How to Start a Coffee Shop Today
Starting a Coffee Shop with little capital.
Starting of coffee shop seems to be one the small business ideas that people are just discovering. Coffee is one of those things that some people cannot but take every single day.
If you live in the city, you must have noticed that people usually rush out in the morning so that they can quickly get to their work place. This class of people will either dash into coffee shop on their way to work or go to the one that is close to their work place. What is important is that they just have to take that coffee in the morning. If you see this as a business opportunity, I will agree with you that it is actually a good business opportunity. However, you need to bear it in mind that a lot of coffee shops are actually springing up around the country. We should also expect more of them. I am not saying this to discourage you. The fact that many people are starting coffee shops is enough proof that there is market for it. On the other hand, you should be prepared for competition. That is why it is important that you plan the business very well right from the inception. So, to start a coffee shop you may need to consider the following:
Business Plan
You need a business plan for your coffee shop. This will allow you think through the entire aspects of the business without leaving any stone unturned. Apart from the planning aspect of it, business plan can serve as a vital tool in your hand through which you can secure funding for your coffee business. It is possible that you don’t have enough savings that is sufficient for you to kick start the coffee shop. This means you may need to approach investors or lenders in order to raise funds. One of the things any investor or lender will like to see is your business plan. Therefore, a business plan well prepared is not a waste of time as some erroneously think. If you want to succeed in anything, there is need for adequate planning. Your coffee shop business cannot be an exception.
Read Also: 8 Reasons You Need a Business Plan for Your Small Business
Scale of Business
Coffee shops are in different sizes. There are coffee shops that are actually big in size. However, you should not be intimidated by their sizes. If you are starting small, you will surely find your own market. If you have the money, you can decide to buy a franchise. This will ensure that you don’t need to start your coffee shop from the scratch. Buying a franchise means that you are buying into an established and proven system. With this, you can leverage on their expertise. However, buying a franchise can be expensive at times. If you want to consider this option, there are different coffee shop franchises across the country. You can shop round to identify the one that best suits you. Asking relevant information from existing franchisees about the franchise can provide you first-hand information. This will help you corroborate whatever information you get from the franchisor.
Location
One of the success secrets about coffee shops is location. You need a good location. A good location is any place that is close and convenient for your customers. Apart from the physical location of the coffee shop, the ambience you create in and around the shop can draw customers to you. People do not go to coffee shops just to have a cup of coffee. Some people actually go their for relaxation. Therefore, the kind of furniture that you provide and the sitting arrangement play very important roles in drawing customers to your coffee shop.
Read Also: How to Choose Business Location for Your Business
Marketing
People need to be aware of your coffee shop. Therefore, you need to market the business to people This may be by words of mouth and through networking among the people around your locality. Small flyers can actually do the magic of attracting customers to your coffee shop.
Customer Service
Your marketing efforts can attract customers to your coffee shop, it is the quality of your customer service that will keep them. If you have a poor customer service, you will soon discover that the rate of your customer retention is very low. As part of your customer service, you should ensure that you hire good staff. Your staff will either make or break your coffee business.
