Log in

View Full Version : coffee shop start up



revelations
10-02-2008, 03:29 PM
Hey everyone just joined this site and realise that theres probably been millions of similar threads but my fiance and me have one ambition that has to be done in our lifetimes!! To have our own coffeshop!!!!!

Now we do realise that its not going to be easy but if anyone has any information or tips on how to open a successful coffeeshop it would be much appreciated!!!

Thank you all!!!!!

:thumbsup:

veggii
10-02-2008, 04:45 PM
this is my best advice I give to my friends."if you want to be successful" find a successful person and copy them. "if you want too be happy and successful" find someone who does what you love and copy them.
so too you I say: "find a successful coffee shop and copy it" :thumbsup:

Greenthing
10-02-2008, 05:59 PM
=revelations;1923310]Hey everyone just joined this site and realise that theres probably been millions of similar threads but my fiance and me have one ambition that has to be done in our lifetimes!! To have our own coffeshop!!!!!
Good luck in your venture hope your ambition becomes real for you's.

Now we do realise that its not going to be easy but if anyone has any information or tips on how to open a successful coffeeshop it would be much appreciated!!!
All I can say is there was a coffeshop not to far away from where I live and It did not last very long before closing down,I dont know the reason why it closed but I can guess.
This will not help you very much I know.

KillaCali805
10-02-2008, 07:43 PM
OK..this is just my opinion lol...when you walk in you should get a sense of calmness and relaxation...have a great smell and settings...try to hire good employees (of course) books...magazines...calming music..couches..seats...just an overall sense of comfort..hope i helped just a little lol :thumbsup:

cygnustaxt
10-03-2008, 02:13 PM
get a wide variety of drinks and flavors, but you will also need some staples that most people buy like white mocha's, cappuccino's, mocha's, etc... Just so you know, a good professional espresso machine is pretty expensive. You'll want one with two groupheads/steam wands so you can handle all the business. Also you'll want to have some frozen drinks, lots of people love those. I think though that if you want to create a unique coffee shop and one that people will come to again and again, you need to provide them with some really good food. At the coffee shop i work at, we have soups, sandwiches, salads, and some deserts. We make all the sandwiches from scratch and grill them on panini grills. Our lunch menu has really kept the business going. Everyone seems to love them.

I've worked at 4 different coffee shops/cafe's in the past couple years so I know the ropes. If you need any more info, just let me know.

weedmaster
10-04-2008, 05:27 AM
with the credit crunch if your talking about a normal coffee shop(not one like in the dam)it's definately the wrong time to try and open one up, forget it untill things get better.

Reefer Rogue
10-04-2008, 09:05 AM
Make a lot of money and buy one out.

painretreat
10-04-2008, 09:19 AM
This past year Starbucks closed I believe it was 30% (I think) of all their shops! So, don't buy one of those!

I am not sure what country you are planning to start one in??

I would second all of the prev. answers. I think it would be a nice setting for edibles-if it is legal there. But, you have to provide for 'hockey mom' and that would not be allowed, I guess. The edibles, would get me in (if they are medicinal)!

Good luck to you both. Just do your homework first! There are a lot more things to do with a shop than the stuff. You need a real 'Plan' and do a lot of formulas to see if it could even make it where you decide! They always say, 'don't quit your day job!' When I went to my local Small Bus. Administrations seminar! PR :rastasmoke:

Greenthing
10-04-2008, 09:52 AM
IMHO a coffee shop in Britian is not going to work out as they all lack the main ingredient, the Herb and thats what 99% of people think a coffee shop is all about.
It's really quite plain that if you allow smoking of the Herb on your premises you are leaving yourself wide open for a bust and will be closed down and all your assets sequestrated.

psychocat
10-04-2008, 12:45 PM
A coffee shop in the UK is going to get shut down as cannabis is still illegal.
I owned a coffee shop in Holland and it was no easy task getting all the right paperwork and licences but other than that it is no different to having any other kind of business serving the public.

Number of coffee shops dropped - Government.nl (http://www.government.nl/News/Press_releases_and_news_items/2003/October/Number_of_coffee_shops_dropped)

As a coffeeshop you can sell up to 5 grams of cannabis per transaction as long as it follows five rules: no minors, no alcohol sales, no hard drug sales, no advertising and no "public nuisance."

revelations
10-17-2008, 01:10 PM
wow!!! Thanks to everyone for replying. i didnt think id get that many lol!!
As for all your suggestions i think their awsome! i should however of made myself a little clearer on what our plans were! we want a coffee shop in the dam to which weve been a couple of times and did get the feel for a few coffee shops! the best would have to be route 66!!

I would love it if cygnustaxt could give me some more info maybe more on the buisness side of things like cost and what kinda official papers are needed!!
would i need a work permit???

Maybe psychocat you could give me some advice on the legal side of things too?????

We need all the help we can get?!?!?! lol!!!

Hope to hear from y'all soon!!:rastasmoke:

bigtopsfinn
10-17-2008, 02:18 PM
If I recall, the Dutch government is not giving out new licenses for coffee shops, or at least it is difficult to acquire one nowadays. There has been a steady drop in coffee shops over the past years, from over 1100 to now under 800. The coffee shops either went out of business or were violating their strict rules, as mentioned in one of the posts above.

I could be wrong, but I did spend 6 months in Alkmaar, Netherlands recently, and this was what I was told by many people in the local coffee shops there. The Dutch government can't get rid of the coffee shops, but they will not give out new licenses and they are cracking down on coffee shops not following the rules.

My wife and I also had this dream to own a coffee shop, but after talking to people about it there, it seemed the only way to do this was to buy one that is already up and running.

psychocat
10-17-2008, 06:47 PM
If you are an EU national from a state that already belonged to the EU prior to May 2004, you are free to work in the Netherlands and your employer does not need a work permit.
Jobseekers are entitled to find work in the Netherlands for up to 3 months upon arrival without restrictions, if you intend staying longer than 3 months, you will require a residence permit, which can be obtained from the Foreign Police (Vreemdelingenpolitie).
Contact the National FP office on 0900 8844 (0.28E per min.) or go down to the local office in Amsterdam at Johan Huizingalaan 757, 1066 VH Amsterdam (+31-(0)20 559 63 00), open 9-1. For all other offices, consult the Gouden Gids (the Dutch yellow pages).


Coffee shops have long been a grey area as they are not legal but simply tollerated.
There are moves to make the business of coffeeshops legal , at the moment the coffeeshop supply is a "back door" business and the Dutch goverment are aware that there are links to criminals.
The Dutch have set up rules to restrict soft drugs to personal use and prevent illegal trade, marijuana and hash can only be purchased by adults (over 18) in amounts up to 30g.
Buying or selling soft drugs on the street or anywhere else but licensed coffeeshops is strictly forbidden and is considered a crime and is punished accordingly.
The goverment are not issuing new licenses so for anyone who wants to start a business selling ganja the only way to do it is to buy an already existing coffeeshop complete with the license.**

The move to make coffeeshops fully legal is the preamble to setting up a "home" supply network using legal Dutch growers to supply the coffee shops therefore eliminating the criminal ellement.


** This is how I got started.