Wild question... who here owns their own coffee shop?
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Maybe the beard and coffee shtick is played out?
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2020
- Messages
- 5,962
I have a friend who has/had responsibilities. Plans to retire and run one...in Seattle. Makes fantastic coffee.
This person is smart as hell, doesn't need the income, gotta be something to it I imagine.
I have a Nespresso, lol, and Keurig for the Illy k-cups.
Ha! Maybe. I'm finally getting terminated in mid-JUL and my wife and I are dreaming about what God may have for us next. A coffee shop seems pretty simple. Also seems like a pretty good return on investment as far as margin of input materials vs. end product is concerned.
Wolverinebuckman
Well-Known Member
Man, God bless! I hope it works out for you guys, it's a great idea to become an entrepreneur.
Thank you friend! We are thinking and dreaming at the moment. Just thought there might be someone on here that stepped out and started a coffee or ice cream shop. Trying to gather pointers, lessons learned, and I'drathers.
I'm not sure I'm much help, but I have insured a few of them, along with ice cream shops, including the franchises. One of the staff Just did an ice cream store today, that was a brand new venture for the owner. My daughter just came back from a mission trip to Costa Rica with "RIDE NATURE" and they have a combined skateboard park/store and coffeeshop here in Florida It's actually pretty cool. They use it as a ministry as well. Pretty cool organization. They always have a bunch of people hanging out.
Man that's awesome. Thank you for the input. What manner of insurance is necessary for a venture like that?
Coffee and donut shop. Only serve hot fresh glazed donuts and roast your own coffee. The best drug dealers only carry a couple items. They don’t need the fluff.
Iron_llama
Well-Known Member
If you haven't already, take some small business classes, check out your local SBA resources, etc. I've spent virtually my entire adult life in small towns and watched far too many great new restaurants, bars, coffee shops, etc. fizzle out because the great cook couldn't figure out the business side of things, or the astute businessperson couldn't keep a competent cook. Or they stumbled into a taxes whoopsie-piddle they couldn't get out of. That's not even discussing the bar owners that drink on the clock... not an issue with a coffee shop mind you. I have every expectation that you'll find success - but prepare yourself for a pretty heavy lift. I know you can do it. To quote my old boss, "the best part of owning my own business is being able to set my schedule - I can work whatever seventy hours I want to every week".
The idea of fresh pastries sounds like a brilliant addition. Not sure how much of a baker you are but if you can put out a signature something that you can't find somewhere else in town - like beignets or empanadas, for example - you've got a hook.
The idea of fresh pastries sounds like a brilliant addition. Not sure how much of a baker you are but if you can put out a signature something that you can't find somewhere else in town - like beignets or empanadas, for example - you've got a hook.
Teach all those kids a song and marionette number.... U be like the modern Von Trapp's
I hope you achieve that dream my brother. I'll share my closest experience with someone starting their own business. My mother started her own small nail salon because it was her dream of owning her own business. It actually failed after a few years, and this is with my dad helping out when he can and she was taking loses monthly. Some of the issues that came up that she never considered that you might want to think about.
Time: Since you are providing a service, you need to consider that you want to be open during prime hours. Hours that people are NOT at work. So you are going to have to be working at times where you used to be at home. I almost never saw my mom for those years. Because she wouldn't be home until late at night after cleaning up the shop, and she would be open for business all weekend because those were the busiest time to maximized profit. If its a business that both parents are working at the coffee shop, can figure out a schedule where one open early in the morning and one stay to clean up. But understand that your life will change.
Clientele: Drive around your area. See what coffee shops are around and research if they have been around for a while. If they have, go and see how they operate and ask questions. Most are decent folks who would not mind sharing some of the lesson they learned. Be realistic. Just because its a dream business, does not mean that its a logical business. You need customers, I love watching Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Nightmares and Bar Rescues. One of the thing that the show does not tell you that most of the businesses still failed after a year or so. Most common reason is that owner did not want to change to cater to the customers. That their dream business is not shared by others in the area.
Location: Probably the most important thing.
That said, if you do open a coffee shop, I'll make that drive once a year for a Red Beard's Special. White coffee with red velvet foam with a dash of cinnamon spices.
Time: Since you are providing a service, you need to consider that you want to be open during prime hours. Hours that people are NOT at work. So you are going to have to be working at times where you used to be at home. I almost never saw my mom for those years. Because she wouldn't be home until late at night after cleaning up the shop, and she would be open for business all weekend because those were the busiest time to maximized profit. If its a business that both parents are working at the coffee shop, can figure out a schedule where one open early in the morning and one stay to clean up. But understand that your life will change.
Clientele: Drive around your area. See what coffee shops are around and research if they have been around for a while. If they have, go and see how they operate and ask questions. Most are decent folks who would not mind sharing some of the lesson they learned. Be realistic. Just because its a dream business, does not mean that its a logical business. You need customers, I love watching Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Nightmares and Bar Rescues. One of the thing that the show does not tell you that most of the businesses still failed after a year or so. Most common reason is that owner did not want to change to cater to the customers. That their dream business is not shared by others in the area.
Location: Probably the most important thing.
That said, if you do open a coffee shop, I'll make that drive once a year for a Red Beard's Special. White coffee with red velvet foam with a dash of cinnamon spices.
My Dad was in the restaurant business for years. Location, location and location.
The best way to understand any business is to work at one.
In the massive inflation ahead of us, will the average Joe have money to spend at a coffee shop?
The best way to understand any business is to work at one.
In the massive inflation ahead of us, will the average Joe have money to spend at a coffee shop?
peteherbst
Well-Known Member
I do. Fire away with any questions.
Every mobile vendor I've talked to does pretty good.... The dang hotdog guy would clear 4k in a weekend selling close to nightclubs late at night to the drunkards. Learn the break schedule of the guys on the big job sites, set up by the university. No rent and no anchor... Hustle and u do good. The guy selling boiled peanuts on the side of the road makes bank
There's always people with money to spend, no matter the economy. One of the guys I listen too a lot talks about knowing who your customer is. If you're in a specialty business your customer is not everybody. Gotta target the people that have money or more money than sense. Which plays into the location equation for a food business.
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- Sep 4, 2019
- Messages
- 1,373
I do market research (professional, I guess) and theres good reason to believe there will be some relief ahead. Nobody knows anything for sure of course, but when demand softens (it is) and inventories rise (they are) that’s two drivers that should / may help…
Wisdom in this post.
Edit: in a food truck scenario I might consider homemade cinnamon rolls rather than donuts so as to not have to deal with a hot deep fryer in a truck.