Suggested
Payment Terms
The indicative project fee of £18,500 is proposed in four equal instalments of 25%, creating a simple payment structure aligned with the project's progression.
| Payment Stage | Timing | Proposed Payment |
|---|---|---|
| 01 — Commencement | On confirmation of the engagement | 25% — £4,625 |
| 02 — Foundations Complete | Following the Phase 1 review and before main sourcing and selection | 25% — £4,625 |
| 03 — Opening Teas Confirmed | Following tea selection and before service and operational development | 25% — £4,625 |
| 04 — Opening Implementation | Before team training and final pre-opening development and calibration | 25% — £4,625 |
| Total | £18,500 | |
Payments are linked to key project milestones rather than individual hours worked, allowing reasonable flexibility as the programme develops. We will discuss any material change to the agreed scope or fee in advance. The final Terms of Engagement will set out full payment and practical terms.
Scope
Boundaries
The consultancy is focused on tea.
Overall business strategy and financial modelling, market/customer validation, final menu pricing and gross-margin decisions, general hospitality operations and staffing, final cocktail formulation and bar direction, food development, interior design, general procurement, legal/regulatory work, packaging and graphic design, marketing/PR and ongoing operational management remain with Shizuku unless separately commissioned.
Rui will work with relevant commercial and operational information where it materially affects tea decisions but is not responsible for developing Shizuku's wider business model or for overall revenue, occupancy or profitability.
Tea Supply
The consultancy and any future commercial supply of tea are separate. Any tea supplied through a business or producer in which Rui has a commercial interest will be disclosed transparently and separately priced at the relevant trade terms. Shizuku is not required to purchase tea through Rui as a condition of the consultancy.
Breakfast Tea & Intellectual Property
Ownership and use of bespoke work developed specifically for Shizuku, particularly the final Shizuku Breakfast Tea specification, will be clearly agreed in the final Terms of Engagement.
The intention is that Shizuku can use the final commissioned Breakfast Tea product as its own retail product. At the same time, Rui retains her pre-existing tea knowledge, sourcing methodology, relationships, general development know-how and frameworks. Pre-existing producer knowledge, tea material and production methods remain with their respective producers or makers.
Travel &
On-site Work
The project fee includes Rui's consultancy time for the agreed pre-opening work but excludes international travel, accommodation and related expenses. These will be agreed with Shizuku in advance before bookings are made.
With the current July 2027 opening timeline, the recommended plan is approximately one to two weeks of on-site work in London from around mid-May 2027, ideally closer to two weeks.
Travel arrangements should allow Rui to rest properly during the long-haul journey and move directly into concentrated project work on arrival, with comfortable accommodation within practical distance of Shizuku.
| Travel | approximately £4,000+ |
| Accommodation and reasonable daily expenses | approximately £200 per day |
| Indicative total — one week | approximately £5,400+ |
| Indicative total — two weeks | approximately £6,800+ |
These are planning estimates, not fixed expenses. Shizuku will agree on actual arrangements, dates, and material costs in advance.
Post-opening
Support
Post-opening support is not included within the current project fee.
Rui is open to continuing to work with Shizuku after opening. This could include sourcing and harvest review, ongoing quality assessment, development or selection of new teas, programme review, team development or return visits.
Once Shizuku provides a clearer brief on the level and type of support it would like during the first year, Rui can recommend the most appropriate structure—whether ad hoc consultancy, a defined number of review days or visits, or an ongoing retainer—and quote for this separately.