Starbucks proved that coffee is one hot commodity (literally and figuratively!) that many would-be business owners are planning to start their own coffee shop business. People are making it a habit to visit their favorite coffee shop everyday to get their latte fix.
One important note, though — this is a business that requires capital and can hardly be started on a $5,000 budget. In fact, according to Bellissimo Coffee Infogroup, http://www.espresso101.com/coffee_faq.html you will need the following amounts to start your coffee shop business:
- Coffee Cart: Usual start-up cost is $20,000–$25,000 to open and stock.
- Kiosk: Depending on the size and what menu items are offered, it will usually cost between $50,000–$60,000.
- Coffee Drive-Thru: The cost of opening a drive-thru espresso business operation can vary dramatically, from the the very small units for less than $30,000 to anywhere between $80,000–$180,000 depending on how the shop looks.
- Sit Down: The cost of opening a sit-down coffee shop is comparable to the cost of opening an upscale drive-thru. Start-up costs for most 1200 sq. ft. coffee bars average $150,000 to $300,000.
You may want to read the following articles:
- So, You Wanna Open a Coffee Shop
- EspressoBusiness.com (has a nice section on what to avoid in terms of coffee shop business)
- Links to various resources on starting a coffee business
- Coffee Shop Sample Business Plan (free)
For in-depth information, you may want to read the following books:
- Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting and Running a Coffee Bar (The Complete Idiot’s Guide)by Linda Formichelli
- Start and Run a Coffee Bar (Start & Run a)by Tom Matzen, Marybeth Harrison
- How to Open a Financially Successful Coffee, Espresso & Tea Shop by Elizabeth Godsmark
- FabJob Guide to Become a Coffee House Owner (FabJob Guides)by Tom Hennessey
- ESPRESSO! Starting and Running Your Own Specialty Coffee Business by Joe Monaghan and Julie Sheldon Huffaker
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Coffee shop is a good business today because many people loves coffee. Just prepare the most delight able coffee in a very nice and cozy location then it will be great.
Finding your USP is really as simple as looking at your product, in your case, your coffee shop, and deciding what it is about it that makes it different from everybody else’s.
i own 3 of the 5 books he recommended at the end of the article and the most in depth of those three is the Complete Idiots Guide…
just thought i’d share that with you.
Great book about setting up a coffee shop business that will make you money from the start – Don Clarke’s practical and illustrated book “How to set up a coffee shop”.