Day 1: Planning & Creating Your Business

(8 hours of classroom instruction; 8 AM – 5 PM)
  1. Understanding the coffee industry
    1. Coffee's Global Importance & Influence
    2. A brief history of the Specialty Coffee Business in the U.S.
    3. Industry trends and outlook
  2. Conceptual planning
    1. Typical costs of business development
    2. Viable concepts for your available financial resources
    3. Developing a unique niche / theme
    4. What will you be serving?
    5. What about buying an existing business?
    6. Your business goals and exit strategy
  3. Developing a written business plan
    1. Creating a business plan for presentations
    2. Creating a financial plan
      1. To determine project viability
      2. To acquire financing
  4. Forming your business entity
    1. Corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship?
    2. Your business finances & accounting
  5. Securing the necessary capital for your project
    1. Bank loans
    2. Financial investors
  6. Finding a great location
    1. Understanding the importance of finding the right location
    2. Typical characteristics of a great location
    3. Picking the right space for your concept
    4. Using professional help
  7. Securing the rights to your space
    1. Leasing vs. buying
    2. Monthly rate vs. your potential for success
    3. The physical lease
    4. Negotiation strategies
    5. Disconnecting your emotions from the decision
  8. Store layout and design
    1. The importance of an efficient store layout
    2. Fundamentals of good ergonomic design
    3. Fundamentals of good aesthetic design
    4. Bureaucratic requirements & approval
  9. Selecting Equipment
    1. Coffee equipment
    2. Foodservice equipment & fixtures
  10. Executing your space build-out
    1. Selecting a contractor
    2. Supervising your project's progress
    3. Ordering equipment, fixtures, & furnishings
  11. Dealing with bureaucracies
    1. Typical bureaucracies involved
    2. Possible issues encountered
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