Chai Sutta Bar Success Story – The tale of Self made Millionare

Anubhav Dubey's Success Story

Anubhav Dubey is one of the youngest successful entrepreneurs from Madhya Pradesh, India. He is the co-founder of the much-talked tea franchise Chai Sutta Bar. His dream was to become an IAS officer, but he ended up becoming a young entrepreneur.  Chai Sutta Bar has currently more than 150 outlets in India and abroad. Chai Sutta Bar’s revenue is more than Rs.100Cr. Per year. He is one of the youngest successful entrepreneurs at the age of 26 years.

Early Life of Chai Sutta Bar founder

Anubhav Dubey was born in the Rewa District of Madhya Pradesh in 1996. He belonged to a middle-class family. His father was an average real Estate businessman. Anubhav studied  up to 8th class in Maharshi Vidya Mandir Rewa.  He went to Indore and completed his B.com from Renaissance College of Commerce and Management in 2014.

During his college time in Indore, he made many friends. Among those was his future co-founder of Chai Sutta Bar, Anand Nayak. Anubhav Dubey was being a commerce student, he was a business-minded person. He used to buy second-hand screen touch phones and sell them at a higher price. Thus, he used to manage extra pocket expenses by selling and buying used phones.

Anubhav Dubey’s parents’ dream was that their child should become an IAS officer. In order to do so, they sent their only son to Delhi to take a coaching class for UPSC Exam. He did study diligently and appeared for the exam, but could not clear the exam. He was a little disappointed. One day, he kept on thinking about how to earn money.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POxa3sBCdig

He remembered his college time of selling and buying of used phones. He thought something out of the box. Coincidentally, One day, he received a call from his college friend, Anand Nayak. They met and talked a lot about their future. Anand Nayak life was not also going well. Both planned to start a new business. Anubhav and Anand both wanted to earn big money.

How Chai Sutta Bar Started - Initial struggle

Since Anubhav Dubey's father was a Real Estate businessman, he too wanted to start a real Estate business, but he had not enough money to start with. Anubhav did not want his father to know about his plan. Anand and Anubhav have collectively fund of Rs. 300,000 only. They thought to open a tea shop. They chalked out the plan and went to Indore to execute it.

Anubhav and Anand left Delhi and went to Indore in 2016. They searched a location. After hours of a long search, they settled a place near a girl hostel. They purchased second-hand furniture and other necessary items at a low price which were in a quite good condition. At the very first day, as per plan, they offered free tea to attract people but, things did not turn out well. A very people dropped in the shop.

They thought of another plan. They invited their college friends and girls from the hostel. This plan worked and attracted local attention. Soon, people started coming regularly to shop and their income rose. They replaced paper cups with Kulad (a cup made from Clay). They prepared more than 20 varieties of teas- Choco tea, Zinger tea, Tulsi tea, Paan Tea, cardamom tea, ilayachi tea, mint tea, and many more.  Apart from tea, they also sold, Maggi, pasta, sandwich, and pizzas.

Initial Challanges of Chai Sutta Bar & Anubhav Dubey

Anubhav faced a lot of challenges and difficulties in the first six months. He learned new things from each difficulty. His diligent and consistent efforts brought good results. The revenue of shop grew rapidly. 

Anubhav was not just satisfied with just daily income as a small shop owner. He thought of something big. He drafted a plan and shared it with his co-founder, Anand Nayak. The idea was brilliant and life-changing. They registered their company and started franchising their business. In the first 6 months, he sold two franchises. The franchise cost is Rs.600,000. Anubhav set up the fourth franchise in Mumbai within a year.

Some Figures

Soon things turned in his favor and one by one every year, the number of chai sutta bar franchise outlet tally kept on growing. Currently, Chai Sutta Bar has more than 150 outlets in India and abroad. Chai Sutta Bar is selling approximately 300,000 Kulhad tea every day. Kulhad Makers belongs to small villages in India. They regularly supply more than 300,000 kulhad to Chai Sutta Bar(CSB).

There are approximately 15,00 families of Potters directly connected to Chai Sutta Bar.   CSB has employed more than 500 people of different backgrounds and age groups. Thus, CSB is connecting people of diversity.

The Chai Sutta Bar success team

Anubhav Dubey has a  team of 100 energetic, mostly youth people who are assisting Chai Sutta Bar. Anubhav's Dream was to expand his business outside of India. His dream became true in 2021. He opened two franchise outlets abroad. One is in Dubai, and the second one is in Muscat. His inspiration statement for youths about franchise outlet of Chai Sutta bar is- “Is khullhad me jo bhi Chai piyega, wo humari desh ki mitti ko chumega”, means whoever drinks tea from this clay cup, will kiss his motherland.  

At present,  Chai Sutta Bar's annual turnover is more than Rs.100 Cr.  Anubhav’s success story was covered by various major news media like NDTV, Aajtak, ZEE News, and BBC. He was once invited to a Ted Talk. He went along with his father. Anubhav Success was covered by TEDx, Josh Talk, Curly Tales, and many more. He has been awarded as Young Change Maker Conclave 2021 (UNYCC).

Future Vision of Chai Sutta Bar

Anubhav sees big growth in Food and Beverage industry in India and abroad in the coming years. He wants to achieve more than 400 outlets in the next couple of years. He says, more outlet means more employment. His aim is to reach Chai Sutta Bar in Every City in India. His success story is from a small shop of 150+ franchise outlets with more than Rs. 100Cr. annual turnover is really inspirational for Indian youth who wanted to become entrepreneurs. His future plan is to open another segment of a non-veg product brand with the name of ‘2 boti 4 roti’.