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Practical guide · Edition 5 · 2026

How to open a coffee shop in Spain · Practical guide 2026

A practical, operational guide, not a market study: the steps, the real numbers and the decision filters to open a coffee shop in Spain without making the expensive mistakes. Permits by city, the three deal-killers of the premises, real CAPEX and P&L, break-even and a decision simulator that tells you whether your coffee shop makes money.

108 pages · 89 sections2026 data and taxationGO/NO-GO decision simulator53 quotes from Spanish operators

€299/ individual licence

Instant-download PDF
Permits and licences by city (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville) and why the process depends on the town hall
The three deal-killers of the premises: extraction flue, planning compatibility and change of use
Real CAPEX (€50,000–€80,000), a line-by-line P&L and break-even (~€400/day ≈ 80 tickets)
The decision simulator: a tickets/day × average-ticket matrix with a GO/NO-GO verdict and a payback table
Tax (10% VAT, self-employed RETA scheme, €1,221 minimum wage), food safety (HACCP, 14 allergens) and labour

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What's included

From paper to open doors

Each section answers a concrete question that anyone about to open a coffee shop in Spain asks.

Permits and licences, town hall by town hall

Why the process depends on your city: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville compared, the difference between a responsible declaration and a full licence, and what you need before you sign anything.

The three killers that sink the project

Extraction flue, planning compatibility and change of use: the three reasons a premises that looks perfect on paper turns out to be unviable, and how to spot them before paying for the lease transfer.

The real numbers: CAPEX, P&L and break-even

An initial investment of €50,000–€80,000 broken down, the fixed-cost structure, gross margin and costing, and break-even step by step (~€400/day, around 80 tickets).

The decision simulator (the Edition 5 highlight)

A tickets/day × average-ticket matrix that returns a GO / NO-GO verdict, plus a payback table: the spreadsheet solved on paper so you know whether your coffee shop makes money before you open it.

Contents

89 sections

01 Quick decision pack

02 Who this guide is for and how to use it

03 What this guide does and does not do

04 Methodology, sources and confidence levels

05 Why the process depends on the town hall

06 The operational reality: it's not just serving coffee

07 Fixed costs, opening hours and the day-to-day

08 Why coffee shops close

09 Coffee-shop formats and their investment

10 Defining concept, customer and menu before the premises

11 How many daily sales you need

12 Initial investment (CAPEX) broken down

13 Monthly expenses and cost structure

14 Gross margin and opening costing

15 Break-even step by step

16 Decision simulator: does your coffee shop make money?

17 Location, size and the invisible factors of the premises

18 Extraction flue and terrace: the two killers

19 Permitted activity, change of use and building works

20 Lease transfer vs direct lease vs purchase

21 Tax registration: self-employed vs company (SL)

22 Social Security, IAE and basic obligations

23 Hospitality VAT (10%), RETA and minimum wage

24 Food safety: HACCP and the 14 allergens

25 Staff, contracts and the hospitality collective agreement

26 The expensive mistakes to avoid

A The verdict: proceed, adjust or stop

Preview

A look inside

Professional design, verified data and clear charts in every section.

A sample of pages from the guide. The full version includes all tables, charts, the simulator and sources.

Clear pricing

The analysis you need, at an accessible price

Premium sector report

USD 2,000–4,750

Extensive reports focused on market size and its evolution, with deep macro-level detail.

Bioy Research report

€299

Decision-focused analysis: competitive map, density by city, economics and entry insight.

Bespoke study

€1,500–6,000

Tailored analysis for one specific site, with an on-site visit and a custom quote.

Frequently asked

Before you buy

What format do I receive?

A PDF ready to read on any device or to print. You receive it by email immediately after payment.

What currency is the data in?

All economic, tax and cost figures are in euros (€) and refer to Spain.

What language is the guide in?

This guide is available in English, and also in Spanish, German and French.