You need money to start your own coffee business, and a lot of it. How much depends a lot on which coffee franchise you are going to go with, how much money is needed to get your coffee shop ready and other miscellaneous investments that you will need to make along the way. You can look at an initial investment of $100,000 and more. The total amount depends again on all the expenses you think you will encounter in order to open and stay open for a few months. One great thing about starting your own coffee business is the variety that you have to choose from. You can select a traditional coffee shop, specialty coffee shop, a drive through coffee shop and more. You can make your coffee shop any way that you want to, as long as you have the money.

Another factor to consider is the coffee company that you plan to go with in your franchise business. You may like the taste of a certain brand and that is what you want to go with. That company may cost you more money but you will feel better promoting their coffee product and confidence is everything when you are in business for yourself. If you do not have confidence in your business no one else will either.

The best ways to determine where to put your new coffee business is to do your research. Some of the things to determine include:

* How many coffee shops are in the area you are considering?

* Which coffee company do they use?

* Do you plan to offer anything else besides coffee?

* What hours does the competition keep?

* Can you purchase any of the existing coffee shops open now?

* How much expected business does the coffee business see daily?

* Is it open on weekends?

When you purchase an existing coffee shop, your expenses may be lower because you pay a flat fee for the entire package. You save time by not having to find a place, figure out all the red tape, find and purchase equipment, hire staff, insurance expenses and more. This has already been done with an existing business.

Whether you start your own coffee business from scratch or purchase an existing one you can personalize it to make it yours and to offer the customers the coffee that you like best. The initial start up of the coffee shop may be expensive but if you plan and run it right you will be there for several years to come. You will have satisfied customers who will return faithfully for a cup from your little coffee shop down the street.

Author: Stewart Baker
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Wordpress plugin Guest Blogger

Before you start your coffee venture, you should do some research and find out all the things about coffee. Let me share some facts with you. There are two main types of coffee being cultivated today. And the two main factors which can deteriorate the quality of coffee are oxygen and moisture. There are many tastes of coffee too. The color of coffee that has been roasted to a certain degree in which the characteristics and faults of the coffee are not masked by roast flavor is also an important point to take note. The safety and quality of coffee are also needed to be assured using sensory and physical criteria, and also chemical and microbiological criteria are required.

And to start a coffee business, you will need to get the right coffee machines. You will find that the top espresso machine and coffee brands in the market are Capresso, Saeco, Rancilio, Illy, Lavazza and Gaggia. Popularized by the launch of the Douwe Egberts Senseo machine, many companies now also offer coffee pods, which includes Starbucks. So this is something to note.

Additionally, there are tools such as the French cafe filtre, an espresso machine and a ‘normal’ coffee machine. The decision to buy which machine for your business will depend on each machine having pluses and minuses, and depending on what you care about the most from your coffee. Do not be too disappointed in your machine if this is the first machine you have tried. With experience, you will definitely make good use of your coffee machine. To speed up the process of setting up your coffee business, you can always order online, and you could be enjoying your new commercial espresso machine or coffee grinder within a few days.

With talks about how coffee is healthy for you and all about the great stuff about them, it is no doubt that more and more people are getting interested in coffee. With an estimate that 10 to 12 billion pounds of coffee are consumed worldwide each year, and the unique flavor characteristics of the coffee that produce a vibrant and complex taste to the taste bud, I can assure you that NOW is definitely the best time ever to start your coffee business.

Author: Chris Wen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

Such enormous consumer demand coupled with the growing trend toward gourmet coffee presents an opportunity for the enterprising coffee lovers to take their double shots at generating income while working in an industry which makes their coffee passions percolate.

Coffee-loving entrepreneurs can choose from a wide range of opportunities available to find ones that best matches their tastes. Interested in starting small? Start with a couple machines and a cart. More grande ambitions? Consider a coffee shop franchise.

The Specialty Coffee Association of America’s “Market Report” forecasts that the number of coffeehouses in the U.S. will grow to 15,000 by the year 2006. Will one of those coffeehouses be yours?

You can take a couple different paths can to starting your own coffee themed business. One option is to buy the equipment and supplies yourself, building your own identity and business systems. The other option is to purchase a franchise and benefit from their proven image, proven systems, and established supply chains. Let’s look at some examples of coffee related businesses that you could start for yourself.

If you choose the independent route you can use a wholesaler such as Mr. Churro’s to help get you started. Mr. Churro’s is Miami-based wholesaler of professional grade machines for making espresso, coffee, and hot chocolate. Beyond acquiring equipment from Mr. Churro’s you would need to work out other details of your business details on your own. For example, you would need to find a coffee bean supplier, find a suitable business location, and also learn how to run a coffee business.

For a more turn-key type of operation, The Coffee Beanery, a global franchise based in Michigan, provides franchisees with a wide menu of coffee based drinks as well as an attractive breakfast and lunch menus. The franchisee benefits from a proven image, a proven menu, a fully developed method of operation, and an established supply chain. It might cost more to purchase a franchise, but if you are new to business, the long term benefits might outweigh the short term higher startup costs.

Coffee News USA is a third type of coffee related business opportunity. Unlike the previous two examples, Coffee News USA does not involve making and selling coffee beverages. Instead, Coffee News is publishing opportunity in which the franchisee provides a free local edition of the weekly Coffee News newspaper to restaurants and coffee shops. The franchisor provides most of the content, and the franchisee sells advertisements to generate income.

These three business opportunities a just a few of the coffee related businesses that are available for coffee lovers. Most of the other opportunities are franchises, but not all franchises are created equal. Examining each business opportunity carefully can bring to light some important differences that might lead you to an opportunity that is better suited to you than another.

With over 300 million cups of coffee being consumed daily in the US, a coffee-related business opportunity should be a strong consideration for the enterprising coffee lover. Contact information for Mr. Churro’s, The Coffee Beanery, Coffee News USA, and more than 400 other specific business opportunities is available in the eBook, “Mind Your Business 101: How to Select & Start Your Own Business,” for only $16.98 USD at http://www.LinkertonPublishing.com.

Author: C.S. Deam
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

1. The Coffee Beanery
2. It’s a Grind
3. Cuppy’s Coffee

We’d like to include Starbucks on this list as it would likely be a natural choice for many to review since it is one of the most popular coffee brands out there today. Starbucks coffee franchises, however, are not available currently.

In order to properly evaluate these businesses, let’s look at as many of the principal factors of each: business presence, coffee quality, originality, and pervasiveness of their brand name.

While many will say they focus on quality coffee, honest business, and satisfied customers, the real challenge is also knowing which coffee business is primed for massive growth in your area.

The Coffee Beanery is one of the oldest and largest coffee franchises around. Having 27 company-owned units is a plus for a franchising company since you know they started and tested their business before selling their coffee franchises. They lack exposure in many US states as they are only in 9 states presently with 159 franchised outlets. This could present a problem especially if you want to leverage the brand name in your market which could be undeveloped. This usually tends to increase the marketing investment to generate publicity.

If you are tired of coffee shops which place too much emphasis on current fads and trends for both their atmosphere and their products, you may be ready for the It’s a Grind opportunity. They have not lost sight of what is truly important in the coffee world – good coffee and ambiance. If you think about it, that’s the main point of drinking coffee – enjoying every cup.

A good coffee company is only as good as its coffee. It’s A Grind does not need the kinds of odd creations you may find in other coffee shops, because quality coffee does not need to hide behind frills. Instead, you will have the finest and tastiest coffee to be found anywhere. They import coffee from around the world, resulting in a nice variety of coffees from which you can choose your favorite or try something new. Their selection of coffees give each a classic taste that is memorable and delicious. As each stage of the roasting process is carefully overseen to ensure perfect quality and taste, every cup of coffee will be a delightful experience.

Although shops have been opened in many areas around the United States, It’s A Grind still maintains it’s originality. You can find plenty of trendy coffee chains nearly anywhere you go, but you will not find anything quite like them. The emphasis on presenting the very best coffee simply cannot be matched.

In addition to appreciating the high-quality products offered by your coffee house, your customers will become regular customers because it will be unique to your location. Unlike some coffee chains, which you can see a number of in any city, their coffee houses are not mass-produced. If you choose to open and operate one, there will not be others to compete with in your area. Starbucks, on the other hand, has aggressively opened stores around the US causing cannibalization of their own outlets which leads to underperformance overall. The policy of allowing only one franchise in a specified territory is greatly beneficial to the success of your coffee business. Sometimes, less is more.

Cuppy’s Coffee approaches their business from a unique angle. They emphasize delivering your drink, whether a smoothie or blended coffee “in under a minute”. For those in a hurry, this may be a good approach. For other customers, fast may not matter to them. It will cater to that niche of impatient, “gotta-have-it-now” crowd that seems to be growing in numbers.

Cuppy’s is established in USA, South Africa, and Canada with around 375 outlets in all. With just 49 franchises, they have a large number of corporate-owned outlets and can be considered a late player in the coffee franchise business entering the market in 2006.

The standards of a good coffee house are primarily based on presenting high quality, good tasting products to its customers in an environment people enjoy visiting. When you decide to open your own coffee house outlet, you will be able to put these values into action while gaining all of the benefits of a profitable business venture.

Franchising is a great way to get into the business and you’ll see franchises sprout up for a variety of industries. This is a testament to the popularity and success of franchising as a proven model to get into a business you may not have any experience or training.

If you decide that a certain franchise is for you, all three coffee franchises will provide all of the training and support that you will need to make your business venture a success. Even if you have not had any prior experience in retail coffee sales, your motivation to do well and your determination to succeed can make a coffee house franchise the opportunity of a lifetime. With the franchisors’ ongoing support and systems, you will increase your probabilities of success.

Author: Stewart Baker
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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The guest list is ready, the venue is fixed, the most suitable date has been finalized, and the menu has been carefully planned. Surely nothing more needs to be done? Yes, the most important arrangements have actually got left out. Negotiate for the most suitable drinks vending machine, and coffee vending machine. Refreshments seem to take precedence over even the main meal, be it lunch or dinner, and you can be certain that there will be guests who will be more interested in the drinks you serve than in the food. This applies equally to the soft drinks as to the hard drinks.

For a one off usage situation there does not seem any logic in buying the vending machines outright. Shop around for a suitable rental or lease option. It is only a vending stall owner, or a company which has a large office and many personnel to cater to, who would find buying coffee vending machines, snacks vending machines and coffee vending machines a viable proposition.

When sourcing the vending machines, check out the stocking options. Are well known traditional brands, particularly of soft drinks, available? Are they only in bottles or are they to be had in cans too? Would mineral water, fruit juices and/or health drinks be also available? What are the snacks options ? are just the usual potato wafers and junk food crisps stocked or are healthy cereal bars, vegetable and fruit crisps available too?

What about the coffee vending machine dispensing options? Is this an in-cup system or singles system which can brew a fresh cup every time? Is the taste of the coffee really smooth? Would you be able to dispense a latte with it? Or are you limited to being able to dispense only espresso or are there fresh bean options by way of a beans-to-cup system?

Now that your arrangements are mostly in place, check out the décor theme and the crockery-cutlery service. Let’s go party tonight!

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There is the Viking processor twelve cup which is excellent for every prep needs. The food processors do all the necessary tasks such as chopping and grinding. The base is constructed from die-cast metal having a big, simple to manipulate control knob available in varieties of colours to exactly be like the style of your kitchen. Viking Professional processor 650 watts motor is created to be durable and has a ten year warranty if bought from the right store. With this processor full fruits coupled with vegetables may be shredded or sliced immediately with the help of the shredding disc and stainless steel therein. This stainless steel has a chopping and mixing blade which chops, mixes, purees or minces ingredients up to the level desired. Also sometimes there is a whisk attached which is used to beat cream, fuzz egg whites and also mash potatoes. The various options are limitless. The rear wheels provide easy movement around the counter top.

The Viking processors are sometimes seen as a luxury kitchen appliance that was only practical for those with enough money to spare. However their usage has become more prevalent and it is fast approaching appliances like the toaster as far as usage is concerned. Serious cooks get the most of the Viking products because the more you cook, the more time you save. In effect the food processor takes care of the tiresome and repetitive tasks.

Another thing worthy of note is that since the blades are sharp, the food processor is built with the king of safety characteristic not found in many small appliances until quite of late. Previously they had one speed with two choices. That is the ‘pulse’ and ‘on’. Nowadays you can have a choice of speeds but normally have ‘on’ and ‘off’ switches for each speed. The motors also have trio switches that prevent spillage if the bowl and cover are not well seated. There are also additional blades that can be found at the top to shred or slice food ingredients. Sometimes they come with special blades for mixing dough or egg whites which are made of plastic. They also have special holes that can be used to add liquids to the food.

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Franchises can give you an edge because they have some name recognition and support but think it through before getting the sales pitch and going the franchise route. Of course, make your own decision but as a franchisee, you are pretty much land-locked into the franchisor’s way of operating.

You are looking for name recognition and branding. In the coffee industry, franchising is still in its infancy.

I say this because there aren’t many specialty coffee franchises even though there is plenty of interest in the concept. Well, at least not as many as there are food franchises but surely not many recognizable ones at that. Most coffee franchises are regional but you may recognize names like Seeker’s, PJ’s, Beaner’s, It’s A Grind Unwind, Arabica, Cuppy’s and Scooter’s. Contrary to popular belief, Starbucks is not a franchise.

Name recognition will not tremendously help a franchisee succeed however, with such limited recognizable names, but that can be debated and best left for another day! What you most likely have here is the potential to succeed more so from an operational and experience standpoint. Hopefully your prospective franchisor’s management has a lot of practical experience to assist you.

You will usually get better pricing on supply products because of the franchisor’s buying volume. You also will normally get better pricing on equipment because of the franchisor’s volume and usage of such.

The commitment of the franchisor’s support in planning stages like site selection, lease negotiation and build out is a plus to franchisees. Also, the ongoing support in marketing and operations after you open. Of course, this is usually not free! (see below)

As a franchisee, you will most likely be mandated to use proprietary supplies and ingredients, coffee, equipment, etc. You have less leeway for freedom to use products that you want to use, and maybe even something you feel is better tasting. If your franchisor uses bad or cheap coffee, you are not going to do well in the long run. I know of three franchises that have absolutely awful tasting coffee, of course names withheld! This is not a good thing though.

You will also have an upfront franchise fee, sometimes as high as $100,000 before you actually start anything. This is just to use the name! You will also have ongoing royalties that have to be paid monthly, usually 3-7% of your GROSS sales. Suppose you do $30,000 per month; that is $900-2100 per month just to use someone else’s name! That is a lot of YOUR salary! Before when I said that ongoing support is not free, this is what I meant.

Also, the franchise agreement is usually for a set period of time, like from 5-10 years. When it is over, it is usually renewable or you can go your own way but you normally have to drop the use of their name so now you would have to start marketing your name change.

You also will most likely have ongoing marketing fees of about 3-7% per month. That is taken from your monthly GROSS as well! That is a lot more of YOUR salary! Though this is comforting to know someone has your back for marketing, marketing is not this expensive for a specialty coffee retailer. In fact, if you are spending 3-7% or your gross sales per month for marketing you are spending too much! But that’s a whole other article.

After you add up all the ongoing fees every month, that is somewhere between $1800-4200. EVERY MONTH just to use someone else’s name! Your volume has to be very high to support this. Can you achieve it without using someone else’s name? With the right location you bet you can!

Another thing to consider is the fairly high personal net worth that is usually needed of all owners. Again, this is not something that is a bad thing to have when going into business. However, the franchisor usually looks for a personal net worth in the neighborhood of $100,000-500,000, with anywhere between $50,000 -300,000 of that to be liquid assets, depending on the franchisor.

Those are high numbers to achieve for the average new entrepreneur. However, just because you have money or a high ‘paper’ net worth does not mean you know how to or have what it takes to run a business. You definitely need passion, commitment and will.

Quite honestly, I do not know of one specialty coffee franchise that I can justify making the initial investment in for the name and branding that you’d be paying for. In other words, if you were looking for a food franchise you are virtually guaranteed success with McDonald’s or Subway provided you follow the franchisor’s lead because of the name and image. That I would recommend. But it IS the name and the company’s image you are essentially paying a lot of money for so keep that in mind.

One last thing to be sure of is your right and ability to sell or close your business for whatever reason. It is actually a multi faceted question: Can you sell your remaining time on the franchise? Can you break your agreement at all? If so, is there a penalty and how much is it? Does the buyer have to buy the franchise? Does selling or closing nullify your agreement? You will need answers to all of these questions before you sign anything and write out any checks!

So if you can stomach the large outlay of cash and justify the ongoing fees for buying a franchise maybe that method will work for you. There is nothing wrong with that. However if you take the time to network, do great research on this industry, learn how to run a business and craft an awesome coffee shop business plan you will be on the road to success as an independent specialty coffee shop, on your own for a lot less money and may be better off for it. Whatever you choose to do, good luck to you!

Tony DiCorpo is a coffee shop owner, operator, barista and entrepreneur. He is also a coffee shop business consultant. He has authored many articles on the specialty coffee business and a business plan package that can be found at http://www.tonys-coffee-shop-business-plan.com

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To begin, organic coffee production differs from traditional company in that organic coffee plants grow under shade trees, which serve to purify the soil and prevent water contamination. Given the limited number of shade trees, many coffee growers have opted to produce bigger crops in the middle of pesticide and fertilizer infested territory given the larger surface area. Unfortunately, there is no way to produce non-organic coffee without the use of synthetic chemicals that have been known to harm the environment. Since pesticides pollute the soil, much question has been raised over the declining taste of coffee and its effects on health.

In addition to nurturing organic coffee beans, shade trees also double as habitats for birds that prevent pests from touching organic coffee crops. In essence, they are nature’s replacement for pesticides. Today, an ideal plot of land for organic coffee is a small farm with plenty of shade trees and a sizable bird population for pest control. Organic coffee thrives so much in these conditions that the United States requires all of its organic farmers to use this type of land.

In conclusion, organic coffee is grown under better and more stable conditions than traditional coffee. With smaller farms and its shade trees replacing large coffee plantations soaked with pesticides, organic coffee is your best bet towards a better environment and a salute to your health.

Scott Wilson has been a importer and roaster of organic coffee for over a decade. He is also the owner of Stonehill Manor Organic Coffee