How to Open a Coffee Shop 1-2-3
Duane Sorenson was a coffee roaster at another
company when he decided to open his own high-quality gourmet coffee bar in a rundown area of
Portland Oregon. At first, people thought he would not survive - but by focusing on quality and
innovation. he gained a large customer following is thriving today.
He advises people starting out to create a business you like (doing what you want to do)
and be nice to people you work with and do business with. It's amazing how far that can take
you.
Whether you want to start a coffee shop, espresso cart, sell mail order or launch a mobile coffee service,
see how to start your coffee shop today.
You'll find coffee business start-up guides, coffee shop business
plans and tips below to help you maximize your profits from your coffee business. Since coffee houses vary
by size, location, type, staff and items sold, start-up costs differ. Find out how much it will cost to start
your business using a start up costs
worksheet. You can also request free information from coffee/cafe franchises.
Steps to Starting a Coffee Shop Business:
1. Register your business name with your county clerk and obtain the necessary business licenses. Your local government office can tell you which licenses and permits
you need for your coffee shop and how to apply.
Coffee Shop Names: Thinking about what to name your coffee business? You want to describe the
benefits and personality of your company in a way that has special meaning to your target market.
2. Find a commercial space for your business. Check for zoning restrictions if necessary. Commercial
real estate agents can help you locate vacancies and calculate rents that you can afford. Generally, you
want to be near businesses that complement a coffee shop and that are already attracting customers. As
you scout out possible locations, check out traffic patterns, planned construction projects, where your
competitors are located and also parking situations.
 3. You may also
choose to change the floor plan or decor for a unique coffee shop design for your
business. You can create a coffee shop layout with restaurant floor plan
software and even get coffee shop design ideas by looking at other pictures or visiting other cafes.
Purchase the necessary coffee shop supplies and equipment like brewing systems
and espresso machines from a wholesale supplier.
4. Set up a business bank account. It is important to keep your coffee business and personal
finances separate, and often your banker can help with small business loans or financing. You can also set up a simple bookkeeping system to manage your
finances.
Looking for a credit card with a 0% introductory interest rate to finance your start-up? Citibank has a
no-annual-fee card called Citi Diamond Preferred. Get the
benefit of using "other people's money" without having to qualify for a bank loan.
5. Arrange a meeting with an accountant to discuss tax strategies and ways
to maximize your business tax deductions. You can get referrals from other business owners you know or
sometimes your banker.
6. Meet with an insurance agent to discuss insurance you may need for your
cafe. The IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) has resources. You can also
get insurance quotes free online.
7. Set up your business phone system. Whether you use a toll-free 800 phone number, a multi-line phone system, VoIP or simply add an additional
phone number to your existing service, you'll want a designated line to establish a professional business
image.
8. Create your menu. Decide which items you will offer and create your own
menus using easy-to-use templates and low cost printing services. See coffee shop menu design for
resources.
9. Get a website. Save money by using simple coffee shop website
templates. Whether you sell coffee products online - or you use a website to display cafe menus or
business hours, it's important to take advantage of this low-cost marketing resource that can help you
get more customers.
Coffee Business Resources:
Coffee Shop Marketing:
Order business cards. Often overlooked, business cards can be a very efficient and low cost
advertising method. See how you can design your own professional business cards online >> Free Business Cards. See also: 30-50% off Postcards, Brochures and
more. Design your own marketing materials online using professional templates. Designs provided, printing done
for you. See also: Coffee Shop Logos
Get Free Publicity - Besides
advertising in your local yellow pages and placing ads in newspapers and neighborhood mailers, you can save
money by sending a press release or "letter" to your local paper announcing the grand opening of your new
business.
If you can offer a special discount or hold an event and tie it in with your grand opening, publications
will find this more newsworthy and are more likely to publish news about your storage company. Your press
release can be short and simple, and you can find press release samples you can follow on this page:
How to Write a Simple Press Release
Advertise with Signs
Use a car magnet to advertise your business while you are on the road, a yard sign to announce a sale or a
banner to promote your store's grand opening. You can design and create your own signs cheaply online using
SignsBannersDecals.com.
Offer coupons in neighborhood mailers or local newspapers to attract new customers to try
your coffee and check out your cafe. You can use mailing services or design your own coupons using online coupon creators. Local Online
Advertising
More and more people are looking for local businesses online (instead of the traditional yellow pages), and you
can use local search engines and directories to find these people. Local Search sources that are affordable and
receive substantial traffic include: Google Local, Yelp, Super Pages and more specialized sites Urban Spoon and
Insider Pages.
Advertise your coffee shop or cafe online for free with CoffeeHouseCorner.com. Free listing includes your restaurant location, contact
information, description and photo.
29 More Ways to Get
Coffee Shop Customers
See also: How
to Start a Tea Room or Tea Shop
| 
How to Start a Coffee
Shop
