Opening a coffee shop...

**Polska** · 10-22-2006, 08:09 PM

Anyone own or know anyone that owns a coffee shop?

Coffee is a business that is going to be forever plentiful. It is one of the biggest exports in the world.

I have a source in guatemala from which I can get 100% homegrown guatemalan coffee beans for CHEAP. The markup on coffee is INSANE.

I am thinking a good location, professional decor, a great tasting product, unique perks (like free wireless broadband internet throughout the store), etc.

How can I lose???

This is one of the things I am going to be looking into.

**Mizfit** · 10-22-2006, 08:12 PM

Depends on area and cost of the coffe.. clientele etc

Timmys rules Toronto and thne u got starbucks for those with more cash.

**Polska** · 10-22-2006, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Mizfit

Depends on area and cost of the coffe.. clientele etc

Timmys rules Toronto and thne u got starbucks for those with more cash.

I am not looking to compete with Tims or Starbucks. Although given enough exposure and word-of-mouth advertising it could grow into a chain over time. Guatemalan coffee tastes great and for the price that I can import the beans means I can sell it very cheap and still be profitable. The thing that gets me is... with the amount of coffee addicts out there, the market for good and inexpensive coffee is huge. I could offer gourmet coffee for less than starbucks.

**gixxerboy1** · 10-22-2006, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by Polska

I am not looking to compete with Tims or Starbucks. Although given enough exposure and word-of-mouth advertising it could grow into a chain over time. Guatemalan coffee tastes great and for the price that I can import the beans means I can sell it very cheap and still be profitable. The thing that gets me is... with the amount of coffee addicts out there, the market for good and inexpensive coffee is huge. I could offer gourmet coffee for less than starbucks.

Marketing is going to be key. Plus what else are you going to offer to make them drive to your coffee house instead of a starbucks?

**GUnit33** · 10-22-2006, 08:25 PM

Not exactly the easiest market to get into, but more power to you. Good luck, because I've heard that Starbucks is absolutly ruthless when it comes to small business competitors..

**StoneGRMI** · 10-22-2006, 08:46 PM

I have a friend that owns one and does well. The only regret that I can remember him saying is not having a drive thru. A drive thru does make it look a little more comercial but if you can keep it way out of the way the sitting area it will bring you more profit. We all know (I'm one of them) most people would rather drive thru somewhere really fast on the way to the office in the morning.

**stunner5000pt** · 10-22-2006, 08:59 PM

it depends on location i guess...

if you were located near a tim hortons you would lose out

but otherwise, good luck

**Mizfit** · 10-22-2006, 09:02 PM

I just know at least in Toronot, alot of my friends etc prefer the chains - unless its upscale one off

**CSAR** · 10-23-2006, 01:25 AM

Make sure it's near a university campus.

**big L 17** · 10-23-2006, 01:35 AM

i worked in a coffe shop there were losing more money then making and it was in a big chain gorcey store

**PrairieDawg** · 10-23-2006, 03:32 AM

just make it inexpensive and good coffee thats all I gotta say. I refuse to go to independent coffee shops around here because they all cost MORE than starbucks and don't taste nearly as good either. I just stick to tim hortons and starbucks around here.

**DevilsDeity** · 10-23-2006, 05:46 AM

Roast your own coffe
ive been roasting for a few years now, and when you roast your own you will never drink anything else.

**donniebrasco** · 10-23-2006, 05:55 AM

dont know about your location, but in my area we have enough coffee shops competeing with each other, what would differentiate yours from the others. especially as you plan to serve 1 type of coffee-bean.
my local macdonalds has free wireless broadband.
im in the uk

**Sage** · 10-23-2006, 09:21 AM

i don't think coffee shops proser all that much today. i have enough saved up to rotate my cash into a business venture myself, but still undecided which was to flow although know for sure its not gonna be a coffee shop

.

**DSM4Life** · 10-23-2006, 09:44 AM

Just put come crack in each cup to keep your customers coming back

**Sage** · 10-23-2006, 10:44 AM

just to give u a tip from AR bro to another, car rentals are HOWT right now. My man just opened one up a location with 46 cars and still does not have enough to rent out, but likely my family is in a car business so i take care of his inventory for now aquiring more cars for cheap. dude is rollin in some mad cash and i may get a piece of that by opening another location with him.

**goodcents** · 10-23-2006, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by StoneGRMI

I have a friend that owns one and does well. The only regret that I can remember him saying is not having a drive thru. A drive thru does make it look a little more comercial but if you can keep it way out of the way the sitting area it will bring you more profit. We all know (I'm one of them) most people would rather drive thru somewhere really fast on the way to the office in the morning.

Great point! Krispy kreme does great and their donuts suck. They have a local place with a few locations that taste great, but no drive in

( I know donuts are bad but sometimes you just crave them

)

**DSM4Life** · 10-23-2006, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by goodcents

Great point! Krispy kreme does great and their donuts suck. They have a local place with a few locations that taste great, but no drive in

( I know donuts are bad but sometimes you just crave them

)

Screw Krispy Kreme........vanilla frosting with jimmys *mouth waters

**ginkobulloba** · 10-23-2006, 11:34 AM

I have a coffeeshop in Thailand. There is incredible markup on this stuff, the profit margin is quite nice. I actually rented my restaurant/coffee shop to a third party. I focus more of my attention on the bar. But, everything is up for sale as of tomorrow.

**donniebrasco** · 10-23-2006, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by DSM4Life

Just put come crack in each cup to keep your customers coming back

just like pringles. i swear they are addictive, once you pop you cant stop.

**Mizfit** · 10-23-2006, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by goodcents

Great point! Krispy kreme does great and their donuts suck. They have a local place with a few locations that taste great, but no drive in

( I know donuts are bad but sometimes you just crave them

)

Krisy Kream boomed in Toronto.. all the locations but one are now closed

**Mizfit** · 10-23-2006, 11:45 AM

People in toronto are so pro tim hortons its not even funny. Starbucks for those with more dough

I can't see a coffe shop, unless it is an upscale cafe, making it in many areas of this city.

**DSM4Life** · 10-23-2006, 01:02 PM

I hit starbucks because it is right next to my work but i wont go out of my way to get to one. You need a great location then after that comes word of mouth. One thing i notice in the starbucks that i go to are the people are always so nice there. Most people could care less but it makes me feel better spending my cash at a friendly place. I know its a chain but it sometimes feels like a mom&pop shop which i think is important.

SVTMuscle* · 10-23-2006, 01:22 PM

Target Consumer?
Target location?
Franchise?
College based City based?

**shifty_git** · 10-23-2006, 01:28 PM

open a coffee shop, gym and 'juice bar'!

**Anabolic CEO** · 10-23-2006, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by shifty_git

open a coffee shop, gym and 'juice bar'!

How about a "Coffee Shop Strip Club" ????

**gixxerboy1** · 10-23-2006, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Anabolic CEO

How about a "Coffee Shop Strip Club" ????

If i could get a liquor licence i would open a strip bar in a second. The amount of cash they pull in is unreal

**Anabolic CEO** · 10-23-2006, 02:34 PM

Maybe my girlfriend would want to open up a Strip Club with me.....I could only hope...lol.

**stunner5000pt** · 10-23-2006, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Mizfit

Krisy Kream boomed in Toronto.. all the locations but one are now closed

there was more than one location??

the only one i know of is that one near where you work

and that place was supposedly rammed in the first few months, and then people got fed up

**Polska** · 10-23-2006, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Mizfit

Krisy Kream boomed in Toronto.. all the locations but one are now closed

It bombed in london too.

**Mizfit** · 10-23-2006, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by stunner5000pt

there was more than one location??

the only one i know of is that one near where you work

and that place was supposedly rammed in the first few months, and then people got fed up

Tere was a few more more - one in richmond hill and one in the bestbuy costco plaza at dufferin and wilson

**goodcents** · 10-23-2006, 06:31 PM

Sad to say but americans love fattening shit

**cfiler** · 10-23-2006, 07:36 PM

Tim Horton's frashises are quite reasonable, aswell as Robin's Donoughts. Just something to think about.

For a coffee shop, you would have to have something that's unique to your location. IE: deserts, donoughs or pastries, sandwiches, ect.

Around a campus is always a good location, or close to buinesses. Location plays a HUGE part of a coffee shop.

What about starting up a small location inside of a mall? Those seem to do well, imo.

**l2elapse** · 10-23-2006, 08:21 PM

talk with some universities and try to open the shop INside the univeristy

**stunner5000pt** · 10-23-2006, 08:25 PM

why not just open a tim hortons franchise.. i am sure you would make money

the only problem would be the royalities you would haev to pay

and not to mention the waiting list for the franchise!

in fact... nevermind... screw opening a chain store...

**Polska** · 10-23-2006, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by stunner5000pt

why not just open a tim hortons franchise.. i am sure you would make money

the only problem would be the royalities you would haev to pay

and not to mention the waiting list for the franchise!

in fact... nevermind... screw opening a chain store...

ya the waiting list for tims is insane long...

**needmorestrength** · 10-23-2006, 10:50 PM

I dont drink coffee.. but try n open it near a college/university n look out.. ppl live there!!!!!!!!

**Animal Cracker** · 10-27-2006, 01:14 AM

might be a good idea, lots of time, energy and $$ to invest, you cant go wrong!

**musclehead1** · 10-27-2006, 03:04 AM

you could open it up in a smaller mall one with an anchor such as a grocery store...i know of one thats near me and well everytime i walk thru the food court at that mall people that work there (older people) are always enjoying the dudes coffee...but remember theres only about 4 other places in that food court includin a micky ds and theres a krispy creme about 30seconds outside the mall and a starbuck a block away....rumor has it that a starbux is supposed to be coming to the mall but people would have to get to it by going outside the mall and the dude that runs the coffee shop said if that happens he'll close up cuz he wouldnt be able to compete...most of the major universities and colleges in my area have starbucks in them already and if a cafe is located near the starbucks (which they usually are) the cafe wont even offer their own coffee.