You drink that lovely caffeinated liquid all day long. You consider yourself an expert on the taste, aroma and nuances of a great cup of joe. You say to yourself "I might as well start my own coffee shop." The steps below will give you an idea of what it takes to make the leap from consumer to proprietor.
Instructions
1. Write a business plan outlining the goals, risks and growth ideas for starting a coffee shop. Take this plan to investors who are interested in staking money to start the business. You also may have to approach friends and family for capital as well as tapping into your own savings.
2. Determine the location where you want to start a coffee shop. The ideal location is in an area with heavy traffic and a prominent storefront space. If you want a drive-thru option, look for a property that already has this built in to save on construction costs.
3. Choose the vendors for the products that you are going to sell. Coffee, tea, pre-made pastries and baked goods and logo merchandise are some of the tangibles you will need. Paper goods, uniforms and cleaning supplies are also on the list of expenditures.
4. Determine the hours that the coffee shop will be open. Interview prospective employees for positions in the shop. If you are not going to be an owner/manager, the position of manager is crucial for a smooth running business, so take your time in selecting the right person for the job, someone that meshes well with you and your business philosophy.
5. Market the coffee shop you start in the vicinity of its location first and then branch out to other areas of the city. Flyers on car windshields in parking lots and grand opening specials are good ways to get that first visit. After that, word of mouth is your best advertisement.
6. Deliver a top-quality product in the coffee shop that you start. The amount of work that you put into your shop will be directly rewarded with good sales and a long standing business.
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