List Of Legal Documents You Need To Run A Coffee Shop
The legal requirements for a coffee house business may vary slightly from country to country, states to states and even from cities to cities. So it is important to contact your local authority to know the legal requirements that you would need in order to successfully open your own coffee shop business in your country without stress.
These are some of the basic legal requirements needed before you can successfully start and run your own coffee shop business
- Business and liability insurance
- Proof of district-issued food and drinks manager identification card
- Food purchase record storage and record keeping
- Depot, commissary or service support facility meets vending unit operation needs
- Copy of license for the service support facility and/or a recent inspection report
Shop Around For Everything
While youre in the planning and funding stages and working through your finances, keep a list or spreadsheet of all the startup expenses youre looking at so you can compare prices.
Before you buy, try to get at least two price quotes for every item so youre not losing money on basic necessities or recurring costs. Use the internet to your advantage and look for the best prices on everything from comfy chairs to espresso machines.
How To Start A Coffee Business In A Rural Area
Research about what coffee sells well to the populace. In fact, you even need to figure out if the inhabitants prefer buying coffee from a coffee shop. Second, think about what coffee business you want to start. Most of the time, what works is a small coffee shop having a sitting capacity of 6 – 15 people or a drive-thru coffee business. The final steps are getting supplies and registering your business.
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How To Start A Coffee Shop Bakery
The steps involved in how to start a coffee shop with a bakery arent different from starting a small coffee shop dedicated to only serving caffeinated drinks. But note that, you will need to invest in making your own bakery or sourcing supplies for bread, cakes, and pastries. So how much to start a coffee shop bakery? Starting capital is $98,000 – $115,000 on average.
Want To Open A Coffee Shop
Yes, but where do you start?
We aim to help break through the noise and provide you with the relevant information you need to successfully open your coffee shop.
Whether you want to open a drive-thru coffee standor a large café bakery, we believe our examination of important business topics can help you with your business planning, regardless of your overall coffee shop budget. As you explore what type of coffee shop business you want to open, you’ll soon begin to develop your coffee shop concept that works for your target market.
We believe that the more you know, the fewer mistakes you make. And the fewer mistakes you make, the less expensive your coffee business will cost. Our Complete Coffee Shop Startups Kit will give you an unprecedented amount of insight into starting your own coffee shop business. It is the ultimate guide to start your coffee shop business planning anywhere.
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Provide Great Customer Service
Excellent customer service is crucial to any successful business, especially in the food service industry. Most successful coffee shops utilize counter service. Having customers order and pay up front and calling them when their drinks and snacks are ready minimizes your labor costs and enables you to better handle busy periods.
Table service is generally slower, more labor-intensive, and better suited to restaurants where patrons order full meals and spend more time in the establishment, but it’s not out of the question. Offering table service gives more opportunity to upsell and may suit your business model.
Change The Product Mix
The mix of products that you sell are not all equal. Some menu items have high sales & high margins, others have low sales and low margins.
The first step is to know which is which. If youve discovered the reports section of your cash register, take a look at the product mix report .
Think of your menu like a football team. If a product isnt performing, its time to put it on the bench and bring on some fresh legs. Those low-selling, low-margin products are dragging down your overall cafe profit.
Tasty: yesProfitable: maybe
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How To Start A Drive Thru Coffee Shop
Not all have the time to enter a coffee shop, sit around while drinking coffee, and then head out to continue with the days activities. There will always be busy people who only want to sit in their automobiles while waiting for the barista to hand over coffee right through the car window.
And so, drive-thru coffee shops are getting traction in the USA. In fact, big companies such as Startbucks and Dunkin Donuts own a lot of these.
With that said, a drive-thru coffee shop is a solid option as a startup coffee business. You can operate one with only 2-3 employees. Here are the steps to starting one. By the way, well already assume you have the appropriate funds to start one.
Who Is This Business For
The most effective businesses are designed with specific customers in mind. The more specific you get, the more you can focus the plan on what they want.
The example below breaks down customers into segments based on who they are and what occasion you can fulfil.
Now we have an idea of who they are, lets have a look at what the competition is doing
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Make The Menu Simple Enticing And Quick To Prepare
The menu that you offer will be essential for your success. In general, it’s best to keep your menu relatively simple. A long menu list can overwhelm customers, which can cause them to walk out the door ultimately. For instance, your bagel menu could consist of plain bagels, a few different flavors, and cream cheese or butter. Offering meats, salmon lox, and uniquely flavored bagels are not always necessary. It may increase your operating costs and lead to waste, which can reduce your profits
How To Start A Coffee Shop: Your Guide To Getting Started
These six steps will help you turn your love of coffee into a business.
By: Jamie Johnson, Contributor
Many coffee shops take their offerings well beyond coffee and sell homemade pastries, teas, sandwiches and their own unique house blends.
Running a coffee shop can be a rewarding experience and a profitable long-term business model. Here are six steps to opening a coffee shop.
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Learn The Cafe Industry Quick Stats
The cafe industry is booming, and even through recessions, it has shown steady growth. If youre hesitant to start your own cafe, these statistics might help you make your final decision. Cafe trend and performance stats:
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Major cafe brands report that they are about 5% more likely to have female customers.
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Small cafe profit margins average at about 2.5%.
Knowing the busiest times of day, and where its likely most of your revenue will come from can help guide you through solidifying your concept and starting a cafe business.
Resources And Equipment Needed To Launch A Coffee Shop Startup
There are many elements for consideration, each of which will determine if your idea becomes a successful coffee shop. Equipment costs will be one of your main expenses the most important piece of equipment youll need to invest in is a good quality coffee machine. This will be the workhorse of your business, so its essential that you invest in a reliable espresso machine that produces a very good cup of coffee. A good quality commercial machine will set you back at least $10,000. Other costs youll need to consider include:
- Refrigeration system – $500 to $12,000
- Water filtration system – $1,500 to $10,000
Another important cost you will need to consider is your premises. The cost of buying, renting or even building a new coffee shop will vary dramatically depending on the size, spec and location of the premises.
If you decide to rent your space, ideally, your rent shouldnt exceed 15% of your sales. Do some research into real estate companies in your local area who specialize in commercial premises. Look at the different options available in your city to get an idea of how much you can expect to pay every month.
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How To Find And Hire Coffee Shop Staff
Hiring and managing staff is one of the biggest challenges in running a coffee shop. Youll need reliable, hard-working and friendly staff to give a warm welcome to customers.
Start recruiting early on before you open for business, and use social media and local press to advertise for staff. Focus on candidates interpersonal skills as much as their food or coffee preparation knowledge and experience as good customer service is vital to ensure return customers. Provide barista training if needed and other forms of training. A buddy system where new staff shadow an experienced employee for a week or two when they start is a good idea. Consider hiring extra staff to cover busy, peak periods such as lunchtimes.
As an employer, youll need to pay employers tax and National Insurance contributions and maybe holiday pay depending on hours and your terms of employment. Contact HM Revenue & Customs for more information. Read our first time employers guide to hiring staff for more advice.
We Discuss Coffee Shop Startup Costs In Greater Detail:
A large portion of these startup costs will go to the leasing or monthly rent, your coffee shop design and build-out, permits, and coffee shop equipment. While it has been a retail industry standard that your rent should be no more than 15% of your sales, it is not always feasible. For example, if your rent is $10,000 a month, is it feasible that your monthly sales will be about $67,000?
Step #3 of How to Open a Coffee Shop
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Determine Whom You Are Going To Sell To
As an online coffee brand, you will have two main types of customers: individual buyers and local coffee shops or other businesses. Each group has very different needs in a coffee provider, so it is essential to know your target audience before determining what type of coffee your brand will sell. While cafes may prefer to buy larger bags of whole beans so they can grind them fresh daily, a busy restaurant may prefer pre-portioned ground coffee for quick and consistent brewing. Individual buyers will likely shop for single-serve capsules or bags of whole or ground coffee beans they can use at home.
Different customers will also have different concerns when it comes to the flavor and quality of their coffee. Some people prefer rich, dark roasts, while others enjoy caffeinated light roasts. Some coffee lovers prioritize specialty or third-wave coffee and want to know the origin and source of their coffee beans. Other customers may seek organic or fair-trade coffee.
Choosing a niche market for your coffee brand is often the best method for narrowing your customer base. Rather than trying to create coffee that appeals to everyone, you can focus your efforts on one group of coffee drinkers. This strategy will allow you to specialize your coffee flavor profiles, marketing efforts and company branding to your customer base.
How Much Money Do You Need To Start A Coffee Shop
In theory, starting a cafe sounds like a fun idea, but its no small investment and there is no single, easy answer to this question. Instead, the cost of starting a coffee shop ranges depending on the location, size, and design of your shop. According to the successful coffee shop chain Crimson Cup, the range of costs can be:
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$80,000 to $300,000 for a coffee shop with seating
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$80,000 to $200,000 for a coffee shop with a drive-thru only
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$80,000 to $300,000 for a coffee shop with both seating and a drive-thru
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$60,000 to $105,000 for a coffee stand or kiosk
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$50,000 to $154,000 for a coffee food truck
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Financing Your Caf Or Coffee Shop Business
Premises, equipment, staff all of these things take money. Fortunately, there are a number of options available if you’re just starting a business and need to raise finance. While many people start businesses using their own savings, or money borrowed from family, there are also various other paths to pursue.
Despite the phenomenal success of Costa and other chains, coffee shops are not the kind of business to set up if you’re expecting a quick multi-million pound exit. Profit margins will only become significant if you open multiple outlets, and even then, your initial costs will be considerable. If youre feeling particularly ambitious, it may be worth investigating if you can get a business loan to help you get started.
However, if you’re after a lifestyle business which provides you with a modest income, then setting up a coffee shop could be a great decision.
Startup loans the Startup Loan company is a government-backed scheme, where you can borrow up to £25,000 with a fixed interest rate of 6% p.a.
Business loans business loans are similar to startup loans, except they are not just for new businesses and dont have the same caps.
Consider lighting, layout, and furniture when creating your cafés concept
Start The Staff Hiring Process For Your Coffee Shop Early
Early on in the coffee shop planning process, youll want to identify another person to help you run the restaurant. You cant do it alone! For baristas and cooks, referrals are a great place to start. Its also a good idea to hire from a restaurant-specific job board. One tip to restaurant recruiting success is to keep your brand, values, and culture in mind. Consider whether or not your new hire will be a good fit! For a complete rundown of everything you need to hire, manage, and lead the perfect coffee shop team download the Restaurant Staffing Guide.
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Coffee Shop Startup Cost
Opening your own coffee shop takes lots of time, effort, and of course, cash. Before you sign your name on any checks, you should have a good sense of the startup costs. Every aspect of your business will need a significant investment, so budget accordingly:
- Equipment. A commercial espresso machine can cost up to $20,000. Youll also need a drip coffee maker, a coffee grinder, a water filtration system. You might need refrigeration for cream and milk. Finally, youll also need to buy a cash register or a way to accept credit cards.
- Supplies. Your cafe should start with a well-stocked inventory. The stock of coffee and tea will run you about $2,000, and supplies such as napkins, straws, and sugar packets might cost a similar amount. Try not to buy more than you can unload in the first month to keep supplies fresh.
- Food. Even the best coffee shops wont survive on coffee sales alone. While a full food menu is labor-intensive, most coffee shops offer an array of pre-made sandwiches, pastries granola bars, and yogurts. Source these items locally if you prefer not to make food yourself.
- Property. Ideally, the cost of your rent should not exceed 15% of your sales. When you rent a commercial space, youll have to put up first and last months rent before youve made a single sale. As part of your startup costs, youll also have to consider renovations as well as tables, chairs, and decor.
How You Explain Drinks To New Hires Defines Their Ability To Recall Recipes
When you ask a new hire to memorize individual drink recipes and you ask them how to make a 16oz mocha, a 16oz latte, and a 16oz breve, theyre going search their memory for three separate drinks. Ive watched countless new hires scratch their heads and breathe deeply with big pauses in speech while attempting to explain these three drinks after being given a packet to memorize.
When I trained new hires, I explained the three drinks differently and painted a picture for them that created a connection between all of the drinks that made it easy. I told them a 16oz latte is two shots of espresso and steamed milk, and the other two drinks are just variations. A mocha is the same drink but with chocolate added, and a breve is a latte that uses half and half instead of milk. With this explanation, the new hire only needs to memorize one recipe for a latte, and then mocha and breve become keywords for a recipe alterationnot a separate recipe.
If youre not sure how to train your staff, you can provide state of the art training for all of your baristas through the Specialty Coffee Society of America.
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Your Coffee Shop Funding Mix
Determine how much you will need to borrow, steal, or beg
When it comes to developing your coffee shop budget, put everything on the table, and figure out the total costs of getting up and running.
Next, determine your coffee shop funding mix. Figure out how much you have to invest personally. This means looking at how much capital you will need to borrow and/or save for.
My recommendation is that you review your numbers twice, three times, and four times for good measure then anticipate spending about 20% more to give yourself some slack. Knowing your fixed and variable costs, break-even point, the pricing strategy will help you layout your financial picture for you and any potential investors.
Some things may cost more, other costs may be surprises, yet other costs may result from delays . Of course, you want to minimize these as much as possible.
Your coffee shop business will need money to run. Cash is the lifeblood of any business and your job, as the business owner, is to ensure that you have enough to see you through to profitability.
Having enough funds until you reach sustainability is critical. Your business plan will help you with this, but you will still need to do that leg work and critical thinking. Knowing your break-even point, therefore, is an important metric for your coffee shop business.
Step #15 of How to Open a Coffee Shop: