When I opened my first bubble tea shop, there were some things I had to learn the hard way. Here are 3 I wish I knew earlier: 1. Suppliers are everything. It’s not just price – reliability, shipping times, and backup options matter more than you think. 2. Simple menus win at the start. Too many flavors and toppings slowed us down and confused customers. A focused menu sold better. 3. Marketing starts before opening. I spent 6 months of planning before opening but I realized that I should have been building curiosity on social media weeks before launch, not after. I’m curious about you: – Where are you based? – What’s the #1 thing you’re worried about right now when it comes to starting a boba/snack shop? Comment below and I’ll use your answers to decide what I should teach next inside Boba Business Academy.

Hi everyone, I’m Frah— the founder of Boba House and your host here at Boba Business Academy. I started my own bubble tea shop a few years ago in a place where there was almost no bubble tea culture, limited suppliers, and not a lot of clear information on how to do it. I had to figure out everything from planning and suppliers to branding, pricing, and social media by experimenting, making mistakes, and slowly improving. This community is for people who want to start and grow a bubble tea business in Africa, the Middle East (GCC), and other “non‑traditional” markets — whether it’s a kiosk, café, or a small corner inside another business. If I could build it from scratch in a challenging environment, I believe you can too. Inside this community, we’ll talk about: • Choosing a concept and planning your shop • Finding and working with suppliers (even when options are limited) • Creating your brand, menu, and pricing • Marketing on social media with a small budget • Learning from each other’s wins and mistakes 👉 What to do first: Comment below and introduce yourself: 1. Where are you based? 2. What stage are you at (just an idea, planning, already selling, etc.)? 3. What’s one question you have about starting or growing your bubble tea business? I’m glad you’re here. Let’s build your boba business together. 💬🧋💜