Читать книгу Start & Run a Coffee Bar - Tom Matzen - Страница 7

Many entrepreneurs — whether experienced veterans or first timers — often miss the vital step of preparing a business plan when preparing to start a business. As a result, many fail in their efforts to achieve wealth and fame through their business. It is critical that you take time to prepare a business plan so you are clear on where you want to go with your coffee business and are better prepared to deal with the challenges that inevitably will arise along the way.

Why is preparing a business plan for your coffee business so important?

(a) Preparing a business plan will help crystallize your reasons for getting into the coffee business and your goals for the business. If you do not have a strong sense of “why?” and “what?” you will be without focus, direction, and satisfaction in your efforts.

(b) Preparing a business plan will help crystallize your concept. A clear, concise, well-thought-out concept will form the foundation for every decision you make: everything from choosing which color to paint the walls of your coffee bar to what kind of biscotti to serve with a cup of coffee.

(c) Preparing a business plan will help crystallize your vision of the opportunities and the limitations of the market you are in. Where is the most potential in the coffee industry? Who will your competitors be? How will you compete against them?

(d) Preparing a business plan will help crystallize your vision of exactly who you will be serving. If you are not clear on who your customers are, you will not be able to meet their needs and your business will not succeed. The knowledge you acquire about your target market will be invaluable to you in your concept and marketing efforts.

(e) Preparing a business plan will help determine what products you will offer your customers. Once you know the demographic and psychographic characteristics of your target market, you are in an excellent position to decide what products will appeal to it.

(f) Preparing a business plan will help determine what services you will offer to your customers: Home delivery service? 24-hour ordering service? Wholesale service? Drive-thru?

(g) Preparing a business plan will force you to look at the dollars involved, from initial setup through your first few years in business. Budgeting and financial planning will be vital to your success.

(h) Preparing a business plan will force you to look at the risks involved in owning your own business. Eighty percent of businesses fail in the first five years. This is usually because of lack of planning and preparation, lack of capitalization, and a lack of management and marketing skills.

(i) Preparing a business plan will help you outline the exact steps required to get your business up and running smoothly and profitably.

(j) Finally, preparing a business plan will hopefully inspire and motivate you to take action! Knowing what you want to do isn’t very useful unless you actually do it.