For coffee shop business setup in Vietnam, decide your vehicle and license stack upfront: Vietnamese founders typically register a household business (sole proprietor) or an LLC; foreign investors form an FDI LLC requiring an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) and Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC). Choose a household business for a single site with cash-based retail and simple bookkeeping; choose an LLC for multiple sites, investors, franchising, or VAT invoicing. Core approvals: business registration (3–5 working days for household, ~7–10 for LLC; FDI add 25–45 for IRC/ERC), food safety certificate for any on-site prep (training + facility inspection; 15–20 days), fire prevention sign-off (layout, extinguishers, exit lighting; 7–15 days), signboard in Vietnamese, price listing in VND inclusive of VAT (10%), and public music licensing if you play tracks. Lease diligence: confirm landlord’s title, commercial use zoning, ventilation/extraction, three-phase power, grease trap, and fire egress. Before launch: register e-invoices for your POS (Decree 123), open a bank account, seal, and digital signature; hire staff on written contracts and enroll statutory social insurance; contract waste collection and pest control. If serving beer/wine, obtain a retail alcohol license. Typical fit-out to soft opening: 6–10 weeks. Keep HACCP-style prep flows and temperature logs to pass inspections.
