How much does it really take to open a boba tea shop? This page walks through what goes into the startup cost, the estimates Boba Shop Diary uses for different cities and locations, and how to work out how many months it takes to earn that money back.
What the startup cost covers
- Leasing the space: security deposit, first and last month's rent, broker fees. Busy spots near stations and tourist areas cost more
- Build-out and signage: the counter, seating, and a sign and menu board people can see from the street
- Equipment: pots or a boiler for cooking boba, fridges and an ice machine, a cup sealer, and a register
- Opening stock and supplies: tapioca pearls, tea, milk, brown sugar syrup, matcha, cups and straws
- Working capital: rent and wages until the shop finds its feet. Shops aren't always profitable right away, so it helps to keep a few months in reserve
Real numbers depend a lot on the size and location of the space, whether you take over a previous shop's fit-out, and whether you buy equipment new. The tables below are the game's estimates, not a quote for opening a real shop.
Startup cost by city and location (game estimates)
This is what you pay to open your shop in Boba Shop Diary. Spots with heavy foot traffic near stations and tourist areas cost the most, and residential neighborhoods the least.
| Station | Tourist spot | College town | Residential | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $213,840 | $198,000 | $142,560 | $110,880 |
| New York | $277,990 | $257,400 | $185,330 | $144,145 |
| Houston | $171,070 | $158,400 | $114,050 | $88,705 |
| Seattle | $208,495 | $193,050 | $138,995 | $108,110 |
What you pay every day
Once you're open, you pay rent every day, plus wages if you hire help. Daily rent (game estimates):
| Station | Tourist spot | College town | Residential | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $285 | $249.50 | $160.50 | $107 |
| New York | $456.25 | $399.25 | $256.50 | $171 |
| Houston | $171 | $149.75 | $96.25 | $64.25 |
| Seattle | $270.75 | $237 | $152.25 | $101.50 |
Here are daily wages, the cost of the ingredients and cup for one milk tea, and the price customers think of as normal in each city. The cost per cup adds up the cup, tea, milk, and one serving from a 100-serving batch of boba.
| One staff member, per day | Cost per milk tea | Typical milk tea price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $182.25 | $1.20 | $6.50 |
| New York | $191.25 | $1.20 | $7 |
| Houston | $136.50 | $1.20 | $5.75 |
| Seattle | $200.50 | $1.20 | $6.75 |
How many months to earn the startup money back?
Divide the startup cost by a month's profit. The payback estimate shown at the end of the game uses the same math.
Months to earn it back = startup cost ÷ (daily profit × 30 days)Example: a Residential shop in Los Angeles (startup cost $110,880) that sells 150 milk teas a day with one staff member
Sales − ingredients and cups = 150 × ($6.50 − $1.20) = $795Daily profit = $795 − rent $107 − wages $182.25 = $505.75Months to earn it back = $110,880 ÷ ($505.75 × 30 days) = about 7.3 monthsIn the game, the weather and your reputation also push the crowds up and down, leftover boba gets thrown out, and raising prices loses you some customers.
Calculator
Ways to earn it back sooner
- Balance location and cost: a station spot sells more, but the startup cost and rent are higher too. Weigh the crowds against the costs
- Cook the right amount: cooked boba doesn't keep. Making only what you'll sell means less goes in the trash
- Price: a higher price means more profit per cup but fewer customers. College towns are price-sensitive, while tourist spots sell even at higher prices
- Staffing: when the line gets long, people walk away. In a busy location, an extra pair of hands can bring in more than their wages
The numbers on this page are simplified estimates made for a game. If you're thinking about opening a real shop, get quotes for the space and equipment, and talk to a small business advisor or lender.
Try it in the game
Boba Shop Diary is a free browser game: pick a country and city, a location, your budget and your prices, open a boba shop, and see how many months it would take to earn your startup money back after a week of business. It uses the same numbers as these tables, so you can see what changes when you try a different location or price.