Even the most promising business plan can fail miserably if you choose the wrong place for its implementation. Sometimes location and atmosphere are much more important than anything else. How to turn a small room with a modest set of treats into a favorite institution of residents and guests of the capital? The rules are simple - listen to the advice of experienced experts, and success will not be long in coming.
How does opening a coffee shop begin?
In order to successfully start your entrepreneurial activity, it is necessary to legalize it in order not to face unpleasant surprises from the tax office. Before inviting guests to the table of a new coffee shop, make sure that you have not forgotten to obtain all the necessary documents and permits. For harmonious work with a calm heart, you will need:
- registration as an individual entrepreneur of the second group or a subject of entrepreneurial activity (only a passport, taxpayer identification code and documentary confirmation of your planned type of activity according to KVED are required for registration)
- declaration from the fire inspection
- declaration from the State Consumer Inspection (Ukrainian Derzhprodspozhivservice)
- sanitary book
- certificates confirming the quality of equipment and products
- permission to play music to avoid copyright infringement of artists (please contact UAASP)
💡 Order of the Ministry of Economy No. 185 dated 11.07.2023/XNUMX/XNUMX says that you have every right to offer visitors not only invigorating drinks, but also related products that will make the coffee break tastier in your coffee shop.
Not only paperwork precedes the first sip of aromatic coffee in your establishment. The path from dream to realization passes through several important stages. You have already successfully mastered the first of them, obtaining documents, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. The search for the desired premises, the development of a unique design project, the purchase of the necessary equipment and furniture can be both separate processes and fit into the "3 in 1" format, if for acquisition or rent you will choose an already ready object. After the stage with the premises, the matter is left to the little ones: think over the menu, conclude contracts with product suppliers and hire a team, because you won't be preparing and distributing blended and Arabica drinks yourself.
💡 If we mentioned the variety of drinks, it is worth developing this topic. Cafes, like the real estate market as a whole, have their own seasonality. The demand for hot coffee, tea and cocoa especially increases in autumn and winter, when visitors want to warm up with something warm. In the summer, when it's already hot, few people want to raise their internal temperature even more, so we advise you to adapt your menu to the needs of your customers. In winter, add to it unusual mixtures of spices, similar to the classic composition of mulled wine, and in summer, dilute the usual assortment with cool milkshakes, refreshing lemonades or the increasingly popular Bubble tea (Boba tea).
Step #1: how to choose premises so that the business brings profit?
Do not rush to find a room. Without a clear concept, you will wander aimlessly around the market and only get more confused about what exactly the result you want to get. First, decide on your target audience, because the format and location of the establishment depends on it.
- How do you see your client?
Passionate about his business and eternally busy, a businessman is unlikely to want to linger in an institution for a long time because of a rush. A rather modest space near a large business center, in a shopping center, near a metro station or a public transport stop will be enough for him. A family cafe will always find its audience near the residential complex. Its inhabitants will run to you for a coffee and a croissant on the way to work, to an educational institution or during an evening walk. Another win-win option is an establishment near the same transport hubs, as well as attractions and parks. Not only townspeople, but also visiting guests of the capital will be happy to brighten up their promenade through the city with something light and tasty.
- Why exactly will your coffee shop become the client's favorite place to enjoy this wonderful drink?
When creating a business model for your coffee shop, you should focus on the needs of customers and what kind of guests you plan to see at your tables. To satisfy the wishes of the already described business people, it is worth focusing not so much on the size of the establishment, but on the speed of service, so a small point for a few tables will be enough. Family cafes should be much bigger. You'll win extra points in the eyes of parents if you set aside a separate area for their children to have fun, or think of special entertainment such as coloring pages and themed menu items. Considering recent events, not only LCDs with generators, but also LCD generators are particularly popular. and coffee shops. By allowing your visitors to work for a few hours, you will give them a great replacement coworking and significantly expand your loyal customer base. Don't be afraid to experiment with the format rooms and its content - the more original it is, the more interest you will arouse among consumers.
Step #2: What kind of space will meet your goals?
You and I have conducted a preliminary analysis of the target audience, so you can safely start decisive actions. When choosing a room, remember several important nuances:
- when choosing an area, rely on the target audience that you have decided to choose for yourself as the main one. Also consider that all districts have their own characteristics and differ from each other in the level of luxury, the size of the rent and prices per 1 m²
- the premises can be located in a shopping or business center, on the territory of a residential complex or in a separate building
- the size of the coffee shop affects the number of seats, but demand and profitability do not always depend on it. If your customers prefer to take orders with them, there is no reason to overpay for extra square meters
The size of the room allows you to conditionally divide all existing coffee shops into several formats:
- "take away" (5-6 m²) - took and left. A tiny town with a coffee machine for those who don't want to wait a long time and sit still
- a small coffee shop with seating is the golden mean for doing business
- a premium class establishment - expensive equipment, a special atmosphere, a menu thought out to the smallest detail and a price tag that is an order of magnitude higher than the average
Whatever format you choose, start working on its reputation even before the opening - a good advertising campaign and a well-thought-out marketing strategy will draw attention to your establishment and bring the first customers to a place that has just appeared on the map of the city and plans to compete with brands that have already proven themselves.
💡 Take your time to buy or rent your first apartment. Consult your personal real estate expert from T.H.E. Capital, to make sure that the object you liked will be suitable for realizing your ideas. Recommendations from the designer are also not superfluous if you plan to do the repairs yourself.
