To start a coffee business in Hong Kong, decide your model (takeaway bar, dine‑in café, or roastery) and match the licence: Light Refreshment Restaurant Licence (drinks, reheating only), General Restaurant Licence (full cooking), or Food Factory Licence (production/roasting, no seating). Form your entity and obtain Business Registration from IRD, then secure a site whose lease and Deed of Mutual Covenant allow F&B; check power (3‑phase where needed), drainage, ventilation route, and landlord consent for FEHD. Submit layout plans and apply for a Provisional Licence with FEHD (target 10–16 weeks overall), coordinating Fire Services (FSI/ventilation), Buildings/EMSD for ventilation and electrical, and drainage upgrades. Register as a Food Importer with the Centre for Food Safety if importing beans; prepacked coffee must meet labelling rules (name, net weight, durability date, manufacturer/importer). Appoint a Hygiene Supervisor and implement a HACCP‑style cleaning and temperature‑control plan; train staff to FEHD standards. If roasting, consult EPD on air and odour control and install compliant exhaust. Arrange Employees’ Compensation insurance, MPF within 60 days, and wage/roster compliance. Fit‑out to FEHD’s code (wash‑hand basins, impervious finishes, floor traps), install pest‑proof storage, and plan workflow for peak hours. Launch with FPS/Octopus, simple SKUs, and cupping‑driven sourcing and rigorous cost controls.
