Chai franchises range from small kiosks to full cafés, and their headline costs are not like-for-like. This guide sets out what each brand states on its own website, dated and sourced, and how the formats differ, so you can compare written proposals rather than headlines.
Chai franchise costs: what each brand states
| T VANAMM | Tea Time | Chai Sutta Bar | Chai Point | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment (as stated by the brand) | A flat ₹3.5 Lakhs (Regular Franchise) | ₹5 Lakhs total for a unit franchise (the brand's home page adds “inclusive of all taxes”) | ₹22–30 Lakhs total | ₹22–25 Lakhs plus ₹75,000 + GST brand fee (FICO) |
| What the figure covers | equipment, complete franchise training, location verification and site survey, branding and setup, and ongoing operational support. The ₹20,000 registration is inside the ₹3.5 Lakhs. | Marketing, a start-up kit (refrigerator, deep freezer, stoves, utensils) and initial stock. The franchisee arranges tile flooring, a kitchen partition, water connection and a counter. Minimum 100 sq ft. | FOFO model. A token amount books the franchise; the brand's team helps finalise the location; the franchisee completes furniture and interiors to brand standards; staff train for 15–20 days at company outlets; the brand supplies raw materials and machinery. | Franchise Investment & Company Owned (FICO): Chai Point manages operations, including rent, maintenance and employees. The page states a 3–5 year minimum investment period. This is not an owner-operated franchise; compare contractual responsibilities and risks separately. |
| Royalty / recurring fee (as stated by the brand) | Flat ₹1,000/month maintenance fee | Not stated on the brand's franchise page | 4% of monthly sales (brand's FAQ) | No recurring fee specified on the FICO page; confirm the written agreement |
| Outlets (brand's own figure) | 250+ in 6 states | 4000+ (brand's own figure) | 650+, including Canada, Nepal and the UAE (brand's own figure) | 170+ stores (brand's network figure, not a count of FICO outlets) |
| Source (date) | T VANAMM franchise page (brand terms reviewed 2 Oct 2026) | Tea Time unit franchise page (accessed 2 Oct 2026) | Chai Sutta Bar franchise page (accessed 2 Oct 2026) Chai Sutta Bar royalty FAQ (accessed 2 Oct 2026) | Chai Point official FICO investment page (accessed 2 Oct 2026) |
For all six brands we checked, including MBA Chai Wala and Chaayos, see Tea Franchise in India 2026: 6 Brands Compared From Their Own Pages.
Chai franchise formats
- Kiosk or takeaway counter: small footprint, small team and a narrow menu; the footfall of the exact spot matters most.
- Kulhad chai café: a larger format with seating and a fuller build-out.
- 3-in-1 café: a Café, Ice Cream Parlour and Juice Center under one roof, with a wider menu. T VANAMM's Regular Franchise is this format at a flat ₹3.5 Lakhs, covering equipment, complete franchise training, location verification and site survey, branding and setup, and ongoing operational support. A flat maintenance fee of ₹1,000 per month applies, and other location-specific expenses are separate.
Look closely at the royalty
The headline investment is only part of the cost. Ask each brand whether its royalty is a fixed amount or a percentage of sales, whether there are other recurring charges, and how those will look over the years you plan to run the outlet. T VANAMM's is a flat ₹1,000 per month. Read the flat-fee vs percentage-royalty guide →
Choosing a chai franchise
- Match the format to your budget, city and how involved you want to be.
- Compare inclusions and exclusions in writing, not headline prices.
- List costs outside the package: rent, deposits, licences and working capital.
- Visit working outlets and speak to current franchise owners.
- Ask for a location-specific cost scenario. No franchise can guarantee returns.
Talk to the T VANAMM franchise team — a flat ₹3.5 Lakhs, ongoing operational support, 250+ outlets across India. Check territory availability →
Sources
- T VANAMM: T VANAMM franchise page (brand terms reviewed 2 Oct 2026)
- Tea Time: Tea Time unit franchise page (accessed 2 Oct 2026)
- Chai Sutta Bar: Chai Sutta Bar franchise page (accessed 2 Oct 2026)
Chai Sutta Bar royalty FAQ (accessed 2 Oct 2026) - Chai Point: Chai Point official FICO investment page (accessed 2 Oct 2026)
Figures are as stated by each brand on the date shown. T VANAMM is the publisher of this guide and one of the brands compared. Names of other brands are used for reference only; confirm current written terms with each brand before deciding.