Established
2016
Franchise Units
4000
Minimum Investment
₹ 5,00,000
Franchise Fee
₹ 4,25,000
Total Investment Range
₹ 6,00,000
Home Based
No
Description
Tea Time is one of India’s largest homegrown tea franchise networks, built around a simple proposition: serve familiar Indian tea and refreshing beverages at affordable prices through compact, easy-to-operate outlets. The brand has grown from a single tea shop in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, into a nationwide franchise network with 4,000+ outlets across more than 20 states.
Founded by Uday Srinivas Tangella, Tea Time was created to make quality tea more accessible to everyday consumers while also providing entrepreneurs with a relatively low-entry food and beverage business opportunity. Rather than competing directly with large-format premium cafés, Tea Time focuses on high-frequency beverages, affordable menu pricing, compact stores and neighbourhood convenience.
The menu goes beyond traditional chai. Depending on the outlet and current menu, customers can choose from Tea Time special teas, Dum Tea, milkshakes, premium milkshakes, flavoured milk, coolers and other beverages. This broader beverage mix allows franchisees to attract customers throughout the day instead of depending solely on morning and evening tea consumption.
With an official unit-franchise investment of approximately ₹5 lakh, a minimum space requirement of just 100 sq. ft., and a streamlined operating format, Tea Time may appeal particularly to first-time entrepreneurs and investors looking for a compact QSR or beverage franchise in India.
Background
- Established Year: 2016
- Founder: Uday Srinivas Tangella
- Franchise Active Units: 4,000+ outlets based on the company's current primary franchise pages
- Industry Category: Food & Beverage / Tea & Coffee / QSR / Beverage Franchise
- Headquarters & Leadership: Desi Tea Time Ltd., Hyderabad, Telangana; founded by Uday Srinivas Tangella
- States Registered for Franchising / Market Presence: Tea Time reports operations across 20+ states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal, among others. The network also extends into Nepal.
Brand Journey
Tea Time began with a relatively modest tea outlet in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. Founder Uday Srinivas Tangella developed the concept around the idea that quality beverages should remain affordable to a broad section of Indian consumers. The company's expansion strategy subsequently centred heavily on franchising and local entrepreneurship.
The brand reports that its network increased from approximately 10 stores in 2017 to more than 4,000 outlets, illustrating the scalability of its compact franchise model. Tea Time also positions itself as a business that can expand beyond major metropolitan areas into towns and smaller communities where affordable chai remains an everyday purchase.
Support Training
Pre-Launch Support
Site Selection & Assessment: Guidance on evaluating prospective real estate based on foot-fall metrics, customer demographics, and accessibility.
Layout & Store Setup: Floor plans, interior designs, equipment layout, and branding guidelines to ensure unit uniformity.
Complete Setup Equipment Kit: Provision of critical hardware, including specialized refrigeration units, deep freezers, induction cooktops, high-pressure burners, display counters, utensil sets, and initial branded packaging stock.
Operational & Staff Training
On-Site Operational Training: A dedicated chef or master trainer conducts 3-to-4 days of hands-on training at the franchisee's store location.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Detailed brewing standard ratios, drink formulas, stock handling rules, hygiene protocols, and billing workflows.
Marketing & Ongoing Assistance
Grand Opening Marketing: Starter promotional materials, digital banners, localized store launching assets, and grand opening store signage.
Supply Chain Continuity: Regular dispatch of essential ingredients (tea powders, specialty spices, crushers, and branded disposables) directly from headquarters.
Ongoing Quality Audits: Continuous guidance from regional field executives to maintain service benchmarks and troubleshoot local operational issues.
Ideal Candidate
Tea Time may be particularly suitable for entrepreneurs looking for a manageable entry point into India's growing food and beverage franchise sector.
Previous restaurant or café ownership can be helpful, but the relatively simple operating model means that the opportunity may also be considered by first-time business owners who are willing to follow standardized processes.
An ideal Tea Time franchisee would generally be:
- Interested in India's tea, beverage or quick-service restaurant industry.
- Comfortable operating a customer-facing retail business.
- Prepared to supervise staff and maintain product consistency.
- Able to invest approximately ₹5 lakh plus any additional site-related and working-capital expenses.
- Capable of identifying a strong, high-footfall commercial location.
- Willing to follow Tea Time's menu, preparation and branding standards.
- Focused on cleanliness, speed of service and customer experience.
- Comfortable managing everyday inventory, staffing, cash flow and local marketing.
- Interested in developing a business serving a broad mass-market customer base.
The company specifically recommends locations near markets, bus stops, highways, hospitals, railway stations, IT campuses, colleges and other busy commercial areas.
Investors should therefore place significant emphasis on location economics. An affordable tea franchise can still struggle when rent is excessive or pedestrian traffic is insufficient, while a well-positioned compact outlet can benefit from frequent repeat purchases.
Financial Detail
| Financial Parameter | Details / Estimates |
| Total Initial Investment | Approx. ₹5.00 Lakhs – ₹6.00 Lakhs (plus applicable taxes) |
| Franchise Fee / Startup Kit | ₹4.25 Lakhs + GST (includes brand rights, standard kitchen hardware, billing equipment, utensils & starting stock) |
| Interior & Infrastructure Cost | Approx. ₹50,000 – ₹80,000 (civil work, painting, local carpentry, electricals) |
| Space Requirement | Minimum 100 – 150 sq. ft. |
| Working Capital Reserve | ₹50,000 – ₹1.00 Lakh (for fresh milk procurement, local supplies, initial rent deposit) |
| Royalty / Ongoing Fees | Approx. 3% of gross monthly sales (or nominal fixed monthly capping depending on agreement terms) |
| Staffing Requirement | 2 to 3 non-skilled workers |
| Expected Break-Even Time | 8 to 12 Months (location dependent) |
| Expected Return on Investment (ROI) | Average payback within 1 year; net profit margins range between 20% and 25% |
| Revenue Streams | Sales from Dum Chai, Masala Tea, Kullad Tea, Green/Lemon Teas, Milkshakes, Coolers, and approved locally sourced daily snacks |