Today, I will give you three alternatives for opening up your own Starbucks franchise.
This is not a sponsored post or anything like that; it’s just something I want to share with the world on how one of my favorite places can help start-up businesses get off the ground.
I’ve always wanted to open up my coffee shop or coffee stand (or whatever else), so this idea has been in the back of my mind since high school when I would spend hours in the library doing all of my homework.
I want to share with other people interested in opening up their own business but don’t know where to start that it’s not as difficult as you think, and there are many different ways that any entrepreneur can get off on the right foot.
Your coffee shop
Research the coffee shop business
There are many different ways to open a successful coffee shop. Such as opening one at your house, renting out space in an existing store, or starting your own business with just the equipment you need.
There are many coffee shops that you can evaluate if you want to open a successful café.
It would be best to research the business, and what types of cafés will be most beneficial for your location and their customer base. It’s important to know when and where they’re busiest so that you can provide adequate service during those times. Finally, it’s essential not only to know the regulars but understand why they come back again and again – this is often called “knowing your customers.”
Outline your goals
When you’re looking for a business to open, you must know what type of place you will be opening. For example, if the decor is too expensive or complicated, this might not be the correct location. This will help reduce risk and uncertainty in starting a new business endeavor by preparing well before it begins.
Your goal is to create an atmosphere that makes your customers feel good when they walk in the door, so you need to make a plan. Start collecting photos, menus, and design ideas in this start-up stage.
Make a business plan and choose the right location
The process of developing and managing your coffee shop is known as the business plan. A good business plan will guide you through each stage of starting up a new coffee shop, including how to set goals, identify opportunities, create an operational budget, develop an operations manual for employees, and more.
Some people want to open their own Starbucks franchise, but they don’t know where to locate it. Many different factors go into this decision, like location (i.e., cost), market analysis, and what the competition will be like. If you want to open a franchise, it is best to consult with someone who has experience in this field to help you make the right decision.
Research the suppliers
As a business owner, there are many factors to consider when deciding whether or not to open a coffee shop. Research of the suppliers will help ensure that it is viable for your location and unique needs. This includes looking into coffee, milk, bread, produce, and groceries before opening up shop.
Once you find a supplier that suits your business and meets all of your requirements, you should start by contacting them for more pricing information and ordering their products.
Additionally, your supplier will help find the right product to get it to the customer.
Obtain the necessary equipment
If you want to open your coffee shop, you first need to obtain the necessary equipment. You can buy equipment outright with your finance or cash or lease it through a provider like Silverchef or FlexiCommercial.
In the case of coffee equipment, many cafes can get this on loan from their roaster — a bit like having a mobile phone plan. To open up your cafe or kiosk, you’ll need some other pieces of kit such as:
- A source for great beans and grinds
- Coffee equipment that is durable and built with high-quality materials
- Consumables such as cups, napkins, etc.
You also have to think about what is coming when deciding the venue for this venture. The average coffee shop has a lot of equipment, so you’ll need to invest in commercial blenders, refrigerators, dishwashers, and so on. This may include things like furniture, appliances, and dishes that are necessary right away when it’s opened.
Design the interior and create an exciting menu
Some entrepreneurs are interested in opening up their own business when choosing a franchise. One of the most important things to consider when designing your café’s interior and creating an exciting menu is hiring a professional to assist with these design aspects. This will help ensure that you have something on hand before investing much time into your project.
A professional interior designer can help coffee shops create an efficient work environment and design their storefront to better target customers like students or young professionals.
Signage is also crucial for the branding of your café. Consider adding bright colors on your signs and storefronts as well as creative designs to make them stand out from other local businesses nearby.
The theme of the coffee shop is expressed via its menu. The menu should have engaging descriptions and images conveying an idea or telling a story, such as food selections, pricing, and colors. Less than ten items on the menu are recommended to focus on gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options to ensure safety for those who are sensitive to these ingredients.
Make sure to look into the cost of ingredients and margins on menu items and calculate how much money can be made from each article by carefully considering what customers would pay for them at different price points.
Hiring the right people
Starbucks has a significant impact on how people think about coffee, so it’s no surprise that many people dream of owning their own Starbucks one day. As an entrepreneur, you have to remember that attitude is much more important than experience in the beginning stages of opening your store. It would be best to find people motivated by your idea who want to be part of this journey with you, then keep them around for as long as possible.
A good induction and training system can help new baristas feel more confident about their skills, which will make them more likely to stay with the company for a more extended period of time. Additionally, this type of support allows employers flexibility in scheduling hours because they’re not tied down by specific positions that require long hours every day.
Marketing your coffee shop
The best way to build up your reputation before opening day is by using social media. You can also use social media to promote the business on other review sites like Tripadvisor and Google Maps, which will make it easier for you to respond quickly and help you generate more engagement with users.
Images and videos are great ways of promoting a business because they encourage shares, increase view time, and create an overall sense of excitement around the brand’s products or services.
In addition, you can also hire a marketing consultant to help with the process. Marketing consultants will ensure that your store has a promotional strategy and is open for business when needed most.
Why doesn’t Starbucks franchise?
Starbucks is a successful company that has over 33,000 stores in 83 countries.
Starbucks has not franchised because it makes a significant amount of money, and the company believes that it can continue to grow without opening more stores. In addition, to maintain its success story status in America, where it continues to grow from strength to strength, Starbucks has been focusing on how its loyalty program gives customers exclusive access to digital coupons and discounts at specific locations.
The coffee giant has been successful because it has not franchised its brand. As a result, people know and trust Starbucks’ name and experience. The company can focus on building an exceptional consumer-facing business while maintaining control over important aspects of its supply chain such as roasting, brewing, marketing, and product development.
It’s hard for companies like McDonald’s or Dunkin’ Donuts to achieve growth without franchising because they have already established themselves as brands that consumers recognize and trust.
Three options for opening a Starbucks-like franchise
The Starbucks franchise is a popular option for opening a business, but it’s unlikely because the chain already has stores in place. You can’t apply for a Starbucks franchise, but you might be able to become licensed as an independent store that sells coffee and food from the company.
Please note that franchising is challenging to learn and requires an educated staff.
Here are three franchising alternatives to Starbucks:
Aroma Joe’s Coffee
- The initial investment ranges from $256,500 to more than $700,000
- An ongoing royalty charge of 8% and an ad royalty fee of 4.5 percent are the royalty costs.
- Cost of a franchise: $15,000.
Aroma Joe’s Coffee is a company that plans to expand its business by opening franchises around the country. The initial franchise fee for a new franchisee is $15,000, and veterans can get discounts on their first month of service.
Aroma Joe’s Coffee is based in Maine, New Hampshire, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. They serve all types of coffee drinks like lattes and mochas. It is a company that offers services for drive-through and walk-in coffee shops. The minimum amount needed to start this business is $50,000.
Scooter’s Coffee
- The initial investment ranges from $331,000 up to $638,000.
- An ongoing royalty charge of 6% and an ad royalty fee of 2% are the royalty costs.
- It’s a 10-year contract.
- Cost of a franchise: $40,000.
Scooter’s Coffee is a company that brings drive-through coffee kiosks, and it allows people to grab a coffee on the road and still make it to work on time. Scooter’s Coffee says they are committed to sourcing their coffees responsibly, which means you can trust what goes into your drink of choice. Founded in 1998, with locations in over 25 states, Scooters seeks entrepreneurs who want an opportunity for success by opening up their own business at one of its stores along with the help of Scooter’s.
It costs at least $40,000 to start and would need an entrepreneur with liquid capital of at least $100,000.
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
- The initial investment ranges from $183,250 up to $615,500.
- It’s a 10-year contract.
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is a top-quality coffee company founded in 1963 by Herb Hyman. The company has expanded well outside of California, into over 1,200 stores worldwide. The website states that they don’t require any minimum liquid assets, but submitting the form for inquiry purposes is recommended.
Conclusion
There are tons of alternatives to Starbucks, and if you’re considering opening your coffee shop, we can help.
Whether it’s a franchise or not doesn’t matter; the important thing is that you start building an empire today!
We hope this blog post has been informative for you. If there’s anything else we can do to ensure you get what you need to succeed with your business ventures, please let us know in the comments below.
