To start a coffee shop in Seoul, secure the right license, site, and capital in this order: location, lease, gu-office permit, fit-out, hiring, NTS registration, launch marketing. Choose a ground-floor unit within 3 minutes of a subway exit or dense office cluster; verify building use (근린생활시설) and power capacity ≥15 kW. Typical costs: key-money deposit ₩30–200M, rent ₩2–8M/mo for 10–20 pyeong, fit‑out ₩5–10M/py, espresso machine ₩5–20M, grinder ₩1–4M. Apply at your district office for a Rest-Area Food Service (휴게음식점) license with lease, floor/equipment plan, hygiene education certificate, fire and sanitation compliance, and waste/grease-trap contracts; then register the business with the National Tax Service within 20 days. Foreign owners generally need a D‑8 investment visa (≈₩100M paid-in capital) or F‑2/F‑5 residency. Use contract roasting first to avoid manufacturing permits; add on-site roasting later. Equip water filtration, ice maker, fridge, and a POS that issues cash receipts and supports card, NaverPay, and KakaoPay. Hire part-timers (알바) at market rates and enroll eligible staff in the 4 major insurances. Launch with Naver Place/Kakao Map SEO, Instagram Reels, and limited-time seasonal drinks; test price elasticity and queue times; track CAC and daily break-even (rent+labor+COGS) to decide hours, menu, and staffing during ramp-up.
