Apr 07 2010
Coffee Business
Many entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the rising popularity of coffee and started their own coffee business. Some have been successful and some have not. The successful ones have all used the same general set of steps to get the business of the ground and on its way to profitability.
Before anything can be done to get financing or even sign a lease on a location there needs to be a business plan. This plan tells prospective lenders or franchise owners how the business will be set up, marketed, financed and other pertinent information that they will need to know before coming on board financially.
A good business plan can be written by the entrepreneur using templates and help that can be found on line. If this seems like a daunting task, there are companies who will collaborate with entrepreneurs to get their business plan professionally put together.
The location of the coffee business is the next important step in getting started. The coffee shop needs to be located in a high traffic area that also has easy access for vehicles to enter and exit. If it can be in an area where there is both car traffic and foot traffic that is even better. It should not be located next to or near another coffee shop. Competition is stiff enough without walking right into it by opening up next to them.
The name of the business is also important. It needs to be something that will stick in people’s minds. It should be something catchy that pertains to coffee as well. For example, the Soda Shop would not make anyone thing of coffee while Hot Java would definitely make people think of coffee. If coming up with a name is difficult there are marketing companies who specialize in branding and helping with names and slogans. It is worth the money these companies cost to come up with a name and branding plan to get the company established in the community.
After the business plan, location and business name have been decided it is important to recruit top-notch employees. Nothing can take a business down faster than rude, untrained employees who don’t care about customers. Customers will tell everyone they know about a bad experience while they might forget to tell anyone about a good experience. This is why it is so important that employees are chosen and trained to treat customers as their top priority.
Training is as important as picking the right employees. Set up a training program that cross trains all employees to do every job. Coffee shops don’t have a huge variety of jobs so it is important that everyone be able to pick up and take off with a task if asked to or if they see the need to. Customers will appreciate being taken care of without having to wait on the only employee who knows how to pull an espresso to finish up with their other tasks.
Finally, a successful coffee business will be run by good leaders. If the leader gives 100% then their staff will give 100% and those who don’t will be easy to spot and weed out. Earn the staff’s respect by stepping up and helping in all areas of the coffee shop.
The coffee business is a lucrative business if it is in the right location and has all the right ingredients to make it succeed. A good location, good employees, good leadership and the perfect name can all come together to create the perfect business.
-Sharon Chapman