Start & Run a Coffee Bar [Anglais] [Broché]

Two entrepreneurs who’ve set up and run successful coffee bars share their inside knowledge, answering questions such as:

- How do I prepare a business plan? - What should I look for when choosing a location? - What will it cost to get started? - What special equipment will I need? - How do I roast coffee beans and brew a great cup of coffee? - What are the 11 steps to WOW! customer service? - How do I market my coffee bar? - What about expansion and franchising?

Includes recipes for specialty coffees and chapters on tea and organic coffee.

1 PREPARING A BUSINESS PLAN

A business plan is a road map of where you want to go in your business, the various routes you will take to get there, the stages along the way, and most importantly, where you will be when you have arrived at your destination.

a. WHY PREPARE A BUSINESS PLAN?

Many entrepreneurs whether experienced veterans or first timers often miss the vital step of preparing a business plan when preparing to start a business. As a result, many fail in their efforts to achieve wealth and fame through their business. It is critical that you take time to prepare a business plan so you are clear on where you want to go with your coffee business and are better prepared to deal with the challenges that inevitably will arise along the way. Why is preparing a business plan for your coffee business so important?

(a) Preparing a business plan will help crystallize your reasons for getting into the coffee business and your goals for the business. If you do not have a strong sense of "why?" and "what?" you will be without focus, direction, and satisfaction in your efforts.

(b) Preparing a business plan will help crystallize your concept. A clear, concise, well-thought-out concept will form the foundation for every decision you make: everything from choosing which color to paint the walls of your coffee bar to what kind of biscotti to serve with a cup of coffee. (c) Preparing a business plan will help crystallize your vision of the opportunities and the limitations of the market you are in. Where is the most potential in the coffee industry? Who will your competitors be? How will you compete against them?

(d) Preparing a business plan will help crystallize your vision of exactly who you will be serving. If you are not clear on who your customers are, you will not be able to meet their needs and your business will not succeed. The knowledge you acquire about your target market will be invaluable to you in your concept and marketing efforts.

(e) Preparing a business plan will help determine what products you will offer your customers. Once you know the demographic and psychographic characteristics of your target market, you are in an excellent position to decide what products will appeal to it.

(f) Preparing a business plan will help determine what services you will offer to your customers: Home delivery service? 24-hour ordering service? Wholesale service?

(g) Preparing a business plan will force you to look at the dollars involved, from initial set-up through your first few years in business. Budgeting and financial planning will be vital to your success.

(h) Preparing a business plan will force you to look at the risks involved in owning your own business. Eighty percent of businesses fail in the first five years. This is usually because of lack of planning and preparation, lack of capitalization, and a lack of management and marketing skills.

(i) Preparing a business plan will help you outline the exact steps required to get your business up and running smoothly and profitably.

(j) Finally, preparing a business plan will hopefully inspire and motivate you to take action! Knowing what you want to do isn't very useful unless you actually do it.

b. Your vision of your business

Take out a pen and a piece of paper, or sit yourself down in front of your computer as you read through the rest of Part I. Write down your thoughts and answers to the questions we raise. Taking action now will give you a good head start on your business plan and will help you formulate what exactly it is that you want to do and how you are going to do it. Take action now. Your vision of your business lays the foundation for your business. Your vision is what will give you a sense of direction and give your life a sense of purpose as you build your business.

What is your vision for: (a) Your day-to-day activities? What will you do on a daily basis? Do you see yourself serving customers? Do you see yourself networking with other business owners in your local area? Do you see yourself being a positive force in your community?

(b) Your lifestyle? Are you early to bed, early to rise? Do you see yourself working six days a week? Do you want annual holidays? (c) Your time? How do you want to spend your time? Think of leisure, family, work, fitness, and private time for yourself.

(d) Your future? Do you plan to own your coffee bar long term or sell it down the road? What do you see yourself doing a year from now, five years from now, ten years from now?

While you may not address each of these issues specifically in your business plan (e.g., your banker may not be interested in what time you plan on getting up each morning), being clear on these issues now will help guide you as you build your business.

If your goal is to run the coffee bar as an absentee owner, hiring a good manager will be vital to the success of your business. If you plan to work the coffee bar yourself, hiring staff will be a higher priority. If you are a late riser, plan on hiring and training staff who can open the coffee bar. If you have high family priorities, keep in mind that you may need to spend a considerable amount of time in and on your business, especially in the early stages. And if you have a clear vision for your future, it will help you get where you want to go, whether that is lying on a beach in Hawaii or running a multiple location franchise....