Читать книгу Start & Run a Coffee Bar - Tom Matzen - Страница 68

Now that you’ve got your name and your structure, you’ll need money. Start-up costs for coffee bars can range anywhere from $80,000 to $225,000 for a typical 1,500 sq. ft. (140 sq. m) site. Start-up costs are obviously dependent on a wide range of factors, including —

(a) leaseholds required,

(b) tenant improvement dollars (if any),

(c) equipment, and/or

(d) initial marketing budgets.

These factors are all discussed in the following chapters. Make sure to adjust your start-up budget to meet the requirements of the site once you have secured one. In Chapter 4 we discuss in detail how to choose a site for your coffee bar and tell you how to determine what the ongoing operational costs for your site will be.

Keep your start-up costs separate from your operating costs. This is particularly important during the first month you are open. For example, a phone hookup is a start-up cost. The cost of having that phone operating that month and the charge for any long-distance calls you make in the regular course of operating your business are operating costs. Keep a separate file for all your start-up receipts. (See Chapter 15 for a discussion of operating costs.)

The cash required for your venture can come from a variety of sources: your personal savings, relatives and friends, banks, private investors, and, sometimes, the government. Most business funding is a combination of the above. Review each option discussed below and think about which ones will work for your business.

But before you think about borrowing money, from whatever source, keep in mind the risks involved. Understand the damage that irresponsible borrowing can have on a business. Unnecessary debt cripples a business, eliminates options, and weakens its ability to survive. You may not be able to escape it entirely as your coffee bar grows and prospers, but if you must borrow, borrow only what you need and only when you need it. By following this simple rule, you ensure two things: a stronger business and a calm state of mind.