Tea Time Franchise
Hyderabad tea-outlet chain (tea, coolers, shakes). ₹5 L unit franchise (incl. taxes) plus unexplained extras; brand claims 4,000+ outlets.
Tea Time franchise at a glance (terms checked Sept 2026)
Investment
₹5 L
Partly published by the brand · incl. equipment, stock, GST · excl. fit-out, rent deposit · Below the category (typical ₹7.5 L–₹31.38 L, median ₹24 L, 18 verified brands)
Ongoing take
~5% of outlet sales*
Franchise fee
Not published
Payback
5–10 months
Brand's claim — doesn't add up · Below the category (typical 12 mo–23 mo, median 16 mo, 10 verified brands)
* Not verified — the brand doesn't publish this; the figure comes from other published sources or FranchiseChuno's estimate (see "Reported elsewhere" and "Our estimates" below). Real numbers can differ.
- Outlet network shrank from 2800 (Outlets reported by Telangana Today) to 2500 (Outlets credited in 2021 award listing)
- Claims payback in as little as 5 months — not credible for most franchises
- Disputes with franchisees: None found (records checked Sep 2026)
- Profit or loss: Profit of ₹1.6 Cr in FY25
- Company standing: Active and up to date with the registrar
Franchisor strength isn't franchisee profit — check real outlet numbers.
Outlets
4,000 (brand claim)
What we couldn't verify
- • Outlet closures
- • Franchisee satisfaction
- • Outlets we could verify
- • Outlet claim matches reality
Ask before you sign
- Speak to at least 3 franchisees who have run an outlet for 2+ years and see their actual monthly sales and profit — a franchisor making money doesn't mean its franchisees do.
- Ask for the one-time franchise fee in writing, and whether any part is refundable.
- Ask for the royalty and any marketing-fund fee, and how they're calculated (on sales or profit).
Franchise terms checked against Tea Time's official franchise page on 27 Sept 2026. Figures marked * aren't published by the brand — they come from other published sources or our own estimate, and aren't verified.
Investment Breakdown
Per franchisorInclusive of taxes. The page also mentions an unspecified additional payable amount.
Arranged and paid by the franchisee; cost not published.
Total excludes a charge whose amount Tea Time doesn't disclose.
Model your own numbers in our calculator
Open the ROI calculator* Breakdown as published by Tea Time. Tea Time confirms one charge without disclosing the amount — get it in writing before you pay.
Ways to Partner with Tea Time
2 partner models published by the brand. Figures it doesn't publish are left blank.
Unit franchise
- Investment
- ₹5 L
- Space
- From 100 sq ft
- Royalty / margin
- Outlet sales; brand claims 40–80% margins and 5–10 month payback
- Territory
- —
- Who it suits
- Commercial space of at least 100 sq ft at a busy spot; 2 staff
₹5 L incl. taxes covers marketing, start-up kit and initial stock; civil work and premises extra.
Master franchise
- Investment
- —
- Space
- —
- Royalty / margin
- Share of unit franchise fees, share of the monthly royalty from units, and own-outlet sales; brand claims 12–14 month payback
- Territory
- A territory in which the master sells unit franchises
- Who it suits
- Warehouse with 2 staff and transport for stock
Investment not published.
Reported Elsewhere
Not verifiedTea Time doesn't publish these figures. Other sources have reported them, so they're here to give you a rough idea only. They may be out of date or wrong, and the real numbers can differ a lot — get them from the brand in writing before you decide.
- Royalty on outlet salesReported by The Weekend Leader, Mar 2022 · Tea Time's own pages confirm a monthly royalty exists but don't state the rate.
- ~5% of outlet sales*
- Outlet investmentReported by Telangana Today, Mar 2022 · Older figure; the brand now publishes ₹5 L incl. taxes.
- ~₹4.25 L*
Our Estimates
FranchiseChuno estimateTea Time doesn't publish these, so here is our best read of the market and how we got there. They are our estimates, not the brand's figures — use them to plan, then confirm the real numbers in writing.
All-in cash to open a Tea Time unit outlet
₹6–8 L*
The published ₹5 L package (incl. taxes) plus the franchisee's own civil work for a 100–150 sq ft kiosk (flooring, partition, water line, counter: ₹0.5–1.5 L), a rent deposit of 3–6 months (₹0.3–1 L) and a month of working capital for staff and milk (₹0.2–0.5 L).
Unit-economics model · Sep 2026
Monthly sales of a typical outlet
₹1.5–4 L*
300–600 cups and drinks a day at a ₹15–25 average ticket over 30 days. Busy transit or college spots do more; the brand publishes no outlet sales.
Unit-economics model · Sep 2026
Monthly owner profit of a typical outlet
₹30,000–80,000*
On ₹1.5–4 L sales: milk, tea, sugar and cups at 35–45% of sales, 2 staff at ₹24,000–30,000, rent ₹8,000–25,000, power and gas, and a royalty of around 5% (reported). That leaves roughly 15–25% of sales — well below the brand's 40–80% margin claim, which likely excludes rent and wages.
Unit-economics model · Sep 2026
Payback on a unit outlet
10–24 months*
₹6–8 L all-in divided by ₹30,000–80,000 monthly profit, after a 1–2 month ramp-up. The brand claims 5–10 months.
Unit-economics model · Sep 2026
Unit Economics
Brand's own figuresHow Tea Time says an outlet's numbers work. These are illustrations, not guarantees — check them against existing franchisees before you sign.
Master franchise
- Master franchisee payback (brand claim)
- 12 – 14 months
What Tea Time Says You Can Earn
Claims don't add upTea Time's own claim — no evidence given. These are not FranchiseChuno's estimates or a promise of earnings; ask existing franchisees what they actually make.
- PaybackMonths until cumulative profit equals what you invested.
- 5 months – 10 months
- Profit margin
- 40% – 80%
Claim vs evidence
The same measure from other sources. Franchisee figures are their own reports (shown only once at least 3 have reported); figures marked * aren't verified. Only franchisee and third-party figures affect the Score — never our own estimate.
- Our estimate10–24 months*Claim much more optimistic
Tea Time claims 40–80% profit margins and an average payback of 5–10 months for a unit outlet (and 12–14 months for master franchisees). Its older blog posts (Oct 2022) go further and say the company "assures" a 40–80% monthly profit; no franchise can guarantee returns. It publishes no outlet sales, sample P&L or sample size.
Reputation & News
1 red flag to checkWhat the press, courts and real franchisees or customers have said about Tea Time — summarised by us, with every source linked.
- In the news· Dec 2025
FY25 annual report: revenue down about 23%
Desi Tea Time Ltd's FY2024-25 annual report shows total revenue of ₹35.4 crore against ₹45.9 crore in FY2023-24, and net profit of ₹1.57 crore against ₹2.14 crore. The company stayed profitable but shrank year on year.
Source: Desi Tea Time Ltd Annual Report FY2024-25 (the brand's own site) - In the news· Dec 2025
Founder steps down as Managing Director
The FY2024-25 annual report records that Uday Tangella resigned as Managing Director and director with effect from 20 June 2024, and that Bakul Tangella was appointed Managing Director. He had been elected Lok Sabha MP for Kakinada (Jana Sena Party) earlier that month, with his term starting 9 June 2024 (PRS India). The brand's website still presents him as founder.
Source: Desi Tea Time Ltd Annual Report FY2024-25 (the brand's own site) - In the news· Jun 2022
Cup-recycling partnership with ScrapQ
A sponsored press release (ANI/PNN) announced a tie-up under which ScrapQ collects used cups from Tea Time outlets for recycling and pays outlets per kg. It is company-issued content rather than independent reporting.
Source: ANI (PNN press release) - Award· 2021
Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 — Nationwide Awards
Uday Srinivas Tangella was listed as a winner in the Empowering Women Entrepreneurship category of the Nationwide Awards 2021, Hyderabad. The award page credits Tea Time with about 2,500 outlets at the time.
Source: Nationwide Awards
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Legal / regulatory· Feb 2026
Lost a bid to extend a bus-station stall licence (2026)
Desi Tea Time asked the Telangana High Court to force TSRTC to extend its 2-year licence (Feb 2024–Feb 2026) for a Tea Time stall at Jadcherla bus station, Mahabubnagar, which the corporation had decided to remove under a policy of clearing stalls from platforms. The court dismissed the petition on 4 Feb 2026, calling the dispute contractual, and noted the company can bid in the fresh tender. It concerns one stall, not the franchise system.
Source: Telangana High Court order via Indian Kanoon - In the news· Mar 2022
Hyderabad-based Tea Time plans global foray
Telangana Today reported about 2,800 outlets (680 in Telangana), an outlet investment of about ₹4.25 lakh and plans to open in Sydney, London, Dubai and Hong Kong. We could not confirm from the brand's site that those overseas outlets opened.
Source: Telangana Today - In the news· Mar 2022
Founder profile: from a 150 sq ft shop in Rajahmundry
The Weekend Leader profiled the founder: first outlet opened in 2016 with ₹5 lakh in 150 sq ft, around 3,000 outlets by early 2022 and company turnover of about ₹35 crore. It also reported the company takes 5% of outlet sales, a figure the brand's own franchise page does not state.
Source: The Weekend Leader
What Tea Time provides for a unit outlet
The brand says the ₹5 L covers marketing, the start-up kit and initial stock; it does not say whether the boards, branding and training are within that amount.
- Kitchen equipment: fridge, deep freezer, high-pressure stove, induction stove, utensils
- Initial stock
- Outlet name board and lollipop board, installed by Tea Time
- Interior branding: menu board, photo frames, foam board, eco-solvent vinyl
- Marketing
- Staff training by Tea Time's chef
Source: Tea Time — unit franchise page
Menu range
- Tea Time specials (tea blends, including dum tea)
- Milkshakes
- Premium milkshakes
- Flavoured milk
- Coolers
Source: Tea Time — homepage
States with unit franchises (brand's list)
As listed by the brand; it does not publish an outlet-level list.
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
- Maharashtra
- Gujarat
- Madhya Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh
- Manipur
- Karnataka
- Rajasthan
- Puducherry
- Delhi
- Haryana
- Odisha
- Uttarakhand
- Bihar
- West Bengal
- Nepal
Source: Tea Time — unit franchise page
Certifications
As stated by the brand in Oct 2022; not independently checked.
- ISO-certified company
- GVSR Global vegetarian certification
- Halal certification
Source: Tea Time — blog, Oct 2022
Key Terms at Tea Time
The clauses that shape day-to-day running and your exit — read these before the fee.
- Payments to the brand
- Unit outlets pay a monthly royalty, part of which goes to the master franchisee of the territory; the rate is not published.
- Supply & stock
- Master franchisees run warehouses that supply stock to all unit outlets in their territory and track their sales; Tea Time supplies the initial stock for each unit.
Legal & Contract Summary
Key contract terms at a glance — read before you sign.
Agreement Type
Not specifiedContract Duration
—Renewal Available
—Territory Exclusivity
—Non-Compete Clause
—Exit Clause
—Who Can Apply for Tea Time
Conditions the brand sets for partners, and the licences the business needs.
- Space: At least 100 sq ft near bus stops, highways, hospitals, markets, railway stations, IT campuses or collegesRequired
- Civil work by franchisee: Tile flooring, kitchen partition, water connection and counterRequired
- Staff: 2 employees, trained by Tea Time's chefRequired
- Prior experience: Not requiredPreferred
- Warehouse: Set up a warehouse with 2 staff to supply stock to unit outlets and track their salesRequired
- Logistics: Transport stock to the stores in the territoryRequired
Licences & registrations
| Licence | Issued by | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| FSSAI registration or licence for a food outletRequired by law for any food business; Tea Time says it offers legal support but doesn't say who files. | Food Safety and Standards Authority of India | You |
About the Brand
Brand USP
Low-cost tea kiosk franchise with equipment, initial stock and marketing bundled into one ₹5 L package.
Why invest in Tea Time?
Tea Time by the Numbers
Source marked on each figure4,000+
Outlets · Sep 2026
Brand claim20+
States · Sep 2026
Brand claim16,000+
Employment created · Sep 2026
Brand claim36+
Warehouses · Sep 2026
Brand claim1,00,000+
Daily customers · Dec 2022
Brand claim₹15 (dum tea) to ₹99 (premium milkshakes)
Menu price range
Brand claimLeaves from north India's tier-1 gardens; sulphur-free sugar; fresh milk and RO water
Tea sourcing
Brand claim₹35.4 Cr
FY25 revenue (annual report) · FY25
Company filingTea Time Outlet Network
Outlet count over time
- 201710
Stores in 2017 (brand) · teatimegroup.com
- 20212,500
Outlets credited in 2021 award listing · nationwideawards.org
- Mar 20222,800
Outlets reported by Telangana Today · telanganatoday.com
- Dec 20223,000
Outlets on older brand pages · teatimegroup.com
- Sep 20264,000
Outlets claimed on the franchise page · teatimegroup.com
These counts come from different sources — brand claims, press reports and store locators — so they aren't a like-for-like series. Treat the brand's own claims as the upper end.
By state · Mar 2022
Telangana (reported): 680 outlets · Mar 2022 · telanganatoday.com
Company Financials
Brand-level, publicly reportedThe franchisor's own company health — separate from what a single franchise outlet earns.
Revenue (FY25)
₹35.43 Cr
Net profit (FY25)
₹1.57 Cr
Employees (Aug 2026)
438
Source: Tracxn — Tea Time, FY25 financials (from company filings)
Source: Tracxn — Tea Time, funding and headcount (Sep 2026)
A profitable franchisor doesn't mean profitable franchisees. These are the company's numbers, not an outlet's. A franchisor can grow on fees and supplies while outlets struggle — talk to existing franchisees and see their accounts before you decide.
Company Health Check
What Tea Time's franchisor company has filed with the registrar and the courts — the checks a lawyer would run before you sign.
- Status with the registrar
- Active
- Annual filings
- Up to date
- Last AGM
- 31 Dec 2024
- Paid-up capital
- ₹19.52 Cr
- Auditor
- Tharangini & Associates
Group companies
- Teatime Entertainment Pvt LtdAssociate · 40%
Source: Tracxn — MCA filings for Desi Tea Time Ltd (registrar status and compliance as of 5 Aug 2025; 7 open registered charges); borrowings and auditor opinion from the FY2024-25 annual report (balance sheet at 31 Mar 2025) (checked Aug 2025)
Full company recordsFinancials year by year, registered details, leadership and timelineShowHide
Tea Time Financials Over Time
Figures for the brand, from filed or reported accounts.
Source: Tracxn — Desi Tea Time Ltd (MCA filings)
A profitable franchisor doesn't mean profitable franchisees. These are the company's numbers, not an outlet's. A franchisor can grow on fees and supplies while outlets struggle — talk to existing franchisees and see their accounts before you decide.
Company Profile
The legal entity behind the brand, its leadership, and its official channels.
- Registered name
- Desi Tea Time Limited
- Company type
- Public Limited (unlisted)
- CIN
- U55101TS2017PLC185249
- Incorporated
- 6 Nov 2017
- Headquarters
- Hyderabad, Telangana
Leadership
- UUday Srinivas TangellaFounder (resigned as MD and director Jun 2024; Lok Sabha MP for Kakinada since Jun 2024)
- BBakul TangellaManaging Director (since 20 Jun 2024)
- SSuresh TangellaWhole-time Director
- BBhanojee Rao PagidojuWhole-time Director & CFO
Social presence
Company details source: Tracxn — company filings
Tea Time Timeline
2016
First tea shop
Uday Srinivas Tangella opens the first Tea Time outlet in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh.
2017
10 stores
Brand says it had 10 stores in 2017.
Nov 2017
Company incorporated
Desi Tea Time Limited incorporated (CIN U55101TS2017PLC185249).
Source2021
Founder award
Uday Srinivas Tangella named Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 (Empowering Women Entrepreneurship) at the Nationwide Awards, Hyderabad; biodegradable paper cups launched at the event.
SourceMar 2022
~2,800 outlets
Telangana Today reports about 2,800 outlets and plans for Sydney, London, Dubai and Hong Kong.
SourceJun 2022
ScrapQ cup-recycling tie-up
Partnership with ScrapQ to collect and recycle used cups from outlets.
SourceJun 2024
Leadership change
Uday Tangella, elected Lok Sabha MP for Kakinada that month, resigns as Managing Director and director; Bakul Tangella appointed Managing Director (w.e.f. 20 Jun 2024).
FY2024-25
Revenue dips
Revenue falls to ₹35.4 Cr from ₹45.9 Cr; net profit ₹1.57 Cr.
FranchiseChuno Analysis
Our analysis of verified dataHow Tea Time looks once the numbers are checked side by side.
- •Investment below the Food & Beverage medianMidpoint ₹5 L vs a category median of ₹24 L across brands on FranchiseChuno.
- ✓The franchisor company is profitableIts latest filed accounts show a net profit. That's the franchisor's money, not yours: a profitable franchisor doesn't mean its franchisees make money. Check real outlet numbers before you invest.
- ✓Brand operating for 10 yearsFounded in 2016. The brand doesn't state when franchising began.
- !1 red flag in the news or public discussionSee Reputation & News below, and ask the brand to address each one.
Data completeness
55%
- ✓ Terms checked against the brand's own page
- ✓ Published investment (not an estimate)
- ○ Franchise fee
- ○ Royalty
- ○ ROI or payback claim
- ○ Agreement term
- ✓ Training details
- ○ Outlet cities verified
- ✓ Company financials
- ✓ Legal entity
- ✓ News & public opinion checked
Ask Before You Sign
Questions tailored to what Tea Time does and doesn't publish.
- 1Speak to at least 3 franchisees who have run an outlet for 2+ years and see their actual monthly sales and profit — a franchisor making money doesn't mean its franchisees do.
- 2Ask for the one-time franchise fee in writing, and whether any part is refundable.
- 3Ask for the royalty and any marketing-fund fee, and how they're calculated (on sales or profit).
- 4Ask for the agreement term, renewal fee and exit or transfer terms.
- 5Ask whether you get an exclusive territory, and how large it is.
- 6Ask the brand to respond to each red flag listed under Reputation & News.
- 7Have a lawyer review the franchise agreement before paying anything.
- 8Visit 2–3 existing outlets and speak to their owners without the brand present.
Running the outletSpace, staff, launch steps, training, support and who does whatShowHide
Operations Required
What you'll need on the ground to run this franchise day-to-day.
Area Required
100 sq ft
Staff Needed
2 people
Setup Time
—
Owner Involvement
—
Best Locations
Not published
Business Type
Not published
Training & Support
What the brand provides to help you launch and run your franchise.
Duration
3 days
Operations Manual
Step-by-step playbook for running the outlet
Supply Chain Support
Vendor sourcing, inventory & logistics
Technology / POS
Billing, inventory, and management software
Marketing Support
Brand handles promotion and advertising for outlets through its digital marketing and PR teams — social media, movie promotions, website ranking and brand awareness.
Launch Support
Pre-opening setup and grand-opening assistance
Ongoing Field Support
Regular visits and operational coaching
Who Does What
Per franchisorHow Tea Time splits the work between the brand and you, as the brand describes it.
Tea Time
Handled centrally by the brand
- 1
Equipment and initial stock
Supplies the fridge, deep freezer, high-pressure stove, induction stove, all other equipment and the initial stock.
- 2
Boards and interior branding
Installs the outlet name board and lollipop board; provides menu board, photo frames, foam board and vinyl branding.
- 3
Staff training
Tea Time's chef trains the two outlet employees.
- 4
Marketing
Runs promotion and advertising through its digital marketing and PR teams.
You (franchisee)
Your local responsibilities
- 1
Premises
Provides a commercial outlet of at least 100 sq ft at a busy location.
- 2
Basic civil work
Arranges tile flooring, a kitchen partition, a water connection and an outlet counter.
- 3
Staff
Hires two employees to run the outlet.
Training Programme
Ongoing Support
What Tea Time franchisees say
We haven't yet heard from enough Tea Time franchisees to show anything. We publish totals once 3 or more people who run an outlet have answered and we've called each one to check.
I run a Tea Time outlet — share how it wentFrequently Asked Questions
What is the total investment for a Tea Time franchise?
How long does Tea Time say it takes to recover the investment?
What training does Tea Time provide?
Does Tea Time charge a royalty?
What does the ₹5 lakh cover, and what is extra?
Who supplies stock after opening?
Is the company behind Tea Time growing?
Can I check the 4,000+ outlet figure?
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