How to Start a Paper Cup Business 

1. Market & Plan
    
   Pinpoint target clients (cafés, caterers, event planners) and niches (custom/eco-friendly PLA cups). Analyze competitors to highlight your edge (e.g., small-batch customization, fast delivery) and finalize a financial plan covering startup costs and financing.
   1. Legal Compliance
       
      Complete business/tax registration locally. Secure mandatory certifications: food safety standards (FDA, ISO 9001, GB 4806.8-2016) for food-contact products. 
2. Workshop & Equipment
    
   Invest in core equipment: an automatic cup forming machine (120-150 pcs/min, ~$33,000). A paper cup machine occupies about 5 ㎡，for a small business with one or two machines, a 200㎡ is enough. If with a bigger business, plus optional flexographic printers, quality detectors, packaging machines, and environmental protection devices. and also leave a warehouse for paper and the finished cups.
3. Production & Materials
    
   Source food-grade base paper (180–300 g/㎡) with PE/PLA coating or paper fan directly via long-term supplier contracts. As the paper cup supplier, we could introduce you very good paper suppliers. Follow standardized workflows: inspection → printing → die-cutting→ forming → quality check → packaging. or without printer and die-cutting machine, it is much easier steps from paper cup fan as: cup forming--packaging. Keep defective rates below 3% and reuse waste to cut costs.
4. Sales Expansion
   • Offline: Partner with local catering chains and distributors for bulk orders; offer custom logo services.
   • Online: Promote via e-commerce platforms and social media; build an official website to showcase products and receive orders.
5. Operations & Risk Control
    
   Deploy 5-10 staff (production, sales) and manage working capital efficiently. Sign equipment maintenance contracts, track raw material price trends, and comply with the latest environmental policies to avoid operational disruptions.