Ankit and Khushboo Batra have managed the perfect side hustle, investing in a Coffee Treat franchise while retaining their full time corporate IT jobs.

So how did they do it? Picking the right franchise brand was the starting point for the couple.

“We had been looking to purchase a business for some time, something inexpensive and an established business, because we don’t have experience,” Khushboo reveals.

They looked at big brand opportunities but were deterred by the investment level and intense hands-on requirements for franchisees.

Ankit and Khushboo were still convinced a franchise opportunity was the way they could add a business to their busy lives. But it took them a while to find, and commit, to the right business for them.

Coffee Treat provides support and systems

The couple is based in Point Cook in Melbourne’s west, so the three-hour journey to the Coffee Treat site in Hamilton, southwest Victoria, was initially a deterrent.

“We were apprehensive about this,” Khushboo admits.”However the franchisor, Chelsea, was very supportive and reassuring. At every step of the way she did a lot of hand-holding, and gave us the confidence to move ahead.”

Chelsea had been running the store as a corporate business, relying on the team in place to manage the daily operations. So she knew the set-up was viable for remote franchisees.

Convinced this was the business opportunity that would work for them, Khushboo and Ankit bought the business in November 2025.

At the beginning, Khushboo spent an intensive few days at the store to understand the operations and procedures.

“It was a totally new experience for me and I loved it! I could see how effective the team is and how quickly team members move between stations,” she says.

Ankit too was impressed with the processes in place.

“The operations are really streamlined, and all the instructions on making coffees, drinks and food are clearly accessible so you just can’t get it wrong,” he says.

“Now we go to the store once or twice a month, and our team keep us updated on a daily basis. Caitlin, our store manager, and Abbie, are really very efficient, strong and hardworking,” Khushboo says.

Early challenges overcome

The couple shares the business admin responsibilities, which takes about seven to 10 hours a week. This is predominantly scheduling and rostering the shifts, which they do over the weekend. 

Caitlin helps with ordering goods and supplies, which the couple upload to an app.

“The systems are user friendly and intuitive and Chelsea has guided us through all the online platforms we use,” Ankit says.

Of course there have been challenges in the first few months of ownership.

“There have been a few learnings along the way,” Ankit admits. “We have a lot of dependency on staff, so we face challenges if someone is ill. We have hired three more casuals, just to mitigate the risks.”

And with all the demands on their time, the couple has hired an accountant to manage the bookwork.

They have also learned the importance of maintaining excellent service and great products in a business that’s reliant on community. Hamilton’s Coffee Treat store caters mostly for seniors and retirees, who are sticklers for high standards. 

When Khushboo and Ankit took over the business, they initiated radio promotions to spread the word about Coffee Treat and the franchisor handles social media activity.

Setting the foundations for scaling the business

They are keen to widen the customer base, and tap into every sporting event and fundraising opportunity, providing free vouchers to promote the business.

“This is a local community, and word of mouth really matters,” Ankit says. “Our staff know everyone – it’s a small community and we have to meet their expectations.”

Although never a business owner, Ankit has a family background in business, and brings management skills to the role. 

He sees buying a franchise as a huge advantage for new business owners, and opportunities to scale.

“We are getting a business flavour, it’s giving us hands-on experience with things like accountancy and handling multiple suppliers. You see what’s involved, how you contact suppliers and maintain relationships, how you handle people, and pay salaries,” he says.

“So we will be well positioned once we start to invest in more stores, we will understand the business better,” he says.

For now the pair continues to work full time – and future plans see no change for Ankit.

Khushboo’s hands-on Coffee Treat experience however has given her a taste for the hospitality industry. In the long term, the pair will search for another store near to their home, so Khushboo can devote herself full time to the store.