Open a Café in Kolkata
Coffee + small-plate menu, social workspace draw, 20-60 seats.
The Café × Kolkata numbers
Total capex
₹15.1–45.1 L
Monthly fixed cost
₹1.8–5.5 L
QSR prime rent
₹80–240/sqft
Working capital
₹2–5.9 L
Based on Forkcast capex dataset (200+ Indian restaurant openings 2023-2026), with T1-tier rent and labour adjustments.
Capex breakdown
| Line | Range (₹ L) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen equipment | 4.8–14.4 | Tandoor, ranges, refrigeration, exhaust, dishwasher, food prep, dry storage. |
| Interiors & furniture | 5.4–16.2 | 850 sqft fit-out, false ceiling, lighting, seating, signage. |
| Property deposit | 2.1–6.3 | Typically 6-10 months of rent at ₹80-240/sqft (T1 Kolkata). |
| Licences & approvals | 0.8–2.3 | FSSAI, GST, fire NOC, signage, music, professional tax — see /start/licences for the state-specific list. |
| Working capital (30-45 days) | 2–5.9 | Aggregator T+7 to T+14 settlement vs vendor cash terms. Bridge the gap or close on a Tuesday. |
Next steps
Use the free tools to go deeper on the Café × Kolkata setup:
- Full capital estimator for Kolkata - toggle formats, edit size
- Kolkata cuisine demand heatmap - pick the cuisine before the format
- Viability score - Café × your cuisine × Kolkata
- Licence checklist for west bengal
- 90-day survival playbook
Common questions
How much does it cost to open a Café in Kolkata?
Expect ₹15.1-45.1 lakhs all in. Equipment ₹4.8-14.4 L; interiors ₹5.4-16.2 L; deposit ₹2.1-6.3 L; working capital ₹2-5.9 L.
What's the monthly fixed cost for a Café in Kolkata?
Steady state monthly fixed cost lands at ₹1.8-5.5 lakhs. Rent is the single biggest line for Café in Kolkata; QSR prime locality rents in Kolkata run ₹80-240 per sqft.
What's the typical rent for a Café in Kolkata?
₹80-240 per sqft per month for prime QSR locations in Kolkata. Café formats typically use the QSR rate range above.
What's the Café-specific operating risk?
Coffee bean FX + dairy spikes are the silent killer.
What's specific to running a Café in Kolkata?
Durga Puja week is +120% peak; Bengali home-style cuisine dominates.
Related reading
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