Does anyone run/own their own cafe?

Re: Does anyone run/own their own cafe?

I have no experience opening or running my own cafe, but it is a widely accepted statistic that most restaurants will fail in their first year of service. Like with everything else, there's a risk; however, I think the risks of opening your own cafe are greater than those of other business plans. Consider the following, why would someone go to your cafe instead of the Starbucks across the street? how are you going to promote the business? Is there a viable, available location for your cafe? All these are things to keep in mind. If you are attached to this idea, I suggest estimating the cost of everything you need to start and then factor in possible revenue and see what you come up with.

My advice is simple and common, but its something to address. Good luck!

Re: Does anyone run/own their own cafe?

As the popularity of using computers for everything continues to increase, people without their own computers, business travelers and those on vacations need to use computers more and more. An Internet cafe may be a great solution for you to combine your passions and turn your skills into earning money in an enjoyable and profitable way.

Re: Does anyone run/own their own cafe?

Though I do have retail management experience, I've never run a cafe--but I sure have used them! I look for them, as a matter of fact.

Here are a few mistakes I've seen:

Location: No foot traffic? You'll be out of business in the blink of an eye.

Hours: Set them and keep them. I've seen cafes schedule hours and maybe or maybe not keep them, and I've also seen them schedule them when it's convenient for the owners, not the customers. People want a cup of coffee and a newspaper at 8 AM. They also may not get around to having lunch until 3 PM. If your kids get out school at 2:30, that's not your customer's problem.

Food: Too many start-up cafes think a trip to Sam's c**b solves all culinary problems. If your food doesn't stand out, why bother? No one who has discretionary money goes out and pays money for a sandwich made on Wonder Bread.

Dirty windows. Mmmm-that's appetizing.

Successful cafes I've seen:

Simple menus of homemade food with quality ingredients. Even if it's just soups, sandwiches and other simple foods, they're homemade and the breads and meats aren't pumped full of water and laced with salt. Iceberg lettuce? What's that? American cheese? Huh? Baked goods are always homemade, though they may buy them from the lady down the street. Think about it: someone comes in for a coffee and smells muffins cooking--what do you think happens?

Example: I know one sandwich shop in a rinky-dink upper New York state town near the Canadian border, and they get their fresh bread from a Montreal bakery. The roast beef is real roast beef, not cold cuts--and boy--everybody in town goes there to get a sandwich. Repeat business is a given, once people find a place like that. They're in an old run-down building on a side street near a college. Lots of student foot traffic. There's a laundry mat across the street. They also stay mindful of trends among college students: they offer vegetarian fare and Phish food sandwiches--named after the band Phish. They've been in business for years.

Events: poetry readings, open mike, a juggler who just happens to walk in off the street now and then.

Outdoor seating.

And in 2010: free wi-fi. You don't need to go buy a bunch of computers. As telecommuting and freelancing grows (and it is growing), people with laptops will keep you pouring coffee and selling homemade doughnuts all day long--as long as your signal is good and you have enough outlets. One place I go to does all this, but they don't have enough outlets, so I always have to leave after about an hour unless I luck out and get an outlet. So they don't take up tables during the lunch rush, maybe the free wi-fi offer is limited to hours before and after 11:30 AM and 1 PM.