Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barbara Adams on July 16, 2009 at 4:43am

Hey, thanks to everyone for advise! I finally figured out that in this environment, the best bet is lurk and wait for a good business to be offered for sale. And I did. I signed up online for businesses for sale website and was monitoring offers daily. And I found it! Apparently it doesn't really matter in the beginning how much the business is being sold for, but how much cash down they want. We found a very nice coffee house/bake shop for sale at a decent price. It comes out a lot cheaper this way than to build out your own. Plus it already has decent clientele base and foot traffic. We should take over September 1st.
And no, we had to double our money, so it's not 30k. But I saw some places that were being sold for 25k. A bit run down and older equipment, but hey, if you are willing to get dirty...

Permalink Reply by Andrew Cash on July 19, 2009 at 12:53pm

I am new to this site. I am opening up a new shop also and feel as if I have been working on it forever! I started a blog about it about a year or so ago, and it has helped a lot. It has helped organize my thoughts, develop my concept, and get people in the community, or at least friends and family, excited about it. I agree with what Joe said earlier in this thread about pursuing your passion. Don't be ignorant to real world business decisions but also don't let that intimidate your passion...I don't think it will. I would encourage you to start a blog about it!

Permalink Reply by Duane and Tiffany Youngren on July 20, 2009 at 6:30am

I have a friend who had a "sit down"shop, then started a trailer that is doing very well. She takes the trailer to events on the weekends. I believe she started it, fully stocked with a fryer and everything for right around $30k.

Permalink Reply by Barbara Adams on August 2, 2009 at 3:51pm

Carol, you the best. But,...I have my house paid off, so I just might stay here, rent free. Well, except for the lease on the shop.

Carol Kerchner said:

You could buy my home for 219,900.00 and have a coffee shop and live here, rent free, just your mortage....
Turn Key operation...
good luck

Carol

Permalink Reply by Michael Canton on August 20, 2009 at 11:27am

Unfortunately, 30k won't get you very far in terms of equipment. One way to save a LOT of money is to lease all of your equipment. This will help but it will still be tough on that budget. Good Luck!

Permalink Reply by Ed Viser on September 4, 2009 at 5:09am

Hope this is not too late...
Depending on your project size and location. A new tenant improvement space at 1800 square feet with a drive up will be much more expensive than a kiosk or a drive-thru only style building. Example: 2007 Boise Idaho 1700 square foot T.I. build out walk-in with drive up window construction costs only with minor upgrades = $255,000.00 Add to that $55,000 in equipment costs (that was a deal) not to mention sewage and municipal fees and permits add an additional $12,000; $19,500 for a refrigerated display case, add food, supplies, etc.

Permalink Reply by Robert Williams on October 25, 2009 at 8:24pm

What is with the extremes of some of these budgets? 300k? Barbara, how much is rent on your joint?

From the experience of a good friend, he found a nice place not too far out from the city center, a small footprint to rent, hand-built all his benches and designed the place himself, hired the necessary peeps to sort out the plumping and filtration (city water sucks), electrics. Got himself a two group Synesso Cyncra on loan via a roaster, bought his robur-e and got his name out.

How much did that cost him? around 30k AUS. He made first and foremost a coffee shop, raw material. How is he doing one year later? Brilliantly! Pulling close to 1k proft a day and about to purchase another coffee machine and third grinder to offer SO's. What was the key to his success was the bloody good barista/blend/roaster and he was the only one running it. ;)

Permalink Reply by espressoitaliano on November 19, 2009 at 7:43am

That's a tough one. it's important to get a location on the morning commute right side of the road to work and visible from the street. realistically the minimum would be around 75k for pre start up and 50k operating.

With that said it's possible to make it on 30k but with many variables. if you don't have any other bills such as house payments, car payments, etc. you have a separate high paying job to supplement the operating capital. landlord is willing to give low rent, free rent and buildout your place. also the place would have to be a hit right away with the consumers and making money right away instead of the usual 6 months to a year.

hope this helps, i'm in the process of moving from daytona to port orange for a better location. location is everything with a coffee shop.

Permalink Reply by Eric Hammond on December 26, 2009 at 8:31am

Yes, it can be done. I would talk to the guys at Sunergos in Louisville. They did it on a shoe string like that. But they did most all the work their selves, bought used equipment, and worked 100 plus hours a week and didn't pay themselves. Their wives had to make the income for the family.

It can be done, and done well. But it's not easy. If you have the right support (family or friends who will let you live off their hard wrok) and are willing to sacrifice for a few years, you can do it. Just be careful. And be aware, it won't be easy.

Permalink Reply by Chris Cockrell on December 28, 2009 at 2:45pm

Eric - I frequent Sunergos and enjoy conversations with Matt and staff. Love their shop and it inspired me a great deal to get to where I am now. Hard work but their reward is the vision of their second location, now under construction. As I understand, they do support other local coffee outlets...Great idea!!!

Permalink Reply by Eric Hammond on December 28, 2009 at 7:31pm

I used to work there. They let me go. But I know they opened on an extremely short budget. It is a witness that the little guy sometimes works out. And the second shop and 60 kilo are testament to that.

Chris Cockrell said:

Eric - I frequent Sunergos and enjoy conversations with Matt and staff. Love their shop and it inspired me a great deal to get to where I am now. Hard work but their reward is the vision of their second location, now under construction. As I understand, they do support other local coffee outlets...Great idea!!!

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