Coffee Bar

Hi Edgar,

First, congratulations on becoming the owner of a coffee bar. Where about is it, please?

My first response is to go get yourself hired at some coffee or fast food place, at least for a couple of weeks; the guys and galls running one are experienced, make use of that opportunity to both learn how you shape up behind the counter and see how things are done.

Before one can answer your question please provide some info :

1/ How did you acquire the bar?
2/ Do you own the building and the land under it, or did you take on a lease?
3/ Is there currently a coffee bar in the building?
4/ Is the interior / fixings and fittings as you'd like to run the bar, or will you need to refurbish?
5/ Would you need planning approval / zoning consent?
6/ Do you have adequate cash / line of credit to cover pre-opening outlays and first months wages / running costs?

Once you've answered that we'll have some idea whether it'll be feasible to run a coffee bar there in the first place:

a/ How many coffee bars are there within say six minutes' walk from your bar?
b/ Why did the previous owner seek a new owner (retired/ died/ jailed; bankruptcy/ divorce; change of interests?)
c/ Take it from your question that you have no experience running a coffee bar, not even worked in one?
d/ What is your line of business / nature of your employment? Why leave that work? Approximate age?
e/ Experience running own business, including financial/ accounting and food hygiene aspects?
f/ Who will be working behind the counter? Serving at / taking away from the tables? Family? Hired hands?

Once you answered these questions you'll have some idea of economic feasibility.

g/ Your guests will likely want to eat something : croissants/ sandwiches/ something chocolaty/ cakes.
h/ Do you intend to serve a light lunch? You'd undoubtedly also serve tea, hot cocoa and mineral water?
i/ Is seating limited to high stools at a bar, would you have room for small tables, comfy chairs?
j/ Is there a patio in the back or an option for pavement/ sidewalk seating? Something to shield from sun/ rain?
k/ How do your family and friends think about your venture? Are they able to offer support when needed?

Now that you have made an inventory of what you're going to offer in your coffee bar - it may in the end not become a coffee bar, instead you may evolve into a gap left by others in your neighbourhood - the one big and I mean really huge question is whether you have what it takes to make the bar a success.

Think of a kind word to those early morning customers who are in for a chat, or just a friendly nod to the ones who come for a quick coffee. How do you respond when a usually cheery customer comes in with a gloomy face?

Many coffee bars have the larger equipment placed along the wall, the counter staff working with their back to the customer while operating it : apart from the image you project when all goes well, think of the image your backside presents to the customer when you're rushed, or when things go different from how they should: perhaps you just dropped your last pastry, or the coffee maker spills it all onto the floor : there is so much your customers have all the time in the world to observe while you're working your butt off. As a customer that - together with the ambiance, smell and taste of your coffee - determines whether I'll be back, and back, or ...

Coming back to my opening suggestion : apply for a job at a coffee/ fast food place to gain an insight in how you're likely to bear the pressure, deal with irate customers, respond to a rush. They're often quite happy to hire: there is a surprisingly large turnover in staff and they'll frequently take on anyone who can be made to look presentable.

What if none of them will hire you? Well, it could be their error of judgement, or it might be a clear indicator : hard to say, because circumstances vary by region and even by area within a city.

May I wish you all the strength and wisdom : you'll likely need lots of it.

Hi Edgar,

The first thing you need is a business plan! If you don't have one, you can use Google to search for a template, for example: Cafe Business Plan.

If you don't think you can do this yourself, then find a professional to guide you.

Congrats to you and your new business! I hope that it will have great business and that you dont stress too much from it! I am an avid coffee drinker and I do enjoy visiting new cafes and such. However, I am aware that there are many people that are opening up coffee stores, so it is important to open up your store where there aren't much coffee stores nearby. Location is the key!! It would also be good if your store did sell more than a simple Americano, dark roast, espresso, lattes. Maybe some pastries would be nice too! But it is also important to keep your menu small, otherwise your cafe will not be just a coffee bar.

Congratulation for opening up your new coffee bar!

As you have asked, It depends on lot of factors to go with which techniques for our business. Take care of the customer choices, ongoing trends in the coffee shops and good ambience that compel the customers to visit your bar. You haver to make the strategies wisely for the success of your business.

Expenses have to be made wisely, Don,t invest too much in starting but keep aye of the response of customers. But, yes one thing you keep in your mind that first impression is very important overall for any business or services that we are delivering.

I have found something useful for you to make your coffee shop successful.

With the passage of time, your business plans need to be changed for your business.