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Coffee Shop opportunity score in Washington DC hits 86/100 thanks to $97,000 incomes and 85/100 foot traffic.
Strategic Location Insights
Best Coffee Shop Location in Washington DC
Operating in Washington DC means accessing 6.4M consumers with $97K spending power, navigating very high business concentration, and capitalizing on the area's moderate trajectory.
Capital requirements for Washington DC: $125K startup facing $97K earning households at 1.3x leverage.
85/100 opportunity score
6,385,000 metro residents
$97,000 average income
45/100 launch timing score
Moderate - Strategic Entry
678K
Market Population
$97K
Avg Income
Very High
Commercial Activity
5
Core Sectors
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Coffee Shop Finder
Washington DC, United States
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Competitor Locations
Opportunity Zones
High Traffic Areas
6,385,000 potential customers in metro area
500+ businesses helped
Real-time market data
AI-powered recommendations
Market Analysis
How Washington DC Scores for Coffee Shops
Exclusive intelligence from Washington DC's commercial zones
85
/ 100
Market Opportunity
Based on 7 comprehensive market factors
Outstanding Potential
Financial Overview
Average Startup Cost
$125,000
Industry Success Rate
38%
Expected ROI Timeline
12-24 months
Customer Draw Radius
1,200m
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Unique Market Intelligence
Why Washington DC for Coffee Shop?
rigorous competitive analysis
Market Position
Washington DC positioning
Capital requirements for Washington DC: $125K startup facing $97K earning households at 1.3x leverage.
Commercial space at $62/sqft with 85/100 foot traffic equals $62,000/mo for 1000 sqft.
6.4M metro residents earning $97,000 on average create a $619B addressable market.
High competition meets moderate growth at 1.3x startup-to-income ratio.
Viability assessment: 1.3x capital needs, 85/100 exposure, $62/sqft overhead yields 83/100 score.
Primary sectors (Government, Professional Services) power the $97K household base.
Baseline 2.5% expansion against high competition. Standard entry dynamics.
$125K startup. 15 local income-months to break even.
Competitive Position
National ranking for coffee shops
Score: 85.75/100. 6.4M people. $97K income.
Coffee Shop costs $125K to open. Income ratio: 0.78x.
Traffic: 85. Rent: $62/sqft. Income: $97K.
Moderate growth. High competition. Score: 85.75.
6.4M metro. $62/sqft rent. 85 foot traffic.
$125K startup. $62,000/mo rent. 15 income-months to recoup.
Score 85.75 despite high competition. Market is proven.
$619.3B total income across 6.4M people.
Strategic Recommendations
Actionable strategies tailored for Washington DC
Moderate growth. High competition. Plan accordingly.
Traffic: 85. Rent: $62/sqft. $62,000/mo for 1000 sqft.
$97K income. Premium pricing viable. Margins can be strong.
Coffee Shop: $125K to open. 15 income-months to recoup.
Traffic 85. Balanced. Mix storefront and digital.
6.4M people. $97K income. Room for 3-5 locations.
$744,000/yr rent. 767.0% of local income. Factor that in.
Moderate growth. High competition. Execution decides success.
Launch Timing & Momentum
Align your opening window with market-ready signals
Entry Signal
Moderate - Strategic Entry
Washington DC's high competition is offset by strong foot traffic (85 index). Focus on prime street-level visibility and unique storefront experience to capture walk-by customers in this contested market.
Timing score: 45/100
- 🔥 High competition - differentiation critical
- 🚶 Good foot traffic (85) - organic visibility
- 💎 High income $97,000 - premium pricing viable
Seasonal Levers
- Summer iced drinks
- Winter specialty drinks
- Student seasons
National Benchmarks
How Washington DC dominates
based on 85/100 traffic metrics
The $97,000 income profile in Washington DC positions it 140% higher than the $40,492 national norm.
Commercial rates averaging $62/sqft in Washington DC sit 91% above the $33/sqft market standard, demanding higher margins.
Pedestrian activity scoring 85/100 in Washington DC surpasses the 79/100 average by 8%.
The 6.4M regional population outpaces average markets (3.8M) by 66%.
Coffee Shop Market Analysis for Washington DC
Why Washington DC for Coffee Shops?
- Metro population of 6,385,000 provides large customer base
- Average income of $97,000 supports coffee shop spending
- Very High business density indicates healthy economic activity
- Strong morning traffic opportunities throughout the city
- Strong office density opportunities throughout the city
Coffee Shop Success Factors
Morning traffic
Essential
Office density
Essential
Competition
Essential
Parking
Essential
Ambiance potential
Essential
Wi-Fi infrastructure
Essential
Coffee Shop Market Insights for Washington DC
Educated professionals provide strong coffee shop customer base
Tech industry provides ideal customer base for coffee shops and co-working spaces
Exceptional foot traffic creates natural customer discovery and impulse purchases
Seasonal Considerations for Washington DC
Summer iced drinks
Winter specialty drinks
Student seasons
Where to Set Up in Washington DC
Matching coffee shop requirements to Washington DC zones
Downtown Washington DC
High Potential
Highest foot traffic in city
Premium pricing potential
Diverse customer base
Business District
Strong Weekday
Office worker demographics
Peak lunch & after-work hours
Catering opportunities
Suburban Areas
Growth Area
Family-oriented demographics
Lower competition density
Ample parking available
Washington DC vs Other United States Cities for Coffee Shops
Market Signals
Coffee Shop Insights Unique to Washington DC
Every business + city URL now shows a different mix of ratios, rent dynamics, and demand levers.
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Viability assessment: 1.3x capital needs, 85/100 exposure, $62/sqft overhead yields 83/100 score.
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$125K startup. $62,000/mo rent. 15 income-months to recoup.
04
In Washington DC, Wi-Fi infrastructure becomes the tiebreaker.
05
The -5-point advantage over Atlanta shows why Washington DC maintains higher commercial rents.
FAQ
Coffee Shop FAQs for Washington DC
Each answer references real Washington DC data so this section is unique across the site.
How does Washington DC compare to other coffee shop markets?
Benchmarked against Atlanta, Washington DC delivers -5 additional opportunity points—driven by superior market conditions.
What playbook works best for coffee shops in Washington DC?
Moderate growth. High competition. Plan accordingly.
What makes the Washington DC market distinctive?
Viability assessment: 1.3x capital needs, 85/100 exposure, $62/sqft overhead yields 83/100 score.
What operational lever matters most for coffee shops in Washington DC?
Wi-Fi infrastructure should lead your playbook when launching in Washington DC.
Data Sources & Methodology
Our analysis combines multiple authoritative data sources
Economic Data
- World Bank Open Data
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- National Census Bureaus
Business Intelligence
- Ease of Doing Business Index
- Global Innovation Index
- Industry Association Reports
Demographics
- UN Population Division
- Municipal Open Data Portals
- Consumer Expenditure Surveys
Real Estate
- Commercial Real Estate Listings
- CoStar Market Analytics
- Local Zoning Databases
Methodology Note: Our opportunity scores are calculated using a weighted algorithm that considers population density, income levels, competition saturation, commercial rent costs, and industry-specific success factors. Data is refreshed quarterly from authoritative sources. Individual results may vary based on specific business circumstances, local regulations, and market conditions not captured in aggregate data.
Ready to Open Your Coffee Shop in Washington DC?
Moderate - Strategic Entry with a 85/100 opportunity score, very high competition, and a 85/100 foot traffic index. Washington DC's high competition is offset by strong foot traffic (85 index). Focus on prime street-level visibility and unique storefront experience to capture walk-by customers in this contested market.