Opening a cafe.. All advice massively appreciated <3

Savvy_Sue

deedee71 said:

Have a written agreement drawn up which you and your friend both sign.   Will you both be putting in the same capital, working the same number of hours?  Will one of you end up doing the insurance, books, menus, buying etc or will it be split equally?  How and when will any profits be drawn out of the business or re-invested?

And how would you end the arrangement, if either of you wanted to do so ...

DCFC79

jamiedh89 said:

Hi everyone, this is my first post so please be kind

Me and my friend are taking the plunge, we are viewing a premises with the intentions of opening a cafe/diner there.

It’s a minefield for me at the moment knowing where to start with certain things, insurances, health and safety, food hygiene, liability insurance, business insurance, accounting etc etc

what would people’s best bit of advice be?Im just hoping that some of you with experience would be kind enough to share a little bit of knowledge with me.

Thank you in advance.

Jay H

Its not a minefield

Google for insurers, mybe1 of the comparison sites has a section for business, same with liability insurance.
Accounting, do you know anyone who has a business, would they reccomend an account ?

Thrugelmir

Do you have previous experience of the trade? If not do some work for a similar business. Watch, listen and ask, then you'll learn. 

Marcon

jamiedh89 said:

Me and my friend are taking the plunge, we are viewing a premises with the intentions of opening a cafe/diner there.

It’s a minefield for me at the moment knowing where to start with certain things, insurances, health and safety, food hygiene, liability insurance, business insurance, accounting etc etc

what would people’s best bit of advice be?Im just hoping that some of you with experience would be kind enough to share a little bit of knowledge with me.

How much experience do you both have of actually working in the hospitality industry, most especially running a cafe or other food outlet? If you don't know where to start with food hygiene, which is about as basic as it gets for someone opening their own diner, my best bit of advice would be don't - or at least not until you have experience of working in the industry.

TELLIT01

Marcon said:

jamiedh89 said:

Me and my friend are taking the plunge, we are viewing a premises with the intentions of opening a cafe/diner there.

It’s a minefield for me at the moment knowing where to start with certain things, insurances, health and safety, food hygiene, liability insurance, business insurance, accounting etc etc

what would people’s best bit of advice be?Im just hoping that some of you with experience would be kind enough to share a little bit of knowledge with me.

How much experience do you both have of actually working in the hospitality industry, most especially running a cafe or other food outlet? If you don't know where to start with food hygiene, which is about as basic as it gets for someone opening their own diner, my best bit of advice would be don't - or at least not until you have experience of working in the industry.

Would the OP actually be permitted to open a food outlet without complying with all the relevant food hygiene requirements first?  Assuming not, they have a lot of training to get through along with all the associated paperwork first.

bartelbe

My advice is don't do it, before the lockdown the market was absolutely saturated with cafes and speaking to a few of the proprietors in my area, many were struggling, breaking even at best.

BrassicWoman

I would start small with a catering from home business delivering locally. Loads have sprung up during lockdown. I have a bhaji delivery service, all kinds of cakes, bread on my estate... they seem to be doing ok.

You'll navigate health requirements, payments, taxes etc in a small way before committing to premises, and see if you can work together ok.

Then, in a few months, think about premises.

Marcon

TELLIT01 said:

Marcon said:

jamiedh89 said:

Me and my friend are taking the plunge, we are viewing a premises with the intentions of opening a cafe/diner there.

It’s a minefield for me at the moment knowing where to start with certain things, insurances, health and safety, food hygiene, liability insurance, business insurance, accounting etc etc

what would people’s best bit of advice be?Im just hoping that some of you with experience would be kind enough to share a little bit of knowledge with me.

How much experience do you both have of actually working in the hospitality industry, most especially running a cafe or other food outlet? If you don't know where to start with food hygiene, which is about as basic as it gets for someone opening their own diner, my best bit of advice would be don't - or at least not until you have experience of working in the industry.

Would the OP actually be permitted to open a food outlet without complying with all the relevant food hygiene requirements first?  Assuming not, they have a lot of training to get through along with all the associated paperwork first.

Assuming this post isn't just a wind up...looks pretty improbable!

pickledonionspaceraider

Why would someone go and look at premises with no understanding of anything else.

Do your homework draw up a business plan, overcome the hurdles, before going to look at premises 

DCFC79

pickledonionspaceraider said:

Why would someone go and look at premises with no understanding of anything else.

Do your homework draw up a business plan, overcome the hurdles, before going to look at premises 

I would also hope the OP has checked out the local area for any competiton.