where to start! coffee shop

dawsinho

Hey all,

ok. straight to the point, i would like to start my own coffee shop.i've been thinking about this for some time and now i've actually come to put the wheels in motion i've actually realised how much work i need to do! my main point of this thread is to ask for anyone's advice? people who have been there and done it, or tips and suggestion. feel free to shoot me down if you think i'm going the wrong way about this (that is if you can be fussed reading any further) :eek:

well.. a bit about me, i currently work for myslef (via a limited company) i generally take on 6/12 months contracts and have been doing so for the last year and a half. beforehand i was working contract via different agencies.

the wheels in motion, what i've actually done so far:

location: I've researched several locations, near to where i live so far and tried to evaluate them on such factors as, existing coffee shops, types of local trade, transport link, local demand etc. I've managed to narrow down my search to three areas that i think would really suit a coffee shop and have now started to search for premises to rent. this has turned up some positive results and i'm in the process of enquiring about rates etc.

finance: I'm in the process of putting a business plan together which includes annual fixed costs, water, eleccy, gas. expected supply costs (this ones tricky as I've managed to price goods but am finding it hard predicting turnover!) I've have a set amount of money to oneside, but think that i'll need a business loan to fund the initial start up and cost involved in fitting out the shop, plus contingencies. Best port of call? Bank...?

accountant: i know of a few local accountants who have been recommended to me, but also know the cost isn't going to go down to well with my wallet! Is an accountant completely necessary? i currently file my own returns for my limited company without to many probs, but i don't really claim a great deal and expect i will be kept much busier with accounts for a coffee shop.

solicitor: to deal with the lease, again is this necessary, do people usually go down this route?

supplies: i've had a good noisy and have manage to find seeming competitive prices for a variety of products from coffee cups to milk! i expect the longer your in business the easier things will be on this score.

well thats mostly where i'm up to at the mo, hopefully i'll have my business plan together in the next month and i can keep progressing on the right track.

anyone who has any advice or experience of any of the above, it would be great to hear from you, all comments will be well received.

thanks

Phil

cassy

as a suggestion not sure if you have already done this , but check out other local coffee shops look at the prices and menus, maybe even talk to them if your shop is not in their area they wont see you as a threat and possibly willing to give you tips and advice. check your local buisness link, think about marketing like adds in paper flyers shop launch, also staff you may want to take someone on if so then you need to look into the tax and NI stuff

dawsinho

cheers cassy,

i've actually got a stack of menus in front of me which i "acquired" from coffee shops in town! :T a friend has suggested i speak to her parents who ran a successful cafe for 20+ years up until last year. before i do so i want to make sure my business plan is much more developed, so i can really pick there brains!
will have another look at business link, have looked at it before but never in great detail.

ta

phil

nickj_2

take into account that we may be about to see a downturn in peoples spending habits ,
i've got 2 friends who have just opened a small cafe and they appear to be doing ok at the mo , but they are in a good location on an industrial estate and a captive market , my local town is over run with coffee shops , they all appear to be doing ok at the mo ,

good luck

foxsake123

there is saturation of this type. you can pick up coffees everywhere now (petrol stations, mcdonalds, subways etc etc) also as nickj says there is a downturn and £2 coffees are a luxury.