LastCup Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Miami Beach, FL Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Tue Nov 28, 2006, 4:00pm Subject: Business Suggestions?
Good evening, everyone I’m new to forum. I’m an aspiring entrepreneur and looking for advice in the café industry. Any help or suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
Quick story and then question:
I went home for thanksgiving in Lake City, Fl, while hanging out with my friends I came to realization there is absolutely nothing to do in Lake City. Every time we decided upon and event we usually ended up in Gainesville, which is thirty minutes from Lake City. Now back in my home town which is 3 ˝ hours from Lake City, I spend a great deal of my time at a local café studying, relaxing, and listening to life bands it’s an upscale café very relaxed atmosphere. I was thinking of bringing this type of business to a small, but growing community. There are three coffee shops in Lake City and all of them are drive through, no walk-in’s, in my mind that is absolutely pointless, but I guess they’re their to make a few bucks.
I think this is a great window of opportunity; however I don’t want to quit my current position, due to substantial stack in the company. I need to hold my position until the company is sold.
I have consider becoming a silent investor and letting someone else handle the company, however I have never attempted this before and would like to gain some knowledge of the risk and trust that is involved?
LastCup Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Miami Beach, FL Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Tue Nov 28, 2006, 7:20pm Subject: Re: Business Suggestions?
Eodove,
Since I was a kid I have always dreamed of running my own business. I think its time to step up and step out of that security blanket. I have no idea what the future holds for me, so why not take a few chances in life. I have no idea how to run a café, but that’s where the excitement comes in, if you do the same thing everyday for the next twenty years you will eventually get bored, so try something new. I think I’m going to take the plunge, after the company I currently work for is sold I shall move on to something new.
Does anyone have advice for a young entrepreneur trying to start a café, possible a due diligence list?
How do you determine if you have a market for a café? I asked a few friends the said it was a traffic idea.
CoffeeRoastersClub Senior Member Joined: 6 Jul 2005 Posts: 2,515 Location: Connecticut Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Vintage La Pavoni Lever... Grinder: KitchenAid Pro Line Burr... Vac Pot: Vintage Silex Drip: Aeropress, French Press Roaster: "Little Tyke" BBQ Drum,...
Posted Tue Nov 28, 2006, 8:18pm Subject: Re: Business Suggestions?
LastCup Said:
Eodove,
Since I was a kid I have always dreamed of running my own business. I think its time to step up and step out of that security blanket. I have no idea what the future holds for me, so why not take a few chances in life. I have no idea ....snip.... Thanks,
Hello. You may wish to read up on the type of business with books available at your local Barnes & Noble bookstore. I have seen copies specifically about starting your own cafe'.
Also you may with to contact the Small Business Association www.sba.gov
They can help guide you and answer alot of your business questions.
Lastly, you need to have a big-time passion for wanting to make coffee and serve it to the public. I say this because in a short while after starting a business, if it is not something you really loved to begin with, it will just become another job.
LastCup Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Miami Beach, FL Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Wed Nov 29, 2006, 4:26am Subject: Re: Business Suggestions?
Hello. You may wish to read up on the type of business with books available at your local Barnes & Noble bookstore. I have seen copies specifically about starting your own cafe'.
Also you may with to contact the Small Business Association www.sba.gov
They can help guide you and answer alot of your business questions.
Lastly, you need to have a big-time passion for wanting to make coffee and serve it to the public. I say this because in a short while after starting a business, if it is not something you really loved to begin with, it will just become another job.
LastCup Senior Member Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Miami Beach, FL Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Wed Nov 29, 2006, 7:27am Subject: Re: Business Suggestions?
Is there any Cafe owners here that would like to describe what a normal day is for them? Do you like interacting with your customer? Do you have special events for them, etc, etc? I would like to get a feel for the industry. I have a buddy down south I’m going to spend the weekend with; he run’s a café, so I’ll get first hand experience of his normal rituals.
Reasnor Senior Member Joined: 3 Apr 2002 Posts: 65 Location: Waterloo, IA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Nuova Simonelli Appia Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly, Baratza... Vac Pot: Yama Drip: Technivorm Roaster: Popcorn Popper, SC/GG
Posted Thu Nov 30, 2006, 10:29am Subject: Re: Business Suggestions?
I've found there to be not a LOT of information out there for the aspiring cafe owner on the internet. CoffeeGeek is geared more to the home user, Barista Guild of America is geared more to the barista, and the SCAA website has whatever you ask, but if you're like me, you're wanting people to TELL more than you know what to ASK.
Anyway, I'm starting my own coffee shop right now, and I've learned quite a bit just during the building/research phase. I would say a great place to start is http://www.espresso101.com The company's name is Bellissimo. They are a specialty coffee consulting company. Many of their books and videos are must-have's for a new coffee shop owner. Go for the package deals, and you will save money. One book you have to have is Bean Business Basics...not cheap, though. Anyway, the information from this company will more than wet your appetite on how to run a business. I've read through BBB once (642 pages), and now use it as a reference tool a couple times a week. I have no affiliation with the company at all, but thoroughly appreciated the information they shared.
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