Coffee shop business plan with calculations. How to open a coffee shop in 2020

The coffee business in our country is quite profitable and, which is typical, quite a popular way of earning money. Coffee is becoming one of the most common drinks among our citizens. It’s quite easy to explain: the busy pace of life, hard work, and the wonderful taste of this drink.

The article presents a ready-made business plan for a coffee shop. We also advise you to consider a business plan for a coffee shop on wheels, as well as a business plan for an anti-cafe.

In addition, coffee is not limited to one or two types. There are many ways to prepare it, among which everyone will find something for themselves. That is why the so-called “snails” and other street coffee shops are in such crazy demand.

There is a very common misconception that people drink coffee most often in winter to keep warm. I would like to develop this myth, since the whole truth of the coffee business is that for true coffee connoisseurs, the heat will not be an obstacle to their favorite drink, secondly, it has long been known that hot drinks quench thirst better than cold ones and, thirdly, there is a range of drinks a la “iced coffee”. Therefore, the coffee business cannot be called seasonal.

The coffee business in Russia and the CIS countries ranks second among other types of earnings. The reasons are quite clear - you don’t need huge financial investments to open this business, and the profit is quite large. A year after opening one more or less successful coffee shop, the owner will be able to open another business based on the coffee shop, or even several.

Industry and Market Analysis

Before opening an establishment, make sure that the business will not be a losing proposition: analyze how high the probability of future success is. The main thing that needs to be done before opening is to take into account the relevance of the idea as a whole, the characteristics of the coffee shop’s target audience, the nuances of competitors’ work, and draw up a well-thought-out business plan.

Relevance of the idea

The restrictions did not force people to give up socializing over a cup of coffee, and opening a coffee shop remains a profitable project in the long term: according to surveys, 30% of Russians drink at least three cups of coffee every day, and 40% of coffee shop visitors go to the establishment every day - these figures are higher than in some European countries. Some customers don’t even drink coffee; they come to the coffee shop with friends and buy tea, water, and other drinks. In general, Russian consumers' interest in coffee is growing: on average, coffee shop attendance is growing by 10-12% per year.

The financial profitability of the idea is achieved due to fairly high prices for coffee, other drinks and snacks when purchasing these items from suppliers at minimal prices, especially when we are talking about a franchise - for establishments of recognizable brands, suppliers are more willing to offer discounts.

The target audience

The age and occupation of the representatives of the target audience differs in details: for example, the “coffee to go” format is preferred by young clients - 18-30 years old, while more classic coffee shops where you can quietly drink coffee are chosen by visitors 30-45 years old. A random guest who passes by and decides to visit the establishment can be any age and his occupation can also be anything - such random customers often come in during the daytime and become regular visitors to the coffee shop if they are satisfied with the prices, quality of coffee, other products and service.

By occupation, customers of coffee shops of any format can be divided into five categories:

• students come for a glass of coffee in the morning and at lunchtime: 08.00-10.00, 12.00-16.00;
• employees working in the office: like to drink coffee and have a snack from 12.00 to 16.00, sometimes in the evening - later than 19.00;
• heads of various institutions conducting business negotiations in coffee shops: come from 12.00 to 18.00;
• freelancers and housewives prefer to leisurely drink coffee or another favorite drink during the quiet period: 11.00-15.00;
• families - mom, dad, children - visit coffee shops on weekends, most often during the daytime.

Competitor assessment

It is impossible to draw up a working business plan for a coffee shop with proper accounting of income and expenses without evaluating the activities of competitors’ establishments. Competition in the industry is high, especially in cities with a population of over a million: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, there are about 20 coffee shops per 100,000 residents (of which not all drink coffee). There are noticeably fewer competitors when opening a coffee shop in relatively small towns: 7-10 establishments for the same 100,000 citizens.

The competitors of a newly opened coffee shop are any outlets selling coffee:

• network outlets serving coffee and desserts: “Shokoladnitsa”, Surf Coffee and the like;
• fast food companies: McDonald's, Burger King and others;
• non-chain coffee shops, cafes, sometimes even canteens become competitors;
• coffee-to-go outlets;
• coffee vending machines in places where potential clients work or study.

Count the number of competitors in the area where you plan to open your own outlet, first of all taking into account the work of direct competitors and only then - indirect competitors. Find out about the nuances of your competitors' work: USP of establishments, prices, assortment, approximate ratio of income and expenses, level of quality of equipment and customer service. To successfully join the fight for customers, you will have to come up with something that will distinguish your coffee shop from similar establishments: an unusual USP, a bonus system, an original design, and not trivial advertising.

Non-franchise coffee shops with which the consumer is not yet familiar will have an especially difficult time in the fight for visitors - they will need to come up with particularly creative moves, work without profit for some time, or add additional advertising costs to the business plan.

It will be easier for franchise establishments: customers are more willing to choose catering establishments with at least a remotely familiar name.

It’s not hard to come up with a coffee shop name!

At first, it seemed to me that choosing a name for a new establishment was one of the most difficult tasks. In practice, everything turned out to be simpler. The main thing is that the invented word (phrase) is memorable.

The connection between the name and the activities of the establishment is required. So, if you opened a coffee shop and called it “Tea Traditions,” then nothing good will come of it. Focus on reputable clients, so the name should be appropriate.

Before naming the coffee shop, answer a few questions for yourself - who will come to the establishment, how the new name will be perceived, what associations it evokes in people.

For example, one name will be suitable for a youth establishment, but when opening a coffee shop for respectable people, it may not be suitable.

When developing a name for my coffee shop, I proceeded as follows. First, I decided on the clientele and concept of the future establishment (target audience).

Afterwards, an analysis of competitors’ establishments was carried out, in which I came up with a dozen names that were attractive in my opinion. At the last stage, I checked each of the options through acquaintances, friends and family, selected and approved the final decision.

How to choose a company name (come up with a brand)

How to choose a coffee shop format

Conventionally, all coffee shops can be divided into 2 formats:

• express coffee shops, where people come to quickly drink coffee and choose dessert or light snacks;
• atmospheric establishments with an emphasis on a variety of coffee varieties, unusual dishes, and spectacular design.

Clarification:

Although there are more express format establishments in any city than atmospheric coffee shops, it is easier to acquire regular customers and make the project profitable when opening an express coffee shop. It’s not so easy to find regulars at an atmospheric coffee shop, especially if similar establishments already operate in the city, and the name of the newly opened outlet doesn’t mean anything to potential customers.

The most promising coffee shop formats for large cities and smaller towns:

• single-coffee shop format;
• coffee cars (cars from which coffee is sold);
• coffee islands (kiosks).

Monocoffee shops

Mono-coffee shops are in demand in Europe; in Russia this format is still gaining popularity: the new mono-coffee shop has every chance for rapid development.

The operation of a single-coffee shop requires a small selection of snacks and the absence of a large hall for guests - only a few tables for those who want to drink coffee, drinks and snacks indoors. The main thing in a single-coffee shop is excellent quality coffee and speed of service. Almost half of visitors - 45% - go to a mono-coffee shop to take coffee or another drink with them.

The main target audience of the monocoffee shop is office workers aged 30-35 who come in to order coffee and snacks before work, after work, or during their lunch break.

Coffeemobiles

A coffee mobile is an option that, with the right approach, will quickly pay for itself and begin to make a profit. Starting to work on a coffee truck is easier than opening a standard coffee shop: you will need less financial investments and less time to open, you will not need a premises for work at all.

Another advantage of a coffee car is the ability to be located in a place where potential clients gather without competitors working nearby: in the area of ​​recreation areas or, conversely, closer to office buildings. Trade from a coffee truck involves a large selection of coffee, drinks, and a limited selection of food: customers can be offered snacks and frozen baked goods.

Coffee islands (kiosks)

Opening a retail coffee island will require small financial investments compared to a classic coffee shop. By choosing a good location for your kiosk, you can recoup your investment in a few months.

The coffee island format offers a large selection of coffee, tea, cocktails and other drinks, and a small assortment of snacks and desserts. Coffee kiosks are convenient because, if necessary, the establishment can be transported to another location.

The target audience

The target audience of the coffee shop also depends on the chosen model. Let's consider each of the options.

Coffee to go

For such a coffee shop, the main audience will be young people from 18 to 30 years old, who are in a hurry to go to school and work in the morning and stop to buy a cup of coffee. As a rule, they have an average or low level of income, so the service and interior of the mini coffee shop are not important to them, the main thing is the quality of the drink itself. The highest flow of customers in such a coffee shop will be observed from morning until lunch; by evening it decreases several times. For customers, coffee itself is most in demand; snacks and desserts are in low demand. Based on this, it is necessary to install a good coffee machine in such a coffee shop and purchase several types of coffee. It is better to buy snacks and desserts that are low perishable and can sit on display for several days. This will help attract more customers and reduce costs. Also, a coffee shop of this type must open an hour and a half before the start of the working day. An entrepreneur should analyze what time people's activity begins in this area of ​​the city and open a coffee shop about 30 minutes earlier. Many people neglect this and open coffee shops from 10 a.m., when most people are already at work. Because of this, a coffee shop even in a successful location can fail. It is better to close the coffee shop earlier, but also to start work earlier.

Atmospheric coffee shop

The target audience of such a coffee shop will be coffee connoisseurs. They will come precisely to try a new type of coffee and enjoy the taste of the drink. The income level of visitors to such a coffee shop will be above average, so the interior and service will be important to them. Also, in addition to coffee, such an establishment should offer hot dishes so that visitors can have lunch. The main peak of customers occurs in the afternoon. A cozy interior coffee shop must meet the high level of clients so that business meetings and events can be held there. Therefore, when designing an interior, it is necessary to seek the help of a professional designer. In a coffee shop of this type, little things and nuances are important, from interior details to service. An entrepreneur should pay great attention to the menu, in particular not only coffee, but also hot dishes and snacks. All dishes on the menu must be combined with coffee and other hot drinks. And the most important thing in such a coffee shop is the staff: baristas, cooks and waiters. Baristas must be able to prepare a large number of types of coffee, moreover, they must be able to understand the needs of the client and serve him a suitable drink for the occasion. Chefs must be highly qualified, which will allow them to quickly and tasty prepare all dishes from the menu. And the waiters must be polite and courteous; the atmosphere in the coffee shop depends on them, and this is the most important thing.

American coffee shop

This is a coffee shop that can be visited by people with low and middle income, as well as with high income. People go to such an establishment when they need a quick snack, and preference is given not to the interior, but to the location and quality of the food. This type of coffee shop has the largest target audience, but at the same time the strongest competition. It is an intermediate establishment between an atmospheric and an express coffee shop. In it, visitors can quickly grab what they need and go about their business, or sit and relax. Therefore, it should combine the simplicity, functionality and speed of preparing drinks from an express coffee shop and the comfort and convenience of an atmospheric coffee shop. American style coffee shops are most popular among visitors because it is convenient and practical for them. But the competition among such coffee shops is the greatest. Therefore, an entrepreneur must, before opening an establishment, analyze the work of competitors and find what will distinguish his establishment from others. This could be an assortment of snacks and desserts, promotions and bonuses for regular customers, a convenient location, a high-quality advertising campaign, events held in a coffee shop and other options. The more advantages an establishment has over its competitors, the more likely it is that it will be popular with visitors.

Fixed price coffee

This is a new direction of the coffee shop, which is just beginning to conquer the market. The main concept of this establishment is that all dishes on the menu are sold at one fixed price. This could be coffee, tea, desserts, salads and snacks. As a rule, this price is below the market average, but this does not mean that the coffee shop is operating at a loss. The entrepreneur's benefit is that some of the dishes from the menu are sold at a reduced price, and some are sold at an inflated price, and the difference in their cost compensates for the losses. The interior, service and assortment in such a coffee shop differ slightly from a regular express coffee shop, that is, its main difference is only in the fixed price. The benefit of entrepreneurs in this business model is that competition among such coffee shops is minimal, since they are just entering the Russian market. And if you manage to open your own establishment in time, you can occupy a strong niche.

Is it worth opening a coffee shop as a franchise?

When drawing up a business plan for opening a coffee shop, immediately decide whether you will work as a franchise or try to advance on your own. Working as a franchise is certainly easier, but this model also has both advantages and disadvantages.

pros

All the advantages of opening and operating a coffee shop as a franchise are related to the fact that it is essentially a ready-made business:

• the franchisor will select premises - perhaps more than one option - in a busy area, but without competitors nearby;
• the name of the establishment will be familiar to townspeople;
• The franchisor undertakes advertising promotion of the coffee shop;
• A brand with a name will probably already have trusted suppliers - working as a franchise, you won’t have to look for where to buy equipment, coffee, or other products;
• Even an entrepreneur without experience can handle opening a coffee shop as a franchise: the franchisor will provide ready-made instructions for developing the establishment or assign an employee to help with a successful opening.

Minuses

The negative aspects of working under a franchise are associated with the same factor as the positive ones - attachment to the parent company:

• you cannot change suppliers, even if more profitable options are found;
• strict control by the franchisor over compliance with network regulations, penalties for violations up to and including termination of the contract;
• when working under a franchise, the need to pay a one-time lump-sum fee: 1.5-2.5 million rubles and royalties at established intervals: 3-7%.

Now a new offer has appeared on the market - anti-franchise. The format does not have the disadvantages of a franchise: there is no need to pay fees, the selling company and the buying company are connected by partnerships, and not by a “superior-subordinate” relationship. At the same time, almost all the advantages of working under a franchise will remain when opening and developing an anti-franchise business, for more details see the link: https://franchise.bravos.coffee/?utm_source=im_bravos&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bisnes_plan

Menu

The most important product in a coffee shop is coffee.

, therefore, first of all, any coffee shop should offer several varieties of this drink. Usually these are classic ones - Americano, espresso, cappuccino and latte. It is also necessary to add several types of tea, water and juice, for those people who accompany a coffee lover but do not drink it themselves. In addition, in express coffee shops and American-style coffee shops, customers should be presented with several options for dessert and hearty snacks to choose from. And in the atmospheric coffee shop this is complemented by hot dishes that are prepared in the establishment’s own kitchen. It is also profitable to offer not only classic coffees, but also signature drinks. Moreover, the more interesting and varied the menu in an atmospheric coffee shop, the greater the flow of people it will attract. When choosing desserts and snacks for a coffee shop, you should focus on the time of year. In summer, light and delicate desserts are more popular, and in winter, baked goods and hearty snacks are in demand. There are two options for a coffee shop - you can prepare desserts and snacks yourself, or you can purchase ready-made ones and resell them. In the first case, additional costs will be required for organizing a kitchen and hiring a cook; the second option is simpler and is preferable to use at the first stage of the coffee shop. But the main thing is not to purchase desserts and snacks from direct competitors, so as not to spoil the reputation of the establishment. For an express coffee shop, having your own kitchen is not necessary, the main thing is that there is always a supply of desserts and snacks. Since this is not the main product in a coffee shop, you can use snacks, candy bars, and chocolate as desserts, since they do not spoil for a long time. In an atmospheric coffee shop, having your own kitchen and own production of snacks and desserts is a must; this is what will distinguish this establishment from its competitors. But in an American-style coffee shop, both options are applicable. You can buy ready-made desserts and snacks there, or you can produce them on site.

Organizational plan

A clear plan is useful when starting any business. If you are determined to succeed in opening a coffee shop, draw up an organizational plan with tasks and deadlines: a visual list will not let you forget about important things, deadlines for their completion and approximate financial investments.

Task

In the tasks of the plan, write down the necessary points for opening a retail outlet - even small things that are easiest to forget about without a plan:

• conclusion of a premises rental agreement;
• preparation of documents for tax authorities and Rospotrebnadzor;
• opening a bank account;
• renovation of premises, purchase of equipment and furniture;
• obtaining a fire inspection report;
• search for employees: through services on the Internet, based on recommendations from friends;
• registration of contracts for the provision of utility services, waste removal;
• control over the availability of medical books among coffee shop employees.

Deadline

Set a specific date for completing each task in your plan so that you can open the coffee shop on time. Deadlines are disciplined, but try to set realistic deadlines - you won’t be able to open a coffee shop in two days. In organizational terms, tasks and deadlines may look like this:

1. Premises rental agreement. October 1, 2020
2. Preparation of documents for work. October 4, 2020
3. Submission of documents. October 10, 2020, etc.

Coffee shop automation: why it’s needed and how it helps in your work

We do not recommend starting a business without coffee shop automation. If you don't count your money, you will never have enough. Automation is needed in order to maintain correct commodity accounting, which flows into financial accounting.

First of all, you need to buy automation equipment:

• Tablet
• Receipt printer
• Money box
• Router

This is a must-have shopping list. On average, this will cost you about 20,000–25,000 UAH or 55,000–65,000 rubles. When you have created a product range and a list of suppliers and a menu with technological maps is ready, you will need to fill out the program yourself.

Why on your own? Because none of your employees will do it as well as you will. Alternatively, you can contact Poster specialists who will help you get started. This will make future accounting much easier, and you will see everything that happens in your project. To understand how to correctly fill out the Poster accounting program, you can also watch training videos.

Accounting system for a coffee shop on a tablet

Connect Poster to maintain detailed warehouse and financial records

The main thing is not to ignore this, but start keeping all records from the first day. You will need the two weeks that Poster gives you to test and configure the program to fully function. You can count on this: if you open in two weeks, then you need to start filling out technological maps today and not start until all the information is entered correctly.

What will the accounting program give you?

You will see balances every day, be able to control employees, view sales statistics and influence the average bill. You will see which categories of products work best for you, and which ones you make money on, and also track all the shortcomings and mistakes of your employees. The most important thing is that you can manage all this remotely.

Marketing plan

Advertising is an important part of a successful opening, creating a positive image and gaining a foothold in the market. In conditions of high competition, it will not be possible to get by with one type of advertising - for example, distributing leaflets in the area where the coffee shop is opening - you will need to follow a marketing plan: think through a portrait of a potential client, all possible advertising channels, and a loyalty program plan.

Potential client

An easy way to understand exactly what your potential client looks like is to observe visitors to competitors' outlets located nearby: this way you will find out the gender, age, income level, place of work or study of a typical representative of your target audience. According to research, visitors to coffee-to-go establishments and customers of regular coffee shops differ from each other:

• potential client for “coffee to go”: 18-30 years old, average or below average income, do not focus on the design of the establishment, rarely order snacks, prefer inexpensive coffee and other drinks;
• potential client of an ordinary coffee shop, for example, a monocoffee shop: 30-45 years old, income level is low, medium or high, they appreciate the establishment for its close location to the place of work, high-quality coffee, drinks and food.

Advertising channels

The advertising strategy depends on the interests of the target audience; the promotion plan may include:

• advertising the establishment on social networks;
• contextual, targeted advertising;
• handing out leaflets on the street;
• creating your own website;
• cross-marketing: mutual advertising with an establishment of a different format, not a competitor, located nearby (sports club, beauty salon, etc.).

Loyalty programs

When developing a loyalty program, calculate the future costs of bonuses for customers: expenses should not exceed the income specified in the business plan.

Possible points of the coffee shop loyalty program plan:

• discount cards for regular customers;
• savings cards;
• bonuses that customers can spend only in your coffee shop;
• promotions “Coffee as a gift when purchasing a dessert”, “Student discount” if the main visitors of the coffee shop are students.

Costs: how much does it cost to open a coffee shop?

You can safely expect that in order to open a turnkey coffee shop that will be different from hundreds of other coffee shops on the market, you will need an average of $1,000 per 1 square meter. It includes:

• equipment,
• repair,
• furniture,
• inventory,
• first purchase
• consulting services,
• graphic designer services and interior design services.

You can do it cheaper, but then you will most likely be the same as everyone else. Therefore, if you want to stand out, be different in the market and have a large number of loyal customers, then most often you need to spend a little more.

For example, Coffee Cake coffee shops, which we opened in Boryspil and Irpen, cost just $1000 per 1 square meter.

Below we have attached a sign with an investment budget for a coffee shop, where all models of equipment are described in detail, with their approximate market prices, so that you can be guided by these figures.

Financial plan

By drawing up a financial plan, you can immediately calculate how long it will take for the coffee shop to recoup its investment and make a profit. The financial plan depends on the format of the establishment - it is cheapest to open a coffee shop with coffee and drinks to go, and on the locality - in small towns the cost of rent, repairs, advertising, purchasing a franchise, and some other expenses are lower.

An example of a financial plan for opening a coffee-to-go outlet in a medium-sized city without purchasing a franchise (cost amounts in the plan are indicated in Russian rubles):

• purchase of equipment, furniture - 200,000;
• sign, equipment for work - 7,000;
• airbag - expenses for the next three months: rent, employee salaries, payments to suppliers - 250,000.

According to the financial plan, the minimum cost to open a coffee shop is 457,000.

Clarification:

when purchasing a franchise, the need to renovate the premises and advertising promotion, the amount for opening will increase accordingly.

Service staff

The most important thing you should consider in the coffee business. Coffee won't sell itself. The barista(s) must be polite and neat in order for people to want to buy coffee from him/her. One unpleasant conversation or a wrong word can ruin the impression of the entire establishment. But no one wants notoriety, right?

In order to save money on staff costs, you can either pay the barista extra for cleaning the premises, or hire 1 part-time employee for the position of office cleaner.

Stages of opening a coffee shop and costs

There can be a different number of stages in opening a coffee shop: from five or more. Perhaps, before starting work, you will need consultations with designers or other specialists - then the number of stages will increase. The minimum steps to open a new outlet that almost all entrepreneurs go through are:

• registration and paperwork for opening a coffee shop;
• search, repair of premises;
• purchase of equipment, furniture;
• menu development;
• personnel selection;
• advertising.

Registration and paperwork

Regardless of whether the coffee shop will operate as a franchise or you will do business on your own, before opening you will need to do the following:

1. Register an individual entrepreneur or LLC. When submitting documents to the tax service, indicate the OKVED code to which the establishment will correspond.
2. Choose a suitable tax system. It is most profitable for a coffee shop to work according to UTII and simplified tax system, but you need to take into account the restrictions on these systems: a limited number of employees, restrictions on income and premises area. For a single-coffee shop and the “coffee-to-go” format, restrictions usually do not matter.
3. Send a notification to Rospotrebnadzor about the start of operation of the establishment.
4. Obtain permission to install a sign.
5. Conclude contracts for the provision of utility services: water supply, electricity supply, garbage removal, etc.
6. Obtain permits to operate a coffee shop from the SES and fire inspection.

Premises for a coffee shop

For a coffee shop, a place where there are always a lot of people is suitable: near offices, educational institutions, transport stops, shopping centers.

The size of the room depends on the format of the establishment: for an express format coffee shop, 10-20 meters is enough, for a monocoffee shop - 20-100 square meters.

Possible costs for the premises:

• rent;
• designer services;
• renovation of premises;
• sign installation;
• conducting Wi-Fi;
• purchase and installation of alarm systems, CCTV cameras.

Equipment and furniture for a coffee shop

The amount of equipment and furniture is directly related to the format and scale of the point. Minimum required set to open:

• coffee machine, coffee grinders;
• at least two refrigerators;
• Dishwasher;
• water filter;
• small household appliances: microwave, mixer, juicer;
• desks for staff;
• tables and chairs for clients (if necessary);
• bar counter.

Coffee shop menu

Coffee is the main item on the menu of any coffee shop; there should be as many types of coffee as possible: from popular cappuccino, latte, espresso to signature options. In addition to coffee, other drinks are usually added to the coffee shop menu: tea, juices, cocktails.

A small express coffee shop does not have its own kitchen; light desserts can be offered as snacks: ice cream, chocolate, frozen pastries. The menu of a larger coffee shop can be supplemented with a variety of drinks, salads, and hot dishes (if you have your own kitchen).

Staff

A takeaway coffee outlet will require a minimum of staff:

• barista, who also serves as cashier and cleaner;
• accountant;
• cleaner to thoroughly clean the premises.

A larger coffee shop will need to hire more workers:

• administrator;
• cooks;
• waiters;
• barista;
• cleaners;
• accountant.

Coffee shop advertising

You can connect to existing advertising channels:

• creating your own application;
• tastings of coffee and other products inside and outside the establishment;
• distributing flyers in office buildings located within walking distance;
• introduction of new promotions: discounts during certain opening hours, additional bonuses for the purchase of certain products, and the like;
• advertising competitions, prize draws on social networks.

Calculation table

Below is a business plan in table format with the approximate costs of opening a coffee shop in a medium-sized or large city (cost prices are given in Russian rubles):

Total amount: 2,845,000 - estimated costs of opening a coffee shop. When opening a “coffee to go” point in a small or medium-sized locality, the costs will be lower; when opening a larger coffee shop in a metropolis with a population of over 1 million people, you will have to spend more.

Equipment for a mini-coffee shop

Pay special attention to the choice of equipment. When opening my own coffee shop, I approached the issue from a position of economy. But you can go the other way - immediately buy the required equipment (if possible).

There are two options available here - semi-automatic and automatic. For a small business, the first option is suitable, the main advantage of which is the matching of affordable price and quality.

As for automatic machines, they are relevant for establishments with a number of seats of a hundred or more. If you have the funds, you can buy such equipment for a small room. But there is a minus here - the high price.

In addition, such equipment will remain idle, which is unacceptable.

On the other hand, automatic machines are easy to use.

Their advantages are unpretentiousness in maintenance, reliability and high speed of order fulfillment.

Having installed such equipment, you don’t have to worry about the slowness of the waiter - the machine will do all the work at the best level.

When choosing a device, pay attention to the boiler capacity (give preference to large containers).

Also consider the service warranty period, as well as the availability of components.

As far as I know, semi-automatic devices of good quality cost up to 50-60 thousand rubles. But there are also more expensive models on sale, the cost of which exceeds 100-120 thousand rubles.

The costs are considerable, so you can do what I did and rent the equipment. But here, be careful not to fall for low-quality equipment that will have to be repaired before use.

Average rental costs are 12-15 thousand rubles per month. Pay attention to companies that provide free delivery, install equipment and provide maintenance. This way you get rid of a serious “headache”.

Generally speaking, a coffee shop should be equipped with the following equipment - a refrigerator, coffee machine, coffee grinder and microwave. You will also need a cutting table and a sink.

If you plan to make baked goods, then stock up on a high-quality stove, without which it is impossible to prepare confectionery and other products.

Separately, take care of the furnishings of the room - buy tables, chairs, hangers, a bar counter, kitchen utensils and other little things for the interior. Here the costs depend on the size of the room.

Also from equipment you will need such things as:

• KKT - cash register equipment, designed for printing receipts;
• Fiscal drive - transmits a sales report to the tax office;
• Automation system - it makes it possible to keep business records.

It includes product accounting, menu creation, order creation, profit and margin control.

There are a large number of automation systems on the market and choosing one is quite problematic. Considering that you are starting your business from scratch, it is more profitable for you to choose a tariff that will be minimal in functionality and which will be enough for a coffee shop, and also not expensive in cost.

Of all the offers on the market, the most optimal is Nomia, their prices start from 499 rubles. per month.

How to choose a coffee machine for a coffee shop?

Risks and disadvantages of business

Possible risks and disadvantages for a new coffee shop:

1. Insufficient demand. You can influence demand through advertising, promotions, and special offers.
2. Equipment wear and tear in a short time. To avoid downtime and costs of purchasing new equipment, find out the contacts of a trusted engineer in advance.
3. Theft by unscrupulous workers: according to the experience of entrepreneurs, some baristas embezzle up to half of their daily income. The problem can be solved by purchasing and installing CCTV cameras.
4. Risks beyond the control of the owner: a decrease in the purchasing power of potential customers, the opening of a competitor nearby, an increase in the cost of imported coffee, raw materials and, accordingly, expenses higher than planned in the business plan.

Coffee shop interior design

Minimizing costs implies extreme savings. A coffee shop should be cozy, but how to achieve this is up to each business owner to decide for himself. Limited budget stimulates imagination. It is advisable that the furnishings match the chosen brand.

For example, if the cafe is called “Brazil,” then there should definitely be something Latin American inside: sombreros, maracas and guitars on the walls, and it’s better to choose music in the style of samba and rumba. Well, the African surroundings require their own exoticism. Coffee grows in different interesting regions of the planet. The science of naming allows the use of geographical names, but it should be remembered that in some cities there is a fee for the use of local toponymy.

The main principle of the cafeteria interior is a maximum of pleasant surprise for customers at a minimum of costs. Beginning businessmen often carry out repairs and decorations themselves.

Success Factors

A coffee shop can become a truly profitable business if you follow the techniques tested by experienced entrepreneurs:

• good location - close to potential clients;
• a good start: with the purchase of a franchise or anti-franchise, or opening it yourself if you are confident in your abilities;
• availability of sufficient initial capital for basic expenses;
• strict adherence to the organizational plan and financial plan;
• attracting visitors through advertising channels that are effective for your target audience, searching for new advertising that works;
• large selection of coffee types on the menu.

Opening a coffee shop—like any other business—has a lot of risks. But if you act consistently, without deviating from a thoughtful and competent business plan, even a small establishment or coffee shop on wheels will become a reliable and profitable business.

Selecting a room

The room depends on which model of coffee shop is chosen. Let's consider each option separately. A ready-made coffee shop business plan will help you evaluate the profitability of each model and its prospects for a specific city.

Express coffee shop

The premises for such a coffee shop should be located in a place where there is always a large crowd of people; it can be located next to or inside a shopping center, with a public transport stop, or with places for training. Any place where there are always a lot of people nearby is suitable for this purpose. The room itself for a coffee shop should be small, about 10-20 square meters. This is enough to place a coffee machine, a refrigerator, a display case and one or two tables. When choosing a room, you must immediately consider the possibility of expansion, because if the coffee shop is popular among people, it will be necessary to add additional tables and enlarge the kitchen. You also need to check the communications in the room; it must have electricity and water, and there must be enough sockets to connect all the equipment at the same time. In the premises for an express coffee shop, you can get by with simple minimal repairs to make it look clean and tidy. An entrepreneur does not have to spend additional funds to create a unique design. The main thing is that the logo of the coffee shop or its symbols can be seen in the interior.

Atmospheric coffee shop

In this case, there are fewer difficulties with choosing a room, because an atmospheric coffee shop does not have to be located in the first line; customers do not wander into it by chance, but come purposefully. But it is desirable that the coffee shop itself is located in a place with convenient transport links. That is, a quiet street in a busy area is best. The room for an atmospheric coffee shop should be large enough so that visitors do not interfere with each other; there should be at least 2 meters between tables. It is optimal that the coffee shop is easily accessible to visitors, but at the same time it is located in a fairly quiet place, ideally if you find a room in the historical center of the city, so that ancient buildings can be seen from the windows of the coffee shop. This creates an additional atmosphere and helps the establishment. The communication requirements in an atmospheric coffee shop are the same as for other coffee shops. The special difference between a cozy coffee shop and other options is that it must be very large, so that visitors can comfortably fit inside it, and at the same time they do not hear or see everything that is happening in the kitchen.

American or mini coffee shop

An ordinary coffee shop, like takeaway coffee, should be located in popular and crowded places. But at the same time, the size of the room itself is much larger, approximately 20-100 square meters, depending on the flow of people. That is, the main requirement for premises for such an establishment is its location. The coffee shop must be located in a busy area of ​​the city, where there is a constant flow of target audience. As in other cases, the room should have a separate space for the kitchen, where there is electricity and water, and a room with many outlets, including for use by visitors, will also be a big advantage. The interior of such a coffee shop can be simple and inexpensive, the main thing is that it contains the style of the coffee shop itself.

The main mistakes coffee shops make on social networks

First of all, the main mistake coffee shops make on social networks is low-quality content.

Boring texts on topics like “The benefits of coffee in our lives,” copied from the first links from search engines, stock photos of coffee beans and happy girls drinking coffee. Or your own, but low-quality photographs. All this scares off your subscribers.

You shouldn’t post stock photos on your coffee shop account: that’s not what your subscribers came to you for

Another mistake is irregular posting in the style of four posts a year “Hello, spring! It's summer. Hello, autumn! Happy New Year!". If you don't post, you won't be seen. It’s similar with coffee shops, which, on the contrary, try to post 4-5 posts a day. All your creative impulses are in stories, please, that’s where they are appropriate.

In honorable third place will be the lack of feedback on social networks. This is how you write to a coffee shop, ask a question, and the answer is silence. And you immediately think - haven’t they closed? No, no, no, I probably won’t go.

I give the bonus fourth place to coffee shops that do not post their menu, address, geolocation and information about opening hours on social networks. You go to the page of such a coffee shop, and it’s like Stirlitz, hidden in the bushes and doesn’t reveal a word about itself to the enemy. So new guests don’t reach her.

Everything is great, but where are you guys? Without geolocation or profile information, it's a mystery

Franchise formation

Any business has four development options.

1. Make a stable profit and feed the owner for several years. Then lose part of your monthly revenue and be either closed or sold to other hands.
2. To achieve payback and be sold into other hands, immediately bringing the original owner a decent amount, which he invests at his own discretion.
3. Come to expansion using your own resources or by selling a franchise
4. Go bankrupt and close down.

We will consider the third option.

It's important to understand a few things. Franchising is a logical stage in business development, but at the same time, franchising is a separate line of business, completely independent from the main establishment.

In other words, it won’t be possible to have one of your employees make phone calls and offer everyone a franchise. This is a separate area that requires serious costs at the stage of “packaging” the business, its promotion, sale of the franchise package, and support of franchisees.

Stages of franchise formation

1. Preparing your business for packaging. 1. Prescription of all business processes and regulations. 1.2. Preparation of all technological maps and instructions. 1.3. Registration of all marketing campaigns. 1.4. Complete revision of the corporate identity. 1.5. Trademark registration.
2. “Packaging” a business into a franchise. 1. Obtaining rights to a trademark. 2.2. Formation of a book on operational business management. 2.3. Creation of a commercial proposal. 2.4. Creation of a management company.
3. Franchise promotion. 1. Creation of a website or section on the website dedicated to the franchise. 3.2. Website promotion using contextual advertising, thematic blogs and forums.
4. Selling a franchise. 1. Processing applications using a call center. 4.2. Conclusion of a commercial concession agreement. 4.3. Training future franchisees in the basics of running your business. 4.4. Assistance in opening a facility under your brand.
5. Franchisee support. 1. Supply of equipment and consumables through the management company. 5.2. Assistance in organizing marketing events. 5.3. Revenue control and analysis, achieving payback. 5.5. Promotion of the brand in general.

As you can see, the formation and sale of a franchise is a separate area that requires time, effort and money.

There are a lot of low-quality franchise offers on the market, in which more than half of the required stages are missed.

As a result, it often happens that a person pays money for a franchise package, but simply receives the right to use the name and several templates to create his own advertisements. This is the wrong approach and everyone suffers. The owner of the trademark suffers image losses, and the entrepreneur who decides to open under this brand loses effort, time and money.

Interaction with regulatory authorities

As long as your business is small and you don’t break any laws, you don’t have to worry about someone coming to you with a surprise inspection. The tax authorities are interested in large objects with million-dollar turnover. But in order to sleep peacefully, you need to fulfill a number of conditions.

Tax

• register as a UTII payer in a timely manner;
• file returns and pay taxes on time;
• enter into agreements with your employees.

Rospotrebnadzor

• notify through the State Services website that you have begun your work in a catering facility at your address.

Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology

• conclude an agreement to conduct inspections;
• pay for inspections and eliminate discrepancies;
• conclude an agreement for the removal and disposal of waste.

Three years of verification will not bother you unless someone files a complaint against you . In this case, employees of any department are obliged to react and conduct an unscheduled inspection.

You must be present at it, and there must be attesting witnesses with you. Please read the inspection protocol carefully and make comments and additions if necessary. Get a copy of the protocol in your hands.

A law recently came into force according to which entrepreneurs will not be fined for the first violation, but will be given an order to eliminate the violations. This measure should have a beneficial effect on the economic climate as a whole.

Advertising and promotion

The mini-coffee shop that you are starting from scratch needs to be given a name. Choose a name that is memorable and evokes associations with the establishment. Be sure to take into account the consumer profile. Names that will appeal to young people will not resonate with the older generation and vice versa.

How to find the name?

• Study your competitors and take note of successful moments.
• Come up with 10–15 names.
• Test them on your friends and acquaintances.
• Approve the final title that receives the most votes.

An important role in advertising is played by a memorable logo and other elements of corporate identity, including signage and staff uniforms.

So, we’ve figured out what to name the coffee shop we’re opening, all that remains is to create step-by-step instructions for promoting the project to the market. Start small. Tell your friends and acquaintances that you sell delicious coffee. Create groups on Instagram, VKontakte, Odnoklassniki and Facebook and invite participants for bonuses in the form of discounts, gifts, etc.

As soon as you get your first profit, use more serious promotion methods. Print flyers and business cards, place advertisements on billboards and in the media, order a website.

Working with feedback for a coffee shop

The main advice is don’t neglect feedback. If you are opening a commercial account on social networks, then one of the goals is to work with reviews and negative feedback that was, is and will be (regardless of how good your establishment is).

Often, a dissatisfied guest can be turned into a loyal one by simply covering his negativity with your response. What you definitely shouldn’t do: get into arguments, answer for show in the style of “Thank you, we accepted your comment,” prove that your employees are right anyway. If possible, transfer all communication regarding negative feedback to private messages.

The giants of the coffee industry also have negativity on social networks: it is important to be able to respond to it correctly

The ideal scheme of work is this: listen to the negative, write down the factual data (when it happened, who worked, what the essence of the problem is), and compensate for the moral losses of the guest by offering him a small bonus - for example, a free cup of coffee or a croissant.

Documents for starting a business

The first step is to choose the organizational and legal form of activity. You can register with the tax office as an individual entrepreneur or LLC. The first format is convenient if you are the only investor. The second is when there are several co-founders.

Next, you will need to submit documents to switch to a special form of taxation. Option two:

1. UTII - you transfer the contribution assigned to the enterprise at a rate of 15% and do not report on property tax, VAT, etc.;
2. The simplified tax system is another convenient format for small businesses. Available rates are 15% (income minus expenses) and 6% (of income).

To register, select OKVED code 55.30, which is suitable for the production of coffee and confectionery products for the purpose of subsequent sale.

Effective ways to promote a coffee shop

The final profit of the coffee shop will be influenced by the correct promotion of the establishment. The most effective methods are:

• placement of colorful signs and window display design;
• thoughtful interior design;
• loyalty programs (discount cards for regular customers, gift or promotional coupons);
• advertising in the media, on the Internet;
• coffee shop website promotion.

To expand the customer base, it is worth considering the possibility of creating a working atmosphere for freelancers, playrooms for children, areas for cooking and other master classes, selling take-away goods with a significant discount (20 - 30%), holding various holidays and corporate events in the establishment. You can implement a cinema, karaoke or hookah bar on the basis of a coffee shop, and place them in separate enclosed rooms, for example. The presence of free Wi-Fi will attract the younger generation to the establishment. For them, you can provide business lunches and other promotional programs during the daytime.

Relevance of the idea

All studies in the catering industry prove the relevance of opening your own business in a coffee shop format. But the positive trend in the market is not the only reason to develop this area of ​​work. Other factors contribute to this:

• high level of profitability (ranges from 10 to 30%);
• the possibility of opening with a small start-up capital (some formats of coffee shops can be opened with an amount ranging from 300,000 to 700,000 rubles);
• quick payback (from 6 to 12 months for small establishments);
• variety of concepts and menu offered;
• simplicity from a production point of view compared to full-service catering establishments.

But the level of competition with other establishments (not just coffee shops) is quite high. Having a well-thought-out concept and a clear business plan for a coffee shop will help a new entrepreneur avoid financial losses.

Coffee room and preparation equipment

To operate a coffee shop you will need a lot of equipment. The final list depends on the scale of work and the specifics of the institution. In general, you will need:

• coffee machine – 3 pieces, 100,000 rubles or more each;
• refrigerator – 2 pieces for 40,000 rubles;
• coffee grinder – from 10,000 rubles;
• water softener - from 15,000 rubles;
• dishwasher – from 30,000 rubles;
• showcases – from 20,000 rubles each;
• juicer – from 10,000 rubles;
• mixer – from 10,000 rubles per piece;
• microwave oven – from 3,000 rubles;
• cutting tables – from 5,000 rubles per unit;
• pastry oven – from 60,000 rubles;
• sinks - from 5,000 rubles per piece;
• furniture - from 300,000 rubles;
• dishes - from 100,000 rubles;
• decor - from 50,000 rubles.

Additionally, large-scale production may require dough mixers, blenders, slicers, meat grinders, combi ovens and other specialized equipment. All together it will cost about 1,084,000 rubles or more.