13 Tips to Open a Successful Coffee Shop

This article is part of our Cafe Business Startup Guide—a curated list of articles to help you plan, start, and grow your cafe business!

If you're like me, you begin each day with a cup of coffee. It's not an improbable assumption, given that 68 percent of coffee drinkers (and I assume you're one of them) have a cup within the first hour of waking up.

With 100 million coffee drinkers in the U.S. alone, it's no wonder the industry is booming. If you've been thinking of combining your love of coffee with your entrepreneurial spirit, there's no better time to open a coffee shop.

Jack Wilson, owner of Radio Coffee and Beer in Austin, Texas, and Marc Renson, owner of Ambition Bistro in Schenectady, New York, stepped away from brewing and serving to offer these tips to prospective owners.

1. Create a solid business plan

One of the first serious steps you'll take toward opening your coffee shop is to create a business plan. This document spells out exactly what your business is, how it will be profitable, defines your customer base, explores competitors, plans for growth, and provides troubleshooting strategies should you need help achieving your goals.

But, go the Lean Planning route to start

Before you dive into creating a traditional, long-form business plan (which really you only need if you're seeking funding from a bank), we recommend creating a one-page pitch. This will allow you to quickly validate your business idea as well as get a good sense of who your market is, how you're going to reach them and how you're going to differentiate yourself from your competitors.

This process is part of what we call Lean Planning which is a faster, more efficient way to plan your business.

Browse our free coffee shop sample business plans

You can also turn to our business plan templates for guidance. Whether you're starting a little coffee and internet café or a coffee house bistro, there's a business plan template to suit your coffee shop needs.

Coffee Kiosk Business Plan (Full Plan Online)

Read how The Daily Perc opened drive-thru and mobile cafes serving coffee drinks and other beverages to their target market: daily commuters and captive consumers.

Coffeehouse Business Plan (Full Plan Online)

This sample business plan describes how Dark Roast Java attracted a diverse clientele with its Mediterranean art glass decor.

Internet Cafe Business Plan (Full Plan Online)

The JavaNet Internet Cafe was a true visionary business sample plan when it was written, and the number of cafes with this similar idea confirms it was an idea ahead of its time. Get inspired.

Cafe Bistro Coffeehouse Business Plan (Full Plan Online)

The Watertower Cafe sample business plan describes how the cafe will establish itself as a "destination" of choice to the many residents of the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, as well as numerous out-of-town visitors by providing affordable high-quality food, coffee-based products, and entertainment.

Coffee Roaster Business Plan (Full Plan Online)

Beanisimo Coffee is a startup coffee roaster in Salem, Oregon. Founder Frank Jones aims to bring old-world Italian traditions and recipes to meet the market need for premium coffees. His target market is coffee houses, restaurants, and grocery stores.

2. Take the time to find the right building

To be successful, you need the right location for your coffee shop. You probably want something centrally located, a place where people already gather, and a space that's conducive to your vision. Jack Wilson, the owner of Radio Coffee and Beer, warns that finding this dream spot won't happen overnight.

His team scoured city after city, scouting each location, even going so far as to count pedestrian traffic. He was looking for for a former restaurant space, so he didn't have to remodel everything from scratch. Finally, one day when he dropped his keys on the sidewalk he noticed a tiny "for sale" sign in a former tavern window. After months of searching, he'd found his spot.

3. Create a floor plan

A solid floor plan is vital for a coffee shop. You want customers to have space to form a line, employees to have the materials they need within reach to quickly make coffee, and a seating area that's comfortable. It will take some time to produce a good floor plan, Wilson says.

"Walk yourself through every scenario you can think of," he says. "If you're making coffee, what needs to be near you? If you're a customer, what do you want in a seating area? Visualize everything you can and start putting those ideas down on paper."

Demo floor plan via RoomSketcher.

Design your cafe floor plan online

Here are a few free websites you could use to kickstart your planning process. Once you've drawn up an initial sketch on paper, why not get it online and play around?

Autodesk Homestyler (free): This is probably my favorite of the lot. You can either start designing your floor from scratch, or choose from a gallery of designs and then personalize to bring your own look and feel into the picture. In fact, there's even an option to experiment with real-world products and brands. When you're done, share your design with your friends. They'll be able to see it in 3D!

Floorplanner: This software is incredibly easy to use, with plenty of drag-and-drop furniture and other items to make your design look good. It's clean and easy to use and displays your plan in both 2D and 3D. It can even be printed!

Gliffy: I've included Gliffy on this list because it's a well-known diagram and flowchart application. If you've used it before for any of these things, you may want to give it a try, after all, the learning curve won't be too steep. While you're at it, you can even plot your SWOT analysis.

4. Hire an accountant

One of the best pieces of advice Wilson says he can offer a new coffee shop owner is to turn your books over to an accountant. Aside from taking valuable time away from the business, having a numbers expert works in your favor.

"You won't be as hard on yourself as you sometimes might need to be," Wilson says. "Plus, you will make assumptions that an accountant wouldn't make."

In reality, your accountant is really your small business consultant. Make sure you find someone who believes in you and can help accomplish your business goals.

5. Get local help for funding

Finding the startup funds for a coffee shop can be difficult. Renson suggests talking with friends and family about investing in your coffee shop first. Present a solid business plan to them and ask them to invest in your business.

If funding via your family isn't an option, or if you need more cash than your family can provide, Renson suggests looking into local loan options. In some cases, cities offer business assistance programs to offset costs. Consider an SBA-backed loan and also see if a  local bank or credit union is an option.

6. Save money for your own expenses

Aside from startup costs, don't forget that all of your time and energy will be devoted to your new business, a business that potentially won’t be profitable for around six months, even if you start bringing in revenue immediately.

So, plan ahead. Renson suggests making sure you set aside enough money to cover your personal expenses for at least six months. Decide whether it's possible to run your coffee shop while working another job or side gig.

You will also want to understand the concept of cash flow, especially considering well over half of the businesses that fail were profitable when they went down, they just weren't cash flow positive.

7. Shop around for everything

When you're in the e planning and funding stages and working through your finances,  keep a list or spreadsheet of all the things you'll need and compare prices.

Before you buy, try to get at least two price quotes for every item so you're not losing money on basics. Use the internet to your advantage and look for the best prices on everything from comfy chairs to espresso machines.

8. Network your heart out

Having a hot location and brewing superior coffee will only get you so far. You need to network to maintain a connection to the area and to attract more customers, Renson says. Join the local chamber of commerce, a business association, or partner with a local charity. Be visible in your local community.

9. Start marketing before you open

If you start marketing the day you open, you're already behind. On opening day, you want people excited to come in. You'll actually need to start marketing several months before you open.

Affordable marketing options include:

• Dropping off free coffee to local businesses with a flyer that promotes your opening day.
• Creating a presence on social media. It's free advertising.
• Giving away coffee samples at a few local events before opening.
• Doing a small direct mail campaign that sends coupons to local residents.
• Calling everyone, including the media, to tell them about your plans to open the shop.

Image via Radio Coffee and Beer.

10. Don't just focus on the interior of the building

Of course, you'll stress over every little detail of your shop, from what paintings to hang on the wall to the POS system you'll use, but Wilson says you shouldn't neglect the outside of your shop.

"Pay attention to the landscaping, signage, and exterior appearance because that's the first thing people see," Wilson says. Some people decide whether or not to come in based on their first impression of the building, so make it count.

Plus, by spiffing up the building you'll start to create a buzz in the community. People will start to wonder, who is setting up shop in there? Every little thing you can do to attract attention to your coffee shop can serve as a marketing tool.

11. Have a positive attitude

Like every business, you'll face challenges to get your shop off the ground. Renson says keeping a positive attitude when things aren't going your way is a must.

Fake it if you have to. If you get in the habit of keeping an optimistic attitude, even if it's less than genuine to start, you'll eventually teach yourself to stay upbeat.

12. Hire slowly

You need help manning the register, waiting on customers, and making drinks, but don't hire too many people too fast. Renson suggests hiring a few friends, or neighbors who will volunteer to help you out for the first few weeks. Slowly, bring on staff.

Hiring trusted staff can be tough. No matter how well someone does in an interview, you don't know how well he or she fits until they're on the floor. Keep a close eye on the register, Renson suggests, and don't be afraid to let people go if they are hurting the business.

13. Be demanding

It's okay to set high standards for your employees, workflow, and workspace. That's not to say that you should micromanage your employees, Wilson says.

Starting a coffee shop is hard work, but for owners like Renson, owning a coffee shop is the equivalent of a living a dream. If your passion led you to open your own shop, please feel free to add to this list of tips to help others succeed in the industry.

Learn more about running a successful coffee shop:

• 6 Tips to Maximize Your Coffee Shop's Revenue

• Get Your Cafe Business Up and Running with These Handy Resources

• Free Cafe and Coffee Shop Sample Business Plans
• Should You Serve Fair Trade Coffee?
• Know Your Industry Before You Start Your Business

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