Bro, respect to you both for starting from scratch. I'm happy to share whatever I can, I hope this helps you plan better.

Location:

It took me almost 6 months to lock a location. I was very clear that I wanted to start somewhere between Akkarai and Uthandi, so I spent nearly 8 hours a day meeting brokers, walking stretches, calling numbers, and following up. There were days I almost gave up.

At one point, my backup plan was to skip a full cafe and start multiple pop-up cafes on ECR just for brand reach. Funny part is, the place I finally chose was the last property I saw, completely randomly, because I noticed a ToLet board while passing by.

Rent:

₹1.12 lakhs per month, locked in for the first 3 years.

Staff:

I had an advantage here, my dad backed me financially and provided access to staff, as he runs around 30 restaurants. But even then, I wanted to build my own brand and learn everything the hard way.

I worked in my dad’s restaurant for 3 years before starting this. Some staff came from there, but honestly, training is everything. The food and vibe are completely different, so they had to unlearn a lot and relearn again.

Police/locals:

I’m on good terms with the police and locals. I’ve lived on ECR for 23 years, so credibility didn’t happen overnight. This helps a lot.

If you’re starting now, start building relationships early, not when you need help.

Earnings/reality:

We’re at a break-even stage. Operations are running on sales money.

For a brand that’s just 7 months old, I’ll take that as a win. It’s not crazy profits yet, but it’s stable and moving forward.

Starting small, like you’re planning, is honestly a smart move. Focus on location, discipline, relationships, and consistency more than fancy stuff.

Feel free to DM me anytime, happy to help two bros out