cafe shop business plan pdf

Coffee shop business plan template

Download this coffee shop business plan template in PDF or Word format, or tailor it to your project directly in our business plan software.

Discover our coffee shop business plan template

Our coffee shop business plan template gives you the structure to write a professional plan.

Not accustomed to writing business plans? Our coffee shop business template will turn a typically challenging process into a total breeze.

Modelled on a complete business plan of a coffee shop in Normandy, our template features both the financial forecast and the written part that presents the project, its team, the local market and the business strategy implemented by the management.

Cast your eyes on this template to achieve a better understanding of what your bank and investors would like to see, so that you can create a business plan that meets their expectations.

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Coffee shop business plan template available with paid plans only.

How to use this coffee shop business plan template

Edit the coffee shop business plan template online, or download it.

There are 3 ways to use this template:

• Edit it online: you can adapt this template to your business idea by changing the text or the financial forecast directly in our business planning software
• Download in PDF: if you're just after a little inspiration, you can download the coffee shop business plan template in PDF to read over it
• Download in Word format: want to edit your plan on Word? Simply export the coffee shop business plan template to Ms Word (.docx) format

Coffee shop business plan template content

This template includes a complete coffee shop business plan example, with a financial forecast and the following sections:

• Executive summary: the executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea
• Company: this section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form
• Products and services: here, you'll give an overview of the services or products offered by the company
• Market analysis: the market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)
• Strategy: this section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way
• Operations: this step lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan
• Financial plan: the financial plan includes a table of sources & uses (initial funding plan), and complete financial statements (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow statements).
• Appendices: this part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).

Executive summary of the coffee shop's business plan

The executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea.

Our coffee shop business plan example's executive summary is formed of the following subsections:

• Business overview: in this subsection, we outline who the coffee shop founders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business, and the rationale behind the choice of their location
• Market overview: in this subsection, we summarize the conclusions of the market analysis performed by the coffee shop's owners and explain which type of coffee lovers they aim to target
• Financial highlights: in this subsection, we give an overview of the forecasted financial performance of the coffee shop over the first 3 years of operation
• Our ask: in this subsection, we outline the amount of financing required to start the coffee shop and how it's going to be funded (the founders are seeking a bank loan to start their coffee place)

Company overview included in our coffee shop business plan sample

This section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form.

Our coffee shop business plan template's company section is formed of the following subsections:

• Structure & Ownership: in this subsection, we outline who the coffee shop shareholders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business
• Location: in this subsection, we present the area surrounding the location chosen for the business and the layout and main features of the premises
• Management Team: in this subsection, we give an overview of the background of each of the coffee shop's founders and explain how they met and why they decided to start a company together

Products and services offered by the coffee shop

The products and services section is where you will present the different types of food and beverages sold by your coffee shop.

In our coffee shop business plan template products and services section, we cover:

• Hot drinks: ranging from classic expressos to "latte art coffees" signed with a unique design made of foamy milk
• Cold drinks: ranging from fresh juices and smoothies to iced and chilled coffees
• Seasonal drinks: a special hot drink each season, including a pumpkin latte in autumn, hot chocolate with Christmas spices in Winter, etc.
• Food menu: a selection of different homemade pastries and sandwiches

Market analysis for the opening of the coffee shop

The market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)

Our coffee shop business plan example's market analysis section is formed of the following subsections:

• Demographics and Segmentation: in this subsection, we explore the market in depth. We look at the supply and demand sides both at the national and local level, analyse the hot trends perceived by the founders, and the key statistics that will help the founders build their positioning
• Target market: in this subsection, our founders explain which types of coffee lovers they view as their ideal customers and why they chose to target them
• Competition: in this subsection, we take a look at the direct (coffee shops nearby) and indirect (other ways of getting coffee) local competition to ensure we have a differentiated positioning and that the market is large enough to accommodate the arrival of new coffee shop
• Regulation: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main regulation applicable to our coffee place

Setting the strategy for our coffee shop

This section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way.

Our coffee shop business plan template strategy section is formed of the following subsections:

• Pricing: in this subsection, we explain how we set the prices of our main categories of products (pastries, coffees, other beverages) and the rationale behind our choice
• Marketing plan: in this subsection, we explain what action we'll put in place to build awareness and loyalty among the customers of our coffee
• Milestones: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main goals we set for ourselves for the next 3 years
• Risks and Mittigants: in this subsection, we perform an assessment of the medium and long-term risks that could jeopardize the financial viability of our coffee place and outline how we intend to mitigate them

Operations section of the coffee shop business plan template

This part lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan.

Our coffee shop business plan example's operations section is formed of the following subsections:

• Personnel plan: in this subsection, we explain what our opening hours will be and explain the responsabilities of each of our coffee place's staff member
• Key assets and IP: in this subsection, we list the assets and intellectual property rights which are critical to our business operations and explain how we will secure and protect each of these
• Suppliers: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main suppliers we will use our what commercial terms have been negotiated with them

Financial plan included in our coffee shop business plan template

This section presents the expected financial performance of the coffee shop over the next 3 years.

Our coffee shop business plan example's financial plan is formed of the following subsections:

• Start-up funding: in this subsection, we list the cost of each item required to launch the coffee shop
• Important assumptions: in this subsection, we explain the methodology and the main assumptions used to build the coffee shop's financial forecast
• Sales forecast: in this subsection, we detail the expected revenues and growth rate for our coffee place in the coming years
• Cost structure: in this subsection, we list all the expenses required for our coffee shop to operate smoothly
• Projected Profit & Loss statement: in this subsection, we analyse our forecasted P&L and comment on the expected profitability of our coffee shop over the next 3 years
• Projected cash flow statement: in this subsection, we analyse the expected cash generation of the coffee place
• Projected balance sheet: in this section we give an analysis of the liquidity and solvability implied from our balance sheet

Appendices of the coffee shop business plan template

This part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).

Our coffee shop business plan template's appendices include:

• A Maturity profile chart showing the principal repayments of their loans over the next 3 years
• A monthly cash flow forecast: showing how much cash is being generated or consumed each month over the first 3 years of operations

Coffee shop business plan template sample

Executive summary, business overview.

Cuppa Coffee will be a coffee shop located in the city of Caen, offering a wide selection of coffees, hot drinks, cold drinks, sandwiches, snacks and pastries.

Our coffee shop will specialise in the art of coffee-making, thanks to our barista-trained staff. All of our pastries and sandwiches will be made on-site with interchangeable seasonal recipes.

Cuppa Coffee will be located in the rue de Geôle, in the heart of Caen city centre, close to the city's main tram and bus station, as well as the castle and the Quatrans house.

Cuppa Coffee is a limited company with a share capital of €10,000. The company will be managed by two partners: Viviane D. who holds 60% of the shares and Amélie C. who holds 40% of the shares.

Each of the partners benefits from having the experience and professional background required to help them see the project through to its final stages.

Viviane has solid operational experience. She lived in London for 7 years where she worked as a barista and then managed a centrally located coffee shop. She also trained at the London School of Coffee, before coming back to France to open Cuppa Coffee.

Amélie has a strong background in management and marketing. She also lived in London for 5 years, where she met Viviane whilst working in a digital marketing agency.

Market Overview

Domestic Market

83% of French people are self-proclaimed coffee lovers. Although coffee is consumed regularly at home, especially at breakfast, it also provides an opportunity for people to meet and catch up with friends and family.

While the French's enthusiasm for coffee is universally acknowledged, the American takeaway coffee culture is gradually developing, with 9% of the population calling into coffee shops every day for their caffeine fix.

Adjustments in working hours and shorter lunch breaks mean the French have less time to sit in a restaurant to enjoy a coffee, hence the appeal of coffee shops.

The French coffee shop market is dominated by three franchises which together hold nearly 60% of the market share: Colombus Café, Nescafé, and Starbucks.

Besides location, the most important criterion for a coffee shop is the quality of its services, both in terms of customer service and the overall atmosphere of the shop, as well as the quality of the drinks and food on offer.

In terms of figures, the annual turnover of an independent coffee shop open 11/12 months of the year is estimated at €194,850 (excl. tax) with an average spend of around €7 (incl. tax) per customer.

People aged 25 to 34 make up the majority of coffee shop customers. After that comes once-off customers who are passing by, placing an emphasis on the importance of the location in attracting tourists or office employees on the go.

The least receptive to the French coffee shop concept are people over 50 years old. While 92% of them drink coffee, they prefer drinking it in a restaurant or at home. There's still a long way to go before changing their perceptions of the takeaway coffee culture.

Local Market

In 2015, Caen was estimated to have 106,260 inhabitants. A population of 40,889 students was also recorded from 2017-2018, solidifying the presence of many potential coffee shop customers.

The city centre is an attractive point of focus. With a heavy influx of people making their daily commute between the city centre and the outskirts, its popular shopping district also attracts a wide variety of people both during the week and on weekends.

Students who live centrally tend to travel by tram to university, making them much more likely to opt for a takeaway coffee to accompany them on their commute each morning.

Finally, the vast number of tourists in Caen should not be overlooked. With 438,000 visitors to the Caen Memorial in 2014 and 10,029 visitors to the Abbaye aux Hommes, tourists fall within one of our target groups.

Financial Highlights

We expect to be profitable in our first year of activity with sales of €202,132 and an EBITDA of €11,515 (with a 5.70% margin) for year 1.

We expect to be able to continue to grow our business to reach €206,015 in sales and €21,842 in EBITDA (with a 10.60% margin) by year 3.

We anticipate positive cash generation over the plan as a whole, and the company should be sufficiently capitalized to be able to meet its loan repayments while maintaining a margin to deal with unforeseen events.

The opening of our coffee shop will require an investment of €81,000.

The partners have planned to contribute €36,000 (44% of the total), with a share capital contribution of €10,000 and a director loan of €26,000.

We would like to obtain a loan of €45,000 to finance the remaining amount.

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Easy to get started with and well-guided throughout. Lots of business plan templates to help you and writing is easy because there are explanations at each step of the process.

Quite frankly excellent because I was able to finalize my business plan in less time than expected. This software offers a very coherent and complete approach to writing your project.

It is a very well designed software that allows you to visualise each step of your project, understand if the idea is viable or not and think about the steps needed to start your business.

The software is just impeccable. Of course, it meets the requirements of people starting a business. In addition to having a tool for putting together a proper financial forecast, there is also a tool to help write the business plan.

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Coffee shop business plan template faq.

A coffee shop business plan is a written document that sets out the commercial, operational and financial objectives of the company over the next 3 to 5 years.

It consists of two main parts:

• A written part that presents, in detail, your coffee shop business, the team, your strategy, and your medium-term objectives.
• A financial forecast that highlights the expected profitability of the coffee shop and the initial funding requirements.

The lack of business planning is one of the main reasons why more than 50% of startups fail within 5 years. If you're starting a coffee shop, writing a business plan is a must-have in order to reduce the risk of failure of your project.

Business plans are also required by most lenders and investors in order to secure financing, therefore a business plan is also highly recommended if you're seeking a loan or equity investment for your coffee shop.

Writing a coffee shop business plan without The Business Plan Shop can be both error-prone and time-consuming - whether you're new to entrepreneurship or experienced:

• You'll need to research the structure of a business plan, what to include in each section, and what key elements investors and lenders expect to see
• You may encounter writer's block (especially if it's the first time you're writing a business plan for your coffee shop)
• You'll need to create a financial forecast on a spreadsheet which requires a solid understanding of accounting and financial modelling in order to be done without error
• You'll need to spend hours formatting financial data on Excel or Sheets before it's ready to integrate into your business plan
• Any updates to your coffee shop business plan or financial forecast will need to be done manually

Luckily for you, The Business Plan Shop's online platform and coffee shop business plan template guide you through every stage of writing a business plan, so that you can spend more time managing and growing your business instead.

Our editor follows a best-in-class structure for professional business plans. Each section and subsection includes examples and instructions to help you, while our business plan templates provide further inspiration if you're stuck.

Our financial forecasting software helps you create a forecast and integrate it into your business plan with ease. Anytime you update your data, your business plan automatically updates.

And with our forecasting software all the calculations are done for you, without errors.

The budget to start and run a coffee shop will depend on the exact concept and location.

A small local coffee doing mostly takeaways with limited seating requires a limited investment. A bigger place with a large seated area, fresh food and table service will require a larger upfront investment and more staff to operate.

As an example, in our coffee shop business plan template the total initial funding requirement amounted to €81,000, with the founders contributing €36,000.

In order to assess the exact budget for your coffee shop idea, you need to do a financial forecast using a financial projection tool such as the one we offer .

The package we offer at The Business Plan Shop goes way beyond a simple blank template you need to fill. With our platform you get:

• Access to one of the best business plan software on the market
• Access to our coffee shop business plan template which contains a complete example of a written business plan and financial forecast to start a coffee shop
• Access to our entire business plan templates library - giving you dozens of examples to take inspiration from
• Access to our financial planning and analysis platform so that you can track the actual performance of your business against what you had planned in your business plan and re-plan easily

But you shouldn't take our word for it: try our solution for free and make your own opinion!

The free trial enables you to try the software for free during 7 days in order to verify that it meets your requirements before buying.

Some features are limited during the free trial, the main limits are:

• You can only create one business plan
• The financials of the first year are visible, but data for other years are hidden
• You can export your plan in PDF but not in Word or CSV
• No access to our business plan templates

You can create your account and start your free trial here .

Access to our template is included with all our paid subscriptions.

Please visit our pricing page to learn about this in more detail.

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How to Craft a Perfect Coffee Shop Business Plan? Access the Best PDF Word Document

Tamana Gupta

Planning to open your coffee shop in the town for all the coffee hoppers? Well, salute your entrepreneurial enthusiasm. Moreover, the café industry has experienced tremendous expansion over the past several years due to the recent upsurge in eating-out culture brought on by western influence. But it’s really important to have the right plan for opening a café business otherwise the enthusiasm will be squandered.

Consider your plan as a roadmap for your business enterprise; it's simpler than you might think to write one! This article will teach you how to create a successful business plan for your new coffee house.

What is Coffee Shop Business Plan?

A coffee shop business plan is a document that explains what your business idea is and how it will succeed. It provides answers to queries like how much it will cost to open a business, how those costs will be covered, and how much revenue you anticipate from your café. A coffee shop business plan includes information about your competition, target market, and price structure.

Purpose of having a Business Plan

Your business plan can be presented after it is complete to anyone who will assist you in opening your café, including potential partners, bankers, investors, and investors. As you can probably tell, it’s an extremely important document, so it is worthwhile to make it well.

Don’t worry! Learn the different pieces of information that will go into your business plan and SlideTeam help you pull the pieces together. The fundamental components of your business plan are detailed below, along with further advice on how to construct one.

Start with your Vision

Laying out your vision for your future cafe or coffee shop will help you dream big and take the first step toward realizing your ambition of owning a café. How will your cafe be designed? How is it going to be decorated? Where is it going to be? What products will you sell? Who will be frequent? How will guests find their way around your cafe, from the time they enter until they swipe or tap their credit card to pay?

It will be very motivating to look up at your original idea and be reminded of the finish line as you spend hours working on your business plan.

Here are a few steps that will aid in making a powerful coffee shop business plan document:

Step 1: The Executive Summary

A concise description of your coffee shop business plan is provided in the executive summary. It ought to contain all the crucial information about your company. If someone informed you they would just read this one portion of your plan, what would you want them to see? This will help you decide what to include.

For your coffee shop business plan, you can start by highlighting the basic information about the business. Mention the name of the café, web address, date of incorporation, location , etc.

The executive summary outlines the whole business plan in a concise, short, and sophisticated way. Highlight the start-up investment cost, the name of the founder, the products, and the target market.

Devise a plan of how your team will conduct its operations and introduce the leader/CEO of your company who has hands-on experience in the coffee Business.

Basically, highlight the Quick Pitch in the executive summary regarding the upsurge in the business today, market growth and the opportunity the coffee shop business can explore.

Discuss your marketing campaign ideas and tactics that you want to use to set yourself apart from other service providers in the market.

This way you can immediately draw the attention of an audience, who are interested in your business.

Download the Word Document Now

Step 2: Company Overview

The company overview section should include practical details about your coffee shop business. To become the first choice of the target segment and further envisage becoming a renowned brand in the coffee market, one has to provide an overview of the entity/ company in the business plan insightfully.

You can start the company overview by presenting the Mission & Vision Statement .

Furthermore, highlighting the Goals and Objectives of the coffee business will give a broad perspective to the audience of the business plan.

To give an edge to the business plan, highlight the start-up summary under the company overview head. This section will portray the Coffee start-up summary, the feasibility of the business model, assumptions, equity, etc considered during the projections. To make the business plan more appealing insert a pie chart to showcase the different expenses incurred to start a coffee shop business.

Further to understand the business more deeply, every audience is curious to know what products & services you have to offer your customers. As these are the products that will decide the success of a business. Highlight the name of the different coffee you have included in your menu. For example- Latte, espresso, mocha, cappuccinos, etc.

Moreover, you can also highlight the Key Value Proposition by covering the founder’s knowledge and expertise, wide range of offerings & location.

Step 3: Industry Analysis

The third step to formulating your coffee shop business plan is to present the Industry Analysis. In this way, you will communicate to the audience that you did thorough research while preparing a business plan.

Start the industry analysis by highlighting the:

Like every other aspect and industry, the cafe industry has some challenges. The insightful word document for coffee shop business plans must  exhibit some of the key challenges associated with the industry . Consequently, they can be: a lacks of Identity or Brand Popularity in the Market, wrong menu, dull Competitive Advantage, etc.

The coffee industry has some challenges that need to be taken into consideration but it also comes up with some amazing market opportunities . Consequently, the market size of the US coffee industry, the rise in demand for coffee consumption, and Millennials Driving the Market.

Highlight Industry Statistics to present facts and figures . Like, The coffee industry accounts for 1.6% of the United States GDP, and the coffee & snack shops industry will be worth $48.4 billion in revenue by end of 2022.

Furthermore, highlight Some important and interesting coffee industry statistics (2022 ) to make the business plan more relatable.

Consequently, present the current trends prevailing in the coffee industry. So, present the Industry Trend to grab the audience’s attention. Like, Technology is Driving Coffee Production, Growing Working Age Population, and Surge in Demand for Certified Coffee Products.

Moreover, to make the business plan more applicable highlight the recent developments in the industry. As these developments will regulate the market.

Target Market Analysis

Every business comes up with a target for a specific segment of customers, it’s essential to have a proper analysis of that. Showcase, the target market analysis in your business plan. Also, highlight Key Target Market Statistics to give insight.

The location and integration of your product into the actual market are determined by target market analysis. You can ascertain which markets are most and least useful to your company using this information. Create precise buyer personas. Look for market gaps where your items could fill them.

Market sizing is necessary to estimate the number of buyers of a particular product or users of a service. Highlight TAM, SAM & SOM in the form of a graph.

Industry Restraints

Start-ups in the coffee shop industry face several challenges which, if not adequately taken care can lead restrict their entry into the industry or lead to business failure. So, to give the overview of Industry Restraints in the plan.

SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis helps you assess internal factors that might affect your business (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats). A business needs to review and act on the results of the SWOT analysis, so present it carefully.

Porter's Framework

Further, highlight the PORTER’S FRAMEWORK , this model will identify and analyze five forces shaping the coffee industry in the US. Five forces analysis will also help in determining industry weaknesses and strengths and further leverage the company to structure its corporate strategy. Also, highlight the competitive landscape in the business plan to give Industry analysis an edge.

Geographical Analysis

Also, present Geographical Analysis in the plan to showcase various reasons why investing or starting up a business in the USA is lucrative.

Step 4: GO-TO-MARKETING STRATEGY

Every business needs some marketing strategy to stay in the market, as it provides a comprehensive plan created specifically for attaining the organization's marketing. It offers a strategy for achieving these marketing goals. It serves as the foundation of a marketing strategy.

Highlight the online & offline marketing strategies of the business to establish credibility in the market. Namely, search engine marketing, social medial marketing, email marketing, newsletter, etc.

Furthermore, highlight the sales funnel by which the audience depicts the sales process from awareness to action.

Step 5: Management Summary

The management summary section of your business plan describes how your business is structured, who introduces it, who is involved, outlines external resources, and explains how the business is managed. Highlight the organizational structure of the coffee shop business under this step.

You can add the professional summary of the top executive by highlighting the educational details and employment history.

Further, presenting Roles & Responsibilities in the business plan will give the plan a more detailed outline. Highlight the responsibility of each department in this step.

Step 6: Financial Summary

Financials for a business plan are essential since they let you budget for present and future costs and project the financial health of your company. A well-written financial section can also assist you in securing the funding you need from investors, enabling you to expand your company relevant to the industry and business. such as tax, inflation rates, operating, and other expenses.

Next, present the Revenue Model based on the historical data and the figures forecasted for the next 5 years.  Anticipate the numbers for each type of coffee and highlight the estimated revenue.

Now, present the Break-even analysis as this analysis provides an estimate of the minimum volume of revenue required to cover the fixed cost of business.

Further, showcase the Profit & Loss Statement that summarizes the revenues, costs, and expenses incurred during the period.  the Showcase of the estimated Gross Profit Margin to form an opinion.

Consequently, showcase the liquidity the business carries. So, it’s essential to showcase the Cash Flow Statement .

As this will give an idea, whether there is a sufficient amount of cash during the projected period to plan the expansion of the business.

To give an idea to interested parties regarding the company's financial position to allow them to make informed financial decisions, you need to present a Balance sheet Statement .

Next, the present scenario analysis which showcases the price and cost per product in each scenario which is calculated based on growth rate and inflation rate assumptions in each year. Resultant break-even revenue and profit after tax have been presented based on Nominal, worse than expected, & better than expected cases.

Now, to safeguard the interest of investors, including DCF valuation.  It determines whether an investment is worthwhile based on future cash flows.

Step 7: GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF FINANCIALS

Seeing numbers converted to graphs, charts, and other representations  makes it easier for your audience to digest the information and, in turn, make better business decisions .

So, separately showcase the graphical representation of different financials like EBIT and gross profit. Also showcase total revenue, cash flow analysis, and total assets for the next 5 years.

Step 8: Milestone

You use Milestones  to convert your business strategy and tactics into action . Highlight the major milestone in your business plan. This will influence their decision regarding the business.

Slide 9: Exit Strategy

A business exit strategy is  a plan that a founder or owner of a business makes. To sell their company, or share in a company, to other investors or other firms .

Some of the exit strategies mentioned in the word doc are initial public offers, mergers, acquisitions, venture capital, etc.

An exit strategy  gives a business owner a way to reduce or liquidate his stake in a business. And, if the business is successful, make a substantial profit .

Step 10: Key Abbreviations

Key abbreviations are shortened versions of business words and phrases that convey meaning in professional messages or correspondence. Highlight all the key abbreviations mentioned in the document in the last step of forming your business plan. They assist in making manuscripts easy to read and understand.

Wrapping-up

You have all the information you need to gain an understanding of the market, and the sector, at once in the Coffee shop business plan word PDF document. But creating and organizing the essential components of a successful business plan is not everyone's cup of tea.

Now comes the part we play. A team of researchers and designers at SlideTeam collaborate on projects to write according to client specifications. However, one can even modify the same Word document to suit their particular business requirements.

So, access ten original start-ups and sector-specific investor presentations by purchasing our membership. The price of a membership is only $49.99.

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• Starting a Restaurant, Cafe, or Coffee Shop? Here Are 18 Best Business Plan Templates for You
• Coffee Shop Business Plan Templates: A Pathway to Profitable Brews
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Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

If you want to start a coffee shop business or expand your current one, you need a business plan.

Over the past 20+ years, our coffee shop business plan template has helped over 7,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their coffee shops.

Below are links to each section of a successful coffee shop business plan:

2. Company Overview – Your company overview should include a detailed explanation of the company’s concept, location, products/services offered, customer profile and market size.

3. Industry Analysis – This section involves researching various aspects of the coffee industry such as its size, competitive environment, key players and trends.

4. Customer Analysis – The customer analysis should include a description of your target audience, their needs and how you plan to attract and retain these customers.

5. Competitive Analysis – This should include a description of your competitors, their strengths and weaknesses and how you plan to compete with them.

6. Marketing Plan – Your marketing plan should outline the strategies and tactics for achieving your specific marketing objectives.

7. Operations Plan – This should outline the day-to-day operations of the business, its personnel structure, hierarchy and supplier relationships.

8. Management Team – This section should include a description of the key players in the company, their skills and responsibilities.

9. Financial Plan – The Financial Plan should include your businesses’ financial statements and funding requirements.

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Coffee Shop Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my coffee shop business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Coffee Shop Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your business plan.

Where Can I Download a Coffee Shop Business Plan PDF?

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

What Is a Coffee Shop Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your coffee shop as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business’ goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

It also includes a full financial plan including five year financial projections, your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Why Do You Need a Business Plan?

If you’re looking to start a coffee shop or grow your existing coffee business you need a plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your coffee shop in order to improve your chances of success. Your coffee shop business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.  It is a guide to your overall business planning process.

What Are the Sources of Funding for a Coffee Shop?

The main sources of funding for a coffee shop are bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.

The second most common form of funding for a coffee business or cafe is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding, or, like a bank, they will give you a loan. Venture capitalists will not fund a coffee shop. They might consider funding a chain, but never an individual location. This is because most venture capitalists are looking for millions of dollars in return when they make an investment, and an individual location could never achieve such results.

COFFEE SHOP 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
• 10. Appendix

Start Your Coffee Shop Plan Here

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Starting a Coffee Shop Business Plan (PDF)

Coffee is a delicacy that’ll never get out of style because many people love it. The consumption of coffee is steadily and consistently growing and thus making a coffee shop business very lucrative. The beauty of the coffee shop business is that you can offer many remarkable coffee blends and associated food products that you don’t typically find in homes. This therefore means that as much as people might make coffee at home they would still prefer uniquely-made coffee from coffee shops. It’s also a common trend for people to meet-up for a business meeting or a date over coffee. So a coffee shop business is definitely a worthy undertaking that wields huge prospects. This article will outline how to start the coffee shop business, and the coffee shop business plan – PDF, Word and Excel.

Business Model

The coffee shop business is basically a retail type of business. As such the most common business model for a coffee shop is direct sales. The common items sold in a coffee shop are coffee and certain food snacks. There is room of course to expand the product and service range. For instance, you can find juices, smoothies, and fast foods being served in a coffee shop. The thrust is always to have diverse offerings so as to draw in more customers.

Market Research

Coffee consumption trends tend to be location-specific and highly segmented. There are even possible scenarios where introducing the idea of a coffee shop will be a very new idea to the target market in question. This all means that extensive research must be done to ascertain that a steady stream of customer inflows will be guaranteed.  It’s very possible that after setting up a coffee shop you can fail to get substantial customer inflows so be diligent in research. You must study your competitors. Find out what products or services they’re offering, operating hours, niching approaches, marketing strategies and pricing strategies. You must study the target market to have an idea of their average income levels and coffee consumption habits. The failure to plan is the beginning of business failure. You should ensure that you have a detailed coffee shop business plan before you venture into this business.

Location And Premises

A coffee shop should ideally be located at a place that has high volumes of vehicle and human traffic. In your choice of a location, ensure that you factor in the size of the pool from which potential customers will come from. Be absolutely sure about the income levels of people in that pool. Coffee shops are best situated at shopping centres, in residential areas, shopping malls, central business districts or strategic standalone locations. A coffee shop must be clearly visible to anyone moving up and down in the vicinity.

Your premises must be spacious enough to have parking space that adequately accommodates your customers. The building should be large enough to accommodate all your equipment, offices, and space for customers. Staff and customers must be able to move around without any inconveniences. Your coffee shop business plan should cater for the costs of buying or leasing the premises.

Competitive Analysis

The coffee shop is quite competitive in most places. There are numerous notable coffee shop brands you must consider. That does depend on where your coffee shop business will be located. In some parts of the world you might have to contend with the likes of Starbucks. You have to consider at least 3 significant coffee shops who are your direct competitors. Check out the type of services and products they offer. Study their customers and find out their preferences. Look into why they choose the locations they are using. Find out about their prices and payment options.

Study how they reach out to prospects and how they retain customers. You are doing all this to figure out your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. It also helps to study the dynamics around those who make their coffee at home. Understanding that can inspire strategies you can employ to appeal to that pool. There are many people who make their coffee at home so it a competition element you must study. That is why conducting some poll or survey to better understand people’s needs, comes in handy.

Equipment for a Coffee Shop

If you want to run a cutting-edge coffee shop then there’s a wide range of specialized equipment that you’ll need. Your equipment plays a major role in how your coffee shop will perform. You’ll require things like drip coffee makers (preferably automatic ones), espresso machines, coffee grinders, freezers, refrigerators, storage containers, ovens, toasters, POS system, cooking and baking gadgets plus utensils and blenders, amongst other equipment.  It’ll also be necessary to have cold counter displays or just basic display platforms or containers. So there’s a significant amount of money that’ll be required to purchase the equipment. Obviously tables, chairs, countertops, plates, saucers, spoons, cups, glasses and so on will be needed. The costs of purchasing the furniture and equipment should be included in the coffee shop business plan.

Permits/Licenses, Insurance & Business Bank Account

Start off with formally registering your coffee shop business. Get in touch with your local authorities to get guidance on applying for an operating license. Be prepared for some rigorous assessments which are typical when applying for a license to operate a food business. Contact reputable insurance providers to weigh your options in terms of getting the coffee shop business insured. It is financially prudent to open a separate business bank account for the coffee shop business. It is important that you separate your personal finances from the coffee shop business.

The major product of virtually any coffee shop is coffee or coffee-based beverages. There are also several other types of beverages and wide ranges of foods which are sold in coffee shops. A study of other players or your competitors will give you an idea of what products or services are popular in your area. Your menu has an effect on the number of customers that your coffee shop will attract, so you have to thoroughly research on this aspect. Some of the popular offerings are lattes, espressos, cappuccinos, americano, tea and different types of coffee (gourmet, flavoured, iced or specialties). There are other accompanying treats that can be included such as bread, cakes, bagels, cookies, sandwiches, donuts, croissant, pastries, salads, beverages, blended drinks (e.g. smoothies). The products that you will be offering should be included in your coffee shop business plan.

Staff And Management

Having expert baristas is vital for you to guarantee the production of high quality coffee. From the beginning you should have exceptional baristas working in your coffee shop. Focus on getting passionate and driven staff with hospitality and catering experience. The number of staff needed will depend on the size of your coffee shop and the range of services or products that you offer. Waiters plus cashiers will be needed – they must be passionate about customer care and service. Management size again depends on size of operations but to keep human resource costs low you can start with a lean management. Other required staff include accountants, supervisors, security team, stock controllers and managers, though this depends on the size of your coffee shop.

Your coffee shop should have sufficient number of well trained staff. This is because repeat purchases and ever-growing customer inflows are a product of swift and quality service from the staff. Having a small or skeletal staff makes it very difficult to provide swift service. Remember we are living in a fast-paced world where people don’t want to be kept waiting for too long. The salaries of all your employees must be catered for in the coffee shop business plan.

Marketing And Sales Strategies

Build a digital footprint.

This entails setting up a website and social media accounts. Then you have to actively post and engage with your audience. Your content must be characterised by alluring food visuals. You also have to incorporate online ordering and online payment options. You also have to include delivery options. This will go a long way in driving sales for your business. Regularly hold online contests meant to generate leads. Get notable social media influencers associated with your coffee shop business.

Hosting Events

You can offer a service where people can pay to host events at your coffee shop. This would entail them paying to use the venue and also paying for your food services. You can realize more money in a shorter time this way. Examples of events you can host can be luncheons, parties, weddings, presentations, and the like. Especially if your coffee shop is big and or has a big backyard, you can cash in on this. At the same time, this will put your coffee shop business’ name out there.

Attending Strategic Events

There are a number of events you can attend to showcase your coffee shop business. Such events serve a dual purpose i.e. brand awareness and revenue generation. For example, you can attend trade fairs, expos, entertainment events, and so on. Whilst marketing your coffee shop business you will also be generating revenue.

The market for coffee is huge and ever increasing. Demand for coffee continues to be dominated by instant coffee supported by consumers’ changing lifestyles, particularly amongst the younger generation, which is increasingly opting for convenience to suit their busy lives. More consumers are drinking coffee and spending time and money in restaurants and coffee shops. Some professionals and businesspeople make use of coffee shops for their meetings whilst some like to hang out in coffee shops during their breaks. You should invest lots of time and effort in marketing your business especially on the internet and social media. A proper marketing strategy should be included in the coffee shop business plan.

Keys To Profitability

Personalization or customization is key.

Customers prefer coffee shops that tailor their products or services to their needs. Coffee shops which are rigid and provide generic offerings will not cut it. Make it possible for customers to specify their needs and you should be able to provide them. Nowadays customers are keen on getting personalized or customized services. This is especially so for a coffee business so ensure you can provide that. Build a system that enables data collection and analysis. For instance, having an electronic point of sale system (EPOS) helps in this. This make is easier to know customer preferences and buying patterns informed by data. It will also be essential to inventory management which is pivotal in the coffee shop business.

Customer Loyalty Programme

Customer loyalty can be a huge driver of brand awareness for your coffee shop business. Customer loyalty needs to be encouraged and rewarded. Once customers know their loyalty gets rewarded they will actively spread word of mouth. They will work towards making referrals. The rewards you can offer can be discounts or certain goodies they can win. This marketing strategy is highly effective since most people prefer to try a food service recommended by someone. Customer loyalty programmes are also much cheaper than other marketing strategies. Profitability is boosted by effectively setting up a customer loyalty programme for your coffee shop business.

It is important to appreciate that niching in vital for a coffee business. Your coffee shop business must have a clear brand identity that appeals to a specific niche. Quality, convenience, and speed are core aspects you must ensure in your coffee shop business.

Pre-Written Coffee Shop Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Funding/Bank Loan Version and Automated Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the coffee shop business, we encourage you to purchase our well-researched and comprehensive coffee shop business plan. We introduced the business plans after discovering that many were venturing into the coffee shop business without enough knowledge and understanding of how to run the business, lack of understanding of the financial side of the business, lack of understanding of : the industry, the risks involved , costs and profitability of the business; which often leads to disastrous losses.

The StartupBiz Global coffee shop business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run your coffee shop business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. This is a complete business plan for a coffee shop. It will be easier to plan and budget as you will be aware of all the costs involved in setting up and running the coffee shop business.

Uses of the Coffee Shop Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The coffee shop business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your coffee shop business
• As a coffee shop business proposal
• Assessing profitability of the coffee shop business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

Contents of the Coffee Shop Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The business plan for coffee shop includes, but not limited to:

• Marketing Strategy
• Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortization)
• Industry Analysis
• Market Analysis
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements
• Operational Strategy
• Why some people in the coffee shop business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your coffee shop business

The coffee shop business plan package consists of 4 files

• Coffee Shop Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive Version – 85 Pages)
• Coffee Shop Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive Version – 85 Pages)
• Coffee Shop Business Plan Funding/Bank Loan Version- Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan/funding – 42 pages)
• Coffee Shop Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel File)

The business plan can be used in any country and can be easily edited. The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the markup, salaries etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change. 

Click below to download the Contents Page of the Coffee Shop Business Plan (PDF)

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Get the Coffee Shop Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

Click Buy Now  below to purchase using Paypal, Credit Card, or Debit Card. After you have purchased, you will immediately see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. You will also immediately get an email with the business plan download link. The Pre-written business plan package (PDF, Word, and Excel) costs $30 only!

If you want to purchase multiple business plans at once then click here: Business Plans Store.

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

We wish you the best in your coffee shop business! Check out our collection of business plans  , and more business ideas .

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Why should you even care about a business plan in the first place? If you have the money and passion for doing a business, isn’t that enough? Understand one thing: a sample business plan is not something you can walk away from. If you do not have a business plan, there will be nothing for you to fall back on when something goes wrong. A simple business plan is the blueprint of the business. If your cafe business must succeed, then a restaurant plan must be the number one document to create.

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Coffee Shop Business Plan Sample

Fill the form to download coffee shop business plan example.

The coffee shop business plan is an essential tool for coffee shop owners and those who want to open a coffee shop.

A coffee shop business plan will give you an idea of how much a coffee shop will cost, how those costs will be funded, and how much money you expect to make from it. 

When it’s ready, you can show it to investors, banks, partners, and anyone else who can help you open a cafe. Getting this document right is worth your time and effort, so make sure you do it right.

After helping entrepreneurs in the USA launch more than 400 independent coffee shops , we know that a business plan is vital for success.

We are here to help you write a coffee shop business plan.

Here’s a business plan sample pdf and a template that will give you some inspiration for what should be included in your coffee shop business plan.

Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

A coffee shop business plan template should include the following sections. Let’s look at a coffee shop business plan template and discuss what each section should include.

1. Business Plan Title Page 2. Executive Summary 3. Market Overview 4. Competitive Analysis 5. Swot Analysis 6. Marketing Plan 7. Funding Request 8. Management Summary 9. Financial Highlights

1. Business Plan Title Page

Start with the legal name of your business. Provide the address of a likely location or website if you already have one. Include your company logo at the top or bottom of the title page. On the title page, there should also be a table of contents listing each section and its page number.

What makes a great cover page for a business plan?

Visit our page on business plan cover page examples to download our free business plan cover page templates and create a beautiful cover page yourself.

2. Executive Summary

The Coffee Shoppe will be a business service provider based in Miami, Florida. Founded by Mrs. Nancy Harrigan.  The Coffee Shoppe will offer a menu of services which include coffee, lattes, capacinos, expressos, deli sandwiches and baked goods.

While these services will comprise the initial market entry core, long-term plans call for the integration of storage and relocation capabilities to the business mix.

The local area has been in dire need of a service of this type for some time and The Coffee Shoppe plans to adequately serve them through the consistent delivery of real-time hospitality. 

The market is definitely filled with opportunities but in order to capitalize on them, a strong infusion of working capital must be acquiesced. 

The founder projects needing 100K for their business venture with repayment being made out of the profits that are driven annually. Funding that is secured will be used in a variety of areas including marketing, logistics, management, site procurement as well as the day to day operations of the organization.

The marketing for The Coffee Shoppe will be done through a variety of mediums including the Internet, mass media, print and networking. Internet efforts will center on the creation of a user-friendly website that clearly list all of the core services that will be offered. 

To read the full executive summary, click here to download the PDF

Useful Resource: How to write an executive summary for a business plan

Financial Highlights

3. Market Overview

The Company is entering the market at a time when the industry in which it operates is experiencing substantial growth. According to market research firm IBIS World, the Coffee & Snack Shops Industry has seen an average annual growth rate of 5.8% over the last five years, positioning industry revenue to be around $47.7 billion in

2018. The Coffee & Snack Shops industry is projected to see an average annual growth rate of 1.4% over the next five years, placing industry revenue at $51 billion in 2022.

Market Analysis

Target Market

4. Competitive Analysis

The following is a listing of the primary competitive advantages of the Companv upon entering the market

• Congenial customer service
• A central location wit greater foot traffic Parking facility available for customers
• Soothing ambiance for calm eating
• Excellent visibility from the road
• Aggressive marketing campaian
• Understanding visitors food choices and integrating the same in the menu
• Inviting feedback from customers
• Key understanding of trends and flavor
• The company will hire experienced management and staff

5. Swot Analysis

The following is an analysis of the  SWOT analysis of the coffee shop business as well as the opportunities and threats present in the market.

• Location. The location is one of the primary strengths of the The Coffee Shoppe business model as there are currently no other organizations that have the capabilities to offer the types of services that will be introduced to the market.
• The founder. Founder Nancy Harrigan is a seasoned, strategic business professional with an eye towards success, profit and achievement. These qualities will form the basis of the The Coffee Shoppe brand and be a catalyst that propels the success of the operation.
• Servicing of a need. The services that will be brought to the local residents of Miami are one that is truly needed. The fact that The Coffee Shoppe will be satisfying this need will endear the organization to the customer base and allow for consistently strong growth.
• Lack of funding. Funding is the sole weakness of the The Coffee Shoppe business venture. While funding is a weakness it should be noted that the founder is confident that if adequate funding is secured, she will be able to develop a viable business.

Opportunities

• Limited competition. The limited amount of local competition is the primary opportunity for The Coffee Shoppe as it will give the organization the opportunity to develop a loyal customer base while erecting barriers to entry.
• Small business growth. The projected growth of small businesses will provide another opportunity and will feed opportunities directly into the The Coffee Shoppe pipeline.
• Larger organizations. Larger organizations could possibly realize the opportunities that can be found in the local region and begin entering the market. While this is a threat, the founder believes that with strategic marketing, community efforts and customer service, this threat can for the most part be mitigated.

6. Marketing Plan

Marketing for The Coffee Shoppe will be done through a variety of mediums with television, print and the Internet being the primary drivers. The website will have SEO capabilities and will be developed using all of the latest in web and graphics technologies.

In addition to the home website, plans also call for the creation of a strong social media presence using Facebook.com and Twitter.com with regular updates occurring on each of the aforementioned pages.

Commercial time has already been purchased through ABC and commercial production will begin immediately following funding acquisition. Print marketing will consist of advertisements being placed in publications that are typically read by members of the targeted audience including small business owners and corporate types.

Networking will round out the The Coffee Shoppe marketing mix with the founder joining various networking groups that give her the ability to champion the brand that she has created.

7. Funding Request

8. Management Summary

9. Financial Highlights

Financial Indicators

To learn more about financial indicators, click here to download the pdf

Break even analysis

Profit and Loss Statement

Projected Cash Flow

Projected Balance Sheet

Coffee Shop Business Plan Sample. FAQs:

Starting a coffee shop can vary greatly depending on location, size, and concept. On average, the initial investment can range from $80,000 to $300,000. This includes lease deposits, equipment purchases, inventory, permits, and marketing expenses.

The specific permits and licenses needed will vary based on your location and local regulations. Common requirements include health department approvals, business permits, food service licenses, and zoning permits. It’s crucial to research and comply with all necessary legal requirements.

A successful marketing strategy is essential for attracting customers. Utilize social media platforms, collaborate with influencers, and host events to create buzz around your coffee shop. Offering unique beverages, outstanding customer service, and a welcoming ambiance will keep customers coming back.

While it’s not mandatory, offering organic or fair trade coffee can attract environmentally conscious consumers. It also reflects your commitment to sustainable and ethical practices, which can build a loyal customer base.

Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales revenue, customer retention rates, average ticket size, and social media engagement. Analyzing these metrics will help you gauge the success of your coffee shop and identify areas for improvement.

Implementing a loyalty program, offering personalized perks, and providing excellent customer service are effective ways to retain customers. Engage with your audience on social media, respond to feedback, and continuously improve your offerings based on customer preferences.

Our free real sample business plans will show you how to write a plan that looks as polished and professional as this one.

Click to view the coffee shop business plan sample. Our experienced business plan writers professionally write each business plan and work with you to develop a winning plan.

Coffee Shop Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation

Download coffee shop business plan example pdf.

We will show you some real-world business plan examples so you may know how to write your own, especially if you are seeking a bank loan or an outside investment and need to use SBA-approved formatting.

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How to Open a Café Business

How to Open a Café Business – Ultimate Beginner's Guide PDF

Successfully Opening a Café Business

Opening a café business can be an exciting opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. The sound of steaming espresso machines, delicious food being served, and the lively chattering of customers can pique the interest of any new business owner.

A café is one of many different coffee shop concepts that could work in your community. Finding the right concept for the right location to serve the appropriate target market will be a significant part of your café planning.

In today's post, we'll deep dive into the steps you'll want to take to open a café successfully.

How much does a café business cost?

Several main factors impact the cost of a café which requires two specific budget breakdowns .

The first budget would be your café startup budget . The second cost breakdown would be your operational budget .

Your startups budget will be the money you need to get from Square One to your grand opening. This budget includes your research, planning, legal, and administrative costs. Additionally, your startup budget includes your initial space lease, café buildout, equipment costs, furniture and fixtures, and training.

Your operational costs are centered on the day-to-day or monthly cost of operating your café. This includes your lease, insurance, labor, inventory, taxes, and other expenses.

Since a café often has a more extensive menu and offers indoor seating, the costs of a traditional café are often higher than that of a conventional coffee shop.

These costs will fluctuate depending on the location, size of the kitchen, menu offerings, real-estate, and buildout costs.

For more information, read our post, How Much Does it Cost to Start a Coffee Shop?

Beginner's Guide

Opening a Café Business (Easy Steps)

• pick a cafe concept
• choose a cafe menu
• determine what will make you stand out
• define your branding
• determine your cafe budget
• understand who your cafe customers will be
• setup your business structure
• choose your cafe location
• pick your cafe equipment
• write a cafe business plan
• determine your cafe funding
• choose your cafe roaster
• build out your cafe
• get a cafe license and permits
• develop a coffee brand and marketing strategy
• hire amazing baristas
• always deliver excellence

Trending Articles on Coffee Shop Startups:

Steps open a café business, pick a café concept.

Cafés come in all shapes, sizes, and themes. Even café concepts can vary among other cafés.

What type of café do you wish to have? Perhaps, more clearly, what kind of experience would you want your café customers to have?

Choosing the right café concept to fit your customers in a specific location will be vital to driving sales and keeping your business humming strong.

You will want to settle on a specific niche in the marketplace that offers a unique experience and a different menu. This will help side-step competitors and appeal to customers. 

Choose your café menu

Cafés are often more than just traditional coffee shops and differ in various ways. For example, cafes often have a more extensive menu than traditional drive-thru coffee stands or coffee shops. Some cafes even can have a full kitchen, a large bakery operation, and a coffee roastery. Of course, many cafes also serve alcohol as well. Serving alcohol at your café may require additional permits and licenses, so check with your state's alcohol board.

These are significant undertakings, cost additional money, and require a greater startup budget and operational budget to maintain. But, of course, the benefits of having these operations in-house can improve your sales and increase your profit margin.

Choosing your café menu will play a big part in other big decisions you'll be making. Everything from your space needs, permit requirements, employee wages, and cafe equipment needs will be determined by your café's menu.

Deciding on your menu requires you to grasp what your customers want at the price they are willing to pay.

Determine what's going to make you stand out

Now that you are honing in on a concept and menu, this might be an excellent time to determine how your café will stand out from the competition.

The “special thing” that makes you different will often give you a competitive advantage in the marketplace and separate you from the rest of the choices available.

Perhaps it will be your special soup or your rotating business lunches, or your in-house roasted organic coffee. It could be your decadent pastries or special cakes made by your award-winning baker. It might be the collection of art on your walls, your panoramic view, or the music you offer every night. All these elements and more have the potential to be a unique feature that only your café offers.

We often refer to this particular thing as your Unique Sales Proposition or USP.

Coming up with a winning USP will better position you among competitors and provide you with a solid foothold to make other decisions. This will include your branding, messaging, and marketing efforts. It will also help improve your sales and training and give you a competitive edge. 

Define your cafe branding

As you begin to outline what type of café you will be in, you will also want to develop your café brand and messaging behind it.

Your café branding will include, among other things, your logo, name of business, your use of colors, menu choices, uniforms, etc.

Your branding may be reinforced by your décor, design, and layout, among other things.

Additionally, your messaging – the use of language, slogans, and energy that you communicate via all of your channels (website, social media, signage) – plays a role in what type of café you have chosen.

Your messaging has to appeal and trigger action among your target market to maximize your success and drive sales. So, as you move forward with your business planning, start crafting and refining your logo and overall messaging. If you need help, there are affordable branding experts online who can help design your logo, signs, and other items.

Yet, there are plenty of things you can do yourself before hiring an expert, so keep reading!

Determine your cafe budget

In the early stages of your planning, you will want to sketch out your café startup budget . Of course, the easiest way is to start listing the things you need to get your café up and running.

Your cafe budget will be central to answering the question: How much will your café cost?

This final estimate and budget will take a little planning, realistic estimates, and adjusting.

As you plan out your café business, your budget may naturally increase. Keep a running list and include this budgeting effort in your cafe business plan .

You will also need to create an operational budget. This operational budget will itemize the costs of being open and running your café daily. These two estimated budgets (your startup budget and operational budget) will be essential to understand before you launch your business.

My recommendation is that you don't create and act on your budget in “real-time” or as you go. Instead, determine your café budget first – analyze it against your business plan, then move forward with securing the funds needed to get your café operational – and then spend the money.

Opening a café business

Understand who your café customers will be

There is no secret that your customers play a significant role in your café's success. From generating sales and repeat business to being your most prominent marketers – your customers are the foundation of your profit and continued success.

Start with determining who your customers are. It should be among the first necessary steps you'll need to take. Afterward, you can start molding your entire business to serve them.

Your target market is the general market to which your café will appeal, often based on your geographic convenience, accessibility, and business concept.

If you dig a little deeper – you will also know who your target customers are – or those customers that are most likely willing to buy from you.

Set up your business structure

To operate your café legally, you will have to set up an appropriate business structure. Often, your business structure is created in the state you plan on operating your business. This is done through your specific state's secretary of state office.

Keep in mind that you can still operate your business in other states and regions as long as you have the appropriate business licenses, health permits and complete other requirements for those areas. For example, you might decide to open a coffee business in New York but decide to operate a second coffee shop located in Los Angeles .

Your business structure is an essential part of your café startup process. You'll have several business structures to choose from – such as a sole proprietorship, corporation, limited liability company (LLC) , etc.

Choose your cafe location

Choosing the best location for your café will be the cornerstone of your success. The perfect location can determine your sales strengths and position yourself to maximize exposure.

There are a few essential elements that revolve around your café's location. Your location should be easily accessible to your target market, have parking, and lighting, among others.

You will have to factor in neighboring businesses, competition, and other essential elements in your prospective location. These include neighboring points of interest, parks, farmers' markets, theaters, etc.

Additionally, your location's lease will be critical in moving forward with the location. A poor lease or a lease that makes business difficult may hamper your progress and sales.

For more information, read our post, How to Choose the Best Location for Your Café .

Pick your cafe equipment

Now that you've picked out your concept, your café menu, and you're settling on a location, you'll want to start choosing the café equipment pieces you'll need.

Detail items such as ovens, stoves, and refrigerators. You will also need an espresso machine, commercial coffee grinders, and brewing devices.

Your café equipment will be a significant part of your budget and requires some thoughtful budgeting and comparison shopping. You may also want to include your café displays, menu boards, furniture, and fixtures in your calculations here as well.

For more information on choosing your coffee shop, please read   The Coffee Shop Equipment You Need

Write a café business plan

Writing a café business plan will help get all your thoughts, ideas, and plans on paper. In addition, your business plan will play a key role in helping you organize your thoughts and ensure that all elements of your business are addressed.

A café business plan is written for a small and significant audience. First, your business plan will be read by your potential investors, partners, and bank lenders. Next, your café business plan will also be read by property managers. Most property managers will expect to see a business plan which allows them to understand the nature of your business and operations thoroughly.

For help getting started, please read , How to Start and Write Your Cafe Business Plan.

Determine your café funding

After you've developed your business plan, you will want to secure your funding. Before getting the financing, you will need to establish a café funding mix. Your mix will detail the pools of capital you will utilize to get the money to fund your café startup fully. It will also provide a guidepost to strategize accessing funds from each pool.

Your funding mix will help you prioritize your efforts to secure the funds you need to get your business self-sustaining. 

For a more detailed look at developing your café funding mix, please read our post, Developing Your Café Funding Mix.

Choose your café roaster and vendors

If you decide not to roast your beans, you will need to work with a wholesale coffee roaster .

Choosing a coffee roaster is a big decision. After all, you are banking on their expertise, quality, reliability, and their ability to provide you with as much roasted coffee as needed. Some cafes run through hundreds of pounds of coffee in a week, so your wholesale roaster will need to be able to fulfill those orders.

You may decide to roast your coffee beans yourself, but this decision comes with added costs and other considerations.

In addition to your coffee roaster, you should consider looking at any vendors you might need to work with to fulfill your menu items.

For further reading, please read, How to Choose a Wholesale Coffee Roaster .

Build Out Your Café

After securing your café location and signing your lease, you will probably need to remodel or build out your café. This may require some permitting, and it certainly requires some research to understand what codes and regulations you'll need to adhere to.

My recommendation is that you start early in the cafe design and layout process. Even though you may not have a location yet, you can still understand what is required for you to pass the inevitable health and building inspections. Establish contacts with your various departments. Never start working on your café without first checking with the agencies that will need to approve your design and layout.

Get your cafe license and permits

You will need to get your health department permit, buildings permit, and business license to serve your first customer. Additionally, you may also need to have a fire department permit.

Each of these permits requires you to work with different governmental agencies before opening your café. The good news is that most of these agencies have worked with many café businesses in the past, so they would help you answer any questions you have.

Some agencies like the building department might be at the state level. In comparison, other agencies like the health department will be at the county or city level.

Develop a coffee brand & marketing strategy

Setting your café apart from the rest of the field, in most cases, will be what allows your café to grow into the business you want it to.

You will want to create a brand – everything from your name, logo, slogan, and colors you use.

Your brand will be your banner symbol with which you, your employees, and your customers understand and develop a connection.

As you develop your café brand, you will also want to market your café business. Never believe that your café will succeed on its own simply with the fact that it exists.

Successful cafés figure out ways to effectively market to their target market. By understanding your target market and what you intend to do well, you can craft an effective marketing strategy.

Hire amazing baristas

One of the best things you can do as a café owner is to hire amazing baristas and staff.

Reliable, honest, and skilled staff are hard to come by, so start looking for them early.

Once you hire your staff, do whatever it takes to keep morale high, pay fair wages, offer the opportunity for gratuity sharing, and provide regular barista training. Regular coffee education and barista training will improve your turnover rates.

Deliver excellence every time

Consistently deliver your best. If you have come this far to open your café, you will want to exceed your customers' expectations every time. I acknowledge that delivery consistency every time is hard, but it is necessary when your competitors are hoping you fail.

As a café owner and manager, you will want to offer high-quality products and services by constantly improving, continuously training, adapting, and listening to your customers. Treat your employees well, take steps to show how valuable they are to your business, and go the extra mile for your customers.

Further Reading : How to Start a Coffee Shop Successfully

Opening a Café Business

Additional Questions:

Is it hard to open a café.

Starting a café is not necessarily hard. Instead, it requires devotion and tenacity. There are several steps to owning and operating a café, and they all need to be completed before you can open your doors.

It will be challenging to have the patience, knowledge, and money to get you to the Grand opening. However, many successful café owners, who started with less skill, less money, and less understanding than you, have succeeded because they had the motivation and devotion to follow through. Following through is the hardest part about starting a cafe.

How much money do café owners make?

Café revenue and income vary across the board. However, factors that determine café income and revenue aren't different from other retail businesses and restaurants.

To determine income, you'll need to determine how many sales you have per day, week or month. Additionally, the number of sales needs to be multiplied by the average cost per ticket.

For example, let's take a tiny café open from 7 am to 7 pm, which sells 120 coffees per day, averaging $5 per receipt. That comes out to $600 per day or $4200 per week for coffee. So this would come out to $16,800 per month.

Of course, this includes coffee alone and not muffins, pastries, soups, or other menu items. Additionally, you will want to subtract the operational costs to give you your café's net income and profits.

We take a deeper dive into the revenue and income that is generated by a coffee shop in our article, How Much Does a Coffee Shop Owner Make?

What is the difference between a cafe versus a coffee shop?

A cafe is typically larger and offers indoor (and possibly outdoor) seating. Cafes may also offer waiting services and have a deeper menu. The menu may offer full-kitchen options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are often different hybrids cafes that also offer walk-up or drive-thru options, but typically you'll find a place for customers to sit, look at a menu, order from their items, and wait for their plates to be brought to them. A cafe may often be open later into the evening, serve alcohol , and offer live music.

Should I open up a low-cost coffee business instead?

If you would like to open a café but aren't sure you can manage the cost or secure funding, there may be a variety of other low-cost café options for you to consider.

Options include starting a mobile coffee business, an espresso catering business, or a drive-thru coffee stand . Additionally, you may also consider selling coffee online. Selling coffee online can help you establish your brand, help you target your customers, and provide you with the experience and funding you need to get your café started.

For more information, read Low-cost Ideas for Starting a Coffee Shop with No Money.

Open a Café Business – Ultimate Beginner's Guide PDF

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How to Create a Coffee Shop Business Plan and Executive Summary: Free Template & Guide

By Debra Weinryb

Before you open a coffee shop, you will need to have a coffee shop business plan. This important document acts as a roadmap for your coffee shop business adventure – with everything you need to turn your business dreams into a reality. 

If you’re passionate about coffee but have never written a business plan before, it can be nerve-racking to start. To help you out, we’ve put together a complete guide to writing a successful coffee shop business plan. In this guide, we’ll cover:

• What is a coffee shop business plan?
• How to write a business plan for a coffee shop
• The 10 sections of every successful coffee shop business plan
• A free coffee shop business plan template

Create a custom business plan for your coffee shop concept with this free template.

What is a Coffee Shop Business Plan?

A coffee shop business plan is a document that explains what your business idea is and how it will succeed. It answers several questions, like how you will set up your coffee shop, how you will fund your business, and what revenue you expect to make. It includes information about your marketing plan, sales strategy, coffee shop customers , pricing structure, competitors, required labor, and financial plan.

Similar in length to a traditional restaurant business plan , it’s a succinct document that usually spans 15-20 pages, but no more than 30 pages. Coffee shop business owners can make their plans pop with visuals like photos and designs of their coffee house, and site plans of their retail store. Charts and graphs are also used to show financial inventory information, like how much coffee beans will be purchased monthly and at what cost, for example.

Once complete, you will be able to show your coffee house business plan to potential investors, bankers, and business partners. That’s why it’s so important to dedicate a large amount of time and energy into getting your java shop business plan underway early on.

How to Write a Business Plan for a Coffee Shop

With the proper guidance, your brew shop business plan can be easy to write. That’s why having a coffee shop business plan template is a useful aid for conceptualizing your business and goals before you start to write. Additionally, having a coffee shop business plan example can help you think of key elements to demonstrate your coffee shop’s potential for growth and profitability – which are both important to attract funding.

Elements of a Coffee Shop Business Plan

Executive summary for a coffee business .

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.

The executive summary section describes your business concept, the problem it solves, your target market, financial highlights, lease information, as well as your vision for the menu, products, and how you will service coffee – whether that’s in a kiosk, drive through, pickup, or sit-down coffee shop. 

As you write your executive summary, consider who will read your brew shop business plan and what you would like them to know. After all, you want to capture your reader’s attention and entice them to continue to read or even invest!

Here are a few key points of interest you can mention in your executive summary:

• Ambiance: The character and atmosphere of your coffee shop
• Location: Information on your potential foot traffic, facility/lease, and seating capacity.
• Kitchen storage: Space for multiple blends of coffee or a high-end espresso machine.
• Goals: Your mission statement and guiding principles that will drive your success.
• Funding: What funds you need and how you will use them to achieve your vision.

Business Overview

The Business Overview section takes a deeper dive into the coffee industry as a whole, your local market, and what makes your coffee shop model unique among the competition. Here, start by giving a brief overview as to when and why you started your coffee shop business. In addition, you can include major achievements such as hitting target sales goals or opening new coffee shop locations.

In this section, you can also go into more detail about the business operations of your neighborhood coffee shop . For example, explain what coffee and food products you will offer, your hiring and labor practices, and how you’ll brew coffee. This, of course, will depend on your coffee shop business model. 

Here are a few types of coffee shops and how they could be described:

• Grab-and-go coffee shop: Pickup or drive through only, so folks can grab a cup of coffee in a heartbeat
• Traditional coffee shop: Sells baked goodies and a variety of coffee drinks in a relaxed atmosphere
• The coffee bar: Like a homey living room, with lounge music, WiFi, and fresh coffee

Management and Staff

In this section, you will talk about ownership. Start with the business owner(s) who will manage your coffee shop, and talk about their experiences/qualifications that will make them successful. You’ll also include details of who will take care of your day-to-day coffee shop operations. 

Every coffee shop will need baristas who take care of sales and make drinks, but those that sell food may also need someone to operate basic kitchen equipment. Additionally, you may want to hire someone to do marketing and advertising, or an accountant to take care of your bookkeeping. 

After deciding on what jobs you want to create, you’ll need to identify if they are part-time or full-time, how you will recruit/train them (e.g., barista training), and what you will pay them in wages and benefits. Your employees will factor into your financial forecast and expenses later on in your business plan for a coffee shop, so it’s essential to get a head start on your hiring budget.

Coffee Shop Market Analysis

Your Market Analysis section should show that you’ve looked at your target market, assessed your location, and understand how you’ll compete against other coffee shops in the area. Remember to consider what makes your restaurant unique and what will help it stand out. Here are two ways you can do just that:

Mention if your coffee shop is in a central location, such as near a college where students break for lunch, or next to office buildings where professionals drop in on their way to work. If you are one of many coffee shops in an area, consider pointing out what makes you different, like your wide variety of specialty coffees and the quality of your food.

Customer Analysis

Include information about your ideal customer – with details on who they are, why they shop at your coffee shop, and any metrics. If you performed market research before starting your coffee shop, include that too. For example, if you have data on a high demand for espresso in your area, the sales potential for a drive-through espresso stand could be very promising.

Sample Menu

A section with a sample menu lets investors know exactly what you’ll be serving. Keep in mind that your sample menu should be a differentiator – otherwise, why would investors think that customers should choose your coffee over competitors who serve similar drinks?

Here are a few tips for choosing what to include in your great sample menu:

• Think about the types of coffee beans that could set you apart. Maybe you only serve organic coffee beans, unlike your competitors.
• Cater the types of drinks you serve to your target market. For a young customer, sweet frappuccinos, hot chocolates, and drinks topped with whipped cream can be popular. For health-conscious consumers, options like tea and “light” coffee may perform better.
• If your customers will be hungry, such as students on a lunch break, or employees on their way to work, then consider including food items like pastries.

Marketing Plan and Publicity

An effective marketing plan is essential for bringing new customers through your coffee shop’s door and retaining your loyal guests. In this section, start by describing how you want to drive incoming traffic, in addition to what budget you have in mind, and your expected return on investment. If you have a lot of detailed information, you may want to create a separate marketing plan document.

To cover all your bases, you can include the Four Ps of Marketing:

• Product: What beverage and food products you will offer? For example, will you offer non-coffee drinks, frappuccinos, espresso, or cold brews?
• Price: What is your average price point and how does it compare to competitive coffee shops?
• Place: The location of your coffee shop and how it will impact your success. For example, will you operate kiosks, and if so, where will they be placed to get the most foot traffic?
• Promos: How will you drive customers to your location(s)? Examples include live music, giving free samples, advertising, or partnering with influencers or other organizations.

Business Operations and Operating Plan

The business plan operations section includes the physical requirements of your coffee shop business, like retail space, specialized equipment, supplies, and labor. When describing your business’ operational expenses, also consider showing where your coffee shop is trying to save money. For example, if you are buying used furniture or equipment, let your reader or potential investor know how you are cutting losses. 

Here are a few areas you can include in the operating plan section:

Retail Space

• Space you plan to lease, buy, or rent for your coffee shop
• Parking spaces for a truck or for customers to access your coffee shop

Specialized Equipment

• Coffee machines like a coffee grinder, a brewing machine, or a hot water dispenser
• Specific arrangements like a sandwich prep table, counter space, or a display case
• Technology such as a coffee shop POS to process transactions and track inventory
• List your suppliers according to type – for your coffee beans and other food and drink products
• Menu items you will buy vs. make in your coffee shop, such as croissants or cookies
• The frequency at which you need to restock your coffee shop inventory
• Staff such as a Barista to brew coffee
• Staff to do food preparation, menu creation, and cleaning
• A manager to oversee payroll and human resources

Financial Forecast and Expenses

This is an important section, especially if you need to attract investors to your coffee shop. Since coffee shops are often smaller storefronts, usually with a lower profit margin , this section needs to emphasize how your coffee shop business will grow and be profitable in the long-term. 

Your financial forecast and expenses section should include the following:

• Cash flow statement with monthly projections for all your coffee shop purchases
• Balance sheet to give investors a snapshot of your assets, liabilities and equity
• Break even analysis to demonstrate the sales you need in order to make a profit

Coffee Shop Business Plan: Next Steps and Plan Template

To get ideas of details to include, use a coffee shop business plan sample.

Whether you own a coffee shop or are just starting out, writing a coffee shop business plan is essential to your success. In such a highly competitive coffee market , you need a business plan to show potential investors what makes your store stand out. 

If you’re looking for a coffee shop business plan example, a template is a great place to start. By using a coffee business plan template , you can improve your chances of securing funding or attracting new business partners. Using a business plan sample for a coffee shop will also keep you organized and show readers how your coffee shop can be successful.

FAQs: Coffee Shop Business Plan

If you have any lingering questions, we’ve answered the top coffee shop business plan FAQs.

How profitable is a coffee shop?

A coffee shop business’ profits can range from 2.5% to 85% of gross sales, according to this Chron article . The amount of profit depends on the size of your coffee shop – smaller coffee shops usually have lower profits.

How do you start a coffee shop business?

To start a coffee shop business, do lots of research on the industry and your market so you can plan how to separate yourself, your menu, and the quality of your products from competitor coffee shops. Consider where your coffee shop might be located and what kind of customer base you’ll have. Map out the expected costs for operations, marketing, etc. in a financial plan. This will help you plan a strategy for success so you can create a strong coffee shop business plan to present to potential investors.

How much budget is needed to open a coffee shop?

How much budget you need to open a coffee shop will depend on the location of your business. Start by doing some research on real estate in the area where you want your coffee shop business, suppliers for your menu items, cost of hiring employees, and other operating costs. Also, consider what kind of marketing campaigns – such as email, direct mail, and advertisements – that you might want to run and include those in your budget too.

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

To start a business proposal for a coffee shop, use a coffee shop business plan sample and make sure you include the key sections: an executive summary, business overview, management and staff, market analysis, marketing and publicity, operations plan, and financial forecast and expenses.

Also, make sure you do enough research before you start so you understand how a coffee shop business works, your market, and your competitors, and have relevant facts and figures to support the plan for your new business. 

Debra was a Content Marketing Specialist at TouchBistro, writing about the latest food and restaurant industry trends. In her spare time, Debra enjoys baking and eating together with family and friends.

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Cafe Bistro Coffeehouse Business Plan

Start your own cafe bistro coffeehouse business plan

The Watertower Cafe

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.

The Sweet Auborn District in Atlanta Georgia is in need of a cafe that serves the residents and people that work in the area. The population is growing and the places where people can get a meal are over crowded. The cafe that was serving the function,  Cafe Apres/Diem moved out of the area leaving a opening.

The Watertower is a full-service restaurant/cafe located in the Sweet Auburn District of Atlanta. The restaurant features a full menu of moderately priced “comfort” food influenced by African and French cooking traditions, but based upon time honored recipes from around the world. The cafe section of The Watertower features a coffeehouse with a dessert bar, magazines, and space for live performers.

The casual dining/full service restaurant market is a $100+ billion industry in the United States, with annual increases in revenue outpacing 5% yearly. More and more people are choosing to eat out. One of the most common reasons cited by restauranteurs and industry associations is that women have joined the workforce in record numbers. In fact, from 1955 to 1995, the dollars spent for food away from home rose by almost 20%, coinciding with the number of women entering the work force. With two income earners per household, neither person may have time to fix meals. Since the 1950s, commercial food service sales have continued to rise as more and more people find that eating away from home suits their lifestyles

Competition

The general nature of the competition is typically a 70 to 150 seat restaurant with outdoor seating. The menu prices for entree’s range from $7.00 to over $25.00. All of the surrounding establishments serve, at a minimum, beer and wine. Most serve liquor-spirits as well.

The Watertower will provide accessible and affordable high quality food, coffee-based products, and entertainment to the thousands of residents and hotel visitors located within a five-mile radius. In time, The Watertower will establish itself as a “destination” of choice to the many residents of the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, as well as numerous out-of-town visitors.

Expectations

We expect income to approach $2.1 million for calendar for the first year in business. It should increase to $2.57 million by the end of the third year.

Financial Highlights by Year

Financing needed.

We will start with getting $214,000 dollars to get going.  That is $124,000 from investor 1 and $64,000 from investor 2. We will also be getting a $30,000 loan. We will be able to pay the loan and the investment back by year 3

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Coffee Shop Business Plan

If you’re passionate about great tasting coffee and love serving people, then opening a coffee shop could be a great business venture for you. The coffee industry in the UK has grown dramatically over recent years, and shows no signs of slowing down, representing a great opportunity for coffee-loving entrepreneurs.

In the UK, we drink around 95 million cups of coffee every day , and café culture is big on the high street. 80% of people who visit coffee shops go on a weekly basis, and 16% get their caffeine fix on a daily basis.

Before you dive in and start dreaming about your coffee shop empire, the first step is to create a coffee shop business plan which will get you the funding and support you need to see your café business flourish.

We’ll guide you through each step of creating your own business plan, from planning your sales and marketing strategy, to understanding your ideal customer, to identifying your competitors. As a business owner there’s a lot to take on, but we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.

• Is opening a coffee shop for you?

How much does it cost to open a coffee shop in the UK?

What's included in our coffee shop business plan.

• Your free sample coffee shop business plan template

Summary and recap

Is opening a coffee shop right for you.

As we know, coffee shops are part of a growing market and represent an exciting opportunity for coffee shop owners. The coffee shop market in the UK is expected to hit a £15 billion turnover by 2025.

But the first question you need to ask yourself is: Is this the right business for me?

A business plan will give you clarity on your competitors and help you reach your ideal customers, and show how you can run a successful coffee shop.

You’ll need to consider things like:

• How many major coffee shop brands are in the area (Pret A Manger, Costa etc.)
• How many independent coffee shops are based nearby
• Any existing brand loyalty

Your start-up costs will depend on things like the kind of equipment you need to buy, how many staff you need and the size of your premises. Start-up costs generally run between £20,000 to £100,000 in the UK.

This may sound scary, but there are ways that you can save money. Leasing and buying second hand equipment is just one simple way to prevent overspending.

A business plan for your coffee shop will help you anticipate your costs and budget appropriately. We’ll help you work out how to raise capital for your business and take into account your current financial situation.

We’ll run through every step you’ll need to take to open your coffee shop. Remember, if you’re planning to secure funds from a bank it’s essential that the business plan for your coffee shop is as thorough as possible.

Included within our coffee shop business plan template, you’ll receive:

• A fully completed coffee shop business plan
• Break-even analysis (12-month analysis)
• Complete business plan guide
• Business plan template (.doc and .PDF)
• Financial planning wizard

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Below, we’ll walk you through an example of a coffee shop business plan. Remember, this is only a guide. You should take the time to write a business plan for your coffee shop in much more detail.

When it comes to your café business, we really believe that you can’t over plan for your enterprise

Step 1: Executive summary

This is a short, snappy summary that grabs the readers attention and acts as your business pitch. You want a concise overview, not a novella. Investors hear hundreds of these pitches, so you’ll need to think about how to make yours stand out.

Three top tips for writing your executive summary:

• Keep it short and sweet. Under two pages is best
• Stick to positive, upbeat language
• Read it aloud to a friend. Does it flow well, and do they understand what you’re trying to say?

Use your executive summary as a chance to shout about what a great opportunity your coffee shop is and what sets you apart.

Step 2: Company overview

A company overview (or company summary) gives you the chance to introduce yourself, your business and any key stakeholders. This “meet and greet” will tell your readers who you are, what you do, and who your customers are.

Just like your executive summary, this should be short and punchy. Your reader needs to quickly grasp who you are and what you do.

Five key things to add to your company overview include:

• Company history, when your business started and why
• Key objectives and goals
• Your management team
• Your ideal customer or target market
• Basic company information, like the name and location

Another top tip for writing a company overview is to put yourself in your reader’s shoes: Why should they put their money into your coffee shop?

To answer this question, focus on areas you know will interest your potential investors.

You should consider:

• Your local community and local market
• Your unique selling point, what separates you from other coffeehouses?
• Opportunities for expansion (venue hire, loyalty programs, food options, etc)

Use this section of your business plan to show what you want to accomplish, but remember to keep it high-level. Don’t overload your reader with too many details.

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Step 3: Management and key personnel

No man or woman is an island, and you’ll need the support of a great team to help make your coffee shop business a success. In this section you’ll detail your management team, staff and resources.

Three key items to include in your management and key personnel section:

• The ownership structure. Is it just you, a partnership or a corporation?
• Your management team. Who are they? What are their roles? And what’s their experience?
• Human resources. How are you going to find new staff once you’re up and running?

One more thing, it’s unlikely that your team will be working for free, so don’t forget to include details on things like salaries, benefits and pensions.

Step 4: External analysis (market research)

Before launching any business it’s vital that you know your market. This section will help you understand the threats and opportunities in your market.

You’ll need to get a grip on your competitors, your ideal customer and whether the market can support and sustain your business.

Let’s take a look at your ideal clients first.

Who’s going to visit your coffee shop?

Sketch out your target customer. Are they parents meeting after the local school run? Or busy office workers grabbing a quick espresso on the way to work? You need to know whose needs you are serving so that you can make a targeted offer.

Think about:

• How will you attract new customers?
• How will you keep them coming back?
• What makes you better than your competitors?
• How much will your coffee cost?

Next, you need to scope out the competition…

How many cafés are near you?

There are literally thousands of coffee shops across the country. As of 2019, there were 10,604 non-specialist outlets in the UK , up by 292 shops from 2018. So how will you stand out from your competitors?

• Who’s selling coffee in your area, and what do you know about them?
• How many coffee shops are close by? And how close are they?
• What is the average cost of a cup of coffee in your town, city or village?
• Is it easy to get to your coffee shop? Is there a lot of customer footfall nearby?

One top tip for writing this section of your business plan is to put yourself in your customer’s shoes. What do they need from your business? What is the problem that needs to be solved (e.g. they need a hot drink to set them up for the day). How do you solve that problem better than your competitors?

Step 5: Your business objectives

You need to think short-term and long-term here. Where do you want to be in a month or six months? A year or five years? And how will you get there?

In this section, list the specific steps you’ll need to take to achieve your objectives. You can keep track of your goals and objectives using the S.M.A.R.T criteria.

S.M.A.R.T goals are:

To help you determine your business objectives, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Is my business targeting a niche market, or a broad one?
• What revenues do I expect to see in a year, or five years?
• How many customers should I have in six months?
• How will I build my market presence?

Demonstrate how you will woo clients to your coffee shop and establish a loyal customer base.

Step 6: Services, coffee equipment and amenities

Deciding what equipment you need to open your coffee shop will give your investors a clear idea of how much funding you need to get started.

Some of the initial things on your shopping list will include:

• Coffee machines, (like an espresso machine and a coffee roaster) fridges and dishwashers
• Coffee bean supplies, and any foods you make in-house or buy-in.
• Shelves and storage containers
• Seating and tables

The key here is to be realistic, and not overspend. Consider the size of your market and the needs of your customers before buying anything.

Additional services and amenities to think about:

• Takeaway services
• Delivery services

Step 7: Financial forecasting and financial projections.

Let’s get real here, your backers want to see cold, hard numbers, and feel confident that they will get a return on their investment. Spelling out your financial future can be tricky, but it’s an essential part of your business plan.

You’ll need to provide:

• Sales forecast
• Expense budget
• Cash-flow statement

When it comes to expenses, you’ll need to budget for things like:

• Purchase estimations
• Hiring costs
• Building/construction work

Don’t limit yourself to a single source of income. Obviously you’ll make money from selling your coffee, but consider how you can diversify your income.

Other forms of income from your coffee business could include:

• Selling food
• Renting out your space to groups
• Hosting local events

Remember, your financial forecast needs to be well-informed and attainable. But it doesn’t need to be 100% accurate. Things will likely change over the next few years and you’ll need to adapt. This plan will give your readers an idea of what you expect to happen in the future.

We’ve taken all of the hard work out of planning your finances for your coffee shop.

Download your coffee business plan template instantly below.

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Step 8: Funding

Now, you need to consider how you will secure funding for your business idea. Where is the money for your business coming from?

Are you funding your coffee shop with your own cash, or is the money coming from outside investment? Your backers will need to know exactly where the cash will come from, and how much you still need to raise.

You might already have funding in the form of:

• Personal loans
• Partners or sponsors
• Family/friends

You need to be clear to your investors about how much money you need, now and in the future. Detail how you’ll use any investment, such as paying for supplies or equipment, paying debts or hiring staff.

You’ll also need to balance your funding request between making sure you have enough to survive, but not more than is necessary. Ask for what you need, but don’t get greedy!

Your free sample coffee shop business plan

If you need an example of how a coffee business plan might look, we’ve pulled together a small Word template that you can use to get you started for your coffee business plan outline.

Included in this template, you’ll get:

• An example of your executive summary
• Products/services on offer
• Staff and management structure

Download.doc here

Launching your own business can be a nerve racking venture. The coffee shop market is a crowded place, but the good news for new business owners is that people love an independent coffee shop. Research has found that 7,022 independent cafés operate in the UK, with a value of around £2.4 billion.

By creating a well-thought out business plan you will get your business off the ground and help you to anticipate any future problems. A succinct business plan will show potential backers that you’re a solid investment and set you up for future success.

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