A Coffee Shop Business Plan – Brewed to Perfection
Coffee Shop Business Plan
A coffee shop business plan is one of the first steps in starting a coffee shop business. Using existing models and templates can be a real time saver. Every business plan has key elements. These are the most common to elements:
An Executive Summary
An Objectives List
A Mission Statement
Established Keys to Success
Risks
The executive summary will define the type of coffee shop, the target market and in general terms, how this particular coffee shop plans to meet he needs of that market. It will also include financial projections as well as plans for obtaining financing and whether or not it will be incorporated. It may also include specifics regarding square footage, background of the founders, and a detailed conceptual description. It is what the name implies: a summary.
Objectives are the same as goals. This list tells the prospective coffee shop owner in specific terms, what he or she is aiming for:
Product focus
Atmosphere/Ambiance
Service to the consumer
Image in the community
Annual sales
Profit margin
Any business instructor will insist that specific goals be written down. This is a proven step to success and one that should never be omitted. They don’t have to be written in stone. A certain amount of flexibility can be advantageous as conditions and markets change, but no destination is reached without knowing what it is or how to get there.
A mission statement is a more generalized goal set, usually including intangible things the business hopes to accomplish. Examples might be contributions to the local economy or to impact the lives of customers in a positive way spiritually or emotionally. There is a lot of leeway in establishing a mission and nothing set in stone. The mission statement comes from the heart of the business owner.
The “keys to success” section is a list of active steps the business owner believes will make his or her business thrive, and plans to execute. They might include things like:
Superior tasting product
Relaxing upscale interior design
Prime site location (with definition of what a prime site would be)
Ongoing aggressive marketing
Highly trained and friendly staff
Multiple revenue streams (list what they would be, ie. gift items, pastries, chocolates, teas, etc.
Dynamic website with online sales capacity
The character of the coffee shop as well as market research determines the list of keys to success. The goals have been established. Now this is the plan for reaching them.