The average American drinks two to three cups of coffee every day. And not only that, premium beans make around 60% of all coffee consumed. So people don’t only love coffee, they love good coffee.
If you are thinking about starting a cafe, there has never been a better time.
Opening your own cafe business might seem daunting, but if you want to work for yourself and you love coffee, there’s no better option! This simple guide will show you everything you need to know about starting up a cafe business step-by-step.
Step 1: Create a Concept
The first thing you need to do when figuring out how to start a cafe bar is what your angle is going to be.
How will your cafe be different from the corporate brands or other independent cafes in your area? Try starting a pop-up cafe first to test ideas and do some market research.
Step 2: Write a Business Plan
As with any business, you need to write a starting a cafe business plan. It should include the following information:
- Financial projections for the first year
- Marketing plan
- Staff structure
- Market research
It should also include a company overview which will help you focus on what it is that makes your cafe different.
Step 3: Source the Funds
Starting a cafe is difficult with no money. If you are not lucky enough to have an angel investor, consider a start-up loan.
Depending on the size and scale of your coffee shop, you may need $150 – $600k to start a cafe. You will also need to get a commercial business license, too.
Step 4: Find Your Coffee Beans and Equipment
There’s no point in figuring out how to start a cafe if you don’t have the main ingredient: coffee! Decide where you want to source your beans and what coffee flavor profiles are best for your concept.
You will also need to source a coffee machine, seating, tables, decor, mugs, and everything else you need to run a cafe. Try to be considerate of the environment when you invest in equipment. There is nothing wrong with secondhand!
Step 5: Hire Staff and Train Them
The last thing you need to do is hire staff. Be economical at first and scale up only when you need to. Try and find managers and supervisors with experience as you will need all the help you can get when you first open.
And speaking of opening, once you have your staff, that is the only thing you have left to do! Plan an awesome open day event and give out some great freebies.
Starting a Cafe in Five Simple Steps
Starting a cafe is not easy. In the beginning, you may be working long days to get your business up and running and it may feel neverending. But soon you will have a thriving business that makes good revenue and all your hard work will pay off.
Want more inspiration on what coffee and delicious treats you should serve in your coffee shop? Browse our website for tons of recipes and helpful information on hot beverages!
