Starting A Coffee Shop Tip 2 - Choose The Right Location

Hi:

This is the second in our series of coffee shop startup tips.

This issue is going to focus on location.

Location, location, location.

If you watch baseball, have you ever noticed how many times the announcer would say something like, "It's not how hard you throw the baseball but where you throw it."

Truth is, a major league hitter can hit a baseball no matter how hard you throw it. However, if you throw it at just the right spot, he can't touch it.

The same is true for starting a coffee shop. You can put up the fanciest coffee shop in the whole world, but if your location is all wrong, your business is going nowhere.

Okay, so what do you want to look for as far as location goes?

Well, for starters, you want an area that is accessible to some form of transportation. If you're in the middle of a busy intersection with lots of through traffic, this is ideal. But what if you can't get such a location? A next best choice would be an area that is at least walking distance from public transportation, whether it be bus or train.

If you can afford the rent, a great location for a coffee shop, as I am sure you have seen, is inside a crowded mall. Malls not only get the folks that drive in but the ones that take the buses and trains as well.

Another thing to look for is an area where there are a lot of businesses. Why is this important? Because lots of businesses mean lots of people who work and need coffee breaks. If you're near a large office building, this is an ideal location.

But probably the most important thing of all is checking out the location of your nearest competition. If you think you're going to put up a successful coffee shop in an area that already has a Starbucks AND a Dunkin Donuts, you are going to have your work cut out for you...not to mention if there are already diners and other cofffee shops in the area.

So make sure you carefully examine the area where you are thinking of putting your shop.

A bad location can kill your business right from the start.

To YOUR Coffee Shop Success,

Byron Michaels