How Long Does It Take to Open a Coffee Shop? (2026 Timeline)

Opening a coffee shop is a 6-to-12-month process in Bellwether Coffee’s guide. Its streamlined estimate is 6 to 10 months; realistic timelines with permit delays and construction surprises usually run 10 to 12 months. CoffeeShopStartups gives a different range: 4 to 14 months. Treat these as the publishers’ planning estimates, not a measured industry average.

This guide separates those startup estimates from franchisors’ own disclosures and local plan-review timelines. For the tasks behind the schedule, see the 90-day coffee shop opening checklist.

The total: about 6 to 12 months

Bellwether’s 6-to-12-month process includes a streamlined 6-to-10-month path and realistic timelines that usually run 10 to 12 months with permit delays and construction surprises. CoffeeShopStartups instead estimates 4 to 14 months. Neither range establishes a guaranteed opening date for a particular site.

For franchise projects, the eight FDDs below give their own Item 11 estimates spanning 6 to 18 months, with Scooter’s stating 180 to 545 days. Those disclosures measure time from signing or payment, as specified by each franchisor, rather than from the first decision to open a coffee shop. Keep that starting point in mind when comparing a franchise disclosure with a general startup guide.

Plan overlapping work with the lender, contractor and suppliers rather than adding every phase into a single total. Confirm which approvals and payments each task depends on before setting an opening date.

What franchisors disclose about time to open (FDD Item 11)

Under 16 CFR 436.5(k), Item 11 discloses the typical time between signing the franchise agreement or making the first payment and opening the business.

Brand	FDD issued	Typical time to open (Item 11, exact figures)	Contract deadline if stated
Aroma Joe’s	March 3, 2026	6 to 18 months	Within 2 years after signing the Franchise Agreement, per its Item 17 table; an extension may be granted
Biggby	April 30, 2026	six to 16 months	No later than 12 months after you obtain the franchise location, or the franchisor may terminate
Caribou	April 28, 2026	180 to 365 days	Must open within one year from signing the Franchise Agreement
Dunn Brothers	May 8, 2026	9 to 12 months	The earlier of 120 days after signing the lease or 12 months after the Effective Date, per its franchise agreement
PJ’s	April 10, 2026	approximately twelve (12) months	Within one year of the Effective Date; failure is a default and grounds for termination
Scooter’s	April 3, 2026	180 to 545 days	Within 18 months after signing the Franchise Agreement unless otherwise agreed in writing; termination possible
Ziggi’s	March 31, 2026	Fixed-Location Shop: nine to eighteen months; Mobile Unit: six to nine months	Fixed-Location Shop within two years after signing the Franchise Agreement
The Human Bean	February 25, 2026; amended May 5, 2026	Typical twelve months; could be longer than fourteen months	May terminate if not open within eighteen months of signing the Franchise Agreement

Common factors listed across these FDDs include site selection, lease terms, financing, permits, construction and equipment delivery. A typical opening estimate is not the same as a contractual deadline. Read the applicable agreement alongside the disclosure; the FDD Item 11 explainer explains how to assess the franchisor’s assistance and operating requirements.

Before the timeline starts: the franchisor’s own front-end

The Item 11 estimates above start at signing or payment, as each FDD specifies. Account separately for the time spent evaluating brands and reviewing disclosure documents before that point. Use the how to read an FDD guide to organize that review, and confirm the application and signing process with the franchisor.

The timeline, phase by phase

These are source-specific estimates and planning tasks. Local review queues and the actual project scope matter more than a generic phase total.

Phase	Source estimate or scheduling action	What to confirm
Concept, business plan, entity setup	Set a project-specific schedule	Finish the concept and scope before requesting project quotes
Financing	Get the lender’s approval and funding schedule	The cited SBA 7(a) program page gives no total approval or funding timeframe
Site selection and lease	BBG says negotiation can take a few days, to a few weeks, to several months or more	Confirm lease terms and site suitability before committing
Permitting and health plan review	Frans: permitting typically 4 to 10 weeks depending on jurisdiction. As checked October 14, 2026: King County initial review up to 8-10 weeks; Snohomish first review currently 12 weeks	Other counties differ; health plan review is not the entire permitting process
Buildout and construction	Bellwether: existing cafe 2 to 6 weeks; retail conversion 6 to 12 weeks; raw or shell space 12 to 20 weeks	Frans: 8 to 20 weeks for most tenant improvements, longer for medical or food service
Equipment procurement	Bellwether: lead times of 4 to 8 weeks are common for commercial gear	Get the dealer’s current delivery and installation schedule
Hiring and training	Bellwether: about 26 to 48 hours of training per new hire	Schedule training around equipment readiness and required approvals
Soft launch to grand opening	Set dates after confirming operational readiness	Allow time to test service and address problems before promoting the opening

For the requirements and costs tied to that launch, see the franchise grand-opening guide.

For the lease phase, use this letter of intent guide for a franchise coffee shop lease to organize proposed terms before the lease is signed.

Where the timeline actually breaks

Check these dependencies before committing to an opening date:

• Permitting. Frans Construction estimates permitting at 4 to 10 weeks depending on jurisdiction. Confirm local requirements, submit complete plans and check espresso-machine backflow prevention before finalizing plumbing plans.
• Equipment ordered too late. Frans Construction advises ordering long-lead items the day permits are submitted. Coordinate orders with approved specifications and the dealer’s delivery schedule.
• Contractor and buildout delays. Frans estimates 8 to 20 weeks for most tenant improvements, longer for medical or food service. Get a schedule for the actual scope and coordinate dependent trades.
• Financing. Confirm when funds will be available for lease obligations, construction and equipment payments with the lender.
• Lease negotiation. BBG says negotiation can take a few days, to a few weeks, to several months or more. Confirm the negotiation schedule with the parties involved.

Turn this timeline into a checklist

Our free coffee shop opening checklist breaks the months above into tasks: permits, equipment orders, hiring and soft open. Plus the due-diligence kit.

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Equipment lead times and refrigerant rules

Bellwether says lead times of 4 to 8 weeks are common for commercial gear. Frans Construction advises ordering long-lead items the day permits are submitted. Get current delivery and installation dates from the dealer before committing to an opening date.

Start with the coffee shop equipment list, then compare commercial espresso machines, commercial coffee grinders and commercial coffee brewers. Use the coffee shop ice machine sizing guide to define the ice equipment needed before requesting quotes.

EPA’s Technology Transitions sector table lists HFC compliance dates from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2028 by equipment category, including retail food stand-alone refrigeration units and commercial ice machines. Ask the dealer which refrigerant and compliance date apply to the equipment being quoted.

How to open faster, safely

Submit complete plans and confirm financing early enough to meet the project’s payment schedule. Follow Frans Construction’s advice to order long-lead items the day permits are submitted, coordinating specifications with the contractor and dealer. Evaluate an existing cafe’s condition and local requirements before assuming it is ready for the planned business. Confirm inspections and code compliance before opening.

Plan the tasks alongside the timeline with the 90-day opening checklist. If the business model is still undecided, compare going independent versus franchising.