India’s deep-rooted love for tea is not just a cultural staple, it’s a booming industry. Tea is an essential part of daily life, whether it’s a quick chai at a local stall, a cozy café experience, or an innovative tea lounge offering premium blends. With the market expanding rapidly, entrepreneurs are seizing opportunities to tap into the growing tea culture through franchises.
Tea & chai franchises present an exciting and lucrative opportunity for business-minded individuals, especially those seeking to invest in a relatively low to medium-cost venture. These franchises offer flexibility in terms of investment and location, and their business models cater to both urban and semi-urban markets.
In this article, we’ll explore the Top 10 Tea & Chai Franchises in India for 2025, outlining the key factors to consider and the investment required to enter the tea industry. Whether you’re looking for an established brand with a strong market presence or a unique tea concept, these franchises will offer valuable insights into the thriving tea market.
Why Tea Franchises Are Booming in India
1. Cultural Appeal
Tea is more than just a drink in India, it’s a way of life. Chai is part of the cultural fabric, with billions of cups consumed every day. This deep-rooted tea culture provides a strong customer base, which only continues to grow as the demand for different tea experiences increases.
2. Growing Middle-Class Population
India’s rapidly expanding middle class has led to higher disposable incomes, making affordable yet premium experiences more accessible. This has fueled the demand for both budget-friendly and upscale tea cafés, providing a broad market for entrepreneurs.
3. Diverse Tea Offerings
From traditional masala chai to exotic herbal teas, the variety of tea options available ensures that tea businesses can cater to a wide demographic. This diversity also presents unique business opportunities, especially when paired with innovative tea experiences.
4. Low Investment, High Returns
Tea businesses, especially franchises, have low operational costs, and the tea industry in India enjoys high-profit margins. With relatively low setup costs compared to other food and beverage businesses, entrepreneurs can see a quicker return on investment.
Top 10 Tea & Chai Franchises in India
Here are the top 10 tea & chai franchises to consider for 2025, sorted by investment requirements:
1. Tea Time
~ Investment Required: ₹5–8 Lakhs
~ Number of Outlets: 3000+
~ USP: Affordable, diverse range of tea, strong brand presence
~ Ideal Locations: Small towns, semi-urban areas
Tea Time is one of India’s largest tea franchise networks, offering a simple yet effective business model. It’s known for providing a wide variety of tea options, from masala chai to herbal infusions, at affordable prices. With more than 3000 outlets, the brand is well-established, offering strong brand recognition and significant marketing support. Tea Time’s kiosk model makes it easy to set up in smaller towns and semi-urban areas, making it a great entry point for first-time franchise owners.
Key Advantage: The low investment requirement and scalability make Tea Time an excellent choice for new entrepreneurs looking to tap into the tea market.
2. Chai Sutta Bar
~ Investment Required: ₹15–20 Lakhs
~ Number of Outlets: 500+
~ USP: Kulhad chai, youthful, vibrant atmosphere
~ Ideal Locations: Colleges, high-traffic urban areas, Tier 1 & 2 cities
Chai Sutta Bar has revolutionized the Indian tea café industry with its signature “kulhad chai” served in a trendy, youthful setting. Known for its minimalistic yet impactful branding, the brand caters to the millennial and Gen Z demographic. With outlets across urban hotspots and educational institutions, Chai Sutta Bar capitalizes on the growing tea culture among young adults. The brand also offers exceptional training and marketing support to franchisees.
Key Advantage: The brand’s strong connection with young tea lovers and its energetic brand identity makes it ideal for high-footfall locations such as college campuses and busy city streets.
3. Chaayos
~ Investment Required: ₹30–40 Lakhs
~ Number of Outlets: 200+
~ USP: Customizable tea experience, premium café ambiance
~ Ideal Locations: Malls, airports, metro cities
Chaayos focuses on delivering a premium tea experience with its “customizable chai” concept, allowing customers to select everything from the strength of their tea to the flavorings added. The café-style atmosphere appeals to a diverse customer base, from busy professionals to tea enthusiasts. The brand has a strong presence in metro cities, with outlets located in high-traffic areas like malls and airports. It offers extensive support, including training, marketing, and operational guidance.
Key Advantage: Chaayos combines the appeal of a premium café with the personal touch of customizable beverages, creating a differentiated offering in a competitive market.
4. Yewale Amruttulya
~ Investment Required: ₹10–12 Lakhs
~ Number of Outlets: 300+
~ USP: Traditional Maharashtrian-style kadak chai
~ Ideal Locations: Maharashtra and surrounding regions
Yewale Amruttulya is an iconic chai brand known for its strong and flavorful Maharashtrian-style kadak chai. The brand has built a loyal following, especially in Maharashtra, where regional chai flavors are appreciated. The brand’s relatively low investment requirement and operational simplicity make it an excellent option for regional entrepreneurs looking to cater to local tastes.
Key Advantage: The regional popularity of the brand gives it an edge in Maharashtra and surrounding areas, making it a prime candidate for entrepreneurs familiar with the local market.
5. Chai Garam
~ Investment Required: ₹10–15 Lakhs
~ Number of Outlets: 100+
~ USP: Affordable, flexible business models (kiosk/café)
~ Ideal Locations: Corporate parks, educational institutions, transit areas
Chai Garam offers flexibility with both kiosk and café formats, making it an ideal choice for high-footfall locations like corporate parks, railway stations, and busy markets. The brand’s low operational costs allow for easy scalability, and it provides excellent support to franchisees in terms of training, site selection, and marketing.
Key Advantage: The ability to operate in both kiosk and café formats makes Chai Garam highly versatile and suitable for different types of locations.
6. Tea Post
~ Investment Required: ₹12–20 Lakhs
~ Number of Outlets: 200+
~ USP: Affordable urban tea cafés with great snacks
~ Ideal Locations: Urban areas, malls, high-traffic locations
Tea Post provides a unique combination of affordable tea cafes with a wide variety of snacks to accompany the beverages. Its tea menu spans everything from classic chai to exotic blends, making it appealing to a broad audience. The brand has been expanding rapidly in Gujarat and other urban centers, and it’s a great option for entrepreneurs looking to run a well-established franchise in an urban setting.
Key Advantage: Tea Post’s ability to pair tea with snacks offers a complete café experience, catering to customers looking for a casual yet satisfying hangout.
7. VarieTea
~ Investment Required: ₹15–25 Lakhs
~ Number of Outlets: 50+
~ USP: Premium international tea varieties
~ Ideal Locations: Metro cities, upscale areas
VarieTea caters to the premium segment by offering a curated selection of international teas in a luxurious lounge setting. The brand appeals to discerning customers who value an elevated tea-drinking experience. With upscale locations in metro cities, VarieTea focuses on providing a sophisticated environment for tea lovers.
Key Advantage: The premium concept allows VarieTea to capture a niche market of tea enthusiasts willing to pay for a high-quality experience.
8. Tea House
~ Investment Required: ₹8–14 Lakhs
~ USP: Regionally focused chai with combo meal options
~ Ideal Locations: Tier 2/3 cities, local markets
Tea House emphasizes regional chai and light meal combinations, offering a cozy environment for local customers to enjoy their favorite teas. With its affordable pricing and simple operations, Tea House is a great option for entrepreneurs looking to operate in smaller towns and regional markets.
Key Advantage: The combination of tea and light meals makes it a perfect option for local markets with a focus on traditional chai culture.
9. Chai Lije
~ Investment Required: ₹7–12 Lakhs
~ USP: Roadside cafe with modern appeal
~ Ideal Locations: High-traffic local areas
Chai Lije modernizes the roadside chai experience by offering a café-style environment while keeping costs low. The brand’s simple business model and budget-friendly setup make it a great option for local, high-traffic areas.
Key Advantage: The simplicity of the business model combined with the modern appeal of the café concept makes it a hit in local markets.
10. Tealogy
~ Investment Required: ₹12–18 Lakhs
~ Number of Outlets: 50+
~ USP: Health-conscious, wellness-focused tea blends
~ Ideal Locations: Urban areas, wellness-centric locations
Tealogy caters to the growing health-conscious segment with its range of wellness teas, including green tea, turmeric tea, and other herbal blends. The brand targets customers who seek tea not just for its taste but also for its health benefits. With the wellness trend on the rise, Tealogy is a great option for entrepreneurs looking to invest in a niche market.
Key Advantage: The brand’s focus on health and wellness appeals to the growing segment of consumers seeking health-oriented beverages.
BillBerry’s POS makes it simple for chai shops, tea cafes, and roadside tea stalls to manage their entire business, from billing and daily sales to stock control and staff tracking. It works even in areas with low internet and supports local languages, making it easy to train and use. Whether you’re running one stall or planning to grow into a chain, Billberry helps you save time, avoid losses, and run your tea business more efficiently. Take the best POS for your tea franchises in India to keep your business going!
Emerging Boba Tea Franchises in India
Boba tea, also known as bubble tea, is becoming a rising trend in India’s urban beverage scene. With its vibrant presentation, chewy tapioca pearls, and endless customization, boba tea has captured the interest of Gen Z and millennials across metro cities. This niche beverage has rapidly evolved from a novelty to a high-demand cafe product, and several boba tea franchises in India are tapping into this growing market.
If you’re looking to enter the modern beverage segment with a cool, youth-driven brand, these boba tea franchises offer exciting opportunities:
1. Dr. Bubbles
One of the earliest players in the Indian bubble tea space, Dr. Bubbles offers fruit teas, milk teas, and other innovative blends, all served with tapioca pearls or popping boba. Its colorful branding and Instagram-friendly drinks make it a hit among younger consumers. The brand supports kiosk and café formats, making it flexible for malls, food courts, and high-footfall areas.
2. Gong Cha
An international boba tea giant, Gong Cha has recently made its way into the Indian market. With a premium brand image and global menu, it appeals to urban customers who value authenticity and variety. While the investment is on the higher side, franchisees benefit from global recognition, strong supply chains, and proven SOPs.
3. Bubble Tea Co.
This homegrown brand offers a simplified and affordable boba experience tailored to Indian tastes. With a compact menu and attractive pricing, Bubble Tea Co. is perfect for food trucks, kiosks, and mid-sized café setups. It’s gaining traction in cities like Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad.
4. Boba Bhai
A quirky, street-smart brand, Boba Bhai fuses desi humor with global flavors. Known for its “masala milk tea with boba” twist and bold branding, it’s carving a niche among young, experimental consumers. The brand is still expanding, offering early mover advantage and a fun, low-to-medium investment option.
5. Tapioca Express (India)
Tapioca Express is a popular global brand slowly expanding in India with a focus on quality ingredients and extensive flavor combinations. It’s best suited for metro cities and upscale areas where there’s demand for premium beverages. Franchisees get structured training and operational support from international teams.
Why Invest in a Boba Tea Franchise?
~ Trend-Driven Demand: Perfect for targeting Gen Z, millennials, and social media audiences.
~ High Customization: Appeals to modern consumers looking for personalized food and drink options.
~ Low Operational Cost (for Kiosks): Many boba outlets require minimal space and staff.
~ Premium Pricing: Boba tea typically enjoys high margins due to its novelty and value perception.
BillBerry’s Tea POS or Cafe POS is designed for modern boba tea shops that deal with customizable drinks and fast service. It helps you take detailed orders (flavors, toppings, sugar levels), manage online and in-store sales together, track inventory in real time, and manage CRM. Whether you’re running one outlet or franchises, Billberry gives you full control from a single dashboard, so your operations stay smooth, and customers stay happy.
Final Tips for Potential Franchisees:
~ Location Selection: The right location can make or break your franchise. Ensure that your chosen site has high foot traffic and is accessible to your target demographic.
~ Brand Support: Look for franchises that offer robust training, marketing assistance, and operational guidance to ensure the long-term success of your business.
~ ROI Timeline: Carefully evaluate the expected ROI and the time it will take to break even before making any investment.
Conclusion:
Tea remains one of India’s most beloved beverages, and the demand for innovative tea experiences is booming. Whether you’re interested in a low-investment option like Tea Time or a more upscale offering like VarieTea, there’s a tea franchise suitable for every entrepreneur’s vision and budget.
Choosing the right franchise depends on your target market, investment capacity, and long-term goals. With the right planning and support, launching a tea franchise can offer not only financial returns but also a chance to be part of India’s ever-growing tea culture.
