Established
2017
Franchise Units
150
Minimum Investment
₹ 15,00,000
Franchise Fee
₹ 30,00,000
Total Investment Range
₹ 25,00,000
Home Based
No
Description
MBA Chai Wala is one of India’s most recognisable new-generation chai brands, built around a simple idea: turn the everyday Indian tea experience into a young, energetic and highly marketable café concept. Founded by entrepreneur Prafull Billore, the business began with a modest roadside tea stall in Ahmedabad and gradually developed into a branded food-and-beverage operation with franchise outlets across India.
The brand's appeal extends beyond tea. MBA Chai Wala built considerable visibility around the entrepreneurial journey of its founder, youth-focused communication, social-media marketing and a casual café environment. The menu has expanded beyond traditional chai to include snacks, coffee, cold beverages and other quick-service products designed to increase average customer spend and give consumers more reasons to visit throughout the day.
For entrepreneurs researching an MBA Chai Wala franchise in India, the concept offers the advantage of entering the large tea and café market with an established consumer-facing identity rather than developing an independent brand from scratch. Smaller kiosk formats can potentially work in compact high-footfall locations, while larger café-style outlets provide room for seating, an expanded menu and higher transaction values.
Recent franchise-industry databases report approximately 150+ MBA Chai Wala outlets in India, although the exact number of currently operating franchise locations should be verified directly with the company because public outlet counts vary.
Background
Established Year: 2017. Prafull Billore began the business in Ahmedabad after leaving his MBA studies and starting with a small tea sta
- Founder: Prafull Billore
- Co-Founder: Vivek Billore, Prafull Billore's brother, has also been publicly identified by the company as a co-founder involved in its operations.
- Franchise Active Units: 150
- Business Model: Primarily FOFO – Franchise-Owned, Franchise-Operated.
- Industry Category: Food & Beverage / Tea Café / Quick Service Restaurant
- Ownership: MBA Chai Wala operates under MBA Chai Wala Pvt. Ltd., with public company profiles describing the organisation as privately held.
- Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
- Market Presence: India-wide franchise expansion, with the brand publicly presenting itself as open for franchise opportunities across India.
- Typical Locations: High streets, malls, college areas, commercial districts, residential-commercial neighbourhoods and other high-footfall markets.
- Primary Customers: Students, young professionals, office workers, families and everyday chai consumers.
Brand Journey
MBA Chai Wala's story began when Prafull Billore moved to Ahmedabad after struggling with his plans to pursue an MBA. He worked for a period at McDonald's before deciding to start a roadside tea stall with approximately ₹8,000.
The stall gradually gained attention because of Billore's approach to customer interaction and unconventional marketing. The name MBA was eventually associated with “Mr. Billore Ahmedabad.”
By 2022, YourStory reported that the business had grown to approximately 50 outlets and around ₹4 crore in turnover. In a 2023 Delhi High Court proceeding, MBA Chai Wala and Prafull Billore stated that the business had expanded to more than 100 franchisees across India at that time. More recent 2026 franchise databases place the network at approximately 150 outlets.
That transition—from an individual roadside tea stall to a multi-city branded café operation—is central to MBA Chai Wala's consumer identity and remains one of its strongest marketing assets.
Support Training
MBA Chai Wala provides end-to-end operational handholding to help franchisees run their outlets efficiently:
1. Pre-Launch Support
Site Selection Assistance: Evaluation of trade area, demographic analysis, footfall counts, and real estate lease negotiations.
Store Design & Layout: Standardized architectural layouts, interior designs, 3D renders, and vendor management for store build-out.
2. Academic & Operational Training
Comprehensive Staff Training: 7 to 10 days of hands-on training covering inventory management, point-of-sale (POS) operations, customer service, and recipe adherence.
SOP Guidelines: Clear Operating Manuals detailing food safety, cleanliness, store opening/closing procedures, and billing workflows.
3. Supply Chain & Raw Material Support
Central Kitchen & Vendor Logistics: Direct supply of core ingredients—including proprietary tea blends, spices, branded packaging, and uniform sets—to ensure uniform taste across all locations.
4. Marketing & Ongoing Guidance
Grand Opening Campaign: Local PR, influencer tie-ups, social media creatives, and introductory offers managed alongside brand guidelines.
Continuous Operations Support: Regular audits, performance reviews, and supply chain management guidance from assigned field managers.
Ideal Candidate
Aspirational Entrepreneurs: First-time business owners looking for an entry into the fast-paced F&B QSR industry without starting from scratch.
Active Owner-Operators: Investors who plan to participate directly in daily store supervision, staff scheduling, and customer relations rather than silent/passive investors.
Passion for Customer Service: Business owners focused on building community engagement, managing quick turnaround orders, and maintaining hygienic store operations.
Financial Capability: Investors with sufficient capital to fund initial setups alongside 3–6 months of operational working capital.
Preferred Locations: High-density footfall areas such as college towns, corporate tech parks, transit hubs (metro/train stations), main high-street markets, and commercial complexes.
Financial Detail
The numbers below reflect estimated averages for setting up a standard FOFO (Franchise-Owned, Franchise-Operated) model in India.
| Financial Component | Estimated Investment Range (INR) |
| Total Investment | ₹15 Lakhs – ₹25 Lakhs |
| Minimum Capital Required | ₹12 Lakhs – ₹15 Lakhs |
| Franchise Fee | ₹3 Lakhs – ₹5 Lakhs (Plus GST) |
| Infrastructure & Interiors | ₹8 Lakhs – ₹12 Lakhs |
| Kitchen Equipment & Hardware | ₹3 Lakhs – ₹5 Lakhs |
| Marketing & Initial Launch | ₹50,000 – ₹1 Lakh |
| Initial Working Capital | ₹1 Lakh – ₹2 Lakhs |
| Royalty Fee | 4% – 8% of Monthly Net Sales |
| Expected Payback / Break-Even | 12 to 18 Months |
| Target Profit Margins | 25% – 35% (Gross Margins) |