<\/span><\/h3>\nAt the start of your coffee shop business, there are usually many important decisions to make. From the location, shop size, how to get funds, to the color of light bulbs to use, how many chairs to buy, whether to include a bike rack or not and the list goes on. One important decision that stands out at the beginning is whether to run an independent business, a franchise, or buy an existing coffee shop.<\/p>\n
Before making this decision, consider your options, and weigh each one against your end goal. Buying a franchise or an existing coffee business is an easier way to start out than establishing an independent coffee shop. However, owning a franchise may acoffee mean sacrificing the satisfaction of running your business solely on your own means. It may also be difficult to find an existing profitable business to buy.<\/p>\n
Starting an independent business may mean more work, but it also gives the best potential to maximize profits in the long run. You also get to run your business on your own terms. Generally, buying an existing coffee shop or into a franchise requires more start-up costs than starting an independent coffee shop.<\/p>\n
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<\/h3>\n<\/span>Creating a business plan.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nCreating a business plan is also the responsibility of the coffee shop owner. Ideally, you should have a business plan in place before opening up your coffee shop for business. In some cases, however, the business plan is created after the business has started operations. In either case, the business plan is the blueprint that represents every aspect of the business. It serves as a guide for every business decision.<\/p>\n
The coffee shop owner has to conduct thorough market research in order to come up with a good business plan. The purpose of this research is to make sure that the short term and long term goals of the business are feasible and to find out the best way to achieve them. Research may also involve asking questions from existing coffee shop owners and prospective customers.<\/p>\n
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<\/h3>\n<\/span>Ergonomics and aesthetics.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe ergonomics and layout of your coffee shop work station directly affect the volume of coffee you sell. Make sure there is easy access to materials, bins, and equipment. Also, your employees should be able to move around without bumping into each other while carrying out their duties. You should ensure that the benchtop or counter is just the right height and that the overhead storage of supplies is within easy reach. You may also want to pay attention to the proximity of the cash register to the barista. This is to make sure that he can handle transactions easily while attending to orders.<\/p>\n
Deciding on your coffee shop aesthetics is another task you cannot delegate. It is also an important task because it gives one of the initial impressions your customers get of your shop. It also gives a personality to your coffee shop. Details such as the color of the light bulbs, what type of art to put up, type of furniture to use at your shop, etc. dictate the atmosphere that greets your customers when they visit your shop.<\/p>\n
A coffee shop owner ensures good ergonomics to maximize productivity among employees, while the right aesthetics can attract their desired customers.<\/p>\n
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<\/h3>\n<\/span>Managing finances.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nA successful coffee shop is a profitable one. As the coffee shop owner, you should make sure that there is a reasonable balance between your business expenses and revenue. This is the only way to keep the coffee flowing. You will always have to make decisions that are directly or indirectly related to finances. If you don’t have the right business skills and knowledge, this may become a major challenge for your business.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s always a good idea to hire an accountant from the onset of your business. This will save you a lot of financial problems in the long run. Apart from having your books in order, you are very likely to avoid tax issues which are known to be troublesome. You will also be armed with a firm knowledge of your finances if you decide to scale your coffee business.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Staff management.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nAs a coffee shop owner, you have great influence over your employees. Managing them and getting the most out of their abilities is your responsibility and can bring you exponential results if you do it properly. If you have a manager, a friendly and hardworking team of employees starts with their management abilities. You want to employ a manager who is skilled with people, can enforce or create schedules, and can train employees.<\/p>\n
It is also your duty to meet with your manager from time to time to align with him on issues regarding your business including employee performance. You also have to discuss issues that pertain to hiring or firing employees. Depending on how often you are at the shop, you’ll need to establish proper communication with your manager. This way, you\u2019ll be sure that you are never in the dark regarding any major happenings in your coffee shop.<\/p>\n
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<\/h3>\n<\/span>Scheduling.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nIn most cases, it is your responsibility as the coffee shop owner to create schedules and assign shifts. This is usually based on the structure of your coffee shop and how your foot traffic varies throughout the day, and for certain special occasions or seasons. Even if you have a good manager and excellent employees, you may still have to be involved in these kinds of tasks.<\/p>\n
Despite the fact that rush periods for coffee shops are in the mornings, most owners still try to stay relevant into the day by offering cafe lunches on their menu. Too many employees at the coffee shop during slow hours is a sure way to drain your profits. If employees are too few during rush periods, it will result in poor customer service and limited sales. Striking the balance when assigning schedules or shifts will go a long way in making operations at your shop easier and reduce unnecessary expenses.<\/p>\n
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