Opening or taking over a neighbourhood café: which to choose in 2025?
Introduction
The neighbourhood café remains an attractive entrepreneurial project in Switzerland. A social hub, a daily meeting point, it attracts many project leaders seeking independence. But the question quickly arises: should you create your own concept or take over an existing establishment?
Both options present very different advantages and constraints. Creation offers complete freedom over the concept, layout and identity of the venue. But it involves heavy investments, complex administrative procedures and a period of uncertainty before generating turnover. Taking over allows you to start with a customer base, equipment in place and verifiable financial history. However, it carries its own risks: actual state of the business, reasons for sale, hidden costs.
This comparison analyses both approaches in concrete terms. Initial budget, time to profitability, due diligence, entrepreneur profile: we review the essential criteria for making an informed choice. If you are considering a takeover, consult our article on hidden costs when buying a café to anticipate often forgotten expenses.
📌 Summary (TL;DR)
Creating a café requires a high initial investment (150,000 to 400,000 CHF) and a period of 12 to 24 months before profitability, but offers complete freedom over the concept. Taking over an existing establishment generally costs between 100,000 and 350,000 CHF, allows you to start with a customer base and generates immediate revenue, but requires rigorous due diligence.
The choice depends on your profile: creation suits patient entrepreneurs with a strong vision, whilst takeover is aimed at those who prioritise speed and the security of verifiable history.
📚 Table of contents
Creating a café: starting from scratch
Creating a café offers complete freedom over the concept, visual identity and location. You build your project according to your vision, without inheriting the choices of a previous operator.
This freedom comes at a price: the initial investment is high. Factor in renovation work, complete professional equipment (coffee machine, refrigeration, furniture), operating licences and necessary permits.
The time required to develop a customer base also represents a major challenge. Without history or established reputation, you start from zero. To anticipate all costs, consult our guide on hidden costs of a café.
Budget and initial investment
Creating a café in Switzerland requires a substantial budget. Fitting out represents between 50,000 and 150,000 CHF depending on the surface area and condition of the premises.
To this must be added:
- Professional equipment (espresso machine, grinders, refrigeration): 30,000-60,000 CHF
- Furniture and decoration: 15,000-40,000 CHF
- Initial stock and supplies: 5,000-10,000 CHF
- Launch marketing: 5,000-15,000 CHF
Also plan for working capital to cover expenses for the first 6 months without sufficient revenue.
Time to profitability
A newly created café generally takes 12 to 24 months to reach profitability. Building a loyal customer base takes time.
This phase includes:
- Developing local awareness
- Progressive word-of-mouth
- Adjustments to the concept based on customer feedback
- Stabilisation of turnover
Without history, the risk of failure remains higher. The first months often serve to test and correct the offer, with unpredictable revenues.
Taking over an existing café: taking the reins
Taking over a café presents immediate advantages: an established customer base, revenue from day one, and equipment already in place. The commercial lease is negotiated, which avoids months of searching.
But this solution also has constraints. The purchase price reflects this existing value. The actual condition of the equipment and the quality of the customer base must be carefully verified.
Consult the cafés available for takeover on Leez to compare opportunities in your region.
Purchase price and valuation
A neighbourhood café in Switzerland generally sells for between 100,000 and 300,000 CHF. The price depends on several criteria:
- Demonstrated turnover and profitability
- Quality of location and foot traffic
- Condition and value of equipment
- Commercial lease terms
- Goodwill (reputation and loyal customer base)
To assess the fair price of a café, use Leez's valuation tool which analyses these parameters objectively.
Due diligence: verify before buying
Before taking over a café, thorough verification is essential. Examine:
- Accounts for the last 3 years (turnover, expenses, profitability)
- Lease conditions (remaining duration, rent, clauses)
- Actual condition of equipment and purchase date
- Validity of operating licences
- Hidden charges (compliance upgrades, work to be planned)
Our article on hidden costs details these points. The Leez expert network can support you in this analysis.
Direct comparison: creation vs takeover
Here is a factual analysis of both options according to four key criteria:
- Initial investment: Creation 100,000-250,000 CHF | Takeover 100,000-300,000 CHF
- Time to profitability: Creation 12-24 months | Takeover immediate to 6 months
- Entrepreneurial risk: Creation high (no history) | Takeover moderate (verifiable performance)
- Creative freedom: Creation total | Takeover limited (existing concept)
Each option meets different needs depending on your profile and priorities.
Which profile for which option?
Creation: This option suits creative, patient profiles with sufficient capital and a long-term vision. You accept the uncertainty of the first months to build exactly the project you imagine.
Takeover: Favour this route if you have a management profile, seek rapid income, have a limited budget or want more security. You inherit an existing base to optimise.
On Leez, you can consult available cafés in Switzerland and compare takeover opportunities in your region.
Creating or taking over a neighbourhood café in 2025 depends above all on your profile, your resources and your risk tolerance. Creation offers freedom and personalisation, but requires a substantial investment (150,000 to 300,000 CHF) and a ramp-up period of 18 to 36 months. Takeover allows immediate revenue generation, an established customer base and better controlled risk, for a budget often comparable if all hidden costs are included.
The choice is not just a financial matter: it reflects your entrepreneurial vision, your experience and your ability to manage uncertainty. Both options can lead to success if they are well prepared, analysed and financed.
If you are considering a takeover, consult the cafés and businesses available on Leez to compare concrete opportunities. You will be able to assess real figures, contact sellers directly and make an informed decision.
