Chaiiwala franchise location? Great! Keep on reading, because before you sign on the dotted line of that franchise agreement, you’ll need to know the answers to the three questions that follow.

1. How do you go about becoming a Chaiiwala franchisee?

The ideal Chaiiwala franchisee doesn’t necessarily need experience in the Indian food sub-sector, or even in the wider industry of hospitality. If they have the capital to invest, the initiative to make it happen and the desire to work hard and build a franchise business that can attain profitability and long-term success, they’re likely to be perfect for the role. Anyone interested should submit an enquiry via Chaiiwala’s website.

2. How much do you need to invest?

To invest with Chaiiwala, you’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of around £150,000 and cover costs associated with renting and maintaining a cafe/restaurant space. The average cost of starting a franchise in the UK was £42,200 as of 2018 [British Franchise Association], but this figure was and is very much an average, and launching a restaurant, coffee shop or pub will often run on the more expensive side thanks to the associated complexities.

If this is beyond your price range but you really love the idea of a franchise like Chaiwalla, consider lower-cost alternatives in similar sectors, like Robunmo or Really Awesome Coffee. Robunmo is another street-food-focused restaurant - though this franchise’s tasty recipes come from China - and you can become a franchisee for a minimum initial investment of £15,000. Really Awesome Coffee is, as you can guess, all about the coffee. But it’s also a mobile, coffee-van-style franchise, and you can become a franchisee for a minimum initial investment of just £6,500.

>> Read more:

3. What do you get for your investment?

If you share our vision as well as our passion, we’ll support your ambition and business objectives with a programme tailor-made to answer your every need. From store location, design and fitting to staff training and sales plans, we’ll be with you.
- Chaiiwala

You’ll benefit, first and foremost, from all the advantages inherent to franchising and running a food business. You’ll be at the centre of your community, you’ll have a wealth of expert training and support at your fingertips, and you’ll be able to easily respond to changing customer demands. Plus, you’ll benefit from a proven business model and an established customer base.

Chaiiwala’s comprehensive franchise package includes training on everything from running your Chaiiwala business to marketing it, professional help with location sourcing and set-up, training manuals for staff members and managers, operational guidelines for franchisees, and all the logistical support that you’ll need to succeed.