- Understanding the coffee industry
- Coffee's Global Importance & Influence
- A brief history of the Specialty Coffee Business in the U.S.
- Industry trends and outlook
- Conceptual planning
- Typical costs of business development
- Viable concepts for your available financial resources
- Developing a unique niche / theme
- What will you be serving?
- What about buying an existing business?
- Your business goals and exit strategy
- Developing a written business plan
- Creating a business plan for presentations
- Creating a financial plan
- To determine project viability
- To acquire financing
- Forming your business entity
- Corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship?
- Your business finances & accounting
- Securing the necessary capital for your project
- Bank loans
- Financial investors
- Finding a great location
- Understanding the importance of finding the right location
- Typical characteristics of a great location
- Picking the right space for your concept
- Using professional help
- Securing the rights to your space
- Leasing vs. buying
- Monthly rate vs. your potential for success
- The physical lease
- Negotiation strategies
- Disconnecting your emotions from the decision
- Store layout and design
- The importance of an efficient store layout
- Fundamentals of good ergonomic design
- Fundamentals of good aesthetic design
- Bureaucratic requirements & approval
- Selecting Equipment
- Coffee equipment
- Foodservice equipment & fixtures
- Executing your space build-out
- Selecting a contractor
- Supervising your project's progress
- Ordering equipment, fixtures, & furnishings
- Dealing with bureaucracies
- Typical bureaucracies involved
- Possible issues encountered