4 Secrets to Opening a Coffee Shop Without Going Broke!

Opening a coffee shop is a lot like opening any other business, requiring a mixture of hard work, business experience and a little luck. However, there are a few things unique to a coffee shop that can help you make it in those early months when you are likely to be less about making money and more about just avoiding going broke! Here are some things to help you make it until the good times roll:

Consistency

Doing everything the right way every time doesn't cost you anything extra, but it does make a difference in establishing a solid customer base. People who like what you sell will come again and again, but only if you consistently give them what they want. Good quality control and making sure you have a steady, predictable product line goes a long way towards establishing a solid reputation. 

Ergonomics

Time is money, and you are losing it if your workstation layout is such that your employees are forced to waste time and energy because their work area is not designed for efficiency. How fast your staff can serve the customers is directly related to whether equipment is arranged for maximum convenience and speed of execution. You can also save on the coffee equipment you use by relying on discount sources like coffeeparts4less.com. 

Multiple Sales

If all your customers buy is coffee, you will have to sell a lot of it to pay the bills. The trick is to get your customers to buy something to go with the coffee, like cakes, cookies and muffins. Also try non-coffee drinks like hipster sodas or hot chocolate. The more you can get customers to purchase across a range of products, the higher your profit margins will be. 

Be a Server

The best way to fine tune your coffee shop for long term success is to be intimately aware of the whole operation. The best way to do that is to wait on the customers yourself as much as possible. Not only does that save on employee costs, but it lets you observe your operation and the public's reaction to it in a way nothing else can match. Then you can use what you learn to perfect your business model.

A lot of factors determine the success or failure of a business, but if you are consistent, efficient, have a solid product line and hand-on experience, chances are that instead of going broke, your coffee shop will thrive!