Bootstrapping Your Way to Coffee Shop Success

Many people dream of opening a coffee shop or cafe, but the desire to do so is often dampened by the need for more funds. Costa and Starbucks typically spend over £200,000 to open a new store, which is well beyond the reach of most aspiring cafe owners we speak to.

Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs dream of opening a coffee shop or cafe. Unfortunately, the financial barrier often dampens their spirits. Costa and Starbucks typically invest over £200,000 to open a new store, a daunting figure for many hopeful cafe owners who, on average, have less than £50,000 saved for their venture.

However, some resourceful individuals manage to achieve their dream with much less by utilizing their own skills, rallying support from loved ones, and leveraging connections in the building trade.

So, where do you start if you have very little money, and what are the secrets to getting open?

You can start selling coffee with very inexpensive equipment. In fact, you could open a speciality coffee place that sells filter coffee and doesn't need to spend a fortune on an espresso machine! We've seen this done very successfully because so many people enjoy a delicious filter coffee, and it's much easier for the coffee shop to offer a much more comprehensive range without having to dial in the grinder and espresso machine to experiment with different styles of coffee.

For food, the humble but perfectly baked croissant can be a staple for breakfast and a light snack at lunchtime. Filled with bacon, creme cheese, halloumi, or tomatoes, it has something for everyone. Add a cheap panini press, and you can serve them hot as well.

When setting up your place, remember that time is money. The time you spend doing things yourself will cost you more than you think. Losing six months of sales can be a lot more than the cost of paying to get things done quickly in the first instance.

Andrew will cover this topic in detail at the Café Business Expo in October at our session, 'Bootstrapping your way to Cafe Success.' So mark the dates and get your free ticket.