Opening a café can seem like a dream to many people. You’ll get to meet many different people every day and, providing you have a love of coffee, offering them the finest coffee and cakes in the land.
Unfortunately, for many people, it remains a dream because of the cost of setting up a café and the negative input of others. You need an impressive array of equipment:
- Coffee making machine
- Grinder for Coffee beans
- Refrigerator
- Cups & associated crockery
- Tables & Chairs
- Tablecloths & associated accessories
- Insurance
- Permits
The list goes on. However, with the right approach, you can open a café on a budget and make a success of it. All you need is the desire to succeed .
Make Your List
The above list is not conclusive but it gives you an idea of what is involved in setting up a café. You’ll also need to consider the premises.
It’s generally cheaper to take over premises that have already been used as a coffee shop or something similar. This will prevent licensing hassles and potentially give you some of the supplies you need. But, you’ll need to consider redecoration, the new café has to look new and fit into your desired demographic. So, make sure to look on various decor websites for some inspiration to decide on your desired style so you’re able to find things within your budget.
Start your journey by making a list of everything you’re going to need.
Cheap Supplies
You don’t need to have low-quality when you save money. The first step is to find a high-quality café supplies business that will let you have all the items you need at reasonable prices. This will help you to get started and calculate the budget you need.
You’ll also need to look for secondhand/used espresso machines. There are usually plenty of examples around and they are significantly cheaper than purchasing new ones. It’s also a more cost-effective solution than leasing when you’re first trying to make a profit.
The lower your running costs the easier it is to create a profit.
Enlist Friends
Get your friends and family to help out at first. They can offer free labor setting up the café and decorating it. You may even be able to convince them to help out a little when you first open, without pay. Not needing staff at the start is a great bonus.
Your friends may also have skills that are useful in creating your dream; For example, one of them may be an accountant that can help you to organize your finances. Or, they may be able to lend you the money you need, reducing your reliance on traditional banks.
The key is to look at everything you need to get started and then pause to see how you can do it cheaper but still get the same results.
Your customers want a cozy café with quality products, you want to minimize your monthly overheads to help you become profitable. The two things can exist together. You simply need to take the time to plan first.