To start a coffee business in Lithuania fast and correctly, decide your model first—café, roastery, mobile cart, or import/wholesale—because licensing, VAT, and margins differ. Pick a legal form (MB for lean founder-led setups; UAB if you need investors or plan multiple sites), reserve a name and register with Registrų centras, then open a business bank account and enroll with VMI (tax) and Sodra (payroll). For any food activity, register/obtain approval with VMVT and implement a HACCP-based self-control plan before opening; choose compliant premises, complete fit-out, and pass fire safety checks. Secure municipal permissions for outdoor terraces and signage where relevant. Install a VMI-compliant fiscal POS (i.EKA capable) and price with the correct VAT (standard 21%; reduced rates may apply to catering when in force). Source beans via EU distributors for speed or import direct using an EORI and EU customs clearance; maintain supplier traceability under EU 178/2002 and label retail packs per Regulation 1169/2011 in Lithuanian. For roasting, assess odour/emission control and notify environmental authorities if thresholds apply. Hire baristas, register contracts in Sodra, and schedule medical checks and food-safety training. Negotiate card acquiring, delivery platforms, and waste contracts; track KPIs: COGS <30%, labor 25–30%, rent <10% of sales monthly.
