To start a coffee shop in Albania, register your business with the National Business Center (QKB), obtain a NUIS (NIPT) tax ID, and apply for municipal permits for food service, signage, terrace use, and noise before you sign fit‑out contracts. Choose NACE 56.30 (Beverage serving) and complete fiscalization: contract a certified e-invoicing/fiscal software provider, activate your digital certificate with the General Directorate of Taxes, and install a compliant POS issuing fiscal receipts. Secure AKU food-safety clearance with a HACCP plan, staff health certificates, potable water analysis, and documented cleaning schedules; get fire-safety approval and ventilation plans if roasting or cooking. Negotiate your lease (notarized) in a morning-footfall location near offices or schools; verify zoning and utility capacity. Source via local roasters or Italian distributors who often place 2‑group machines on loan against bean exclusivity; otherwise budget €4k–€8k for a machine, €800–€2k for a grinder, plus filtration to counter hard water. Recruit baristas with milk-texture skills; put written contracts, schedules, and payroll with social/health contributions through e‑Albania. Price to neighborhood norms and VAT rules, run early hours, and push Google Maps, Instagram, and loyalty cards. Track COGS, waste, and extraction yields weekly to protect margins. Audit suppliers quarterly and renegotiate terms.
