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How to Write a Successful Coffee Shop Business Plan (with Template)

  • By Tam Nguyen

coffee shop business plan

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Dreaming of opening a coffee shop? You’re not alone. The coffee industry is bustling with passionate business owners eager to make their mark. However, becoming successful coffee shop owners requires more than just a love for the brew. It demands a clear vision that differentiates your coffee house in a saturated market. A well-crafted business plan not only gives life to your idea but also sets your business on a path to thrive. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned entrepreneur, this guide, complete with a free template, will help you craft a business plan that markets and propels your coffee venture to success.

What is A Coffee Shop Business Plan?  

A coffee shop business plan is a comprehensive document that explains what your business idea is, how you intend to penetrate the coffee market, and the strategies you’ll employ to run your coffee shop successfully. When opening a cafe, many aspiring cafe or coffee shop owners underestimate the value of a structured plan. However, this document does more than just outline the needs to open a coffee shop; it gives a detailed roadmap for your new business, offering clarity on every aspect of its operation.

More than that, presenting a well-structured business plan to potential investors is essential. It not only showcases your commitment but also your understanding of the industry, making it a vital tool for securing funding. While crafting a business plan can seem daunting initially, it’s the foundation that both clarifies your idea and sets your business on the trajectory for growth and success in the competitive world of cafes and coffee shops.

Why A Business Plan Is Important For A Successful Coffee Shop Business?

1. Clear Vision and Objectives

When you set up your coffee shop, having a business plan establishes a clear vision and defines your objectives. It is the backbone that steers every decision you’ll make. Without a clear outline, you may find yourself swaying from one idea to the next. With a detailed business plan, you can present a clear business proposal to stakeholders, ensuring them and yourself of the path you plan to tread.

2. Financial Planning

A comprehensive business plan is imperative for accurate financial planning. It will include information on how much capital is required to start, what your ongoing costs will be, and the revenues you plan to generate. If you’re seeking external funding, investors will want to see how you plan to use their money, and most importantly, how you plan to make a return on that investment. If you plan to sell specialty blends or unique treats, the financial section can also help you plan a strategy for pricing, promotion, and sales forecasts.

3. Operational Efficiency

Operational efficiency is the linchpin that holds all business operations together. A business plan will map out every detail, from supplier agreements to employee schedules. You may want to create special events or loyalty programs for regular customers, and this is where a business plan can help you plan a strategy for success. It becomes the reference point, ensuring that daily tasks align with the broader objectives, guaranteeing that resources, time, and efforts are used optimally.

Step-by-step Guide To Write A  Coffee Shop Business Plan

1. Executive Summary

The Executive Summary is like the introduction of a novel – it provides a snapshot of what is to come. Typically, you write the executive summary last, even though it appears first in your business plan. It encapsulates the essence of your coffee shop’s mission, objectives, and financial overview, succinctly explaining what your business concept is about. This section is crucial because many coffee shops fail to engage potential investors right off the bat. Ideally, it should be concise – a page or two.

What should you cover in an Executive Summary?

  • Introduce Your Coffee Shop or Cafe: Provide a company overview, giving readers insight into what makes your coffee shop unique from the myriad of coffee bars in the market.
  • State Your Mission and Vision: Describe what drives your coffee business and where you see it in the future.
  • Outline Your Objective: Define clear, measurable goals that you aim to achieve.
  • Provide a Financial Overview: Highlight projected profit margins, a brief balance sheet, and other pertinent financial data.

2. Coffee Shop Business Description

This section paints a picture of your coffee shop. It’s where you elaborate on how you plan to infuse the local coffee market with your unique brews and pastries.

What should you cover in the Coffee Shop Description section?

  • Coffee Shop Concept: Dive into the types of coffee drinks you plan to offer, whether it’s a rich espresso or a classic brewed coffee.
  • Unique Selling Proposition: Discuss what makes your coffee shop stand out, be it a special blend of coffee beans, a unique roasting method using a specific coffee roaster, or artisanal pastry offerings.
  • Operational Plan: Briefly touch upon how you’ll manage your coffee shop, from sourcing beans to serving cups of coffee.

3. Market Analysis

Before pouring your first espresso, performing market research before starting your coffee business is essential. This section dives deep into understanding your potential customer base and the coffee industry landscape in your area.

What should you cover in this section?

  • Target Market: Describe your ideal customer. Are they local residents, office workers, or students?
  • Location: Discuss the significance of your chosen location. Are there many coffee shops in the area? How does your location cater to your target market?
  • Competition: Analyze existing coffee shops. What coffee and food products do they offer? What pricing strategy do they employ? How will your coffee shop compete or complement them?

4. Organization and Management

Behind every successful coffee shop is a robust organizational structure and a competent management team.

What should you cover in the Organization and Management Plan?

  • Coffee Shop Ownership Information: Highlight the business’s legal structure.
  • Profiles of Your Coffee Shop Management Team: Include details about your baristas, perhaps a part-time accountant, and someone to manage marketing. It can be helpful to create profiles for each role, detailing responsibilities and expertise.

5. Sample Menu

Your menu is the heart of your coffee shop. It’s more than just a list of coffee and tea; it’s an expression of your brand.

What should you consider when creating a Sample Menu?

  • Menu Items: Detail the types of coffee, espresso drinks, and pastries you plan to offer. Maybe consider including non-coffee items like teas or specialty drinks.
  • Unique Selling Proposition: Reiterate what makes your coffee or food items different from other coffee shops in the area.
  • Menu Pricing : Discuss your pricing strategy, keeping in mind profit margin, competitors’ prices, and your target customer base.

6. Marketing Plan

To brew success, it’s not enough to have a fantastic coffee product; you must effectively market it.

What should you cover in a Marketing Strategy for your Coffee Shop Business?

  • Define Your Brand: What voice, theme, or emotion do you want your coffee shop to evoke?
  • Lay out your plans for social media campaigns, local partnerships, loyalty programs, SEO for website, and other promotional strategies.
  • Considering using an  online food ordering system  in your food truck
  • Create a  digital menu with QR code  to make your menu easy for your customers to access online

7. Operations Plan

Efficiency is key to the daily grind of running a cafe. The operations section provides a detailed look at the day-to-day operations of your coffee shop business. 

What Operational Issues should you address in your Business Plan?

  • Supply Chain: Where will you buy your coffee beans? Who will be your coffee roaster?
  • Operating Hours: Consider the best times to cater to your target market.
  • Staffing: Detail roles, such as barista, manager, and part-time support.
  • Equipment: List down essential equipment, from espresso machines to ovens.

8. Financial Plan

In this crucial section of your business plan, delving into the financial specifics is paramount to lay out a concrete roadmap for the fiscal aspects of your coffee shop.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Coffee Shop?

Starting a coffee shop is not just about brewing the perfect espresso; it’s also a substantial financial commitment. The cost for opening a coffee shop can range from $80,000 to $250,000. These costs can vary widely based on factors such as location, size of the establishment, equipment quality, and inventory requirements. Moreover, the process of opening a coffee shop might also involve unexpected expenditures, so it’s essential to account for some buffer in your budget.

How Many Ways to Fund Your Coffee Shop?

There are multiple avenues for funding your coffee venture. Traditional bank loans, personal savings, angel investors, crowdfunding campaigns, and partnerships are just a few options. It’s crucial to assess which option aligns best with your business vision and financial situation.

Important Questions to Consider When You Create Your Funding Request If you’re seeking funding, there are several questions you’ll need to answer in your business plan:

  • How much money do you need to start and maintain your coffee shop until it becomes profitable?
  • What will the funds be used for specifically?
  • How do you plan to handle financial challenges that might arise?
  • How do you plan to repay any loans or provide a return on investment?

9. Financial Projections

The financial projections section of your business plan forces you to translate your coffee shop vision into numbers, ensuring you’ve accounted for all key metrics that can make or break your venture.

Break-even analysis:

This is the point where your coffee shop’s total revenues equal its total costs. Simply put, it’s when you neither make a profit nor a loss from selling coffee. 

Use this formula:  Fixed Costs / (Price – Variable Costs) = Break Even Point

Projected profit and loss statement:

This will provide a forecast of your expected income and expenses, giving a clear view of your venture’s profitability.

Cash flow analysis:

Essential for understanding the liquidity of your business, this tool is especially crucial for coffee shops, considering the fluctuating expenses and incomes coffee shops offer. When drafting this, consider who will read it, as stakeholders like investors or lenders might have specific expectations.

Coffee Shop Business Plan Template 

  • Mission: To offer the community high-quality coffee in a comfortable and vibrant environment.
  • Vision: To become the go-to local coffee spot that fosters community connections and coffee appreciation.
  • Coffee Shop Description: “Java Junction” will be a modern coffee hub that emphasizes direct-trade coffee beans and a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere.
  • Costs: Estimated initial costs are $125,000.
  • Profits: Projected annual profit by year two is $75,000.

2. Description of the Coffee Shop

  • Coffee Shop Concept: A community-focused café emphasizing artisanal methods.
  • Coffee Shop Name: Java Junction
  • Coffee Shop Type: Sit-down café with an adjacent mini-library.
  • Location: Main Street, Downtown Area – chosen for its high foot traffic.
  • Order Fulfillment: Orders taken at the counter with table service for food.
  • Working Hours: Mon-Fri (7 am – 9 pm), Sat-Sun (8 am – 10 pm).

3. Menu Offer

  • Type of Food and Drink: Coffee, teas, pastries, and sandwiches.
  • Offer: From classic espresso shots to unique blends like “Lavender Latte”.
  • Unique Selling Point: Every coffee product uses direct-trade beans, ensuring farmer fairness.

4. Market and Competition Analysis

  • Market Analysis: The local population includes a mix of professionals, students, and tourists. Many search for quiet spots to work or relax.
  • Target Customer: Professionals aged 25-40 and students.
  • Size of the Target Customer: Approximately 15,000 individuals.
  • Competition Analysis: Three established coffee shops within a mile.
  • Size of the Competition: Ranging from small boutique coffee shops to a larger chain.
  • Competitors’ Offer: Basic coffee drinks, with limited specialty items.
  • Competitors’ Prices: Average of $4 for a coffee drink.

5. Investment Plan (Detailed Cost Analysis)

Investment Cost (One-off): $75,000

  • Equipment: $30,000
  • Renovations: $20,000
  • Initial Stock: $10,000
  • Licenses: $5,000
  • Miscellaneous: $10,000

Operating Costs (Monthly): $17,000

  • Rent: $3,000
  • Salaries: $10,000
  • Utilities: $1,000
  • Stock: $2,000
  • Marketing: $1,000

6. Financial Forecast

Year one is projected to break even, with a profit of $50,000 expected in year two, and $75,000 in year three, considering growth and expanding customer base.

  • Owner: Jamie Smith, a coffee enthusiast with a business degree.
  • Manager: Alex Brown, previously managed a successful coffee chain for five years.
  • Baristas: A team of 4 skilled individuals passionate about coffee.

8. Marketing Plan

Java Junction will use a mix of social media marketing, local print advertising, and loyalty programs to attract and retain customers. Regular events, such as “Buy Our Coffee Day” and collaboration with local businesses, will drive foot traffic and community engagement, integral components for starting your coffee shop and making it successful.

This coffee shop business plan sample is hypothetical and serves as a template. Tailoring specifics to your local market, vision, and unique aspects will be necessary. Every coffee shop has nuances that can make them successful, whether it be the coffee products they sell, the environment they cultivate, or the events they host. Focus on what will make your coffee shop stand out and be sure to engage your community.

Tips For Writing a Business Plan For a Coffee Shop

Your business plan becomes the blueprint of your vision. Here are essential tips to consider:

Comprehensiveness is Key: Ensure your plan encompasses all sections you should include, such as marketing, financial projections, and operations. A well-rounded plan provides a holistic view of your business.

Tailor to Your Audience: If you’re presenting to potential investors, focus on profitability and growth projections. For a landlord, emphasize the benefits your coffee shop will bring to their property.

Specialize in Marketing: Given the competitiveness in the coffee industry, it’s crucial to have a solid marketing plan. If marketing isn’t your strength, consider hiring someone to do marketing for your venture. A strong online presence, loyalty programs, and community engagement can set you apart.

Research Your Market: Understand what nearby coffee shops include in their offerings. Identify gaps in the market and strategize on how your shop can fill them.

Stay Flexible: While a business plan provides direction, remain adaptable. The coffee industry is dynamic, and your ability to pivot can prove invaluable.

Separate Sections for Clarity: If your plan becomes too dense, you might want to create a separate document for specific sections like a detailed marketing strategy or an in-depth market analysis. This makes your primary business plan concise and more readable.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how profitable is owning a coffee shop.

Owning a coffee shop can be profitable, depending on factors like location, quality of products, and management. On average, after expenses, many coffee shops report a profit margin of around 3% to 5%, with some successful ones achieving even higher. However, it’s essential to factor in initial setup costs, ongoing expenses, and market competition.

2. How do I start a coffee shop business plan?

Starting a coffee shop business plan involves multiple steps. Begin by defining your coffee shop’s mission and vision. Conduct market research to understand your target audience and competitors. Then, detail out sections like your product offerings, pricing strategy, marketing plan, financial projections, and operational procedures. If you’re thinking of opening a coffee shop, a well-thought-out business plan is indispensable.

3. What is a business plan for a coffee shop?

A coffee shop business plan is a detailed document that outlines your coffee shop’s objectives, strategies, and operational procedures. It acts as a roadmap, guiding you from the startup phase to establishing a thriving business. Moreover, if you need a coffee shop business loan or investment, this plan becomes crucial in convincing stakeholders of your venture’s viability.

4. What are the 4Ps in a coffee shop business plan?

The 4Ps stand for Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. In the context of a coffee shop:

  • Product: What type of coffee and related products will you offer?
  • Price: How will you price your coffee? Will it be premium or competitive?
  • Place: Where will your coffee shop be located? Is it accessible to your target audience?
  • Promotion: How will you market your coffee shop? Will you offer promotions or loyalty programs?

These elements help in creating a marketing strategy tailored to your coffee shop’s unique needs and market position.

Launching a coffee shop is not just about brewing the perfect cup but weaving a narrative that resonates with your community, fostering an ambiance that people gravitate towards, and maintaining a seamless operation that drives profitability. The meticulous creation of a business plan is a pivotal step in this endeavor. It’s the beacon that guides budding entrepreneurs through the complexities of the coffee industry. In such a competitive marketplace, a well-structured, comprehensive business plan can make the difference between a fleeting venture and a thriving institution. To potential coffee shop owners, embrace the process, let your passion shine through in your plan, and remember that every great coffee shop started with a simple idea, much like a single coffee bean ready to brew greatness.

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How to write a coffee shop business plan

  • Nirit Braun
  • Oct 30, 2023
  • 12 min read

How to create a coffee shop business plan

A coffee shop business plan is a detailed and strategic document outlining the essential aspects of starting and operating a coffee-focused business. It encompasses a comprehensive analysis of the business's goals, target audience, competitive landscape, marketing strategies, financial projections, operational procedures and more. This plan acts as a roadmap that guides entrepreneurs through the various stages of establishing and running their coffee shop, providing clear direction and a solid foundation for success.

When starting a business, especially in the competitive and dynamic realm of the coffee industry, creating a comprehensive and clear business plan is of paramount importance.

Ready to get your business brewing? Take Wix’s website builder for a whirl.

Top benefits of creating a coffee shop business plan

A well-crafted business plan helps entrepreneurs articulate their business goals, whether it's about offering unique coffee blends, creating a cozy ambiance or supporting sustainable sourcing practices. At the same time, a business plan requires entrepreneurs to identify and understand their target audience. This insight helps tailor marketing strategies, menu offerings and the overall customer experience to meet the specific preferences and needs of the intended customers.

Here's an overview of some key advantages to creating a coffee shop business plan:

Attracting investors and funding: A well-structured business plan acts as a persuasive tool when seeking investors or raising money for your business . It showcases your thorough understanding of the coffee industry, market trends and your strategies for success. This level of preparedness increases your credibility and instills confidence in potential investors, making them more likely to support your coffee shop venture.

Clear resource requirements: Writing a business plan prompts you to identify the specific resources, supplies and staff necessary to launch and operate your coffee shop. This includes everything from coffee beans and brewing equipment to furniture and interior decor.

Strategic financial planning: A comprehensive business plan outlines your financial projections, startup costs, operating expenses and revenue forecasts. This level of financial planning helps you determine how much funding you need to start a business . It also guides you in setting prices, managing cash flow and assessing profitability.

Market understanding and differentiation: Through market research and analysis, a business plan allows you to understand your target audience's preferences, behaviors and expectations. This knowledge helps you tailor your coffee shop's offerings, ambiance and marketing strategies to effectively attract and retain customers.

Risk mitigation: The process of creating a business plan prompts you to identify potential risks and challenges that your coffee shop might face. By acknowledging and addressing these risks early on, you can develop contingency plans and strategies to mitigate their impact.

Operational efficiency: A business plan outlines the operational processes required to run your coffee shop smoothly. It includes staffing plans, inventory management strategies and quality control measures. By establishing efficient procedures from the outset, you can minimize wastage, optimize resource allocation and ensure consistent customer satisfaction.

Goal setting and tracking: Your business plan serves as a benchmark against which you can measure your coffee shop's performance over time. By setting clear goals and key performance indicators (KPIs), you can track your progress and make necessary adjustments to stay on course toward achieving your objectives.

How to create a coffee shop business plan in 6 steps

Now we’ll walk through the six essential steps for crafting a coffee shop business plan tailored to your company's unique needs.

Executive summary

Business and domain names

Market analysis and research

Operations plan

Marketing and advertising plan

Financial plan

01. Executive summary

Your executive summary is a concise and compelling overview of your coffee shop business plan. It encapsulates the key elements of your plan and provides a snapshot of your business concept, strategies and financial projections. While appearing at the start of the business plan, it's often written last, as it draws from the content of the entire document.

A clear executive summary for a coffee shop business should include:

The essence of your coffee shop: What makes it unique? What kind of experience will customers have when visiting your establishment?

Market potential and your target audience: Explain why your coffee shop is well-positioned to capture this opportunity.

Competitor landscape: Identify what sets your coffee shop apart from the competition. This could be your specialty coffee blends, unique ambiance, sustainable practices or exceptional customer service.

Example executive summary for a coffee shop: "Bean Haven Coffee is a meticulously crafted coffee shop that aims to provide not just beverages, but an immersive coffee experience. We pride ourselves on our curated selection of ethically sourced beans, offering customers the finest hand-crafted brews in a cozy, rustic ambiance. Our competitive edge lies in our commitment to sustainability, from our bean-sourcing practices to our eco-friendly packaging. With a strong emphasis on community engagement and partnerships with local artists, we are set to become a cultural hub that brings people together over a shared love for exceptional coffee. Through strategic marketing campaigns, leveraging social media and collaborating with nearby businesses, we aim to establish Bean Haven Coffee as the go-to destination for coffee enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike. Our projected financials indicate that we will reach profitability within the first 18 months of operation. We seek funding to cover initial startup costs and our business model is designed to achieve sustainable growth and profitability."

02. Company and domain names

Knowing how to name a business is crucial for a coffee shop venture and a key step before you register your business . A strong and memorable name can resonate with customers and differentiate your coffee shop from competitors. Use descriptive words that reflect your coffee shop's essence, whether it's about taste, ambiance or values.

Utilizing a business name generator like the one from Wix can provide inspiration and spark creativity. Play with different combinations of words and ideas until you find a name that feels right. Once you've settled on a name, check its availability for domain registration. A domain name that matches your company name is essential for an effective online presence.

When choosing a domain name consider the following best practices:

Ensure that the domain name reflects your coffee shop's identity and offerings

Choose a name that is easy to spell and remember

Opt for a timeless name that won't become outdated quickly

If possible, include relevant keywords in the domain to improve search engine visibility

Steer clear of names that are easily confused with competitors or other brands

03. Market analysis and research

With more than 38,000 coffee shops in the U.S. alone, there are plenty of competitors to analyze. Including a comprehensive market analysis in your business plan is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and formulating effective strategies. Research your local coffee market, identify existing competitors and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Determine your target audience's preferences, behaviors and demographics to tailor your offerings and marketing campaigns accordingly.

A well-rounded market analysis can guide your business strategy, helping you position your coffee shop effectively, develop compelling value propositions and devise strategies to capture your desired market share.

04. Operations plan

The operations plan is a crucial section of your coffee shop business plan. It outlines the practical aspects of running your coffee shop. Use it to describe your chosen location and its significance for foot traffic, accessibility and target audience reach.

Then, take the opportunity to detail the interior design, layout and ambiance of your coffee shop to create a welcoming atmosphere. Next be sure to list the equipment needed for brewing, food preparation and service. Ensure it aligns with your menu and production capacity. Finally define the roles and responsibilities of your staff, from baristas to managers, and outline their qualifications and training needs.

05. Marketing and advertising strategies

The marketing and advertising portion of your business plan outlines your strategies for promoting your coffee shop and attracting customers. Depending on your target audience and brand positioning for this type of business , consider a mix of traditional and digital marketing methods. This means using social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to showcase your coffee creations, engage with customers and share your coffee shop's story. Collaborate with influencers, local organizations or other businesses to expand your reach and tap into new customer segments.

Additionally, you can choose to participate in community events, farmers' markets and collaborations with other local businesses to increase your visibility. Also consider implementing loyalty programs that reward repeat customers and incentivize them to visit regularly.

You’ll need to develop a suite of brand assets to use in your marketing as well, starting with a company logo. You can use a free logo maker to get a professional design in minutes.

Learn more: How to make a website

06. Financial plan

The cost to start a coffee shop business can range from $50,000 for a mobile operation to over $400,000 for a brick-and-mortar location with booth seating and a drive-thru. This hefty expense is just another reason why a financial plan is so important.

The financial plan is the backbone of your coffee shop business plan. It outlines your startup costs, operating expenses, revenue projections and funding strategy. Investors and lenders will closely scrutinize this section to assess the viability of your coffee shop venture, so remember to do the following:

Detail the initial investment required for equipment, interior design, licenses and permits

Estimate ongoing costs such as rent, utilities, supplies and salaries

Provide realistic revenue forecasts based on your expected capacity and customer traffic

Specify how you plan to secure funding

Highlight when you anticipate reaching profitability and generating positive cash flow

By meticulously planning your finances, you demonstrate a solid understanding of the financial aspects of your coffee shop business and showcase its potential for success.

steps to developing a business plan

Coffee shop business plan examples

Below we’ve put together business plan templates for two hypothetical coffee shop businesses, including all the sections discussed in our previous how-to steps.

Coffee shop business plan template 1: Coffee Haven Café

Coffee Haven Café is a charming coffee shop dedicated to delivering a premium coffee experience in a cozy and inviting setting. Our unique blends, ethically sourced beans and commitment to sustainability set us apart in a competitive market. By fostering community engagement and partnering with local artists, we aim to become a cultural hub that brings people together over exceptional coffee. Through strategic marketing efforts and a strong online presence, we project profitability within 18 months.

Company and domain name

Company name: Coffee Haven Café

Domain name: www.coffeehavencafe.com

Our marketing analysis revealed a growing demand for specialty coffee in our target location. We've identified key competitors and highlighted their strengths and weaknesses. Our target audience consists of young professionals and students who value quality and ambiance. By understanding these dynamics, we can tailor our offerings and marketing strategies effectively.

Location: Centrally located in a busy commercial area with high foot traffic

Premises: Rustic and inviting interior design that promotes relaxation and conversation

Equipment: High-quality espresso machines, grinders, brewing equipment and display cases for baked goods

Staffing: Experienced baristas, friendly waitstaff and a dedicated manager to oversee operations

Social media: Engage customers through Instagram, Facebook and X with enticing coffee shots and behind-the-scenes content

Local events: Participate in local festivals, art exhibitions and collaborate with nearby businesses for cross-promotions

Content marketing: Regular blog posts on coffee trends, brewing tips and spotlight features on local artists

Loyalty programs: Offer a loyalty card program with rewards for frequent visitors

Partnerships: Collaborate with nearby bookstores for reading sessions and local influencers for social media endorsements

Startup costs: $70,000 for equipment, furnishings, licenses and initial inventory

Operating expenses: Estimated monthly costs of $12,000 covering rent, utilities, supplies and staff salaries

Revenue projections: Projected revenue of $300,000 in the first year, growing to $450,000 in the second year

Funding strategy: Initial funding from personal savings and a small business loan from a local bank

Profitability timeline: Aim to achieve profitability within 18 months of operation

Coffee shop business plan template 2: Brew & Gather Coffee House

Brew & Gather Coffee House is a community-focused coffee shop aiming to create a warm and inclusive space for coffee enthusiasts. Our commitment to locally sourced ingredients and artisanal brewing techniques sets us apart. By fostering partnerships with neighboring businesses and hosting regular events, we aim to become a staple in the neighborhood. Our projected financials indicate profitability within the first two years.

Company name: Brew & Gather Coffee House

Domain name: www.brewandgathercoffee.com

Through extensive market research, we've identified an opportunity to serve a diverse community seeking an authentic and welcoming coffee experience. We've assessed competitors' offerings and identified an untapped niche. Understanding our target audience's preferences and values will guide our menu and marketing strategies.

Location: Situated near a local park, providing an oasis for relaxation and community gatherings

Premises: Modern yet cozy interior design with flexible seating arrangements to accommodate groups and individuals

Equipment: State-of-the-art espresso machines, pour-over stations and an open bakery display

Staffing: A blend of skilled baristas, friendly hosts and a community engagement coordinator

Social media: Utilize Instagram and TikTok to showcase brewing techniques, share customer stories and host virtual coffee-tasting sessions.

Local events: Host open mic nights, book clubs and workshops to engage the community.

Content marketing: Publish a monthly newsletter featuring coffee culture insights, staff spotlights and local partnerships.

Loyalty programs: Introduce a tiered membership program offering exclusive discounts and early access to events.

Partnerships: Collaborate with local farmers, artisans and musicians to create a truly immersive community experience.

Startup costs: $100,000 for leasehold improvements, equipment, permits and initial inventory

Operating expenses: Projected monthly expenses of $15,000, covering rent, utilities, wages and supplies

Revenue projections: Anticipate revenue of $350,000 in the first year, with a 15% increase in the second year

Funding strategy: Initial investment from personal savings and a crowdfunding campaign targeting the local community

Profitability timeline: Aim to reach profitability within the first two years of operation

How profitable is a coffee shop?

The profitability of a coffee shop can vary depending on a number of factors, including location, business model and marketing strategy. However, in general, coffee shops can be quite profitable.

According to a report by IBISWorld, the average profit margin for coffee shops is 8.33%. This means that for every $100 in revenue, coffee shops generate $8.33 in profit.

Some coffee shops are even more profitable. For example, coffee shops located in high-traffic areas, such as airports and office buildings, can generate profit margins of up to 15%. And coffee shops that sell specialty coffee drinks and food items can also generate higher profit margins.

Here are some tips for increasing the profitability of your coffee shop:

Choose a good location. A good location is essential for success. Look for a location that is convenient for potential customers and has high visibility.

Offer a unique selling proposition. What makes your coffee shop different from others? What can you offer that your competitors cannot?

Provide excellent customer service. This is essential for building a loyal customer base. Make sure your staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and that they are always willing to go the extra mile for your customers.

Market your coffee shop effectively. Let potential customers know about your coffee shop and the unique offerings you have. You can do this through online marketing, social media and word-of-mouth.

Control your costs. Coffee shops have high costs, so it's important to control your costs as much as possible. This means negotiating good deals with your suppliers, managing your inventory carefully and keeping your labor costs under control.

Why do coffee shops fail?

There are a number of reasons why coffee shops fail. Some of the most common reasons include:

Poor location: A coffee shop in a bad location won't attract enough customers to be successful. Coffee shops need to be located in areas with high foot traffic, such as near office buildings, universities and parks.

High overhead costs: Coffee shops have high overhead costs, such as rent, utilities and labor. If a coffee shop can't generate enough revenue to cover its overhead costs, it will eventually fail.

Poor management: Poor management can lead to a number of problems, such as low customer satisfaction, high employee turnover and financial difficulties. Coffee shop owners need to have a strong business plan and be able to manage their finances effectively.

Lack of marketing: Coffee shops need to market themselves effectively to attract new customers and keep existing customers coming back. Coffee shop owners need to develop a marketing plan and budget, and they need to track their results to see what is working and what is not.

Competition: The coffee shop industry is very competitive. Coffee shops need to offer something unique to stand out from the competition.

Coffee shop business plan FAQ

How do you start a coffee shop business plan.

To start a coffee shop business plan, you need to consider the following factors:

Location: Choose a location that is convenient for potential customers and has high visibility.

Target market: Identify your target market and tailor your business plan to their needs and preferences.

Menu: Develop a menu that includes a variety of coffee drinks and food items that will appeal to your target market.

Pricing: Set prices that are competitive and generate a sufficient profit margin.

Operating costs: Estimate your operating costs, such as rent, utilities, labor and inventory.

Marketing: Develop a marketing plan to reach your target market and generate awareness of your coffee shop.

How many cups of coffee does a coffee shop sell per day?

Is a small coffee shop profitable, what percentage of coffee shops are successful, want to cook up another business plan.

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The Ultimate Coffee Shop Business Plan and Template

The Ultimate Coffee Shop Business Plan and Template

Coffee Shop Marketing Ideas to Supercharge Your Business

If you are looking to write a coffee shop business plan, you have come to the right place.

A coffee shop business plan is an essential tool for coffee shop owners or people who want to open a coffee shop. A business plan will help you plan your strategy for success and act as a guide as you look to build your coffee shop.

In this article, we’ll look at why you should write a business plan for your coffee shop or cafe, as well as provide you with a sample and a template that contains inspiration for the things you should include in your coffee shop business plan.

Table of Contents

  • 1 Why Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan?
  • 2.1 Executive Summary
  • 2.2 Company Overview
  • 2.3 Market and Customer Analysis
  • 2.4 Sales and Marketing Plan
  • 2.5 Management Team
  • 2.6 Financial Plan
  • 3 Wrapping Up

Why Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan?

Latte on a Table

The basic idea behind a coffee shop is simple. The business needs to sell enough coffee products to cover costs and make a profit. However, many variables will define whether your business is successful.

A coffee shop business plan will help you plan a strategy for success. It will consider factors such as opportunities, risks, and how you will market yourself . By having a good idea of this before you start a coffee shop, you will be better placed to overcome or avoid any difficulties.

Here are some examples of how a business plan could help iron out any difficulties:

  • While creating the market analysis section, you may decide that competition is too intense. If this is the case, you could look for a new area with fewer competitors or find a way to make your coffee shop business stand out.
  • By creating a marketing plan before you open, you can put yourself in an excellent position to make sales from the moment you start a coffee shop.
  • By creating cash flow projections, you will be able to spot any potential financial issues well before they come to light, preventing cash flow problems.

Without a business plan, you would either not know about the potential difficulties listed above, or you would be aware of them but lacking any defined strategy for overcoming them. By creating a coffee shop business plan, you can tackle issues with a clearer head.

Business plans are also essential documents if you plan to apply for funding for your coffee shop.

You’ll likely need to submit the business plan to the bank when applying for a loan, or to investors when applying for equity funding. Having a well-thought-out business plan shows you have done your market research and analyzed your idea which helps give investors an overview of the risks and potential rewards of investing.

If you are going to use your business plan to apply for funding, you’ll need to go into a little more detail about the financials of your business. This will include your income and expenses and you’ll also need to include a section that discusses how you will use the money you’re raising.

Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

Trendy Coffee Shop

A Google search will reveal differences when it comes to the exact sections you should include in your coffee shop business plan.

Nonetheless, a coffee shop business plan template will include the sections listed below. In this part of the article, we’ll go through a coffee shop business plan template and discuss what you should include in each section.

Executive Summary

The executive summary is a short overview of your coffee shop business plan. It should include all the important details about your business. When deciding what to include, think about what you would want someone to see if they told you they would only read this one section of your plan.

Open your executive summary with a statement about what your coffee shop business is all about. Talk about what it will offer that is unique and mention why you think it will be successful. Is it the only coffee house in town, for example?

Coffee shop name: AI Coffee Shop

Executive Summary:

AI Coffee will serve high-quality coffee to office workers and business people who work nearby. We will sell espresso-based drinks with a focus on providing quality at speed. We will sell coffee to take away as well as to eat in, with an indoor seating area with space for 25 customers in our coffee shop.

While there are other coffee shops in the area, we believe that there is demand for more — especially ones that focus on a high-quality product. We will also provide a light lunch menu and pastries that we believe will differentiate us from other coffee shops in the area. 

Company Overview

Barista Holding Latte

In the company overview section, you should include practical details about your coffee shop business. This will include:

  • The structure and ownership of your coffee shop
  • The staff you plan to hire and what you will pay them
  • Your company’s mission statement, and startup expenses

While this may seem like a lot of work, the good news is this also serves as a way to kill two birds with one stone. As you flesh out your company’s goals & vision statements, it’s important to track this information in an internal wiki . Not only will this help your business stay true to its course, but it can also serve as a great resource for your staff.

AI Coffee will be a privately held company owned entirely by Mr Smith, who will also manage the coffee shop. We will hire two full-time employees with at least two years of barista experience, as well as four part-time employees to help during busy periods.

Startup costs for the coffee shop will be $70,000, which will be spent on rent, renovations, and purchasing equipment. The owner has put up half the money and has borrowed half from a bank. Based on annual sales of $160,000 and after costs and wages, we expect to be profitable within the second year. 

Market and Customer Analysis

In the market analysis section, you should include details about the local market. This can include information on competitors, such as other coffee shops or any fast-food joints, restaurants, or bars that you think will be competing for your coffee shop’s money.

You should also outline what makes your coffee shop business unique and why you think it can be successful despite the competition. You can also include wider information about the coffee industry.

In the customer analysis section, you need to include information about your target market. Include details on who they are and why you think they will like your coffee shop, with metrics where possible. If you performed market research before starting your coffee shop business plan, include that here.

Market Analysis

The coffee industry is expected to keep growing between 2020 and 2024 in the U.S. Research suggests that coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the country, with the average person drinking two cups per day. We believe that this growth, plus the high volume of coffee people drink each day, makes opening a coffee shop a good business opportunity . 

Competitor Analysis

AI Coffee will be located in a vibrant district that is seeing offices open up and new companies move in. There are currently two other coffee shop competitors in the immediate area, but we believe there is room for more.

Our shop’s main advantages are that it is closer to a new office building than the other shops. We also plan to differentiate ourselves by offering a small lunch menu, unlike any of the existing coffee shops, as well as various customer loyalty schemes . 

Customer Analysis

The location of the coffee shop has high footfall, especially before and after work and during lunchtimes. The area has a high proportion of local professionals who can afford to spend money on coffee and other drinks. 

The office blocks in the immediate vicinity are home to around 2,500 people. There are also other buildings being developed nearby. The location is also close to shopping and entertainment districts. We expect to receive significant revenue from passersby, who will keep us busy during the day. 

Sales and Marketing Plan

Business Plan Doc

Before you start a coffee shop, you should have a clear idea of what your business’s sales strategy will be.

Your sales strategy contains practical details on how you will handle sales. You should also include sales forecasts and how you have come up with these forecasts. In this section, you should include information about the products you will sell and your pricing strategy.

Your marketing plan will discuss the strategies you will use to get customers through the door. Discuss your budget and expected returns on investment. If you have a particularly complex marketing plan, you may want to create a separate document for this and only include the highlights in your business plan.

AI Coffee will open from 7.30 a.m. until 7.30 p.m. seven days a week. We expect the hours immediately before and after office hours, as well as between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., to be the busiest of the day, with much of our sales being to take out. 

We will use a commercial espresso machine and we expect to be able to produce up to a maximum of 70 cups of coffee per hour, which should be sufficient during busy times. 

We will sell our espresso-based drinks and tea at between $3 and $6, depending on the drink and the size. We will sell pastries at between $2 and $5, as well as light meals at between $7 and $12. These meals will be packaged so customers can either eat them on-site or take them away. 

We expect to generate around $730 per day from food and drink sales. 

Marketing Plan

We will market our coffee shop to customers in the nearby area through display marketing in relevant locations. We will also use social media marketing to target people nearby, and we will connect with people through our social media accounts. We will use these accounts to keep customers updated with new menu items as well as offers and discounts. 

We will also create a website and an app, which we will use to run a customer loyalty scheme . We will provide the option to order coffee through the app and pick it up at the shop. We think this will appeal to busy professionals. 

Our marketing will focus on the quality of the coffee we sell, as well as the benefits of our shop to office workers ( in-app ordering ). During the week after we open, we will offer substantial discounts on coffee to attract people to our business. This offer will be central to our marketing during this period. 

We will encourage repeat customers using a loyalty scheme that will give them a free cup of coffee when they buy eight drinks.

Our marketing budget will be $500 in the first two months, but we will cut this down to around $350 a month after that. 

Operating Plan

Barista Making Latte

The operating plan will include details of how you will run your coffee shop. This will include costs, as well as specifics about things like opening times, food and drink production, prices, and more.

It will also allow you to spot any potential conflicts. For example, if you plan to serve 150 office workers between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., can you do it with only two members of staff or would you be better off hiring another employee?

You can also use this section to explain any licenses or certifications you need to get before you open your shop, as well as how you will train employees.

We will open from 7:30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. We will always have at least three staff members in place to take care of making coffee, process sales, and keep the coffee shop tidy.

We will buy our coffee wholesale from a supplier that specializes in high-quality coffee. This coffee will cost $40 per five-pound bag. We will keep enough coffee in stock to last for at least one week. 

In terms of equipment, we will use a commercial grinder to grind beans before making each cup. 

We will buy pastries and light meals from a local supplier who will also take care of the packaging. We will receive a daily delivery at 7 a.m., thirty minutes before the shop opens. 

We will thoroughly clean up the shop after closing to ensure it is ready for the following day. We will build HACCP processes to stay compliant with food safety regulations. All members of staff will receive training so they know about these processes.

Management Team

In the management team section, you should include who the business owners are and who will manage your coffee shop. You should write about any experience or qualifications they have that will help make them successful.

If the owners won’t be managing the coffee shop, you should include details about who will take care of the day-to-day running of the business. In this section, include how much you will be paying each of the management team as well as how any profits will be shared amongst the owners.

The owner will also manage the coffee shop. The owner has over ten years’ experience working in coffee shops, including six years in various management positions. AI Coffee will also hire two full-time employees. These employees will have at least two years’ experience working in a coffee shop. We will pay each full-time employee $22,000 a year.

We will also hire four part-time employees with or without experience to work at weekends and provide cover during the week. We will pay these employees $10 an hour. 

Financial Plan

The final section of the coffee shop business plan is the financial plan. Here you need to go into detail about how your business will be financially successful.

Include operating costs (this includes the cost of equipment), loan repayments, cash flow and expected revenue (in the first year, especially). Also, include a balance sheet analysis that shows how much revenue you need to take in to become a profitable coffee business.

In this section, we will explain our financial plan, including costs, expected sales, and profit. We will also include a balance sheet. We believe this plan accurately illustrates why AI Coffee will be financially successful. 

ADD FINANCIALS 

Wrapping Up

That’s all for our coffee shop business plan guide. We hope that this has equipped you with enough knowledge on how to start a coffee shop and will help you with your business planning.

To find out more about getting a business up and running, check out our guides to writing a business proposal in 2019 and writing a small business marketing plan.

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How to Open a Coffee Shop

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It's been a few decades since Starbucks emerged from Seattle to take over the world and made a coffee shop on every corner the norm. As a result, the way Americans drink coffee has changed drastically.

This has also created a window for entrepreneurs looking to start a business. While the big coffee chains have expanded, so have specialty, independently run shops. According to an article in the New York Times , Americans drink less coffee today than we did in the 1930s, but we’re drinking higher quality, better-brewed cups. As such, many entrepreneurs today might wonder how to start a coffee shop to serve their own high-quality brews.

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

How to open a coffee shop in 7 steps

Wondering how to start a coffee shop of your own? These seven steps will take you through everything you need to know.

Step 1: Decide whether you want to open your own shop, a franchise, or buy an existing business.

When it comes to starting a business you usually have at least two ways to go about doing it, and with coffee shops, you've got three. When it comes to how to open a coffee shop you can do one of the following:

Completely start from scratch and open your own shop

Open a coffee shop franchise

Buy an existing coffee shop that's for sale

Each of the options has its pros and cons and varying degrees of work required by you. If you choose to open a franchise you'll be bound by many of the aspects of that franchise like the beans they use and the decor of the actual shop. If you buy another coffee shop you might have less construction to do to set up the space as a coffee shop. These options come with limitations as well.

Step 2: Create a business plan.

A well-thought-out business plan is key to creating any business, and a coffee shop is no exception. If you want to open a coffee shop, you probably already have a love of good coffee. To create a successful coffee shop you have to decide how you'll get other people to love coffee as much as you do. A business plan will help get your ideas focused and in one place. Besides the basics of what your coffee shop will be and the products you'll sell, a business plan also includes a marketing and sales plan, as well as financial projections.

An important consideration you'll need to take care of in the early stages, and that you'll include in your business plan, is to decide on the business structure you want your company to operate as. There are several business entity options you can choose, including a sole proprietorship, LLC, C-corp, and more—and the entity you choose will have both tax and legal implications for your business. It's always a good idea to seek the advice of a business attorney when making these big decisions as you start your coffee shop. if you choose to open a franchise, you might already have a business entity that you have to use.

While creating your business plan, you'll have to come up with a name for your business and an idea of where you want to open your coffee shop. Once you find the perfect location be sure to add it to your business plan, it might happen before or after you've written the plan.

You'll also want to outline the pricing of your products, what goods you want to offer, the type of coffee shop you want to have (sit-down, drive-through), and more. It's a lot to think about, but a business plan is where you can get all of these plans down in one place. Beyond that, if you'll need outside capital to make your coffee shop dreams a reality, you'll need to provide a business plan for funding consideration.

Luckily, there are several options for business loans for a cafe, and whether you're looking for funding to start your coffee shop or want to leave the option open for expansion down the road, having a solid business plan from the start will make the process easier.

Step 3: Find the right location.

This step can not be glossed over and you should take your time and consideration when completing it. The location of your coffee shop can make or break it in terms of success. There are some things to look for when looking for a coffee shop location. Coffee shop location considerations:

Size: You want to make sure enough people can fit in the space without feeling cramped. Coffee shops are relaxing areas where people tend to hang out with friends or colleagues and you want the space to be accommodating.

Accessibility: Make sure your cafe is accessible and anyone can enter.

Parking: Will you be dependent on foot traffic? If not you're going to want to make sure there's somewhere for your customers to park either a lot or street parking nearby. If biking is popular in your area, consider adding a bike rack.

Seating: Will customers be limited to seating indoors or is there some outdoor seating you could set up when the weather is right for it?

Rent: This should be one of your top considerations when deciding on a location. How much a business location will cost you is going to be a significant chunk of your budget and you should be sure to include this in your business plan.

Step 4: Register your business and get the proper licenses and permits.

The city or county where you plan to open your coffee shop will dictate the specifics of registering your business, what taxes you'll be responsible for, any necessary licenses and permits, and more. The details of registering a business vary from state to state, but you will need to apply for an employer identification number (EIN) and establish your business structure before you can start the registration process.

You also need to make sure that since you'll be serving coffee, and most likely some food, that you have the right business licenses and permits for that, as well. Usually, health licenses and permits are necessary for serving food. Other types of business licenses include building, zoning, and land-use permits. Be sure you consult with your local business resources so you have the proper documentation in place before you open your coffee shop.

Step 5: Find suppliers.

Customers are looking for a quality experience when they come into your coffee shop. That means quality ingredients and coffee, but also quality service and experience.

While it’s tough to produce the same quality every time, this is crucial in the coffee business, especially in a time when people are becoming more knowledgeable about specialty coffee. Having consistent and quality providers, from the beans to cups and everything else customers interact with can help keep your coffee shop running smoothly and customer experiences consistent.

When you're first starting your coffee business, don't be afraid to spend the necessary time finding the right coffee supplier for your business. Though if you're starting a franchise, they'll take care of this step for you by having their specific grounds. You may have to try a lot to find the right one that will work for the products you want to offer, at the right price, with the perfect taste.

The other way to create consistency is by training employees extensively. If you want patrons to walk past all the other coffee shops on the block and go into yours, you need to offer consistent quality.

Step 6: Create a warm, inviting environment.

A coffee shop is never just about a good cup of coffee. Many people frequent coffee shops as a place to do work, catch up with friends, or to take a break from the workday.

You want your coffee shop to have a warm and inviting atmosphere that's conducive to meetings, relaxing, and chit chat, but also one that's easy to keep clean and orderly. When choosing how to design the shop, be sure to take into account how many people you want the shop to fit and the kind of atmosphere you're looking to create for them all.

Remember when we were talking about the location of your shop? Here's where that comes in because the location can only do so much work for you. The work you do to design the cafe on the inside will also greatly matter. You're creating an entire atmosphere that also serves a purpose.

Step 7: Adopt a good inventory system.

Pay attention to your inventory. At first, you won't really know how much you need when it comes to things like beans and baked good, you probably won't even know how many cups you need a day. So track these things carefully at first so you can get a good handle on how much you're using.

There are a number of inventory management apps available to small business owners who need a way to manage their inventory and budget. Some point of sale systems also offer inventory management, which is something you might want to consider when choosing one. There are specific coffee shop POS systems out there to consider.

No matter what you choose, you want to make sure you have a way to manage what you need for your business so you don't run out of customer favorites or over-order on what you don't need.

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

How much does it cost to open a coffee shop?

We've gone over many of the expenses you'll face when opening a coffee shop. The rent of the location, everything for the interior design, the machinery, the supplies like beans and cups, employees and more will all add up. Some of these things may cost far more than you're expecting them too, a good espresso machine along can run you up $20,000.

In all you can expect that opening a coffee shop will likely cost you upward of $200,000 when all is said and done. This goes for some franchises as well, Dunkin' for example, requires that you have $250,000 in liquid assets to start a franchise with them. You could consider starting smaller, with a coffee cart or a small pop-up location if you're unsure of the cost or if you don't want to dive in headfirst. But know that none of these options will be cheap or require no money up front.

ZenBusiness

Start Your Dream Business

The bottom line

Running a small business is no easy feat, but for all of those coffee enthusiasts who have dreamed of opening a cafe of their own, now might be the time. Consumption and interest in the specialty coffee culture has increased steadily in recent years and doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon.

While competition from bigger chains might have been a problem at one time, modern consumers prefer to support local neighborhood shops—especially if they’re offering what the big chains can’t. So if you've been wondering how to start a coffee shop, start thinking about the above steps to see if this is a feasible business venture for you.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

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How To Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan

By Shannon Mulligan

2 People sitting in coffee shop

Opening a coffee shop is an exciting endeavor. But before you can open your doors and pour that first cup of joe, you need a coffee shop business plan.

But what is a business plan? Why is it important? And do you really need one?

We’re breaking down everything you need to know so you can brew up your own coffee shop business plan with ease.

What is a business plan for a coffee shop?

A coffee shop business plan is a document that covers your business goals and everything you’re going to do to reach them. 

A business plan goes into all the details about your business, from the location of your coffee shop to where you’re going to source your coffee beans. Put simply, it breaks down how your coffee shop is going to be a success.

The importance of a coffee shop business plan

Writing out a coffee shop business plan can feel a bit tedious and unnecessary. And we won’t lie, they do take a bit of time and effort. 

But every business, no matter big or small, should have a business plan in place. A business plan for your coffee shop will help you:

  • Set business goals and keep you on track to reach them. A business plan acts as a roadmap to help your coffee shop business become (and stay) successful.
  • Identify any gaps in your business ahead of time. We’re only human. We all miss things from time to time. A well-written business plan can help you catch any mistakes or potential problems before they cost you.
  • Manage your to-do list before opening your coffee shop. Opening any business is a huge undertaking. A business plan covers all your bases from location to hiring , so you don’t miss anything before opening day rolls around.
  • Secure any financing or loans you might need. Banks or investors often want to see a business plan before they’ll offer you loans or even financial products like a business credit card.

Things to consider before you start writing a business plan for your coffee shop

Now that you know that you need a business plan, it’s time to grab your favorite cup of coffee and start thinking about the important stuff.

To help, here are some things to consider before you start writing your business plan.

  • What will make your coffee shop business successful? Will you offer a unique specialty coffee selection? Are you going to open in a location with a high demand for coffee?
  • Who is the target audience for your business plan? Different stakeholders will likely have different goals when reading your business plan. Banks and investors might be more interested in your financial forecasts. Meanwhile, potential suppliers might care more about your product offering to make sure that your coffee shop is a good fit for their products 
  • What information or research will you need to create an informed business plan? A coffee shop business plan will look different than that of a salon or even a bakery. Take some time to think about what information you’ll need to research. For example, before you can write your business plan, you’ll likely need to know the cost of a coffee maker or the average hourly wage of a barista .

How to write a coffee shop business plan in 7 steps

If you’ve never written a business plan before, it can feel more complicated than a grande mocha frappucino with extra whip, hold the syrup. But don’t worry, we’re breaking down the key sections of a coffee shop business plan so you know exactly how to get started.

Here are the 7 steps and sections you’ll need to write your coffee shop business plan.

1. Executive summary

This is a high-level overview of your coffee shop business plan—the TL;DR of the business plan if you will.  Here, you’ll want to outline the important details in your business plan, but also tell an engaging story that makes the reader want to dive into the rest of your business plan.

Tip: This is the first section someone will read—but you don’t have to write it first. It can be helpful to come back to this section once you’ve finished the rest of your business plan.

2. Company overview and description

This next section in your coffee shop business plan is an overview of your business and your goals. 

In this section, you should answer questions like:

  • Who’s the founder or business owner? (AKA who are you and what is your background?) 
  • Why did you decide to start a coffee shop?
  • What’s your vision for your coffee shop?

3. Market analysis

A market analysis in a business plan helps position your coffee shop against other coffee shops, You want to show how you measure up to competitors or similar businesses. 

For example, as a coffee shop owner you might identify competing coffee shops in the area, or even other competitors like fast-food chains. In your market analysis, you might even look at other successful similar businesses that you can use to show why your coffee shop will be a success. For example, let’s say you’re opening a coffee shop that’s open 24 hours. You can use examples of other 24-hour coffee shops in other areas that you can model your business after.

4. Business offerings

This is where things start to get exciting—you finally get to talk about coffee! 

The business offerings section of your business plan should include everything that you’ll offer to potential customers. For a coffee shop, this will likely include your potential coffee menu.  But if you have other products or services—like selling coffee beans or offering coffee machine repairs—you’ll want to include those here too.

5. Management and operations

Here’s where you’ll cover the day-to-day management and operation of your coffee shop. For example, you’ll want to outline details like: 

  • The expected costs of operating your business 
  • How many employees you’ll hire
  • Your point of sale (POS) system
  • How you’ll manage inventory

6. Marketing and public relations strategies

In this section, you should explain how you plan to spread the word. 

Will you hire a marketing agency ? Will you mail out flyers? Do you have any media connections that will help you earn PR?

Basically, you need to show that you have a plan for promoting your business.

7. Financial projections

Last but not least, it’s time to talk money. 

Financial projections provide insight into your revenue and expenses over the short and long term. They aren’t an exact science, but you’ll want to provide an educated estimate. Your financial projections should typically include:

  • Your start-up costs: This includes any one-time costs that you’ll incur to open your doors. For example, renovating the interior of your coffee shop.
  • Operating costs: This includes expenses like rent, marketing, and utilities. You’ll also need to consider materials and supplies, such as coffee and cups.
  • Labor costs: This is the cost of employing any baristas, hosts, or cashiers. For example, wages, cost of employee benefits , and hiring costs.
  • Forecasted revenue: This includes any money you’ll earn from coffee sales or any other products and services you might offer.

The goal is to show that your coffee shop business will be profitable.

The top tool to get your coffee shop running smoothly

Business plan written and ready to go? It’s time to start growing your coffee shop. From hiring your first employee to opening your second coffee outpost, Homebase is here to help.

Homebase is an all-in-one employee management app that helps small business owners manage hourly employees better and smarter. 

With Homebase, you can:

  • Create employee schedules in minutes
  • Track employee time and run payroll right from your phone
  • Hire and onboard employees for your coffee shop

Coffee shop business plan FAQs

Do you need to create a business plan for a coffee shop.

Yes. Every business, including a coffee shop, should have a business plan. Your business plan should include an overview of your business, what products and services you’ll offer, how you’ll manage and market your business, and financial projections.

How profitable is opening a coffee shop?

How profitable opening a coffee shop will be can depend on several factors. But generally, coffee shops can be a pretty profitable business. A business plan can help you project your revenue, costs, and profit—so you can feel confident growing your coffee shop.

How do you start a business proposal for a coffee shop?

Here are a few steps for how to start writing an effective business proposal for a coffee shop:

  • Start with an executive summary.
  • Create your coffee shop company overview and description.
  • Do a market analysis of competitors and similar businesses.
  • Decide on your business offerings.
  • Put a plan in place for managing and operating your business.
  • Create a marketing and PR plan.
  • Forecast your sales and business costs.

Remember:  This is not legal advice. If you have questions about your particular situation, please consult a lawyer, CPA, or other appropriate professional advisor or agency.

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Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop

Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop

Starting a coffee shop business is an exciting venture, but it requires careful planning to ensure success in this competitive industry. With ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop, you can easily outline your vision, goals, financial projections, marketing strategies, and operational plans all in one place.

This comprehensive template helps coffee shop entrepreneurs:

  • Create a compelling business plan to attract potential investors and secure funding
  • Define their target market, analyze competition, and develop effective marketing strategies
  • Set realistic financial goals and projections to ensure profitability
  • Streamline operations and manage resources efficiently for a smooth and successful launch

Don't miss out on the opportunity to bring your coffee shop dreams to life. Get started with ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop today!

Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop Benefits

Launching a successful coffee shop requires careful planning and a solid strategy. By using a business plan template, you can:

  • Clearly articulate your vision for the coffee shop, including its unique selling points and target market
  • Set measurable goals and objectives to track your progress and stay on track
  • Create detailed financial projections to secure funding and attract investors
  • Develop effective marketing strategies to build brand awareness and attract customers
  • Establish operational plans and procedures to ensure smooth day-to-day operations
  • Have a roadmap for success, making it easier to navigate challenges and adapt to changing market conditions.

Main Elements of Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop provides entrepreneurs with a comprehensive framework to outline their vision and strategies for a successful coffee shop business.

Here are the main elements of this template:

  • Custom Statuses: Track progress with four statuses including Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do, ensuring that all tasks and sections of the business plan are accounted for.
  • Custom Fields: Utilize three custom fields such as Reference, Approved, and Section to add additional context, organize information, and easily categorize sections of the business plan.
  • Custom Views: Access five different views including Topics, Status, Timeline, Business Plan, and Getting Started Guide to visualize and manage different aspects of your coffee shop business plan. These views allow you to focus on specific sections, track progress, create a timeline, and access a guide to get started.

With ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop, you can efficiently create a comprehensive business plan to attract investors and secure funding for your coffee shop venture.

How To Use Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop

If you're dreaming of opening your own coffee shop, you'll need a solid business plan to turn that dream into a reality. By using the Business Plan Template in ClickUp and following the steps outlined below, you can create a comprehensive plan that will help guide you through the process and set your coffee shop up for success.

1. Define your vision and mission

Start by clearly defining your vision for your coffee shop. What do you want it to be known for? What kind of atmosphere do you want to create? Next, craft a mission statement that outlines the purpose of your coffee shop and the value it will bring to customers.

Use a Doc in ClickUp to brainstorm and write down your vision and mission statements.

2. Conduct market research

Before diving into the details of your coffee shop, it's important to understand the market you'll be entering. Research your target audience, competition, and local coffee shop industry trends. Identify any gaps or opportunities that you can leverage to differentiate your coffee shop.

Use custom fields in ClickUp to track and organize your market research findings.

3. Plan your menu and offerings

Your coffee shop's menu will be a key factor in attracting and retaining customers. Decide on the types of coffee and beverages you'll offer, as well as any food items or specialty products. Consider creating a signature drink or unique menu item to set your coffee shop apart.

Create tasks in ClickUp to outline your menu and track the ingredients and supplies needed.

4. Develop a marketing strategy

To ensure the success of your coffee shop, you'll need a strong marketing strategy to attract customers and build brand awareness. Determine the best channels to reach your target audience, such as social media, local advertising, or partnerships with other businesses. Outline your marketing tactics and budget.

Use the Calendar view in ClickUp to plan and schedule your marketing campaigns.

5. Create a financial plan

A solid financial plan is essential for any business. Determine your startup costs, projected revenue, and operating expenses. Calculate your break-even point and set financial goals for your coffee shop. Consider creating different scenarios to analyze the potential impact of different factors, such as pricing or volume of customers.

Use custom fields in ClickUp to track and analyze your financial data and create a Gantt chart to visualize your financial milestones.

By following these steps and using the Business Plan Template in ClickUp, you'll have a comprehensive plan in place for your coffee shop. This will not only help you secure funding and make informed decisions, but also set you up for success as you embark on your journey to open and run a thriving coffee shop.

Get Started with ClickUp’s Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop

Entrepreneurs looking to start a coffee shop business can use the Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop in ClickUp to streamline their planning process and create a comprehensive roadmap for success.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to create a detailed business plan:

  • Use the Topics View to outline different sections of your business plan, such as Executive Summary, Market Analysis, Marketing Strategy, Financial Projections, and more.
  • The Status View will help you track the progress of each section, with statuses like Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do.
  • Utilize the Timeline View to set deadlines and milestones for each section of your business plan.
  • The Business Plan View will give you an overview of your entire plan, allowing you to easily navigate between sections.
  • Create custom fields like Reference, Approved, and Section to add additional context and organization to your business plan.
  • Use the Getting Started Guide View to keep track of the next steps and action items needed to bring your coffee shop business plan to life.
  • Collaborate with team members and stakeholders to gather input, make revisions, and ensure your business plan is comprehensive and compelling.

By using the ClickUp Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop, you can streamline your planning process, stay organized, and create a professional business plan that sets you up for success.

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Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Business Plan Outline

  • Coffee Shop Business Plan Home
  • 1. Executive Summary
  • 2. Company Overview
  • 3. Industry Analysis
  • 4. Customer Analysis
  • 5. Competitive Analysis
  • 6. Marketing Plan
  • 7. Operations Plan
  • 8. Management Team
  • 9. Financial Plan

Coffee Shop Business Plan

Whether you are planning to start a new business or grow your existing coffee shop, you’ve come to the right place to create your coffee shop business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their coffee shops.

A coffee shop business plan is used to start and/or grow your business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

Coffee Shop Business Plan Sample

Below are links to each section of our coffee shop business plan example:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Coffee Shop Business Plan FAQs

What is a coffee shop business plan.

A business plan for a coffee shop is a plan to start and/or grow your business. Among other things, it includes your company overview, allows you to conduct a market analysis to identify your target market, includes a sample menu, presents your marketing plan and pricing strategy to attract your local customer base, details your sales forecasts, and provides the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement for your coffee shop.

You can  easily complete your coffee shop business plan using our Business Plan Template for a Coffee Shop here .

What Are the Main Types of Coffee Shops?

The different types of coffee shops include cafes, coffee bars and coffeehouses that sell coffee drinks and other snacks. Some coffee shops offer lunch and dinner menus and are close to being full-service restaurants. There are also coffee shops that are more accessible for people on the go or those who want to make their own coffee. These are retail coffee shops, drive thru coffee shops, coffee carts and trucks, and roasters or retailers.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenue and Operating Expenses for a Coffee Shop?

The primary source of revenue for many coffee shops come from its food and drink sales, which includes brewed coffee, coffee beans, seasonal drinks and refreshments, and baked goods. Gift card and merchandise sales like tumblers, mugs, and coffee makers also contribute to a coffee shop’s revenue stream.

The expected expenses for a coffee shop are the cost of coffee and food products, salaries and wages, rent, and advertising costs. 

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Coffee Shop?

Opening a coffee shop business can cost anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 depending on the size and location of the business. Additional costs such as inventory, employee salaries, and marketing expenses can range from $5,000 to $15,000 per month.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Coffee Shop Business?

The best way to get funding for a coffee shop business is through a bank loan or utilizing your personal savings, business credit cards or borrowing from friends and family. You can also look into government grants or loans, or try to find a partner who is willing to invest in your business. Whatever route you choose, be sure to have a solid coffee shop business plan for potential investors including a sales and marketing plan as well as a realistic idea of how much money you need to get started.

How to Start a Coffee Shop?

  • Determine the type of coffee shop business you want to open . There are many different types of coffee shops, from small mom-and-pop shops to large chains.
  • Create a coffee shop business plan. This will outline your plans for starting and running your coffee shop. 
  • Secure funding . You will need money to start and run a coffee shop, so you'll need to find investors or borrow money from a bank or other lending institution.
  • Find a location for your coffee shop. This can be tricky, as you'll need to find a space that is affordable and has good foot traffic.
  • Equip your coffee shop . You'll need to buy or lease equipment such as espresso machines, coffee brewers, and furniture in addition to the coffee beans and other food products you plan to sell.
  • Hire staff . You'll need employees to run your coffee shop, so post job ads and interview potential candidates.

Learn more about how to start a successful coffee shop business:

  • How to Start a Coffee Shop Business

Where Can I Get a Coffee Shop Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free coffee shop business plan template PDF here . This is a sample coffee shop business plan template you can use in PDF format.

How to Start a Coffee Shop

How To Write Your Coffee Shop Business Plan

How to write a coffee shop business plan.

How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan

Business Plan for Coffee Shops Series

A coffee shop owner smiles at her customer after writing a coffee shop business plan.

Your business plan will serve as your road map that guides your thoughts and ideas into one detailed action plan. 

If you dream about opening a coffee business, you have so many options to choose from. The ideas are nearly endless, from setting up your drive-thru coffee stand to opening a mobile coffee truck to buying an existing coffee shop!

After you settle on a feasible coffee shop concept , you will have no shortage of items on your to-do list.

The next thing to do is get your game plan together. One way to ensure you do everything right (and not miss anything) is to write a thorough coffee shop business plan .

Sitting down to write a business plan may seem daunting or tedious. It doesn't have to be. Putting together your vision can be fun and exciting.

In today's post, we will discuss the benefits of a business plan, what's inside, and how to write your coffee shop business plan. Finally, we will answer common questions about a business plan impacting your success as you start your coffee business .

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

Is a Coffee Shop Business Plan Necessary?

Why write a coffee shop business plan.

a coffee shop owner serves customers after writing a business plan.

Writing a business plan is often a necessity because three essential stakeholders require it:

  • You (the owner)
  • Property Managers

As the owner, you must fully understand your vision, mission, and business's path to success.

On the other hand, your investors (such as partners, private lenders, or banks) will often require seeing a plan, including your concept, branding, startup budget, costs, financial projections, location, management team, and other essential items.

Your financials – your overall budget (startup and operational) and pro forma financial docs are essential to your business plan. Banking institutions will assess this to see if your coffee business is viable.

Additionally, property managers will likely require a business plan before considering your business for their retail space. Property managers or owners must fully understand the type of business occupying their space. They want to know what is being sold, how it's being sold, and whether they are allowing a sustainable business on their premises.

A business plan is needed by:

  • Property managers
  • You (The owner)

Benefits of Putting Together a Plan

Reasons to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan

Business plans can effectively bring your thoughts and ideas in sync with your vision, budget, and other elements.

In addition to its necessity in some settings, writing a coffee shop business plan has other benefits.  

Let's discuss the benefits below:

  • A business plan increases the chances of success.
  • Your coffee shop business plan will likely save you money (and time) 
  • Business plans help keep people organized
  • Ensures nothing gets left behind
  • Propels you to develop a budget and stick to it

Increases Your Chances of Success

A business plan reduces the possibility of failure. It increases the chances of your coffee shop's success by forcing you to think through every aspect of your business before starting and spending any money. As many have found out, “winging it” isn't a strategy for success.  

Planning everything and writing it down in a live or organic document allows you to see where your strengths and weaknesses are – and address them. Having a cohesive plan can make a difference in achieving the desired results.

A Plan Will Save You Money 

When you start a coffee business, exceeding your original budget estimates is very easy. A business plan can help significantly reduce your costs and avoid big mistakes. This is because you'll know exactly what is needed, how much it will cost, and where it fits into your planning.

As you develop and write your business plan, you can look at the overall costs, develop a budget around your vision, and see what adaptations you need to make to ensure enough funding and a realistic outcome.

If you want to launch a coffee shop on a shoestring budget, the more you plan often equals saving more.

A Plan Will Keep You Organized

Keeping yourself organized will not only save you time and money but will also reduce your organizational headaches.

Knowing what you need (and don't need) based on your vision will help keep you on pace to finish within your established budget and timeframe.

There are often so many steps to be mindful of when starting a coffee shop that it would be nearly impossible to effectively manage every business detail without writing them down.

Ensures Nothing Gets Left Behind

Even if you have opened a business before, you know that many, many, many elements need to be addressed before moving forward with the implementation process.

Necessary steps that can be easily left out or neglected can cause headaches and tremendous costs (in lost time and money) as you move forward. A coffee shop business plan ensures that all the essential parts of your business are addressed.

Details Your Budget

When you start a coffee shop, people love to think about where they will get their coffee beans, equipment, and other menu items. These are extremely important, and they deserve the attention to plan. However, the less money you have, the more emphasis you should put on planning.

For some, figuring out a coffee shop's budgetary needs may be a significant hurdle because you may be unfamiliar with them.

However, taking the time to flesh out your budget, costs, and the money needed to open ( financial projections ) in good faith will provide you with tremendous insight into how your coffee business will function.

By knowing where you are financially, you will then make appropriate (or even better) decisions in launching your coffee shop.

A coffee shop owner pours a latte.

Business Plan: Your Budget and Cost Estimates

One of the most challenging parts of a business is developing your costs, budget, and estimates. We've written extensively on developing a coffee shop budget; you may find some of the articles below helpful.

  • How to Start a Coffee Shop Budget
  • How to Start a Low-Cost Coffee Shop
  • Coffee Shop Funding Mix
  • How to Prepare for a Coffee Shop Business Loan
  • How to Determine the Cost of Selling 100 Coffees

Writing Your Business Plan Takes Time. A well-written coffee shop business plan will take time to do. Give yourself time to research and think through some of the decisions you will have to make.

My recommendation: You may want to write your business plan in chunks. The great thing about a business plan is that it's broken down into sections. Take a section you're thinking about, plan, and articulate your thoughts and actions. If you hit a temporary wall, go to the next section or get help.

Key Sections of Your Business Plan:

The Executive Summary

Your Business Structure

Coffee Shop Financials

Unique Selling Proposition

Coffee Shop Startup Costs

Business Plan Description

Coffee Shop Business Plan Sections:

barista serves a latte

Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan

Where do you start.

a barista brews coffee on a chemex after writing her business plan.

So, where and how do you start writing your plan?

First, you don't have to tackle each section in order. For example, the executive summary, which always comes first in a business plan, is often written last.

I would start writing your coffee shop business plan with the business description and concept. Second, I would develop an understanding of your target market and build your coffee shop menu around them. Third, I would write about the coffee equipment that I would need and the costs. Fourth, I would develop your coffee branding section. And then, I would start working on my coffee shop budget and cost breakdown.

This is my personal preference in writing business plans for coffee shops. However, you may have different methods. Whichever way works best for you and allows you to thoroughly plan and understand your coffee business is the one you should use.

Start Your Business Plan Writing With The Following:

  • Your business concept (Describes Your Concept)
  • Know your target market
  • Build your menu for your target customer.
  • Detail your coffee equipment
  • Your coffee shop budget

Once you've settled on these business plan subjects, you can develop and write the rest of your business plan. Everything from your coffee shop branding, management, and barista training .

Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

Writing a business plan can be challenging. Understanding each section and what should be discussed can seem daunting.

That's why we created an easy-to-use business plan template for you. This free template details every business plan section and describes what should be in every section.

Our coffee shop business plan template (MS Word Format) is guaranteed to save you hours in research and conveniently allows you to fill in each section.

Trending Articles on Coffee Shop Startups:

Questions & Answers

Related Questions:

Is a business plan required for my coffee shop business.

No governmental agency requires a business plan, and it is not a coffee shop requirement . However, if you plan on borrowing money from a bank or renting a commercial space, those stakeholders may require a written business plan for their due diligence.

Do I need a business degree or be a lawyer to write a coffee shop business plan?

Fortunately, the simple answer is NO.

Writing a business plan is simply about getting your business thoughts down on paper in a structured and comprehensive way. In my opinion, hiring a lawyer to write out your coffee business concept may be overkill.

Now, you may decide to have a lawyer or business consultant review aspects of your coffee shop business plan – along with your property lease, trademarks, etc. I would highly discourage you from delegating the writing of your business plan to someone who doesn't know you or the business. 

Is a coffee shop business plan different from a “traditional” business plan?

Different businesses often require slightly different or modified business plans. A “coffee shop business plan” is unique from other business plans.

For example, having a business plan for a tech startup or manufacturing company will generally emphasize other points when comparing them to a farming co-op or coffee shop business plan. Each should have its emphasis because the audience will be different. Specifically, if your job is to create a kid-friendly coffee shop or a wine and coffee bar , you'll want something specific to that niche rather than a general business plan.

How Do I Use a Business Plan?

Your coffee shop business plan is a live and organic document.

By this, your business plan will grow with you and your coffee business. Therefore, нour business plan will always change, adapt, and need to be modified.

Of course, we assume you will write your business plan using a computer and print it out. We recommend that you provide plenty of space in the margins to make edits, make additions, and eventually make changes on the computer.

Remember that your coffee shop business plan – is precisely that – a plan. A plan will change as your business changes – so having the ability to print out a physical copy, scribble notes, and cross out irrelevant information is vital as you move forward. For example, as your coffee shop budget and concept evolve, so will your business plan. 

We recommend keeping your business plan light enough for you to carry anywhere. Please place it in a thin 3-ring binder or keep it stapled but near you all the time.

a barista pulls an espresso shot.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Should i pay someone to write my coffee shop business plan for me.

I strongly recommend against this. People often consider having someone else write their business plan a good thing. But why waste the money on someone else thinking for you? While you may seek the help of someone reviewing elements of your plan, such as your coffee brand, coffee budget, and coffee shop location , the important decisions should be made by you.

Why you should write your business plan:

Your coffee business concept will emerge from your thoughts and ideas. Therefore, you're the best person to capture these ideas on paper.

A business plan will also help stimulate these mental muscles you may haven't used in a long time.

You will need this thought stimulation to execute your plan entirely and thoroughly. Most importantly, writing your business plan gives you a sense of real business ownership. After all, it's your business and should be your plan.

What Happens If I Don't Have a Plan?

Have you ever taken a long road trip without a proper map? You know it's probably not a good idea since you won't be sure where you'll end up going.

Sooner or later, not planning your trip and not having the tools you need to reach your destination will increase your expenses, frustrate you, and possibly lead you to failure.

And yet, while developing your business plan will take some work, it will help get you started confidently.

How Long Does a Business Plan Have To Be?

A coffee shop business plan can be as long as you want. Don't think of your business plan as a school assignment that needs to be turned in to your business teacher.

The length of your business plan depends on your coffee shop's complexity. Still, a thorough business plan can range from 15 to 60 pages once filled out (Occasionally more, depending on the business's scope).

We recommend always using headings, subheadings, and spaces between paragraphs and sections when constructing your business plan.

A coffee shop business plan has several main sections. While there is no “right” order or structure for your typical business plan, they often include everything from your mission statement to the coffee shop equipment needed to your financial position, projections, and estimates.

Is there an easy way to start a coffee shop business plan?

Yes! Our Complete Coffee Shop Startup Kit contains a free business plan template for you to get started. All you have to do is fill it out and print our Coffee Shop Business Plan template, and you'll be ready to go!

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

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How to start a coffee shop

Coffee Shop Startups

Based in Seattle, Washington, USA, Coffee Shop Startups is dedicated to providing you with the most relevant information on how to start a coffee shop business successfully. Over the last 11 years, we've helped thousands of aspiring coffee business owners worldwide. We harness the experience, wisdom, and knowledge of many successful coffee shop owners to help you increase your chances of success and profits. We support business owners who want to start a coffee business by providing them with valuable information on starting their coffee business successfully.

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All of our kits are delivered digitally. No physical delivery is made.

Based in Seattle, Washington, USA, Coffee Shop Startups is dedicated to providing you with the most relevant information on how to start a coffee shop business successfully.

Over the last 10+ years , we’ve helped thousands of aspiring coffee business owners worldwide. We harness the experience, wisdom, and knowledge of many successful coffee shop owners to help you increase your chances of success and profits.

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

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how to create a business plan for coffee shop

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how to create a business plan for coffee shop

Free Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

Win over investors with this customizable, free coffee shop business plan template..

Smiling barista standing in front of a modern coffee bar.

What’s Inside This Free Coffee Shop Business Plan Template:

  • A business plan template for coffee shops formatted for Word or Pages
  • Instructions and tips to help you create a successful coffee shop business plan
  • 8 customizable sections, including a coffee shop business plan introduction, operations plan, and more

Starting any business can feel daunting, but starting a coffee shop comes with a unique set of challenges. From concept to staffing, there’s a lot to consider as you begin mapping out your coffee shop business plan. And that’s where a coffee shop business plan template can help.

Why You Need a Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

Writing a business plan is one of the first steps in opening a coffee shop. Think of it as the blueprint for your business. Why recreate the wheel and write your coffee shop’s business plan from scratch when you can get started with our handy template? 

Using a template can speed up your business plan writing process, thanks to detailed instructions and tips on what to write in each section. 

And, because this template is designed especially for coffee shops, you’ll find helpful guidance on things like design and layout considerations that are unique to this type of business.

How to Start a Coffee Shop

Still researching how to start a coffee shop? Creating a business plan is the first step, but there’s so much else to consider, including:

  • Writing a successful coffee shop business plan : Use our template to strategize where you’ll get the funds for your business, what will make your coffee shop different from others, who you’ll hire, and more.
  • Getting funding : Execute the financial part of your business plan by securing funding for your business, whether through personal savings, friends and family, investors, or a loan.
  • Finding and customizing a location : Search for a commercial space, then make it your own with furniture and decor.
  • Sourcing coffee : Decide if you’ll roast your own beans or partner with a vendor.
  • Hiring staff : Employees are the heart of any food service business. Invest time into finding the right people to join your team.
  • Marketing your coffee shop : Spread the word about your coffee shop online and in person through partnerships, events, social media, restaurant email marketing , and more.
  • Opening your business : Launch with a bang through a grand opening.

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Coffee Shop?

How much it costs to start a coffee shop depends on a number of factors, including your shop’s location and size. As part of the planning process for your coffee shop business proposal, research the costs of real estate in your area, furniture, equipment, POS systems, inventory, payroll, and marketing and advertising to establish an opening budget. Make sure to include a buffer in your budget for unexpected expenses.

What You’ll Find in This Free Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

Our free, 20-page coffee shop business proposal template comes with eight customizable sections. In each section, you’ll find:

  • Headings that you can customize or use as-is
  • Explanations of what each section is for
  • Tips on what to write in each section
  • Suggestions for how much to write
  • Coffee shop business plan examples 
  • Links to helpful resources, like pricing strategies, menu templates, technology suggestions, and more

The free business plan template for coffee shops is completely customizable, from the introduction to the appendix, which means you can adjust the business plan to fit your unique concept. So whether your goal is to create a community coffee hub or a hip third-wave coffee bar, this template can help.

When you’re done filling out each section, you can save the coffee shop business plan template in Word or Pages. You can also print the document so you can share your business plan and ideas with friends, family, and investors.

Success! Click below to access the download.

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How To Open A Coffee Shop

Nate Lozier

Nate Lozier

Key steps and essential strategies for successfully opening and operating a thriving coffee shop and profiting in the caffeine arena.

Opening a coffee shop can be a dream come true for aspiring entrepreneurs, but embarking on the journey requires more than just a love of caffeine. In this article, we will delve into the various aspects of starting and running a coffee business, covering topics such as the initial costs involved and the different types of coffee establishments you can choose from. We’ll also talk about how today’s restaurant technology and software helps run a profitable coffee shop in the digital era.

How Much Does It Cost To Open A Coffee Shop?

Like any restaurant business, opening a coffee shop entails various initial investments, with costs fluctuating based on factors like location, size, and concept. Start-up expenses encompass renovation or build-out costs for adapting the space, and purchasing essential equipment such as coffee machines, espresso machines, grinders, and coolers. It also involves investing in point of sale (POS) systems, obtaining licenses and permits, and securing the initial inventory of coffee beans and other ingredients.

Operational costs are similar to that of other restaurant businesses, including things like monthly rent for your space, utility bills, and insurance as well as the two biggest costs of operating any restaurant business: cost of goods sold (CoGS) and labor costs . Together, these two components are referred to as a restaurant business’s prime cost.

There are also several miscellaneous costs involved in running a coffee shop . Some of these include professional and legal fees, maintenance and repair fees, and specialized staff training. This should be included in your budget as a contingency fund for unforeseen expenses.

Regardless of where you’re opening shop, there’s likely to be more than a few existing shops within the area to grab a cup of joe. Allocating a budget for marketing and a grand opening event for promotion should be a crucial component of your initial expenses.

On average, the initial investment can range anywhere from $80,000 to $300,000, depending on factors like location, size, and the type of coffee business you choose. Before you spend any initial funds, it’s crucial to create a detailed business plan to estimate your specific costs accurately.

Sourcing Your Coffee Beans

Deciding where you’ll source your ingredients – namely your coffee beans – is an essential step in starting shop. There are several factors to find the ideal bean  for your target customers . Here are some key factors to consider when deciding where to source your coffee beans:

  • Bean Quality and Flavor Profile: Taste and quality are most important! Consider the flavor profiles of different coffee beans and choose ones that align with the preferences of your customers. Before you buy in quantity, samples from various suppliers and conduct taste tests to ensure the beans meet your standards.
  • Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing: Many consumers are increasingly conscious of ethical and sustainable practices, and that includes where they get their coffee. Consider sourcing beans from suppliers who prioritize fair trade, organic farming, and environmentally friendly practices. Communicate and promote this commitment to sustainability to your customers, as it can be a differentiating factor in where they get their daily caffeine.
  • Local or Global Sourcing: Decide whether you want to focus on locally sourced beans or if you are open to sourcing from international suppliers. Local sourcing may appeal to customers who prioritize supporting local businesses. Sourcing from a country known for their quality beans, like Guatemala or Ethiopia, can attract a different audience. This is another area where it's important to understand your customer base.
  • Direct Trade & Relationships: Establishing direct relationships with coffee producers can be beneficial. This allows you to have more control over the quality, support sustainable practices, and potentially even negotiate better prices. Some coffee shops choose to work with importers or specialty coffee brokers who have direct relationships with coffee farmers.
  • Consistency & Reliability: Ensure that your chosen supplier can provide a consistent supply of quality beans to meet your demand. Evaluate the reliability of the supplier in terms of delivery timelines and product consistency. Modern restaurant management software makes it easier to track your inventory and vendor prices to make this process easier.

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

Developing Your Coffee Shop Menu

Crafting your coffee shop menu is a pivotal step that goes beyond mere functionality. A well-thought-out menu not only reflects your restaurant’s distinct brand and culture but also plays a crucial role in driving revenue, a factor that can significantly influence the success or failure of your coffee shop, especially in its initial years. Designing a menu is a deliberate process, requiring careful consideration to effectively communicate your cafe’s vision to your customers.

  • Coffee Varieties: A coffee shop menu should prominently feature various coffee options such as espresso, cappuccino, lattes, and brewed coffee. Highlight the different coffee beans and brewing methods. Many shops also offer a variety of non-caffeinated drinks like teas, lemonade, and boba.
  • Simplicity: Coffee shop menus typically have a more limited selection compared to other restaurants. Keep the menu concise to avoid overwhelming customers. The standard offerings mentioned above and a few speciality drinks are a good place to start.
  • Rotating Specials: Introduce seasonal drinks and treats to keep the menu fresh and appeal to changing preferences. Pumpkin spice is a popular fall option while berries are often associated with the bloom of springtime. Peppermint and gingerbread are typically associated with the holiday season in winter.
  • Dietary Preferences: There's a growing interest among the general public for non-dairy and gluten free options when they dine out, and this includes getting their daily coffee. Accommodate various dietary preferences with alternatives like almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk. If your coffee shop includes baked items, consider adding a gluten-free option.

Whether you’re creating a coffee menu for the first time or amplifying your existing menu, today’s restaurant tech and software can help simplify the process. Using restaurant management software , you can investigate the cost, net profit, and popularity of different items for any date range (e.g. different seasons, days of the week, employee shifts). This data not only helps you improve your inventory practices and ordering frequency, but also experiment with menu changes based on your most popular and profitable items through menu engineering.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is also useful when making menu changes. Tools like ChatGPT allow you to enter a series of prompts in order to develop new menu items from your existing inventory. Looking for ideas for Christmas drinks to add to your menu? Want to add a unique coffee drink that combine chocolate and berries? Generative AI tools are a great way to get some inspiration.

The Ultimate Guide To Recipe Costing & Menu Engineering

Types of coffee businesses.

When it comes to coffee businesses, there’s a diverse range of options to consider. Each type has its unique characteristics and appeals to different target audiences. Let’s explore some popular types of coffee establishments:

Coffee Shops

A traditional, everyday coffee shop provides a cozy atmosphere for customers to enjoy their favorite brews. These establishments obviously offer a variety of coffee options, but also pastries, and light snacks. Creating a welcoming ambiance is key to retaining customers in a competitive market.

A café typically has a broader menu than a coffee shop, sometimes including full meals. Like a coffee shop, they focus on creating a comfortable environment with ample space for customers to relax, work, or socialize.

Many cafés and coffee shops alike host a variety of weekly events in their space like live music, poetry readings, open mic nights, or trivia to attract customers. When deciding on what type of coffee joint you’ll be opening, it’s important consider what type of people will frequent your shop. This can help you not only develop your menu, but also what type of events you might host.

Coffee Bars

For those who prefer a quick coffee fix, a coffee bar might be the perfect choice. Coffee bars emphasize efficiency and speed, catering to busy customers who are looking for a swift caffeine boost. While convenience and quality service are paramount in this setting, a coffee bar may have a more limited menu and a smaller space. Coffee bars can have limited seating or no seating at all, which also simplifies their labor needs.

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

Coffee Stands

Coffee stands, on the other hand, are usually even smaller, more portable setups. They can be standalone structures or carts that are set up in busy areas, such as street corners, markets, or events. Ideal for high-traffic areas, coffee stands are compact and designed for quick service and convenience for on-the-go customers.

If you’re interested in combining the love for coffee with the popularity of bubble tea, a boba shop might be the right fit. Also known as a bubble tea or boba tea shop, these establishments specialize in serving the popular beverage that originated in Taiwan – one that has significantly grown in popularity in cities across the United States over the last several years.

Boba tea typically consists of a base tea, often milk tea, combined with chewy tapioca pearls, fruit flavors, or other add-ins. The drink is known for its unique combination of textures and flavors, with the chewy tapioca pearls adding a delightful contrast to the smooth tea. Many boba shops offer a diverse menu of both their boba drinks, coffees, and other caffeinated beverages that can attract a broad customer base.

Bookstore Cafes

A bookstore cafe is a hybrid establishment that combines the elements of a traditional bookstore with those of a coffee shop. In a bookstore cafe, customers can browse and purchase books while enjoying the ambiance of a cafe setting. These establishments often feature shelves of books, offering a selection for customers to peruse, and they typically provide comfortable seating areas where patrons can relax with a cup of coffee, tea, or other beverages.

The concept of a bookstore cafe is designed to create a cozy and inviting environment that encourages patrons to spend extended periods of time reading, studying, or simply enjoying the atmosphere. The cafe aspect usually offers a menu of coffee and other refreshments, as well as a selection of snacks or light meals. Some bookstore cafes also host literary events, book clubs, or author readings, enhancing the cultural and social aspects of the space.

Coffee Trucks

For a mobile and flexible business model, some caffeine entrepreneurs may consider a coffee truck. These on-the-go establishments are perfect for events, festivals, or catering opportunities. Ensure your truck is equipped with all the essentials to serve quality coffee on the move.

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

While these are all popular business models, there are no steadfast rules for the type of coffee establishment you open. Restauranteurs and entrepreneurs are always exploring new models and putting your own creative spin on your shop is a great way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Whether it’s through the drinks on your menu, the ambiance, or the events you host, explore the many ways to make your establishment unique.

Regardless of the type of establishment you open, your coffee venture requires careful planning, dedication, and a deep understanding of your target audience. By choosing the right type of coffee business and managing your finances wisely, you can develop a successful, profitable operation that keeps your neighborhood energized throughout the day. Remember, success in the coffee industry often boils down to a perfect blend of passion, quality, and customer experience!

Hiring Coffee Shop Staff

Every restaurant business wants reliable, hardworking employees, but when hiring for a coffee shop, there are some additional considerations. Here are some specifics to keep in mind when hiring your coffee shop staff:

  • Customer Service Skills: Exceptional customer service is crucial in any restaurant, but coffee shops, in particular, emphasize a more personal and direct interaction with customers. Look for candidates who can provide a friendly and welcoming experience to patrons.
  • Speed and Efficiency: Coffee shops, especially those located in busy areas, require employees who can work quickly and efficiently. Look for candidates who can handle a fast-paced environment, take accurate orders, and prepare drinks promptly.
  • Knowledge of Specialty Drinks: Coffee shops often feature a variety of specialty drinks beyond the basic espresso and drip coffee. While every employee at your shop wont be a savant, seek employees who at the least have some interest in coffee or an interest in learning. Hire at least a few employees who are familiar with different coffee blends and are knowledgeable about various flavor profiles.
  • Understanding of Coffee Equipment: Espresso machines, grinders, and other specialized coffee equipment are essentials in a coffee shop. Look for candidates with experience or a willingness to learn about operating and maintaining this equipment.

There are no steadfast rules for the type of coffee establishment you open. Restauranteurs and entrepreneurs are always exploring new models and  putting your own creative spin on the coffee world is a great way to differentiate yourself from the competition.  Whether it’s through the drinks on your menu, the ambiance, or the events you host, explore the many ways to make your establishment unique. ”

Choosing Your Coffee Shop POS System

Selecting the right point of sale (POS) system for your coffee shop involves a careful consideration of several key factors. The system’s interface should be user-friendly, allowing baristas and staff to quickly adapt and navigate through its features effortlessly. An intuitive interface contributes to smoother operations and minimizes the learning curve for your team.

Effective order management is another critical aspect. The POS system should facilitate easy customization of orders, accommodating modifications, additions, and special requests. This is particularly important in a coffee shop where customers often have specific preferences and variations in their orders.

Seamless integration with various payment methods is essential in today’s diverse payment landscape. A good POS system should support credit/debit cards, mobile payments, and contactless transactions, ensuring that your coffee shop can cater to customers using their preferred payment methods.

A good POS will also integrate with your restaurant’s accounting and operations platforms .  With this integration, your operations platform can pull detailed data directly from your POS in real-time. The integrated platform automatically inputs daily sales and labor accrual data entries into the accounting general ledger (GL). Detailed POS data integrated with your restaurant operations and accounting drives useful insights in sales reporting, menu engineering, recipe costing, labor details, and enhanced business analytics and reporting.

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

The Role Of Software & Technology

Waking up hours before sunrise and pushing through the morning rush is hard enough. Your coffee shop software shouldn’t make all your other work more difficult. With the right restaurant software, you can integrate every aspect of your operations and all your technologies to streamline your business while getting real-time insight into performance.  

The right software eliminates tedious, time-consuming back-office work across your business. Today’s successful coffee shops big and small use this specialized software to manage many areas of their business. Some of these include store operations (e.g. inventory, vendor purchases), workforce (e.g. payroll, scheduling, hiring), and accounting (e.g. accounts payable, bank reconciliations, cash management).

As with your point of sale, one of the most important things to consider when choosing the tech tools you’ll use is integration. You shouldn’t have to use different systems every day to manage inventory, purchasing, sales, and accounting . And your employees shouldn’t have to use different systems for onboarding, training, and scheduling. Find a system that either has multiple software tools under one roof , or at least one that communicates and integrates well with other software.

Wrapping It Up

Embarking on the journey of opening and running your own coffee shop is about more than just serving coffee; it’s about building a brand, cultivating an atmosphere, and fostering a sense of community. From the early stages of planning to the daily grind of operations, every step is a testament to your dedication and resilience.

Flexibility is key in this entrepreneurial endeavor. Trends may shift, customer preferences evolve, and unforeseen challenges arise. Adapting to these changes with a nimble mindset is crucial for long-term success. Whether it’s experimenting with new blends, introducing innovative menu items, or incorporating feedback from your patrons, staying attuned to the pulse of your community ensures relevance and growth.

May your coffee shop venture be a source of pride, a place of camaraderie, and a lasting contribution to the community you serve. Good luck in the entrepreneurial adventure that awaits!

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How to Create a Coffee Shop Business Plan

Sample plan illustrates the process

  • Section 1: Executive Summary

Section 2: Business/Industry Overview

Section 3: market analysis and the competition, section 4: sales and marketing plan, section 5: ownership and management plan, section 6: operating plan, section 7: financial plan.

  • Section 8: Appendices and Exhibits
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Susan Ward has run an IT consulting firm and designed and presented courses on how to promote small businesses.

A simple coffee shop business plan can help you get your business off the ground by following a standard layout consisting of a single document divided into several sections. Included should be a description of the organization, market research, competitive analysis, sales strategies, capital, and labor requirements and financial data.

Business plans range from a few pages to hundreds of pages long depending on the size and scope of the business. For a relatively small business like a coffee shop, it is best to be succinct and keep the plan to 30 pages or less, especially if you intend to submit it to bankers or investors for debt or equity financing. Potential investors want to see solid research and analysis presented in a concise form.

To give your plan more visual appeal Include photos, designs, or site plans of prospective premises to give your plan more visual appeal. Charts and graphs help illustrate financial information such as revenue projections.

A basic business plan for a coffee shop can be done in eight sections, plus a title page.

Enter your business information starting with the legal name. If you already scouted a likely location or have a website in place, include the addresses. If you have a business logo, add it at the top or bottom of the title page. The title page also should include a table of contents that lists each section and the page number where it begins.

Business Plan

Java Jake's Coffee House

October 15, 2017

2303 Stewart St. East Clovervale 609-458-2020 email: jj@javajakescoffeehouse.com web: javajakescoffeehouse.com

Presented to: "Name" "Company or Financial Institution"

Table of Contents:

1. Executive Summary

2. Business/Industry Overview

3. Market Analysis and the Competition

4. Sales & Marketing Plan

5. Ownership and Management Plan

6. Operating Plan

7. Financial Plan

8. Appendices and Exhibits

Section 1: Executive Summary 

Place the executive summary near the beginning of the plan, but write it last. It should provide a short, concise, and optimistic overview of your business that captures the reader's attention and gives them an interest in learning more about it. The executive summary should be no more than two pages long, with brief summaries of other sections of the plan. 

Java Jake's Coffee House will be the go-to place for coffee lovers. We plan on serving the highest quality coffee and snacks in a trendy, comfortable atmosphere. Our convenient location and excellent customer service should build a steady repeat customer base.

Owners Jack Valdez and partner Juanita Sanchez each have more than a decade in the food service industry, including management experience.

Our main products will be higher margin gourmet coffee products such as espressos, cappuccinos, lattés, and a variety of snacks, including healthy alternatives.

Strategically located within easy walking distance from the technical school, nursing colleges, and a variety of office complexes, we intend to cater to students and young office workers by providing plenty of seating space and superior customer service with a trendy vibe. 

In the immediate area, our competition consists mainly of fast food vendors such as McDonald's and Dunkin. We plan on capturing the upper end of the local coffee market by serving gourmet, nonmachine-made coffee products at reasonable prices. Along with our superior atmosphere and great customer service, we intend to target sophisticated coffee consumers. 

The location we have selected has 2,000 square feet of space, room for an outdoor patio, and requires minimal renovations. The space has been vacant for several months and the owner is motivated and has offered a four-year lease with a fifth year free.

We expect sales revenue to grow from $200,000 in the first year of operations to $250,000 by the end of the third year. To minimize operating expenses, both of the principals will be onsite on a full-time basis to reduce staffing costs, supervise, and maintain quality control. We expect net profits to grow from $50,000 to $100,000 by year three.

$200,000 in startup funding is required for lease costs, renovations, equipment, and furniture. The principals have $100,000 in cash and will obtain the rest from commercial lenders.

Provide an overview of the coffee industry , the local market, and what makes your business unique.  

The Coffee Industry

According to analysis by Pew Research, millennials have overtaken baby boomers as America's largest living generation.   Millennials are more social and mobile than previous generations and prefer to have coffee with friends in trendy, public locations, increasing the popularity of high-end coffee shops. U.S. statistics indicate that:  

  • Gourmet coffee's popularity is increasing across diverse demographics
  • Americans consume more than 600 million cups of coffee per day  
  • Retail sales of coffee exceed $47 billion per year  

Our Position in the Industry

East Clovervale is an affluent area with a high density of students and young professionals, an ideal market for a coffee shop such as Java Jake's Coffee House. People in this area can afford to spend money on specialty coffees and snacks and are willing to do so.

Our market research has shown that seven out of 10 people polled in East Clovervale consume at least three cups of specialty coffee per week. 

The Competition

While there currently are two other coffee shops within the immediate area, neither offer patio seating or substantial parking. One does not offer free wifi.

What Makes Java Jake's Coffee House Unique

Java Jake's Coffee House marketing strategy is to cater to the the young and young at heart with top quality products, great service, and plenty of seating indoors and out. We aim to be the place to meet with friends, relax, and enjoy a great cup of coffee. Ultrafast wifi will enable students and business people to readily communicate and work on school or business activities. 

Demonstrate that you have thoroughly analyzed the target market and that there is enough demand for your products to make your coffee business viable. The competitive analysis includes an assessment of the competition and how your coffee business will compete in the sector.

Given the proximity to schools and office complexes, our primary target market will be students and professional business people. Both groups are heavy consumers of coffee, tea, and snacks. 

Based on our customer surveys, there is a strong demand for a high-end coffee shop in a central location that serves great coffee and has both outdoor seating and available parking. The three most common complaints about the existing competition in the area are:

  • Inconsistent product:  Discerning customers are reluctant to become regular patrons of a coffee shop that cannot consistently serve a high-quality product. 
  • Lack of patio seating:  Many people prefer to consume their food and beverages outdoors on a sunny day.
  • Lack of parking:  The lack of parking makes it difficult to attract vehicle commuters.

The local customer base consists of approximately:

  • 3,000 students from two post-secondary schools
  • 200 school staff
  • 1,000 business people and office workers

Both schools have solid attendance and are expanding their student populations. The local business market is strong and has been relatively unaffected by previous economic downturns.

Compared to our compeition, we expect our revenues to grow strongly as we build our customer base:

Describe how you intend to entice customers to patronize your coffee shop, including advertising, promotion, pricing strategy, sales, and service. 

Our Product Offerings

The existing competition uses lower grade beans, inexpensive equipment, and does not properly train staff — resulting in inconsistent product quality and dissatisfied customers.

At Java Jake's we are passionate about coffee and intend to focus on consistently serving the highest quality product by:

  • Sourcing premium beans and snacks and maintaining freshness at all times.
  • Using a top-of-the line espresso machine and related equipment.
  • Providing baristas with professional training.

By focusing on quality, consistency, and great customer service, we will build a steady repeat customer base.

Pricing Strategy

We intend to focus on specialty coffees including espresso, cappuccinos, mochas, etc. as the profit margins are much higher than regular coffee. To command a higher price for regular coffee, we will not use drip machines. Instead, each cup will be single served using a coffee press so that every cup is up-to-the-minute fresh and delicious. 

Our pricing will be competitive with the higher end of the market. We believe that customers will be happy to pay top prices for a great cup of coffee.

We will be offering counter service in a professionally designed, cozy, inviting interior space. Interior seating will be a mix of smaller individual tables for intimacy, and longer, bench-style ones for larger groups. Exterior seating will consist of weatherproof tables and chairs with available sunshade umbrellas. We intend to be open from 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays, and 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends.

In addition to cash, credit, and debit, we also will be accepting Apple Pay for purchases.

Advertising and Promotion

To minimize costs and connect with our customer demographic, most of our advertising will be of the digital variety. We intend to aggressively promote our products using the following methods:

  • Posters on the local campus billboards
  • Our state-of-the-art website
  • Daily specials announced on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Statistics demonstrate that loyalty cards are highly effective, and Java Jake's will use a custom-designed rewards card to promote repeat business.

Describe the legal structure, ownership, and (if applicable) the management and staffing requirements of your business. 

Ownership Structure

Java Jake's Coffee House is a private corporation registered in the state of Texas. The business is 100% owned by Jack Valdez and Juanita Sanchez:

  • Jack Valdez: 60 Class A Shares
  • Juanita Sanchez: 40 Class A Shares

Owners Jack and Juanita will co-manage the business, and at least one will be present at all times during open hours. Both owners have previous food service management experience and are trained and experienced baristas.

External Resources and Services

Melford's Design Services will be contracted for the interior design of the premises.

Jackson and Jackson will provide accounting services for the business.

Jody's Catering will supply the baked goods.

Outline the physical requirements of your business, such as retail space, equipment, inventory and supply needs, labor, etc. For a business such as a coffee shop that requires custom facilities, supply chains, specialized equipment, and multiple employees, the operating plan needs detail. 

The premises we have chosen are at 2303 Stewart St. The space features:

  • 2,000 square feet of indoor space in a modern, well-maintained building in an excellent location
  • Approximately 500 square feet of outdoor patio space, with lockup racks for bicycles
  • Existing zoning for restaurant usage
  • A four-year lease at $3,500/month with a fifth year free
  • The building owner is responsible for trash collection, recycling, pest control, and security
  • Utilities (water, electricity, gas, internet, phone) are estimated to be $800 per month

The previous tenant was a restaurant, and there are existing kitchen and washroom facilities already in place. The previous tenant has offered to sell used kitchen equipment at heavily discounted prices.

Two full-time and four to six part-time baristas will be hired at industry standard wages. Baristas will be trained at a regional barista training academy. The two full-time employees are previous employees of the owners. The part-time employees will be sourced from the local post-secondary institutions.  

Owners and staff will share all regular duties, including taking orders, making coffee/tea, clearing tables, restocking, dishwashing, maintaining washroom facilities, etc.

To increase employee loyalty, a bonus/profit sharing system will be put in place.  

The following equipment will be purchased:

  • Commercial grade La Marzocco Espresso machine ($25,000)
  • Espresso grinder ($1,500)

We currently are negotiating the purchase of used commercial equipment from the previous tenant, including:

  • Glassdoor fridge ($1,000)
  • Dishwasher ($1,500)
  • Microwave ($700)
  • Misc. shelving, storage bins, etc. ($500)

Maintenance contracts for the equipment will be negotiated with local vendors.

We have negotiated an agreement with Murphy's Coffee Wholesalers to supply premium gourmet Columbian coffee/espresso beans with two-day shipping. Milk, juices, soft drinks, fruit, etc. will be sourced from the local Costco.

Muffins, scones, cookies, yogurt fruit cups, and sandwiches will be supplied on a daily basis by Jody's Catering.

This is the most important section of the business plan, especially if you need debt financing or wish to attract investors. The financial plan has to demonstrate that your  business will grow  and be profitable. To do this you will need to create projected income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets. For a new business, these are forecasts, and a good rule of thumb is to underestimate revenues and overestimate expenses.

Include these financial statements:

  • Income Statements:  These shows your projected revenues, expenses, and profits. Do this on a monthly basis for at least the first year for a startup business.
  • Cash Flow Projections:  These show your monthly anticipated cash revenues and disbursements for expenses. It is important for demonstrating that you can manage your cash flow and will be a good credit risk.
  • Balance Sheet:  This is a snapshot summary of the assets, liabilities, and equity of your business at a particular point in time. For a startup, this would be on the day the business opens. Note that a new business will have no accounts receivable entries on the balance sheet. Note also that the balance sheet is much simpler for unincorporated businesses without employees. Income tax, pensions, medical, etc. are only applicable to incorporated businesses, as are earnings/retained earnings.
  • Breakeven Analysis : Including a breakeven analysis demonstrates to financiers or investors what level of sales you need to achieve to make a profit.

Section 8: Appendices and Exhibits

The appendices and exhibits section contains any detailed information needed to support other sections of the plan.

Possible appendix/xxhibit Items include:

  • Credit histories for the business owners
  • Detailed market research and analysis of competitors
  • Resumes of the owners and key employees
  • Information about your industry
  • Information about your products/services
  • Site/building/office plans
  • Copies of mortgage documents, equipment leases, etc. (or quotes on these)
  • Marketing brochures and other materials
  • References from business colleagues
  • Links to your business website
  • Any other supporting material that may impress potential lenders or investors if you are looking for financing.

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How To Create A Coffee Shop Business Plan: Step By Step

Coffee shop business plan

Opening a coffee shop is both exciting and challenging.

If you want your business to succeed, learning how to write a coffee shop business plan is important .

Coffee shop owners enjoy a great deal of freedom when it comes to the products and services they offer, the decor within the establishment, the people they hire, and many other aspects of the business.

Even small coffee shops can turn a substantial profit. Why?

Well, coffee shops also add value to the surrounding community, giving residents a safe, uplifting place to gather.

However, some coffee shops will fail .. In fact, the U.S. Small Business Administration reports that approximately one-third of small businesses will fail within the first two years.

By the end of five years, half of all small businesses will fail. To give your coffee shop the best chances of success from the first moment the doors open, you need a solid business plan. To create an effective business plan, follow the steps below.

Competition

Company overview, exit strategy, step 1: brainstorming and market research.

Before you begin writing your coffee shop business plan, spend some time learning about business plans in general. Business plans for all types of businesses usually have six different sections: executive summary, opportunity, execution, company and management summary, financial plan, and appendix.

You should have an executive summary at the beginning of your business plan, although it may well be the last part of the plan that you write.

It is also a good idea to spend some time brainstorming basic ideas for your new coffee shop and performing market research. Write down any ideas you have for the business so you can refer to them later. As you research the market, be sure to focus on your specific region for the best results.

If other people will have a stake in the business, consider including these individuals in the process of brainstorming and writing the business plan.

Step 2: Opportunity Section

The next step in completing your business plan involves constructing the opportunity section of the document. This section focuses on defining several key components of your business, including the products you intend to provide, the problems you will solve within the community or market, your target consumer, and your competition.

Identifying Problems And Solutions

Begin this part of the plan by outlining the problem you will solve for consumers and how your solutions will be different from the competition. Some examples of problems a new coffee shop may solve include:

  • Consumers have no access to gourmet coffee within a reasonable driving distance.
  • Consumers lack good places to congregate in town.
  • Consumers have access to inferior coffee and/or bakery options only.
  • The area’s coffee shops have poor service, high prices, or some other characteristic that causes problems for customers .

Now, describe the strategy you will use to solve the problem you have defined.

For example, if you are establishing the town’s first coffee shop, you may be hoping to provide consumers with access to gourmet coffee and bakery products closer to home. On the other hand, if you will be competing with other coffee shops in the area, you may be hoping to provide better quality products, a better atmosphere, and/or better prices.

Target Market

Analysis about the target market

Your business plan’s opportunity section should also define your target market. Although you may be hoping that your new coffee shop will appeal to everyone in the area, you need to narrow down this target market, so you can focus your efforts on the people most likely to frequent your establishment.

For example, your target market may be young adults between the ages of 18 and 35.

Alternatively, you may be looking to advertise as a family-friendly establishment, focusing your efforts on people with children. In some cases, you may define two or more market segments you hope to target.

To complete the opportunity section of your business plan, take some time to research and describe your coffee shop’s competition. Are there other businesses in the area offering the same types of solutions?

Examples may include small coffee shops, as well as chains. If you plan to sell baked goods along with coffee, you may consider local bakeries or counter service restaurants as competition as well.

Step 3: Execution Plan

The execution section of your business plan focuses on the exact strategies and tools you will use to bring your coffee shop vision to life. This section will include information about marketing plans, sales strategies, the specifics of your operations, and your goals and objectives for the business.

This section of your business plan is one of its most important components, as it gets into the details as to how you plan to run your business and achieve success.

Marketing Plan

The purpose of this part of your business plan is to determine how you will reach your target market and draw them into your coffee shop. This plan should include details about the pricing structures you will use for the different products you serve, as well as information about your advertising strategies.

Begin the marketing plan by crafting a position statement. This statement describes how you will present your coffee shop to customers and how you will set yourself apart from the competition.

For example, your position statement may describe your business as a high-end gourmet establishment with quality products that aren’t available anywhere else.

On the other hand, if you are hoping for a more casual coffee shop, your position statement may describe your establishment as low-key and more affordable than other options in the area.

Your marketing plan also must include a pricing structure. As you determine prices for the different products you intend to sell, remember that prices should cover your costs, comply with market rates for the same product, and turn a profit. Your pricing structure will be intricately tied to your positioning statement as well.

Finally, spend time developing a strategy for advertising and promoting your coffee shop to the public.

The operations section of the business plan lays out the details of your business’s day-to-day operations. Having a solid operational strategy will make a significant difference in the efficiency and profitability of your establishment. Subsections that should be covered in this part of the business plan include:

  • Sourcing – Before opening a coffee shop, you will need to find sources for the ingredients in your products, including coffee and any food products you want to serve.
  • Milestones – Your milestones are your planned goals that indicate what you want to accomplish with your coffee shop over time. For example, you may indicate that you want to open by a certain date or serve a specific number of customers within a certain amount of time.
  • Metrics – The metrics section of operations will indicate how you plan to measure your coffee shop’s performance. Examples of metrics include revenue, profit, number of customers served, and number of repeat customers.
  • Assumptions and risks – The assumptions and risks section outlines the factors you assume will support your business, as well as the factors that threaten the success of your business.

Step 4: Company And Management Summary

The company and management summary covers the structure of your business and names the key players. In a smaller coffee shop, this section of the business plan may be relatively short. However, you should still list the people who are invested in the success of the establishment.

Team Overview

The team in charge of your coffee shop may consist of the owner as well as the people you have hired to act as managers. If you have not yet hired anyone to act as a manager, you can list the qualifications you hope to see in prospective managers instead.

In fact, if you haven’t hired anyone yet, constructing this part of the business plan is an exercise that will help you figure out exactly how many people you will need to hire before your coffee house can have its grand opening.

In this section, you can include a mission statement that describes the way you will approach customer service. Ideally, this statement should be only one or two sentences in length.

Your company overview can also include information about the business’s location and its legal structure. If your coffee shop has an interesting backstory, you can include a subsection on company history as well.

This section is optional for many coffee shop businesses, but it is a good opportunity to solidify your business’s identity and purpose. If you are seeking help from investors, including this section in the business plan can improve your chances of success.

Step 5: Financial Planning

people talking about financial plan

The last major part of your coffee shop business plan deals with finances. For many people, this is the most difficult part of the plan to write. However, because it will play an important role in the success of your coffee shop, having a solid financial plan is essential.

In order to construct your financial plan, you need to draft several financial statements. These statements include:

Sales Forecast

The coffee shop’s sales forecast is designed to predict how your sales revenue will look over the first few years of your business. If you don’t have much experience in the coffee business , it may be difficult to guess how much you will expect to sell.

If you are not sure how to begin, you can start with average sales information for other businesses in the area and adjust it based on different factors, such as the fact that your business will be new and won’t have regular clientele immediately.

When constructing your sales forecast, remember to take the direct expenses you will incur to make your sales into account. These expenses, which are also known as the “cost of goods sold,” will include any expenses you incur when creating your menu items.

Examples of direct costs include the cost of ground coffee, syrups, and bakery product ingredients. Do not include expenses that are not directly related to products, such as the cost of business insurance or the wages you pay to employees.

Personnel Plan

The personnel plan you create for your coffee shop will include detailed information about the expenses related to employees. These expenses include the wages you will pay as well as other costs such as insurance and payroll taxes.

Although larger businesses may break this information down based on categories of people, smaller coffee shops will usually list employee costs on an individual basis.

Profit And Loss Statement

Your profit and loss statement is the financial statement that demonstrates whether your business is making a profit. If your business does not make a profit, this statement will demonstrate the size of the loss.

Because you have not yet started operating your coffee shop, all of the information on this sheet will be hypothetical when you create your business plan. However, this statement still has value for planning purposes.

Your profit and loss statement will pull information from the two financial statements you have already created (the sales forecast and personnel plan). It will also incorporate other information that hasn’t been covered yet, such as the other expenses you will incur while running your business. Examples include building rent, utilities, and insurance expenses.

In addition, your profit and loss statement should include a final figure that takes all of your hypothetical revenue and expenses into account and calculates either a profit or a loss.

Specific components of a profit and loss statement include:

  • Income – This will include the estimated amount of money you expect to bring in from coffee sales and any other source.
  • Cost of goods sold – This figure will include the cost of ingredients and other items you must purchase in order to make and serve your coffee, bakery items, and anything else your coffee shop sells.
  • Operating expenses – These expenses are indirect expenses associated with running your coffee shops, such as the cost of insurance, rent, and wages paid to baristas.
  • Gross margin – Your coffee shop’s gross margin can be calculated as the cost of goods sold subtracted from its total sales.
  • Miscellaneous expenses – If you have expenses related to depreciation, taxes, interest, or a similar cost, list them here.
  • Total expenses – This figure is the total of all operating expenses and miscellaneous expenses for your coffee shop.
  • Operating income – The operating income is your coffee shop’s earnings before taxes, interest, and other such expenses have been subtracted. To calculate this figure, start with your sales total and subtract the cost of goods sold and total operating expenses.
  • Net profit or loss – Your net profit or loss is the bottom-line figure that tells the exact amount of profit or loss for your coffee shop.

Balance Sheet

balance sheet

Your coffee shop’s balance sheet is a basic overview of the business’s financial health . This statement will list all of your company’s assets as well as its liabilities. Assets may include a building (if owned) and equipment. Liabilities include any unpaid debts, such as business loans and outstanding employee wages.

Cash Flow Statement

Your business’s cash flow statement is designed to track the flow of cash in and out of your business over time. Most cash flow statements will begin with the amount of cash you currently have on hand. The statement also incorporates anticipated income and expenses.

The coffee shop’s cash flow statement will help you anticipate how your business’s buying power and needs will change over time, so you can make wise financial decisions.

The final section of your financial plan is your exit strategy, which will include details about how you will end your business. If you are just starting out and as such don’t have any plans to sell your business, this section could be omitted or kept very short.

If you decide to include this section, it should describe your ideal situation for leaving the coffee shop business. For example, your exit strategy may involve merging with another coffee shop or chain. Alternatively, you may hope to sell your business to a new owner.

Step 6: Executive Summary

Although the executive summary is usually listed first in a business plan, it is easier to construct this component of the plan after the other sections have been completed. The executive summary section will introduce your coffee shop and provide an overview of the remainder of your plan.

Your executive summary be suitable as a standalone document if necessary. As you construct your executive summary, be sure to include: As you construct your executive summary, be sure to include:

  • The problem your coffee shop solves
  • The way your coffee shop solves the problem
  • The coffee shop’s target market
  • The coffee shop’s competition
  • An overview of your management plans
  • A summary of your finances
  • The milestones you hope to meet

The Final Word On Your Coffee Shop Business Plan

Constructing a detailed, useful coffee shop business plan takes time and research. If you are having trouble getting started, consider reaching out to a professional for help. You may also be able to find a business plan template online to help guide your writing.

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Aisling O'Connor

Aisling is an Irish food and drinks writer and journalist fueled by coffee and herbal tea. She followed up her journalism degree with nutrition studies. Find Aisling on LinkedIn .

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How to Plan a Coffee Shop Business: Effective Strategies for Success

coffee shop owner

Starting a coffee shop business can be an exciting venture for those passionate about creating a unique experience for customers in the bustling world of specialty coffee. As with any business endeavor, careful planning and preparation are essential for success. This article aims to provide helpful insights and guidance on how to plan a coffee shop business that meets your goals and satisfies the needs of your target audience.

A focused understanding of the coffee shop industry, target market identification, and creating a comprehensive business plan serve as crucial foundational steps. Additionally, scouting an ideal location, planning a delightful and diverse menu, designing the layout of your coffee shop, hiring a skilled staff, and implementing effective marketing and operational strategies will all contribute to the overall growth and sustainability of your business.

Key Takeaways

  • A solid foundation, including industry knowledge and a comprehensive business plan, is essential for success.
  • Thoughtfully selecting a location, designing your space, and crafting a menu cater to your target audience.
  • Efficient management of daily operations and marketing strategies contribute to business growth and sustainability.

Understanding the Coffee Shop Industry

The coffee shop industry is a popular and continually growing sector, attracting a wide range of consumers and entrepreneurs. In order to plan a successful coffee shop business, it is crucial to understand the industry and its current market trends, as well as the key players that shape this competitive landscape.

Current Market Trends

In the coffee shop industry, several market trends have emerged in recent years:

  • Consumer Preferences: Nowadays, customers are seeking unique coffee experiences, specialty drinks, and locally sourced beans. Offering a diverse menu and ethically sourced products can help meet these expectations.
  • Healthy Options: As more consumers prioritize their health and wellness, integrating healthy and alternative food options into the menu is becoming increasingly important.
  • Technology and Convenience: Online and mobile orders, along with contactless payment options, are becoming standard features in coffee shops. Utilizing technology to improve the customer experience is essential to remain competitive.
  • Sustainability: Environmentally friendly practices and sustainable sourcing are gaining traction. Implementing eco-friendly methods and materials in your coffee shop will resonate with environmentally-conscious consumers.

Key Players

Understanding the key players in the industry allows new coffee shop owners to identify opportunities for distinguishing themselves from existing competition. Some major players in the coffee shop industry include:

  • Large Chains: Companies such as Starbucks, Costa Coffee, and Dunkin' are leading chains in the industry. These corporations have established strong brand recognition and extensive global footprints.
  • Franchise Models: Java Detour, Caribou Coffee, and The Human Bean are examples of franchises. Franchise opportunities provide prospective business owners with a proven model and support structure.
  • Independent Coffee Shops: Smaller, local, and independent coffee shops enjoy a loyal customer base due to their unique offerings and personal connections to the community. Although they lack the resources and reach of larger corporations, they can differentiate themselves by offering a more intimate and authentic coffee experience.

By examining current market trends and recognizing the key players in the coffee shop industry, aspiring business owners can better position themselves in the market and create a solid foundation for success.

Creating a Business Plan

When planning a coffee shop business, the first step is to create a comprehensive business plan. This document will serve as a roadmap, detailing essential aspects of the business, from the mission statement to financial projections.

Mission Statement

The mission statement outlines the core purpose and vision of the coffee shop. It should be concise and clearly convey what the business stands for and its values. Some aspects to consider when crafting the mission statement include the target market, the unique selling proposition (USP), and the desired customer experience.

Financial Projections

It is crucial to estimate the costs and potential revenues for a coffee shop business. Financial projections should include:

  • Startup costs : These are the initial expenses required to establish the business, such as acquiring equipment, renovation, permits, and initial inventory.
  • Operating costs : These are ongoing expenses such as staff salaries, rent, utilities, and supplies.
  • Sales projections : Estimate expected revenues by forecasting the number of customers, average transaction value, and anticipated growth rate.
  • Break-even analysis : Calculate the point at which revenues equal costs, providing an estimate of when the business will become profitable.

When creating financial projections, it is essential to be realistic and conservative in assumptions, ensuring that the business can withstand variations in the market and unforeseen challenges.

In summary, a well-organized and comprehensive business plan will provide a solid foundation for building a successful coffee shop. By defining the mission statement and preparing realistic financial projections, entrepreneurs can set clear goals and better anticipate future challenges and opportunities.

Identifying Target Audience

When planning a coffee shop business, it's essential to recognize the target audience. An optimal understanding of the target audience enables the development of marketing and product strategies that cater to the customers' preferences. In this section, we will be discussing the significance of demographic research and customer preferences when identifying the target audience.

Demographic Research

Conducting demographic research ensures a deeper understanding of the potential customer base. These demographics include things like age, gender, income, and occupation. Demographic patterns may help you discover potential customer base pockets in your proposed location.

To conduct demographic research:

  • Evaluate the population density and types present in the area where the coffee shop will be located
  • Identify your target customer's age bracket, and gender preferences
  • Look into income levels and occupation trends

Armed with this demographic information, you can craft marketing and product strategies tailored to your target audience.

Customer Preferences

Understanding customer preferences is equally crucial for setting up a successful coffee shop. Gather information on the types of drinks, food items, and atmospheres customers in your target market prefer.

Some key factors to consider when determining customer preferences:

  • Preferred types of coffee drinks (espresso, cappuccino, drip coffee, etc.)
  • Popular food offerings (pastries, sandwiches, salads, etc.)
  • Atmosphere preferences (quiet and cozy, modern and minimalist, or lively and energetic)
  • Interest in additional services (free Wi-Fi, loyalty programs, live music, etc.)

Analyzing demographic research and customer preferences ensures that you create a coffee shop tailored to satisfy your target audience's wants and needs. By doing so, you'll increase the likelihood of establishing a loyal customer base and reaching your business milestones.

Scouting Location

When planning a coffee shop business, finding the perfect location is essential for success. The right location can help bring in more customers and build a more profitable business. This section will discuss the importance of demographics and accessibility when selecting a location for a coffee shop.

Demographics Influence on Location

Understanding the demographics of an area plays a crucial role in determining the success of a coffee shop. Identify your target market, such as young professionals, students, or families, and make sure the neighborhood can cater to their needs. Find a location with your target audience already present, making it more likely your coffee shop will not only appeal to them but also develop a loyal customer base.

  • Students : Look for locations near universities, colleges, or academic institutions.
  • Young professionals : Stay near office areas, business parks, or city centers with a high concentration of companies.
  • Families : Target residential neighborhoods with schools, parks, and community centers nearby.

Accessibility

Another crucial aspect to consider when choosing a location is accessibility. Your coffee shop should be easily reachable, either by foot, car, or public transportation. A visible and easy-to-find location will draw in more customers on their way to work, school, or shopping.

Some key factors to assess when evaluating accessibility include:

  • Foot traffic : Select a location on a busy street or near popular landmarks, attracting customers passing by.
  • Parking : If many customers are likely to drive, make sure there's sufficient parking nearby or consider a location with onsite parking.
  • Public transportation : Proximity to bus, tram, or train stations can significantly increase foot traffic.

Selecting the right location for a coffee shop business is a significant step in ensuring business success. Pay attention to demographics and accessibility to improve your possibilities of becoming the go-to coffee shop in your neighborhood.

Menu Planning

When planning a coffee shop business, it is crucial to develop a well-rounded menu that will appeal to a wide range of customers.

Beverage Selection

Begin by selecting a range of core coffee offerings, including espresso-based drinks, such as lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos, as well as drip coffee. Keep in mind that offering a variety of brewing methods, such as pour-over and French press, can elevate the perceived quality of your coffee shop. Don't forget to include non-coffee options like tea, hot chocolate, and specialty drinks like chai lattes for customers who may not be coffee drinkers. Additionally, offering a mix of dairy and non-dairy milk alternatives will cater to a wider audience.

Here's an example of a basic coffee shop beverage menu:

Espresso-Based Drinks

Non-Espresso Beverages

  • Drip Coffee
  • Pour-Over Coffee
  • French Press Coffee
  • Hot Chocolate

Food Pairings

Complement your beverage offerings with a selection of pastries and snacks that enhance the overall customer experience. Popular coffee shop accompaniments include:

  • Danish pastries

Savory Items

For each item, consider offering a mix of classic and unique flavor options to create a memorable menu. Additionally, including a variety of options that cater to dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options, will ensure you serve a diverse clientele. Developing a menu that intuitively pairs well with your coffee and other beverage offerings will contribute to the overall appeal and success of your coffee shop.

Designing Your Coffee Shop

Interior design.

When planning the interior design of your coffee shop, it's crucial to consider both aesthetics and functionality. You'll want to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for customers while ensuring an efficient work environment for your staff.

  • Color scheme: Choose a color palette that aligns with your brand identity and feels inviting. You can use neutral tones for a cozy feel or bolder colors to make a statement.
  • Seating: Provide a variety of seating options, such as chairs, booths, or bar stools, to accommodate different customer preferences. Ensure that your seating layout allows for easy movement between tables and conforms to local regulations for accessibility.
  • Lighting: Implement a mix of natural and artificial lighting sources, prioritizing energy efficiency and creating an ambiance that matches your brand image. For example, pendant lights or chandeliers can add style while providing adequate illumination.

Outdoor Setup

If your location permits, setting up an outdoor seating area can increase your coffee shop's appeal and capacity. However, you must consider the following aspects:

  • Space allocation: Assess the available outdoor space and determine the appropriate seating arrangement. Ensure you have enough room for walkways, accessibility, and compliance with local regulations.
  • Weather protection: Invest in pergolas, umbrellas, or awnings to provide shade and shelter from the elements. This will ensure comfort for your customers and prolong the life of your outdoor furniture.
  • Furniture: Select durable and attractive outdoor furniture that complements your interior design. Materials such as aluminum or synthetic wicker are able to withstand varying weather conditions while maintaining their appearance.

Remember, the design of your coffee shop should reflect your brand while providing a pleasant and efficient environment for both your customers and your team. By considering these design aspects, you can create a space that encourages customers to return and bring others with them.

Hiring Staff

Training programs.

When starting a coffee shop business, it's crucial to establish effective training programs for your staff. This includes training on coffee brewing techniques, food handling, equipment usage, and safety procedures. By providing comprehensive training, you ensure that your employees are well-prepared to serve customers with high-quality products and services.

Consider implementing the following elements in your training programs:

  • Hands-on training : Allow employees to practice their skills under the supervision of experienced staff members.
  • Training videos : Create informative and engaging videos to teach important concepts and procedures.
  • Regular evaluations : Assess the progress and competency of your staff on a consistent basis, providing feedback and additional guidance when needed.

Customer Service Expectations

Set clear customer service expectations for your employees to maintain a high level of satisfaction among your patrons. Your staff should be knowledgeable about the products offered and able to assist customers in making informed decisions. Additionally, they should remain friendly, welcoming, and attentive to the needs of your clientele.

To uphold customer service expectations, implement the following strategies:

  • Role-playing exercises : Encourage employees to practice handling various customer interactions, including addressing complaints and special requests.
  • Emphasize communication : Strengthen your team's communication skills through regular team meetings and open discussions.
  • Reward exceptional service : Acknowledge and reward employees who consistently provide exceptional customer service, fostering a positive work environment and setting a high standard for all staff members.

Marketing and Promotion

A well-planned marketing and promotion strategy is essential for a successful coffee shop business. It helps to increase brand awareness, drive foot traffic, and build a loyal customer base.

Social Media Marketing

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer an effective way to promote a coffee shop. By creating engaging content and regularly updating the business's social media profiles, owners can connect with their target audience and showcase what sets their coffee shop apart from competitors:

  • Visual content : Share high-quality images and videos of coffee drinks, food items, and the shop's ambiance to entice potential customers.
  • Special offers : Attract new and returning customers by promoting discounts, deals, or happy hour specials.
  • Events : Announce upcoming events, such as live music performances, art exhibitions, or themed nights.
  • Customer interaction : Engage with customers by responding to comments, questions, and reviews on social media platforms.

Local Partnerships

Forming local partnerships can be a mutually beneficial way to increase the coffee shop's visibility and strengthen its ties to the community:

  • Collaborations with other businesses : Partner with nearby businesses, such as bakeries, bookstores, or coworking spaces, for cross-promotion or sharing resources. For example, sell pastries from a local bakery or display and sell books from a local bookstore.
  • Community involvement : Sponsor events or participate in local initiatives, like charity fundraisers, cultural festivals, or neighborhood clean-ups. This can improve the coffee shop's reputation and help to attract socially-conscious customers.
  • Local suppliers : Source coffee beans, ingredients, or merchandise from local suppliers to support the local economy and create a unique selling point for the coffee shop.

By combining both social media marketing and local partnerships, coffee shop owners can create a comprehensive marketing and promotion plan that boosts their business's visibility and builds genuine connections with customers and the community.

Managing Operations

Managing operations is a crucial aspect of running a successful coffee shop. In this section, we will discuss two important sub-sections: Supply Chain Management and Quality Control.

Supply Chain Management

Effective management of the supply chain is necessary to ensure a steady flow of inventory and maintain cost efficiency. Here are a few essential aspects of coffee shop supply chain management:

  • Supplier selection: Identify the right suppliers for your coffee shop, considering factors like quality, price, reliability, and delivery times.
  • Inventory management: Maintain an optimal level of inventory by establishing reliable systems to track usage and reorder supplies as needed.
  • Cost control: Regularly review the cost of goods and negotiate pricing with suppliers to maintain profit margins.

Quality Control

Quality control is paramount in a coffee shop business, as it directly impacts customer satisfaction and repeat business. Here are some key areas to address:

  • Regular tasting: Schedule routine tastings with your employees to ensure all coffee products meet the desired taste and quality standards.
  • Training: Invest in employee training and skill development to ensure consistent preparation and presentation of menu items.
  • Equipment maintenance: Regularly maintain and service coffee machines and other equipment to avoid malfunction and ensure consistent product quality.

In summary, effectively managing operations is essential for the growth and success of any coffee shop business. Prioritize supply chain management and quality control to ensure a seamless customer experience and maintain a healthy bottom line.

Frequently Asked Questions

What equipment is essential for starting a coffee shop.

Starting a coffee shop requires various essential equipment to ensure efficient operations and high-quality drinks. Key items include commercial espresso machines, coffee grinders, brewing equipment like pour-over stands and drip coffee makers, refrigeration units, and display cases. Additionally, sinks, ice machines, blenders, and hot water dispensers are crucial for offering a diverse menu. Upgrade your coffee shop or restaurant today by investing in high-quality machines to serve delicious cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites.

How to choose the perfect name for a coffee shop?

Choosing the perfect name for a coffee shop involves understanding your target audience, incorporating your shop's identity and theme, and considering wordplay or puns. Research your competition and brainstorm names that represent your coffee shop experience, menu offerings, and location. Once you have a list, test your options among potential customers and seek feedback to make an informed decision.

Which licenses and permits are required to open a coffee shop?

Licenses and permits can vary based on location, but generally, the following are required to open a coffee shop: a business license, food service license, health department permit, building and zoning permits, fire department permits, and signage permits. Some areas may also require additional permits for outdoor seating, music, or alcohol sales. It's crucial to research local regulations to ensure compliance before opening.

What are the key steps in an opening a cafe checklist?

A cafe opening checklist should include the following key steps: creating a business plan, securing funding, finding the ideal location, obtaining necessary licenses and permits, negotiating a lease agreement, selecting and purchasing high-quality equipment, designing your cafe layout, hiring and training staff, establishing supplier relationships, and conducting marketing campaigns to attract customers.

What factors make a coffee shop a profitable business?

A profitable coffee shop focuses on providing top-notch customer service, offering a diverse and high-quality menu, maintaining a unique and inviting atmosphere, and optimizing operational efficiency. Factors contributing to coffee shop profitability include location, strong brand identity, cost management, efficient workforce management, and local market conditions.

What are some unique and innovative coffee shop business ideas?

Unique and innovative coffee shop business ideas include offering specialty and single-origin coffees, incorporating sustainability and green practices, integrating technology like touchless ordering systems, hosting community events and workshops, and providing a shared workspace for freelancers and professionals. Menu innovations like gourmet food offerings, signature cold brew concoctions, and non-dairy milk alternatives can also set your coffee shop apart.

Tony Barlow

Tony Barlow

Tony Barlow, with over a decade of experience in the coffee industry, is the go-to technical sales expert at Majesty Coffee. He's passionate about helping businesses find the right espresso equipment for their needs.

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Of course you have to change the rubber rings on group heads and also the mesh - but you also can clean the mesh to a like new condition - that is up to you. Rubber rings are about $12.00 to replace. So as you can see this machine is not so high costs in maintenance due to being very simple. Yet it is a work horse.

This is the second espresso machine that I have bought from Majesty coffee, and they are great! I will never use another equipment supplier!

We have hoped to replace our aging La Pavoni lever, but there were supply issues, and the Majesty sales rep recommended this machine. For us it was a major improvement in espresso quality, and we would certainly recommend the machine. Others with a lever maching might find the reasons useful:

1. The biggest effect is that this machine has precision temperature control via a PID - that dramatically improved quality vs a lever machine where the water is always very hot.

2. Pressure can be precisely controlled (in the Pavoni one has to take the bottom off the machine, and the adjustment is much cruder).

3. There is timer so shot amounts can be precisely timed.

4. To get steam one has to turn up the temperature which can take a bit of time, but we found that doing coffee and then the steam is pretty efficient. The insulated steam wand is really nice - easy to clean. On the Pavoni one needs to scrape of the milk that scales up the wand due to the heat.

5. A nice thing about the Pavoni is that it is easy to fix. Since the quick mill is mainly manual, there number parts is less than an automatic double boiler, so we expect it to be reliable. Parts seem easily available, so for a DIY person it should be self maintainable. The E61 group head is not only nicer, but also parts are widely available.

In conclusion, we are very happy with the move from a La Pavoni lever to the QM Alexia Evo. Time will tell re reliability. and we will report back if there is news on that front.

Great tasting coffee! Absolutely going to order more

Great espresso machine! Very quick and efficient delivery.

I needed the grinder for my bar in a fixed date, I was not sure it would arrive on time so I contacted the Majesty team and they made everything in their power to fulfill the order! I got a shipping label next day, they truly went above and beyond plus the prices were lower due to their sales and coupons. The grinder was new and well packaged. Will definitely buy again from them! Thanks guys!!

The customer service was excellent and my order shipped very quickly. Very satisfied customer

Excellent purchase. Arrived in timely manner and makes excellent expresso and Americano. Enjoying exploring and experimenting. Upgraded from my old DeLongi LasSpecialista.

After some practice I really like this! I could get addicted and it’s fun! Buy a good grinder!!!

Put this thing to work in our cafe, saves us a ton of waste and time. I can't recommend this enough. Very little retention, very little mess and very easy to clean and use. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

Mahlkonig E65S Espresso Grinder

Mahlkonig E80 Supreme On-Demand Espresso Grinder

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How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan + Free Template

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You are a smart entrepreneur. You don’t jump right in and open a coffee shop just because you decoded the secret of making perfect cups of steaming delicious coffee.

Instead, you wait and plan to write a unique business plan that resonates with your coffee shop’s concept.

But hey, writing a business plan is actually complex. Without any structural format or direction, you may end up making a hotchpotch of your business idea.

To ensure that your business concept translates properly into a plan, we created this step-by-step guide that will prompt you to write an insightful coffee shop business plan in great detail.

Also, get a free coffee shop business plan template that has all the relevant examples for you to get started.

So get yourself a cup of coffee and decode the secrets of writing a stellar plan in easy steps.

Let’s get started.

Key Takeaways

  • Craft a compelling executive summary for your coffee shop business plan. Add key details regarding financials, marketing, business objectives, and operations to help investors evaluate your business idea.
  • Conduct thorough research on the coffee shop market by analyzing the key trends, consumer preferences, and needs of your target market.
  • Streamline your coffee shop operations with a detailed plan outlining the standard operating procedures of your key business processes.
  • Ensure the compliance of business by acquiring essential licenses and permits.
  • Design a brief sales and marketing plan to ensure that the coffee business reaches its target customer and starts making sales.
  • Identify your unique selling proposition and determine your competitive edge in the market.
  • Using SWOT analysis, analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your competitors and your own business.
  • Create a sample menu and determine your menu offerings by considering varying different aspects.

Why Prepare a Coffee Shop Business Plan?

A lot of variables play together to write the success story of your coffee business.

From choosing a shop location to remodeling it as per your unique concept, hiring staff, determining sales strategy, acquiring licenses and insurance, and planning operations-you need to undertake multiple activities, consecutively at a time, to start and run a coffee business.

A business plan will guide you like a map in the right direction. It will ensure that all the business objectives are achieved without breaking a compliance code.

It forces you to assess the viability of a coffee shop idea before you invest the money in it. You can strategically plan the coffee shop’s success by making detailed financial projections relating to the company’s sales, revenue, costs, and expected expenses, and cash flow.

And most important of all, a business plan will help you acquire the required funds by winning the trust of potential investors.

How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan: A Complete Guide

Let’s walk through the process of writing a coffee shop business plan with detailed step-by-step instructions.

1. Get a business plan template

Writing a business plan from scratch is pretty exhausting. You are likely to leave behind an important detail without any structural format.

So do yourself a favor and get a business plan template. Trust us, it’s going to make your plan writing process so much simpler.

A template helps bring clarity and focus to different sections of the plan by prompting you in specific directions. Moreover, the templates contain examples and tips specific to coffee shops making it extremely relevant for your business.

Looking for a well-structured and modern business plan template?

Well, we knew you would. Presenting the Upmetrics business plan template that can be easily customized for your unique coffee shop business. Simply download our template and modify it as per your business concept.

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

Need Assistance Writing a Coffee Business Plan?

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2. Write an executive summary

An executive summary is like a north star of your business plan. It will act as a guiding light for stakeholders to understand your journey ahead.

Investors will read the executive summary of your coffee shop business plan before even allowing you a presentation.  So definitely it needs to be compelling and converting.

Keep your executive summary concise but detailed enough that it summarizes the key points of your entire plan. Include the problems you would be solving and the solutions you have to offer. Adapt a storytelling tone and focus on highlighting the business goals, financials, objectives, and overall business strategy.

Now, move ahead and visit this part when you are done writing for the entire plan. Summarizing becomes much easier and more effective when you are aware of the entire plan’s details.

Also, two pages are more than enough for writing a capturing executive summary.

3. Conduct a competitive and market analysis

Build a strong foundation for your coffee business by diving deep into the market research of the coffee industry, competitors, target audience, market trends, and your attainable target market.

Analyze the coffee shop industry from a macro viewpoint and then gradually narrow it down to your particular market. For instance, the revenue in the US coffee market size was $85.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow by 3.21% between 2023-2028.

Now, identify your targeted available market (TAM) from this and analyze the growth potential of your particular coffee shop. Overall, try to show that the coffee shop business has a thriving opportunity to grow in the market.

The market analysis for a coffee shop business must include the study of the following:

Customer analysis

Customer analysis is essential to identify your target customers. Having a thorough understanding of your target market will help formulate the business and market strategies appropriate for your business.

Create the buyer persona of your ideal customer. Focus on these details to outline your ideal customer:

  • Customer demographics: Age, gender, location, income, occupation, and ethnicity of the customers who will visit your coffee shop.
  • Customer psychographics: Beliefs and values of your ideal customer, their interests, spending pattern, and their media consumption.

For instance, the ideal customer for Steamy Sips is 23-38 years old and works in a corporation. He/ She likes to spend money on coffee regularly and prefers fresh roasted seasonal brews, is socializing, and loves working in a cafe remotely.

Competitors analysis

After determining your target market, look around and identify your potential competitors.

Begin by identifying the top competitors of your coffee shop. This can be neighboring coffee shops, kiosks, or coffee karts that offer similar services to your business.

Now conduct a SWOT analysis of these coffee shops by analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Also, analyze your strengths against competitors and highlight your competitive edge in the market. Be realistic with your assessment as this will form the foundation of your related business policies.

Lastly, identify if there are any stellar opportunities for you to leverage in this market.

SWOT analysis of a coffee shop business

Collect data from highly authoritative websites, data publications, and local studies specialized in the coffee industry. For instance, SBA , SCA coffee , Mintel , Business Wire , COFFEEBI , etc.

This section is your chance to prove to the potential investors that you are aware of the market challenges and there exist favorable chances for your coffee shop to thrive and grow.

4. Prepare a company overview

Just like the executive summary of your coffee shop business plan, this section includes a brief business description of your coffee shop. It offers readers a peek into your business structure, goals, mission, and company values.

Depending on your market analyses choose the type and structure of your business concept. Clearly describe whether you will start a cafe or coffee shop, coffee kart, coffee bar, or coffee house and whether the business structure will be LLC, partnership, or sole proprietorship.

Further include your mission statement, coffee shop objectives, and goals to complete the company overview section.

Mission statement: A mission statement highlights the purpose of your coffee shop’s existence and its long-term objective.

  • For instance, Steaming Sips’ mission is to cultivate a culture of freshly roasted coffee, serving a welcoming space for young individuals to connect, create, and unwind with every cup of our brews.

Coffee shop objectives: In this part, highlight your business objectives in terms of milestones, growth goals, revenue goals, sales numbers, etc.

  • For instance, Steaming Sips aims to open 3 branches across San Fransisco by the end of 2025.

5. Present your sample menu

The market research earlier helped you understand your potential audience in great detail. Now, it’s time to decide what to offer on your menu.

A sample menu is an important component of your coffee shop business plan. With a menu, investors will know what exactly you will be serving and what makes you different.

A coffee shop can stand apart selling just coffee drinks. However, there are many coffee shops that sell coffee and food products together. Depending on your coffee shop concept and the target market, decide the menu items.

Here are a few things to consider while making your menu and establishing yourself as a specialty coffee shop.

  • Different types of coffee drinks that suit your customer’s taste. For ex. filtered coffee, frappuccino, brewed coffee, hot coffee, etc.
  • The type of coffee beans to produce high-quality coffee, e.g. organic coffee beans.
  • Different types of coffee roasts, e.g. dark roast, medium roast, light roast.
  • Different types of milk, e.g. plant-based milk options and dairy milk.
  • Seasonal coffee specialties.

Strategically place the items in your menu and add the prices alongside. Incorporate branding elements of your coffee shop in the menu as well.

6. Coffee shop design and layout

Till now, the coffee shop idea was just a business concept, jumbled randomly across your mind. Writing a business plan will help you to sort those ideas, one section at a time.

The design and layout section helps potential investors visualize the appearance of your coffee shop. It is your chance to help them understand your coffee shop concept and the aspects that set you apart from other coffee shops.

Begin by highlighting your coffee shop location in this section. Briefly explain how the location is suitable for your potential customers.

Also, present the moodboard of your coffee shop and highlight the branding and visual elements of its design.

Overall, explain how you will create a welcoming atmosphere for your customers by incorporating design and decor elements in your shop.

location of coffee shop business

7. Prepare a coffee shop marketing plan

Now that you have the concept, design, and menu for a coffee shop, it’s time to work on its marketing plan. The coffee market is intensely competitive and only a solid marketing action plan can differentiate your business from other coffee shops.

Using your market research, identify the best marketing strategy for your business. Ideally, coffee shops build a cohesive brand image using a mix of digital marketing practices.

For instance, a website can be used to build a robust web image, while social media can be used to connect with your target audience organically. Similarly, your coffee shop emails can focus on special offers and promotional invites while paid ads can help you target the wider audience.

In this section, you also highlight various promotional activities for your cafe such as karaoke evenings, art workshops, musical nights, happy coffee hours, etc.

Overall a comprehensive marketing plan must answer the following questions:

  • How will you draw coffee enthusiasts to your coffee shop?
  • What will be the pricing strategy of your coffee shop?
  • What will be your marketing budget?
  • What marketing channels will you use and who will undertake the marketing activities?
  • Will there be any promotional events at the cafe? If so, what type of events?

marketing strategy for coffee shop business

8. Introduce your management team

In this section, you will introduce the management team that will ensure the smooth functioning of your coffee shop business.

Begin by introducing the coffee shop owners and their relevant experience in the coffee market. Also, clarify if you will work both as owner and manager or hire a coffee shop manager to look after the day-to-day operations.

If you are going to hire a manager, introduce them and their key responsibilities in the section. Offer a brief description of their skills, experience, and expertise that can help your coffee shop business.

Overall, this section shows the potential investors that you have all the right people in a team to drive your coffee shop toward success.

9. Outline your operational plan

This section of a coffee plan offers brief details of everyday business processes that will guide you to build and run a successful coffee shop.

An operations plan includes a lot of details, answering some of these prominent questions.

  • Inventory and stock management: How will you manage and track the inventory? Who will be responsible for stock management? How often would you restock the inventory?
  • Production: Who will develop the recipes for coffee beverages? Will there be recipe cost cards for coffee preparation? Will there be kitchen staff working with food orders or will you outsource that?
  • Coffee shop equipment: What equipment will you buy for the coffee shop, i.e. espresso machine, coffee grinders, etc? Will that be a new purchase or a second-hand one? How much will the equipment cost?
  • Management: Who will serve the food and coffee in the shop? Who will look after customer complaints? What is the conflict resolution system at your coffee shop?
  • Technology: What technologies will you use at your coffee shop? Which payment and POS system will you use? Will there be an ordering kiosk?

A well-planned operations plan demonstrates your ability to run a coffee shop to your readers. So keep it detailed and revamp it as and when needed.

10. Create a Financial Plan

A financial plan helps assess the viability of your business idea by evaluating its financial aspects. It’s an important part of your coffee shop business plan whether you want to seek funding or not.

A well-built financial plan is presented in numbers, graphs, and charts and includes the following:

  • Evaluation of startup costs: Identify the startup costs of your proposed coffee shop. Take into account the costs for lease rental, licenses, equipment, remodeling as well as operating expenses for the first few months.
  • Sales forecasts and pricing: Determine the drink sales for your coffee shop and your pricing structure by conducting market research.
  • Operating costs: Your financial projections should include a thorough calculation of operating expenses to run a coffee shop business.
  • Balance sheet: A balance sheet will help investors assess your assets and liabilities and the liquidity of your business.
  • Cash flow statement: Make cash flow projections and demonstrate the inward and outward flow of money in the business.
  • Income statement: The figures in this sheet help evaluate the profitability of your business
  • Break-even analysis: The calculations here will help determine the sales level after which your coffee shop will start making a profit.

Now, making all these financial projections and calculations is a bit taxing. Not only that, you will have to create visual reports to make the financial section appealing and insightful.

Well, let’s make things easier with our financial forecasting tool. Simply enter your assumptions in a tab and our tool will generate important key reports for your business.

Don’t stress. You don’t need to worry about the visual reports anymore. Go, check your dashboard. You will have all the visual reports ready to be added to your financial plan.

coffee shop business profit breakdown

And that’s your detailed guide to writing your coffee shop business plan. Now, let’s check the latest industry trends ruling the coffee shop market. 

Coffee Shop Industry Highlights 2023

Let’s dive further deep into market analysis with these latest industry trends in the coffee shop market:

  • Coffee shop industry: The US coffee shop industry grew from $36 billion to 45.8 billion dollars between 2020-2022.
  • Number of coffee shops: According to Statista , in 2022 there were a total of 38.4 thousand coffee shops in the US.
  • Coffee drinkers: A performed market research indicates that the top coffee consumers aren’t youngsters, but seniors. Nearly, 70% of seniors consume coffee regularly.
  • Employment growth rate: The total number of people employees in the coffee shop industry in th US increased on average by 4.9% between 2018-2023.
  • Specialty coffee market: According to Grandview research , the US specialty coffee market is expected to grow at 10.9% CAGR between 2023-2030.
  • Price per cup: According to Business Insider , the average price per coffee cup in the coffee shop is almost $5, making it an affordable luxury for people.

Related Coffee Shop Resources

  • Coffee Shop Operational Plan
  • Coffee Shop Financial Plan
  • Coffee Shop Marketing Plan
  • Latest Coffee Shop Business Trends

Download a sample coffee shop business plan

Need help writing your business plan? Let’s ease your plan writing process with our coffee shop business plan pdf. Download it for free and customize it as per your needs.

This modern intuitive template offers a step-by-step guide that will help you write a comprehensive and actionable business plan. It’s designed specifically for coffee shop businesses and includes examples relevant to your industry.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

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Write your business plan with Upmetrics

Enhance the quality of your business planning with Upmetrics. With more than 400+ customizable sample business plans , it offers features like AI assistance to write an impactful business plan.

Whether you are starting your own coffee shop or taking over an existing coffee business, Upmetrics’ insightful guides and resources will help you craft a compelling business plan in easy steps.

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Frequently asked questions, what are the key components of a successful coffee shop business plan.

The key elements of a coffee shop business plan are

  • Executive summary
  • Business overview
  • Coffee industry and market analysis
  • Sample menu
  • Coffee shop design and layout
  • Marketing and sales plan
  • Key management team
  • Operations plan
  • Financial plan

Should we consider franchising our coffee shop?

Yes, you can. Franchising is a proven way of increasing the reach and profitability of your coffee business. Moreover, it’s easy to scale your business through a franchise business model.

What is a traditional business plan for a coffee shop?

A traditional plan is very similar to modern business plans. It includes a summary of the company’s goals, objectives, business values, marketing objectives, and financial plan. The modern plans, however, are intuitively designed to be more suited to investors interest.

Do I need a business plan to secure funding for my coffee shop?

Yes. Investors and investing firms will ask for a business plan before giving you a chance to present the coffee shop concept. By studying your plan, they will gauge the viability of your coffee business, and depending on the analysis they will decide whether to invest or not.

What should I include in the financial projections section of my business plan?

The financial projections of your coffee shop plan must include the following:

  • Sales forecast
  • Startup cost estimates
  • Operating costs
  • Balance sheet
  • Income statement
  • Cash flow statement
  • Break-even analysis

About the Author

how to create a business plan for coffee shop

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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How to Create a Coffee Shop Business Plan

by I.J. Karam | Jan 1, 2024 | Business Plans

How to create a coffee shop business plan

If you’re planning to open a coffee shop, the first thing you must do is create a coffee shop business plan.

Why? You might ask.

A good coffee shop business plan is an essential tool for would-be café owners.

It can help you get your business off the ground and serve as a roadmap for your new F&B business adventure. It will help you create your strategy for success and act as a guide you can refer to as you build your coffee shop business.

Before we get started, you might be interested to check out our  Ready-made Coffee Shop Business Plan Template  with pre-written text and automatic financials which you can easily customize and adapt to your own project, no financial expertise required .

What is a coffee shop business plan?

A good coffee shop business plan is one that explains your business idea and strategy to your potential investors. It answers questions such as how much money it will cost to open a café and how much money you will make. The plan must include information regarding your pricing structure, target market, and competitors.

As you can see, a coffee shop business plan is a crucial business document. Therefore, put some time and effort in creating one. That being said, writing a café business plan is easier than many might think—and we’ll show you how to get it right.

How long your coffee shop business plan should be?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The length of a business plan depends on the scope and size of the business.

A business plan can be just a few pages long or it can go up to hundreds of pages. There’s no prescribed length as such.

That said, for a small business such as a coffee shop, the best strategy would be to keep the plan simple and succinct, particularly if are submitting it to investors or bankers. So, aim for 30 pages, give or take.

To give the plan a better visual appeal, consider adding designs, photos, charts, and graphs.

Coffee Shop Business Plan and Financials Download

How many sections should a café business plan have?

For a basic coffee shop business plan, seven main sections, plus a title page, should suffice.

First let’s look at what kind of information the title page must have, and then we’ll check out each individual business plan section.

The title page should begin with the legal name of your business and have other relevant business information. If you have a website in place and/or already scouted a potential location, include those also. Put the business logo (if you have one) at the top of the title page.

Also, add a table of contents, listing the name of each section and the page number where it can be found.

Section 1 – Executive Summary

You should start your business plan with an executive summary, but write it last.

A good executive summary provides investors with a short, precise, and optimistic overview of your coffee shop business plan and aptly captures the reader’s attention.  

So how long an executive summary should be?

Most experts agree it shouldn’t be more than one or two pages long. Also, it should include brief summaries of other sections of your business plan.

Here’s a sample.

Business Name: SM Café

Executive Summary

SM Café will be the go-to destination for all coffee lovers in the area. We’ll serve high-margin gourmet coffee beverages like cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos. We also plan to sell snacks and pastries to take away, as well as to eat in. Our shop will have a seating capacity of 30 customers.

Although there are two other cafes in the area, there is a significant demand for more coffee shops—particularly ones that serve high-quality products. In addition to gourmet coffee products and snacks, we’ll be offering light-lunch menu to set us apart from our competitors, both of which only serve regular coffee products.

Since we are to be located on a busy street, within walking distance from the city center, we expect a lot of customers from passerby.

We plan to capture the upper end of the coffee market by offering non-machine, gourmet coffee products at reasonable rates.

We expect sales revenue to jump from $100,000 in the first year to $150,000 by year three. We expect the net profit to grow from $20,000 to $50,000 by the third year.

We require $100,000 to cover lease costs, equipment, furniture, and renovations. The owners—Josiane Leniz and Jose Samalago—have $25,000 in cash and the rest is planned to be raised from private investors.

Section 2 – Company Overview

This section must provide readers with answers to these questions?

Who are the owner(s)?

What’s the company structure?

What are the other details about the company?

What’s the company’s mission statement?

What are the startup costs?

SM café will be jointly owned by Josiane Leniz and Jose Samalago, both of whom will also run the coffee shop. Our plan is to hire one full-time employee and three part-time employees to help us out weekends and busy hours.

We require $100,000 to cover lease costs, equipment, furniture, and renovations.

Section 3 – Market and Customer Analysis

There are two parts to this section. In the first section, include information regarding:

General trends and statistics pertaining to the coffee industry

The local market trends

Your direct competitors (that is, other coffee shops in the neighbourhood)

Other businesses with whom you’ll compete (like fast-food joints, bars, or restaurants)

Your competitive advantages

In the second section, provide answers to these questions:

Who’re your target customers?

Why they’ll choose your café over others?

If you have done a custom market research, mention the key takeaways here in an easy-to-understand language.

Sample Market Analysis

Research predicts the US coffee industry will grow at a rate of 17% on year-on-year basis between 2020 and 2025. With the average person drinking two cups of coffee daily, it is the most-popular beverage in the country. We strongly believe that these market and consumer trends make launching a coffee shop a smart business decision.

Sample Competitor Analysis

At present there are two coffee shops in the area where our venture—SM café—will open. However, our research shows there is space for new entrants.

Both existing coffee shops serve non-gourmet coffee. Our main advantage is that we’ll be the only player in this area to offer high-margin, high-quality coffee products and snacks. This will help us stand out from the crowd and build a loyal customer base.

It is also a good idea to draw a table listing the strengths and weaknesses of each existing competitor.

Sample Customer Analysis

Business people make up a sizeable portion of our expected customer base: The location of our café will generate high footfall, particularly before and after working hours, as well as during lunch hours. Since there is a business hub a few meters away, the area has many professionals who would like gourmet coffee and high-quality snacks. The local business hub houses approximately 3,000 professionals all of which are potential prospects.

Section 4 – Sales and Marketing Plan

This section is divided into two parts. First up is the sales strategy, which should include your sales forecasts, as well as how you have calculated it. Mention the names of the products and your pricing strategy as well.

In the marketing plan section, discuss your strategies for attracting customers, your budget, and your expected ROI (Return On Investment). In case your marketing plan is a complex one, only mention the key points in the business plan. You can have the detailed marketing plan on a different document.

Sample Sales Plan

SM café will open from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. all days of the week. Our busiest hours are likely to be before and after business hours, as well as during the lunch hours between noon and 1.30 p.m.

We have a seating for 30 people. Our non-machine coffee products will be priced from $20 upward. We’ll sell pastries (at $5-$8 each) and light meals ($15-$24) as well. Since meals will be packed, customers can either take them away or eat them inside the shop.

Our daily revenue is expected to be $1,000.

Marketing Plan   

Draw a table including your various marketing channels, their annual budget allocation and the rationale behind each selected channel.

For example, you can say: We will allocate 12,000 USD per year to run two radio campaigns, one in April and one in September. The purpose is to create awareness and attract people to try our seasonal coffee offers.

Section 5 – Operating Plan

In this section, provide answers to questions such as how you are going to run your café and explaining your initial costs, opening times, sourcing and production processes. Also, show the investors how you plan to build efficient procedures to ensure smooth running of the coffee shop.

This section can also help you iron out potential issues. For instance, if you expect to serve 125 people during lunch hours, will you be able to do that with only one full-time employee and three part-time employees? Or would you be much better off adding one more member to your team?

Also mention any certificate or license that you need to open the café, in addition to how you plan to train your employees, both full-time and part-time.

Sample Operational Plan

Our café will be open from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. During normal hours, both owners and one full-time employee will take care of everything. During busy hours, we’ll add three part-time employees to our team.

We plan to purchase coffee wholesale at $80 per 10-pound package. At any time, the shop will have one week’s stock of coffee. For grinding the coffee beans, we’ll purchase a high-quality commercial grinder.

Pastries and other food menu items will be bought on a daily basis from a local supplier, who’ll deliver the goods half-an-hour before the shop opens, that is, latest by 6.30 a.m. This, in turn, will ensure commuters can easily and quickly grab a breakfast on-the-go.

We’ll ensure our coffee shop meets the guidelines set by the local food agency, and each of our employees, full-time or part-time, will undergo training before they join us on the floor.

Section 6 – Management Team

This section should answer the following questions:

Who owns the café?

Who will manage it?

What qualifications or relevant experience the owners have?

In case of multiple owners, how will you split the profits?

In case the owners won’t be managing the shop, share information about the person who will be in charge of the day-to-day operations.

The owners will run the shop. Each of the owners has over a decade experience in the food service, including management experience. We’ll hire one full-time employee to start with, who will be paid $20,000 per annum.

We plan to hire three part-time employees, each of whom will be paid at the rate of $11 per hour.

Section 7 – Financial Plan

This is the final section of your business plan. Describe here how your coffee shop will make money. Include the following information in your financial plan:

Operating and overhead costs

Revenue model

Income statement

Balance sheet

Expected revenue and profit

Capital needed and use of funds

Make sure to explain when you will reach break-even and analyze your gross and net profit margins.

Standard pro-forma financials are usually done for 3 years and some take it further to cover 5 years. For more information on how to build a solid coffee shop financial plan , we recommend you check our detailed guide here .

Final Words

Before you open a coffee shop, sit down and prepare a detailed business plan. As this guide shows, writing a business plan is not as difficult as many think.

Make sure you cover each of the sections mentioned in this article. Wherever possible, use charts, pictures, and graphs to simplify things for readers.

Last but not the least, avoid technical jargons, as they are likely to put off readers instead of adding any value to your business plan.

A coffee business plan is a vital document that will help you draw a detailed roadmap for a successful launch and execution. It is also a key document for potential investors and other stakeholders. If you don’t have time to create one, we’ve got you covered. Check our ready-made coffee shop business plan in Word with automatic financials in Excel, this is probably the fastest, most cost-effective solution to build an investor-grade coffee shop business plan in record time.

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Coffee Shop Business Plan

Start your own coffee shop business plan

Java Culture

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">, opportunity.

People near the University of Oregon need not just coffee and tea, or pastries and snacks, but also a place to meet comfortably, have a group discussion, or just sit quietly, work, and read. That is available now near the University of Oregon campus, but too crowded too often, and not the right combination of factors for everybody.

Java Culture coffee bar is determined to become a daily necessity for local coffee addicts, a place to dream of as you try to escape the daily stresses of life and just a comfortable place to meet your friends or to read a book, all in one.

Java Culture will focus its marketing activities on reaching the University students and faculty, people working in offices located close to the coffee bar and on sophisticated teenagers. Our market research shows that these are the customer groups that are most likely to buy gourmet coffee products. Since gourmet coffee consumption is universal across different income categories and mostly depends on the level of higher education, proximity to the University of Oregon campus will provide access to the targeted customer audience.

Competition

Java Culture’s direct competitors will be other coffee bars located near the University of Oregon campus. These include Starbucks, Cafe Roma, The UO Bookstore, and other Food service establishments that offer coffee.

Great coffee, pastries, additional options for tea etc, very welcoming atmosphere, good wireless, desk space, comfortable chairs and tables, good pastries, a location close to the university campus.

Expectations

We plan to grow as shown in the chart below, taken from our sales forecast. We aim to maintain an industry-standard 60% gross profit margin and reasonable operating expenses, and to produce reasonable profits in the second and third year.

Financial Highlights by Year

Financing needed.

The owners will invest $140,000 and take out a bank loan for $30,000  to cover the start-up expenses and assets needed plus deficient spending in the early months.

The start-up expenses of $27,000 include:

  • Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services totaling $1,300.
  • Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Java Culture in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
  • Consultants fees of $3,000 paid to ABC Espresso Services <name changed> for the help with setting up the coffee bar.
  • Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium of $2,400.
  • Pre-paid rent expenses for one month at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $4,400.
  • Premises remodeling in the amount of $10,000.
  • Other start-up expenses including stationery ($500) and phone and utility deposits ($2,500).

These expenses will be incurred before launch, so they take their place in our financial projections as negative retained earnings of $27,680 at the end of the month before we begin. That number shows up in the balance sheet.

The required start-up assets of $143,000 include:

  • Cash in the bank in the total amount of $67,000, which includes enough to cover employees and owner’s salaries of $23,900 for the first two months and cash reserves for the first three months of operation (approximately $14,400 per month).
  • Coffee beans (12 regular brands and five decaffeinated brands) – $6,000
  • Coffee filters, baked goods, salads, sandwiches, tea, beverages, etc. – $7,900
  • Retail supplies (napkins, coffee bags, cleaning, etc.) – $1,840
  • Office supplies – $287
  • Espresso machine – $6,000
  • Coffee maker – $900
  • Coffee grinder – $200
  • Food service equipment (microwave, toasters, dishwasher, refrigerator, blender, etc.) – $18,000
  • Storage hardware (bins, utensil rack, shelves, food case) – $3,720
  • Counter area equipment (counter top, sink, ice machine, etc.) – $9,500
  • Serving area equipment (plates, glasses, flatware) – $3,000
  • Store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
  • Office equipment (PC, fax/printer, phone, furniture, file cabinets) – $3,600
  • Other miscellaneous expenses – $500

Funding for the company comes from two major sources–owners’ investments and bank loans. Two major owners, Arthur Garfield and James Polk, have contributed $70,000 and $30,00 respectively. All other investors have contributed $40,000, which brings the total investments to $140,000. The remaining $30,000 needed to cover the start-up expenses and assets came from the two bank loans–a one-year loan in the amount of $10,000 and a long-term (five years) loan of $20,000. Both loans were secured through the Bank of America. Thus, total start-up loss is assumed in the amount of $27,000.

The amounts show up in the balance sheet in the month prior to opening. The $140,000 investment shows up as Paid-in Capital. The $27,000 expenses show up as negative retained earnings. Assets and liabilities are there. This is all according to financial standards.

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Problem & solution, problem worth solving.

People near the University of Oregon need not just coffee and tea, or pastries and snacks, but also a place to meet comfortably, have a group discussion, or just sit quietly, work, and read. That is available now near the University of Oregon campus, but too crowded too often, and not the right combination of factors for everybody. 

Our Solution

Java Culture will make its best effort to create a unique place where customers can socialize with each other in a comfortable and relaxing environment while enjoying the best brewed coffee or espresso and pastries in town. We will be in the business of helping our customers to relieve their daily stresses by providing piece of mind through great ambience, convenient location, friendly customer service, and products of consistently high quality. Java Culture will invest its profits to increase the employee satisfaction while providing stable return to its shareholders.

Target Market

Market size & segments.

Coffee consumption has shown a steady 2.5% growth rate in the United States over the last decade. The retail coffee industry is flourishing in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The local climate, with a long rainy season, is very conducive for the consumption of hot non-alcoholic beverages. At the same time, hot dry summers drive people into cafes to order iced drinks. Furthermore, coffee has really become a part of the lifestyle in the Pacific Northwest. Its discerning coffee drinkers are in favor of well-prepared, strong coffee-based beverages, which they can consume in a relaxing environment.

More specifically, the University of Oregon as close to 25K students and another 5-10K faculty and staff. And it is embedded in the Eugene, OR community of 200K people. Our main market will be students, faculty, staff, and nearby residents. But the campus area is a hub for the community and will attract other customers. 

Current Alternatives

 Java Culture’s direct competitors will be other coffee bars located near the University of Oregon campus. These include Starbucks, Cafe Roma, The UO Bookstore, and other Food service establishments that offer coffee. Starbucks will definitely be one of the major competitors because of its strong financial position and established marketing and operational practices. However, despite of Starbuck’s entrenched market position, many customers favor smaller, independent establishments that offer cozy atmosphere and good coffee at affordable prices. Cafe Roma is a good example of such competition. We estimate that Starbucks holds approximately 35% market share in that neighborhood, Cafe Roma appeals to 25% of customers, The UO Bookstore caters to another 10%, with the remaining market share split among other establishments. Java Culture will position itself as a unique coffee bar that not only offers the best tasting coffee and pastries but also provides home-like, cozy and comfortable environment, which established corporate establishments lack. We will cater to customers’ bodies and minds, which will help us grow our market share in this competitive market.

Our Advantages

Java Culture will cater to people who want to get their daily cup of great-tasting coffee in a relaxing atmosphere. Such customers vary in age, although our location close to the University campus means that most of our clientele will be college students and faculty. Our market research shows that these are discerning customers that gravitate towards better tasting coffee. Furthermore, a lot of college students consider coffee bars to be a convenient studying or meeting location, where they can read or meet with peers without the necessity to pay cover charges. For us, this will provide a unique possibility for building a loyal client base.

Keys To Success

The keys to success will be:

  • Store design that will be both visually attractive to customers, and designed for fast and efficient operations.
  • Employee training to insure the best coffee preparation techniques.
  • Marketing strategies aimed to build a solid base of loyal customers, as well as maximizing the sales of high margin products, such as espresso drinks.

Marketing & Sales

Marketing plan.

Java Culture will position itself as unique coffee bar where its patrons can not only enjoy a cup of perfectly brewed coffee but also spend their time in an ambient environment. Comfortable sofas and chairs, dimmed light and quiet relaxing music will help the customers to relax from the daily stresses and will differentiate Java Culture from incumbent competitors.

In order to build up its client base, Java Culture will use some strategic banners and fliers during the launch period, utilize customer referrals and cross-promotions with other businesses in the community from time to time, and loyalty programs that work with android and IOS and other mobile phones, which is the preference of our market.

Our main thrust will be getting people to know, like, and trust us with content and engagement in Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.  We intend to maintain social media presences that are light on self-serving promotional quasi-advertising content, heavy on community participation, content, and engagement. 

Java Culture baristas will handle the sales transactions. To speed up the customer service, at least two employees will be servicing clients–while one employee will be preparing the customer’s order, the other one will be taking care of the sales transaction. All sales data logged on the computerized point-of-sale terminal will be later analyzed for marketing purposes.

Locations & Facilities

Java Culture coffee bar will be located on the ground floor of the commercial building at the corner of West 13th Avenue and Patterson Street in Eugene, OR. The company has secured a one-year lease of the vacant 2,500 square feet premises previously occupied by a hair salon. The lease contract has an option of renewal for three years at a fixed rate that Java Culture will execute depending on the financial strength of its business.

The floor plan will include a 200 square feet back office and a 2,300 square feet coffee bar, which will include a seating area with 15 tables, a kitchen, storage area and two bathrooms. The space in the coffee bar will be approximately distributed the following way–1,260 square feet (i.e., 55% of the total) for the seating area, 600 square feet (26%) for the production area, and the remaining 440 square feet (19%) for the customer service area.

This property is located in a commercial area within a walking distance from the University of Oregon campus on the corner of a major thoroughfare connecting affluent South Eugene neighborhood with the busy downtown commercial area. The commercially zoned premises have the necessary water and electricity hookups and will require only minor remodeling to accommodate the espresso bar, kitchen and storage area. The coffee bar’s open and clean interior design with modern wooden decor will convey the quality of the served beverages and snacks, and will be in-line with the establishment’s positioning as an eclectic place where people can relax and enjoy their cup of coffee. The clear window displays, through which passerby will be able to see customers enjoying their beverages, and outside electric signs will be aimed to grab the attention of the customer traffic.

Milestones & Metrics

Milestones table, key metrics.

We have our forecasts for sales, direct costs, and operating expenses. As we get into the business we’ll develop standards based on experience for Facebook likes, Twitter follows, and other social media engagement. We expect to watch these very carefully. 

Ownership & Structure

Java Culture is majority-owned by Arthur Garfield and James Polk. Mr. Garfield holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of ZYX. He’s worked for several years as an independent business consultant. Previously, he owned the ABC Travel Agency, which he profitably sold four years ago. Mr. Garfield has extensive business contacts in Oregon that he will leverage to help his new venture succeed. Mr. Polk has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the XYZ State University. For the last five years he has worked as a manager of DEF Ristorante, a successful Italian restaurant in Portland, OR. Under Mr. Polk’s management, the restaurant has consistently increased sales while maintaining a lower than average level of operating expenses.

Investors will not be involved into the daily management decisions at Java Culture. They will hire a professional manager who will oversee all the coffee bar operations. Three full-time baristas will be in charge of coffee preparation. They will hire two more part-time employees to fulfill the staffing needs. In the second and third year of operation will add additional employees if and when needed. 

Management Team

A full-time manager will be hired to oversee the daily operations at Java Culture. The candidate (who’s name is withheld due to his current employment commitment) has had three years of managerial experience in the definitely industry in Oregon. This person’s responsibilities will include managing the staff, ordering inventory, dealing with suppliers, developing a marketing strategy and perform other daily managerial duties. We believe that our candidate has the right experience for this role. A profit-sharing arrangement for the manager may be considered based on the first year operational results.

Personnel Table

Financial plan investor-ready personnel plan .">, key assumptions.

  • We assume a steadily growing potential market in line with growth at the university, trends. 
  • We assume industry standard gross margins
  • We assume relative status quo regarding technology and trends in the coffee industry

Revenue by Month

Expenses by month, net profit (or loss) by year, use of funds.

The start-up expenses include an estimated $17,000 consisting of several items:

  • Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services totaling $1,500.
  • Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium of $1,500.
  • Other start-up expenses including website ($4,000) and phone and utility deposits ($2,500).

The required start-up assets of $71,000 include:

  • Plates, glasses, etc. worth approximately $2,000
  • Espresso machine
  • Coffee maker
  • Coffee grinder 
  • Food service equipment (microwave, toasters, dishwasher, refrigerator, blender, etc.)
  • Storage hardware (bins, utensil rack, shelves, food case) 
  • Counter area equipment (counter top, sink, ice machine, etc.)
  • Serving area equipment (plates, glasses, flatware)
  • Store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) 
  • Office equipment (PC, fax/printer, phone, furniture, file cabinets) 
  • Other miscellaneous expenses

Sources of Funds

Funding for the company comes from two major sources–owners’ investments and bank loans. Two major owners, Arthur Garfield and James Polk, have contributed $70,000 and $30,00 respectively. All other investors have contributed $40,000, which brings the total investments to $140,000. The remaining $30,000 needed to cover the start-up expenses and assets came from the two bank loans–a one-year loan in the amount of $10,000 and a long-term (five years) loan of $20,000. Both loans were secured through the Bank of America. Thus, total start-up loss is assumed in the amount of $27,680.

Projected Profit & Loss

Projected balance sheet, projected cash flow statement.

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COMMENTS

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  2. How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan (with Templates)

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  3. How to write a coffee shop business plan

    Oct 30, 2023 12 min read A coffee shop business plan is a detailed and strategic document outlining the essential aspects of starting and operating a coffee-focused business.

  4. How To Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan & Executive Summary

    Start with your executive summary - a short and high-level overview of each section in your coffee house business plan. In any business plan sample for a coffee shop, you'll see that this is the first section because it gives readers crucial information about your business before you dive into details.

  5. The Ultimate Coffee Shop Business Plan and Template

    2.1 Executive Summary 2.2 Company Overview 2.3 Market and Customer Analysis 2.4 Sales and Marketing Plan 2.5 Management Team 2.6 Financial Plan 3 Wrapping Up Why Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan? The basic idea behind a coffee shop is simple. The business needs to sell enough coffee products to cover costs and make a profit.

  6. How to Write a Business Plan for Opening a Cafe

    Section 1: The executive summary Section 2: How will your cafe business succeed? Section 3: Study your competition Section 4: Analyze your target market Section 5: Tell us what you'll sell and how you'll sell it Section 6: Create a marketing plan Section 7: Ownership structure Section 8: Your operations plan Section 9: Financial planning

  7. How to Open a Coffee Shop and Be Successful

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    The importance of a coffee shop business plan. Writing out a coffee shop business plan can feel a bit tedious and unnecessary. And we won't lie, they do take a bit of time and effort. But every business, no matter big or small, should have a business plan in place. A business plan for your coffee shop will help you:

  9. How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan

    Emphasize why your marketing strategy is the best approach for both the type of coffee shop you're opening and the neighborhood. 7. Business Operations. You've described your vision, the marketplace, and how you plan to market your business. Now it's time to outline how you'll actually execute your plan.

  10. Coffee Shop Business Plan (How to Write & Template)

    Step 1: Gather the Necessary Information Before you begin writing your coffee shop business plan, gather the following crucial information to lay a strong foundation: Define your target market for the coffee shop. Identify your unique selling proposition (USP) that sets your coffee house apart.

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    Securing Funding: Financing Your Coffee Shop Business. Securing adequate funding is crucial for starting a coffee shop business. Whether you plan to self-fund or seek external financing, having a clear understanding of your financial needs and options is essential. Here are some financing options to consider: Self-Funding

  12. How to write a coffee shop business plan

    1. Introduction 1.1 Executive Summary 1.2 Background of the Business 1.3 Significance A good introduction is very important in a business plan, it narrows all the details of your proposed project, so see to it that your introduction is interesting and can easily catch the attention of the recipients.

  13. Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop

    With ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Coffee Shop, you can easily outline your vision, goals, financial projections, marketing strategies, and operational plans all in one place. This comprehensive template helps coffee shop entrepreneurs: Create a compelling business plan to attract potential investors and secure funding

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    How to Start a Coffee Shop? Where Can I Get a Coffee Shop Business Plan PDF? PlanBuildr's coffee shop business plan template will help you to quickly complete your coffee shop business plan and take your company to the next level.

  15. How To Write Your Coffee Shop Business Plan

    Still, a thorough business plan can range from 15 to 60 pages once filled out (Occasionally more, depending on the business's scope). We recommend always using headings, subheadings, and spaces between paragraphs and sections when constructing your business plan. A coffee shop business plan has several main sections.

  16. Free Coffee Shop Business Plan Template for 2024

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  17. How to Open a Coffee Shop in 11 Steps

    4. Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan. A solid business plan is necessary for any type of foodservice operation to succeed. Your business plan will help you finalize your concept, plan your ownership structure, project your finances, create your menu, and list your competitive research.

  18. How to Run A Coffee Shop

    On average, the initial investment can range anywhere from $80,000 to $300,000, depending on factors like location, size, and the type of coffee business you choose. Before you spend any initial funds, it's crucial to create a detailed business plan to estimate your specific costs accurately.

  19. Create a Coffee Shop Business Plan

    A basic business plan for a coffee shop can be done in eight sections, plus a title page. Title Page Enter your business information starting with the legal name. If you already scouted a likely location or have a website in place, include the addresses. If you have a business logo, add it at the top or bottom of the title page.

  20. How To Create A Coffee Shop Business Plan: Step By Step

    Step 1: Brainstorming And Market Research Step 2: Opportunity Section Identifying Problems And Solutions Target Market Competition Step 3: Execution Plan Marketing Plan Operations Step 4: Company And Management Summary Team Overview Company Overview Step 5: Financial Planning Sales Forecast Personnel Plan Profit And Loss Statement Balance Sheet

  21. How to Plan a Coffee Shop Business: Effective Strategies for Success

    When planning a coffee shop business, the first step is to create a comprehensive business plan. This document will serve as a roadmap, detailing essential aspects of the business, from the mission statement to financial projections. Mission Statement The mission statement outlines the core purpose and vision of the coffee shop.

  22. How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan + Free Template

    Download Template Create a Business Plan You are a smart entrepreneur. You don't jump right in and open a coffee shop just because you decoded the secret of making perfect cups of steaming delicious coffee. Instead, you wait and plan to write a unique business plan that resonates with your coffee shop's concept.

  23. How to Write Your Coffee Shop's Operations Plan

    Adding color to your coffee shop's executive summary paints a complete and intriguing picture for potential investors of your day-to-day operations. Here are writing tips to help you make the details of your coffee shop's operations plan an interesting read (really!) Always keep the audience in mind.

  24. How to Create a Coffee Shop Business Plan

    Section 1 - Executive Summary You should start your business plan with an executive summary, but write it last. A good executive summary provides investors with a short, precise, and optimistic overview of your coffee shop business plan and aptly captures the reader's attention. So how long an executive summary should be?

  25. Coffee Shop Business Plan Example

    Coffee Shop Business Plan Start your plan. Start my business plan. Start your own coffee shop business plan. Java Culture Executive Summary Opportunity Problem. People near the University of Oregon need not just coffee and tea, or pastries and snacks, but also a place to meet comfortably, have a group discussion, or just sit quietly, work, and ...

  26. How to Create a Coffee Shop Marketing Plan

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