Archive for the ‘Buying A Coffee Shop’ Category

Chocolate Covered Guava Bag 6 Ounces (170 Grams)

Guava is one of the most gregarious of fruit trees, growing in many places around the world and almost universally known by its common English name. Known as guayaba in Spanish, the small fruit is tho
List Price:
Price: 9.95

De’Longhi Latte, Coffee, Espresso & Cappuccino

DIGITAL PROGRAMMABLE MENU SETTINGS- allows you to adjust start time, auto shut-off and clock. You can adjust temperature of the coffee and water hardness. Plus, there are five settings for coffee strength: extra-mild, mild, regular, strong, and extra strong. Three buttons allow you to easily choose the size of cup you want: ristretto(small), espresso(medium) and large (American coffee). The three settings can be customized to your preferred taste.PATENTED SINGLE TOUCH CAPPUCCINO AND LATTE includes a 25 oz. milk container, two detachable lids, one for frothed milk for cappuccino and one for steamed milk for latte. It also includes a unique automatic cleaning function with the easy push of a button. Plus, the entire container is detachable, so it can easily be placed in the refrigerator. All parts are dishwasher-safe. Place the cup under the nozzle and press the button. You’ll get a perfect cappuccino or latte every time! Amounts of frothed / steamed milk and coffee are adjustable.WHAT YOU GRIND IS WHAT YOU BREW the compact and patented Direct-to-Brew System with Thermoblock technology provides excellent heat distribution and it’s removable for easy cleaning. The beans are ground instantly to ensure the freshest espresso or coffee. 15 BARS of PressureNEW PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY LOWER-PITCH CONICAL BURR GRINDER integrated lower-pitch burr grinder produces consistent, fresh and aromatic espresso or coffee. Grind settings allow you to adjust the fineness for all types of beans. DOUBLE BOILER WITH NEWESPRESSO BOILER no longer wait between espresso and steam. And with the improved stainless steel piped aluminum boiler the water heats faster and is more durable. INSTANT REHEAT FUNCTION heats the core of the machine, ensuring that Magnificamaintains an ideal temperature for brewing. ***Please allow 2 weeks for delivery of this item.
List Price:
Price: 1495.95

Original or bust! Copy-catting design may seem like a sure-fire recipe for success, but in the long term it will do your coffee shop more harm than good.

Here is the content of an email I received recently from a reader in Saudi Arabia:

Dear Nigel,

I am an owner of coffee drive-through and recently I opened a dine-in shop.

I designed my coffee shop to be modern, basing the style on pictures from the net and getting ideas from some famous restaurants — but the final result is not really very attractive, in my opinion

I have opened the shop, but business is slow and I feel an improvement in the design would go a long way towards at­tracting more customers.

How would you suggest I do this?

I often receive letters like this, from outlet owners who have copied designs and ended up with unsuccessful outlets.

To be fair, you can find these kinds of short-lived, derivative, copy-cat designs pretty much wherever you go in the world, not just in the Middle East — but it is true that most of the outlets that have sprung up in the hotels and malls of Dubai have been done before elsewhere.

If you’d prefer a new, exciting, successful outlet then you should adopt the MAYA principle: ‘Most Advanced Yet Acceptable’.

I don’t claim to have invented this ethos; it was first used by famous American industrial designer Raymond Loewy, who made fortunes convincing the corporations of America to be original by simply asserting that “ugly doesn’t sell”.

My message is that if you want to create a truly successful, recession-proof concept, you have to break the mould.

Frustratingly, my attempts to convince operators in the region to do anything new and original have nearly always been met with scepticism.

I have come to the reluctant conclusion that this comes down to a cultural division: despite its veneer of modernity, the Middle East remains obstinately conservative.

Businesses operated via the ‘command, control and procurement’ school of thought are ultimately cost-driven and out-moded, compared with the flexible and imaginative methods seen in Europe and America.

This applies across business generally, but F&B outlets in particular can benefit when creativity is at the centre of their propositions.

The problem is that to originate a truly new MAYA café or restaurant, a lot of ‘wrong’ ideas have to be discarded, so there’s no way of shortcutting with a quick, cheap design pitch. No matter how hard you stamp your feet in front of your designer, an origi­nal idea will take time and money.

Here’s the nub of the problem: it’s all about trust. Designers offering MAYA are in effect saying, ‘pay us a lot and we’ll deliver something we can’t yet picture and we’re not sure how long it will take to deliver’.

For most operators with bosses or banks to please, on tight budgets and timescales, this is not a very attractive message! It’s far more controllable and comfortable to buy in a well-worn franchise.

And what makes originality even harder to implement is that all operators have a tendency to revert to the emotional safety of what they already know works, even though the idea may be old hat.

This may help your business meet short-term objectives, but is unlikely to be a safe and successful long-term strategy — after all, you can’t lead by following.

At the end of the day, a MAYA design will always outperform a boring, tried-and-tested, ‘safe’ formula.

So if your outlet is quiet, maybe it’s time to stop looking outwards to see what new ideas the world can give you.

Instead, why not trust and empower your designer and look inside yourself to see what new ideas you can give to the world?

Nigel Witham MCSD MIOD writer, designer and photographer Member of the Chartered Society of Designers (interior and graphic design disciplines)

I designed my first restaurant in Richmond, London in 1990 and it is still there and successful today.

Today my team and I provide, professional bar, cafe, and restaurant design, CAD drafting, visualization and project management worldwide. I also write about design in many magazines.

Although we have worked mainly in the UK we have production offices in India and New Zealand. I am currently spending most time in London but often visit Europe, NYC and the UAE.

Author Links

http://www.nigelw.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nigel-Witham-Designer/326102020217?ref=nfhttp://www.facebook.com/pages

Hourglass Cold Brew Coffee Maker System

• Brews smooth, rich tasting, healthier coffee easily with no cords and no electricity required
• Produces a coffee extract with 69.9 percent less acid than hot-brewed coffee in certified lab tests
• Extract stays fresh in fridge for 2 weeks; just add hot water for fast cup anytime
• Portable and rugged, the coffee maker is BPA free
• Comes with a lifetime stainless-steel filter

The high heat and fast brew times of hot brew coffee makers create bitter coffee that’s high in acid and hard on the stomach. The patented Hourglass cold-brew coffee maker solves this problem, producing a coffee extract with 69.9% less acid than hot brewed coffee in certified lab tests. The result is a smooth, rich tasting coffee that’s healthier than hot brew and easy on the stomach. The coffee extract stays fresh in the fridge for 2 weeks. Just add hot water for a fast, convenient cup anytime.

List Price: $ 59.95

Price: [wpramaprice asin="B002CS8A9Q"]

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If houses are like spouses, a neighborhood is like the extended family. But while you can have a good marriage and still dread holidays with the in-laws, you’ll never love a house if you don’t like your neighborhood.
How can you choose the right community? Become a neighborhood detective. Figure out what you’re looking for, do research and find a neighborhood that fits your description. You don’t even have to wear a trench coat — but it probably wouldn’t hurt.
STEP 1 — Profile Your Perfect Neighborhood
Before you start scrutinizing neighborhoods, turn the magnifying glass back on yourself.
Think about what you’re really looking for in a new neighborhood. Remember, you’ll probably have to make compromises, so put the “must-haves” at the top and the “would- like-to-haves” at the bottom. Not sure what fits your lifestyle? Here’s a list of
Here are some things to consider:
• Do you have children or are you planning to have children anytime soon? Parents know that the first thing to do when looking at a neighborhood is to research the school system. Even if you’re single, living in an area with a much sought-after school system raises your property value. If you have kids, you’ll also want to live close to parks and community centers.
• What type of home do you want? Are you interested in a single-family home or an apartment, townhouse or co-op.
• How far are you willing to commute? Do you plan to drive, walk or take mass transit to work? Do you have a car or would you be willing to get one?
• Do you want to be in a historic neighborhood or a new development? Historic neighborhoods have tons of character, but often require lots of repair work and are governed by community associations with strict standards. Newer developments have more modern features, but are typically far from the city center.
• What is your current community lacking? If you’re currently landlocked, but have always wanted to live on the waterfront, put that at the top of your list. If you’re a coffee junkie, having a Starbucks down the street may be a dream come true.
• Do you want to be able to go places on foot? Would you like to be within walking distance of shops, restaurants and bars? Or would you be willing to drive to nearby businesses?
• Think about what you don’t want in a neighborhood, too. If you can’t stand late-night noise, you’ll probably want to steer clear of the college area or an area with a lively bar scene.
STEP 2 — Zero In on the Area
If you’re moving within the same city, you may already know the various neighborhoods. Choose the ones that best match your list of wants. If you’re moving to a new city, you’ll have to do more research. Start by picking a part of town to search in. For instance, if your job is on the west side of town, start there. In a really large city, narrow it down to a few-block radius, say, SoHoin New York City. This will make your search more focused.
STEP 3 — Get the Suspects
With your area of the city in mind, start digging up information. Find interesting neighborhoods online, ask local real estate agents for recommendations and compile all the background information you can, including:
• School information: Look into the local public and private elementary, junior and high schools, as well as daycare programs.
• Crime statistics: Most real estate sites have statistics that tell you how the zip code’s crime rates measure up to the national average. If you want specifics, call the local police station.
• Parks and recreation: How far is it to the closest park or recreation center?
• Neighborhood associations: Does the community you’re looking at have one, and, if so, are there lawn or construction restrictions? Is there a yearly fee?
• Tourist attractions: Get a guidebook or check out the convention and tourism bureau’s Web site to see all the city has to offer.
STEP 4 — Find the Clues
Once you’ve done the background research, visit neighborhoods that made the preliminary grade in person. There’s no better way to paint a real picture of life in the neighborhood. Use your senses to get a complete picture of the prospective community.
Sights:
• Remember your first impression. What do you notice first about the neighborhood? Do the streets have curb appeal? Are the houses well-maintained? Do the shops and restaurants look hip and inviting? You’ll want to feel good about where you call home, and impress buyers when you’re ready to move on.
• Visualize yourself in the neighborhood. Think of your daily routine. If you can’t live without a morning latte, is there a coffee shop nearby? Where will you walk your dog or go jogging? You’ll enjoy the neighborhood more if it’s easy to do what you like.
• Observe the neighborhood at different times of the day. Driving through will help you get a snapshot of life in the community — good and bad. Do the roads turn into a parking lot after school or during rush hour? Are people using grills or decks in the evening? Are neighbors and kids socializing or do people keep to themselves? Are the streets well-lit at night? These visual clues can help you decide if you’ll fit in.
• Make sure the local schools make the grade. Even if you don’t have kids, pay a visit to the nearby schools. High ratings are great, but seeing the buildings is much more telling. It will be easier to sell your house later if the schools are nice.
• Look for warning signs. Be on the lookout for signs that the neighborhood is in trouble. Do you see abandoned buildings or vandalism? Are there a lot of “For Sale” signs or rentals? If the community goes downhill, so does your house’s value.
Sounds:
• Stop and listen. Bird and nature sounds are generally pleasant, but what about noise from the highway, airport, hospital, train tracks or nearby clubs and bars? It’s not very relaxing to listen to trains screech by during your morning coffee — especially not every morning.
• Talk to your future neighbors. Ask how they like the area, and get the dirt on anything they don’t like about the place. What do they want to change? What’s their favorite place to hang out? If they’re rude to you, they probably wouldn’t be good neighbors anyway.
• Talk to more people. You’ll get the best information from regular people who aren’t trying to make a sale. (Read: not your real estate agent.) Hit up your waiter for information when you’re checking out the local food, or ask a gas station attendant to spill what they know about your chosen neighborhood.
Smells:
• Specifically, are there any? You can’t experience unpleasant smells on the Internet and they’re not advertised in tourism brochures, but they can certainly affect your decision to live in an area. Take a big whiff of the air, and ask around if you smell any fishy (or just bad) odors.
Taste:
• No, I’m not asking you to lick your prospective home’s mailbox. But ask yourself if the neighborhood matches your taste in a living environment — and if it meets your criteria. Just because it’s a nice neighborhood doesn’t mean it’s the one for you. If the neighborhood meets your list but still feels wrong, search out another area. Trust your gut feeling — after all, you’re the one who has to live there.
STEP 5 — Close the Case
You’ve chosen your neighborhood. Now for the hard part: finding a house you love. Luckily, you’ve narrowed it down to a few streets. Now, make sure to:
• Find out how much house you can afford. The amount of money a lender offers you is often more than you can truly afford to pay. Use a mortgage calculator to add all your current debts and see how much you can afford. You don’t want to be stuck eating ramen noodles for the next 15 to 30 years.
• Compare your loan options.. Decide between fixed and adjustable rate mortgages with Draw up your vision of home. It worked for your neighborhood — now think about what you want in a home. Write your own vision of home and stick to it while you’re house hunting.
To search the MLS for your Dream Home see us at http://ralphandtricia.com/SearchMLS.htm

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Buying a coffee shop business may sound like a dream come true. After all, what can be more rewarding of owning a profitable and established business? The advantages are many.

Advantages of buying a coffee shop

No 1: The coffee shop has an established customer base

If it is in an excellent location and has been operating for a few years, the customer base there is also abundant. It may have many repeat customers making it attractive for buying a coffee shop.

2. No new investment in renovation or equipments

If there are still some warranties left on the existing coffee equipments, you can still operate them after buying a coffee shop. The best news is that there is no further cash outlays for renovations or coffee equipments.

No 3: May get seller financing

In some cases, the owners are retiring from the day to day operations. So, cash is not really the greatest consideration. He may be willing to accept some form of notes until your business turn profitable. So, this makes it feasible for buying a coffee shop.

Potential Pitfalls of buying a coffee shop

However, not everything is a bed of roses as there are a few pitfalls you need to consider before buying a coffee shop. Most owners put the store up for sale when they need the cash. This can be caused by various reasons like divorce, default on debts, lack of motivation and lastly poor sales.

1. Inherit all the negative stigmas of the last owner

Find out the reputation in the marketplace first before committing yourself in buying a coffee shop. You do not want to be associated with any negative stigmas or else your business may not take off.

2. Risk or paying too much

One of the most pressing issue is that most owners think their shop is worth two or three times more than it actually is. The reason for this phenomenon is that he becomes emotionally attached to our stores. So, you need to come out with an objective valuation. When buying a coffee shop, it takes a long time to recoup this investment.

3. Lease may run out soon

Make sure that there is sufficient time left on the lease before buying a coffee shop because you do not want to be caught bare footed is only one year of lease is left. If the landlord decided for whatever reason to not renew it, then you are in trouble! It is crucial to have renewal options on the lease. If the lease is about up, renegotiating it or signing a new one in your favor may be an option for you if the cash flow is worth it.

Steps involved in buying a coffee shop business

Step 1: Ask for all records

The first step in buying a coffee shop is to get all the financial information from the owner or the broker to get an accurate valuation. You need to know the figures to get a grasp of the operations. Ask them relevant questions like why sales have been going up and down in certain months. Or why certain expenses are so high compared to others. Also ask for tax returns to see if the business owns any tax to the authorities.

Step 2: Make observations on the operations

Before buying a coffee shop, You must make the effort of going to the coffee shop during peak hour and non peak hours. Be observant and make a few visits. Count the customers daily and vehicle traffic over at least a month’s time. This will also give you the opportunity to not only see the customer flow but also get an approximate of what the actual sales are. Sit close enough to hear what customers order and keep a generic tally.  This simple observation will tell you a lot. Then, see if you can add any value if you are buying a coffee shop.

Step 3: Calculate a range of valuations

A good rule of thumb is that 50% of the yearly gross is the approximate worth of a business. Of course the only way to actually find the fair market value is a valuation done by a business valuator but sometimes these are not accurate either. But that is the seller’s responsibility for buying a coffee shop.

I like the following method. It is usually the best way to valuate a coffee shop:

Figure out what the seller’s true discretionary cash flow is: Take the owner’s salary, add back anything a new owner may not spend on yearly (these are called add backs) like a car lease, a lawsuit, use of a big CPA firm, health insurance for the owner and his kid etc. That resulting number is the true cash flow of the business. That number can be multiplied from 1 through 6 times to get your asking price or value of the business. The scale of 1-6 is mostly proportionate to the age of business and the time left on premises lease. If the business is only two years old, then the price should reflect the lower end of the spectrum and vice versa.

Conclusion for buying a coffee shop

If this truly interests you, work with a business broker. However, be sure you know what you are getting into by buying a coffee shop business. Have a coffee shop business plan in either case to plan your course for success.

Find out how you can start your own coffee shop using less than $25,000 or less and none from your own pocket. Check out this book on starting a coffee shop. You may decide not buying a coffee shop.

buying a coffee shop