What, you are crazy! (Yes, we can read minds.) Of course location plays a big part, but if you don’t have the will to survive the coffee business, location isn’t going to help you. As with all things in business, there are few steadfast rules to follow to be a successful coffee franchisee. (We gotcha with those rules, didn’t we?) So, here you go, here’s everything you wanted to know about becoming a successful coffee franchisee.

Rule #1: Know your financial position and what options are available to you. Face it, you may have all the try in the world, but if you don’t have the cash to invest in a business, you may need to take a step back and examine what type of coffee business you want to start. Initial investment costs vary according to the franchise, so know your tolerance for risk and take a good read on your finances before you start searching for a coffee franchise.

Rule #2: Don’t be an absentee owner. Many people get into a franchise thinking that they can leave their business up to a manager and still be a success. Sure, you can hire managers, wait staff and accountants for your coffee business, but you still need to be an active participant in the business. From watching the bottom line to making sure that your employees are happy, productive and accountable, the most successful coffee franchisees know they need to stay on top of their business to maximize profits.

Rule #3: Get help when you need it. One of the biggest mistakes most coffee franchisees make is not taking advantage of the wealth of the support available from the franchisor. Think of the corporate office as your “back-of-house” support system. From on-going training, regular product updates and communications on best practices, the franchisor wants you to be a success just as much as you do.

Rule #4: Participate in your franchisor’s marketing campaigns. There is a reason there is a marketing department. Use the marketing materials and participate in national and local advertising campaigns. A lot of coffee franchisors offer national coupons, social media promotions and direct mail. Think about it. Your franchisor runs a national coupon, a customer comes into your location wanting to redeem it, but you are not accepting those coupons. Guess what? You just lost a customer and they will definitely not keep that information to themselves. Utilize your marketing department. It’s a win-win no matter which way you look at it.

Rule #5: Be an active member in your coffee franchisee network. A coffee franchise is like one big, busy family. And what do big, busy families like to do? They like to help each other out. Many coffee franchisors offer discussion boards, annual conferences and other vehicles to foster networking and effective communication across the entire system. From internal memos to just a quick phone call to ask a question, coffee franchisees like to help each other out. Become an active participant in your franchise system and watch your business grow as you learn best practices from those franchisees that have “been there, done that.” Pretty soon, you will be sought after for your advice as well.

Rule #5: Know the products you are serving. Your customers are looking to you as their expert on coffee. In today’s competitive coffee world, customers want to know where their coffee beans came from, if the roast is considered a light, medium or dark, and they want to know what makes your product better than the other guy’s coffee. Make sure that your baristas and staff are properly trained. Nobody wants to spend $4.00 on a cup of mediocrity.

Rule #6: Know the competition. Any successful coffee franchise owner knows that if you don’t know your competition, you are dead in the water. What other concepts are nearby? Visit, taste and shop their locations. What do they do better? Figure it out and do it better.

Rule #7: Find the right location. We know, we know, we are contradicting ourselves. Location does matter, but realize that there are coffee franchises that do not have a set location. Some are in mobile concession trailers at parks, zoos, fairs, festivals, sporting venues, and amusement parks. Picking the right event is the key to success for the mobile coffee franchisee. The same rules apply, especially in knowing your competition.

So there you have it. Follow the rules and break a few. It’s your coffee business – enjoy!

You love a good cup of coffee and the atmosphere of your local independent coffee house, but you don’t know if owning a coffee business is right for you. Lucky for you, there are a myriad of options available for both franchised coffee concepts and independent coffee houses. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, it just takes a bit of time, patience, research, and some soul searching to determine what type of coffee business is the right fit for you.

There are a few misconceptions surrounding both types of coffee businesses. Some people feel that franchised concepts are “stifling” and “are too controlling.” While others feel that owning an independent coffee house is too time consuming to start up or won’t carry high-quality products. How do you determine what business model is right for you? Take a look at just a few common misconceptions about both types of coffee business models and decide for yourself.

“Franchises are just ‘cookie-cutter concepts’ with no real substance.”
Hmmm, well if that were true, then franchises such as Caribou Coffee, Maui Wowi Hawaiian, and Daz Bog Coffee would never have succeeded in helping thousands of people own their own businesses. In fact, some franchised concepts were independents at one time. These concepts worked hard to perfect their systems, nail down distribution issues and solidify marketing concepts that were easily and efficiently duplicated which can drastically reduce the top challenges associated with owning your own coffee business. And while most of the kinks have been worked out as far as product, supplies and distribution, at the end of the day, you still own your own business.

“Independent coffee houses are just so much cooler!”
Depending on the concept, this can be said for just about any coffee business. The key is finding the balance between branding, products and delivery. An independent coffee house will fit your lifestyle and personality because you created it! Do your research. What do your competitors do that is different? What types of products are they offering? What is the ratio of independent coffee houses to franchised coffee concepts? If you are willing to work hard, put in the time and effort to create a business plan, marketing plan, branding, and an exceptional product mix that is all your own – go for it! You may just create the next great coffee concept.

“I won’t have any freedom to do what I want with a coffee franchise!”
The coffee franchise business offers a lot of flexibility depending on the concept. Some concepts are strictly storefront locations. Some offer mobile units that allow you to take your business to where people gather And others offer a mixture of all different types of models so you can design your business to suit your lifestyle. Depending on the franchise agreement and the models offered by the franchisor, you have the option of selecting mobile units, mall kiosks, strip mall locations, drive through locations, concession trailers, locations within hospitals, catering units, and more! These same franchisors also offer construction and location assistance services and at times, you will be able to lease or purchase equipment on directly from other franchisees or the franchisor, which will help reduce your initial start-up costs. Yes, some coffee franchisors do have compliance and regulations you must follow, but think of the franchisor as your “brand watchdog” watching over the system to ensure consistency and great customer service throughout the franchise system.

“How do I choose between a coffee franchise or to go it alone?”
This is a hard question to answer. It all depends on your research, your tolerance for change, and your willingness to work hard. It doesn’t matter if you choose a franchised concept or not, you are the small business owner. You make the business decisions that guide your business toward profit or failure. Solicit as much free advice as you can from franchise owners, franchisors, independent coffee house owners, business consultants, anyone who can help you understand the nuances with both types of coffee concepts. Only after careful consideration and due diligence will you be able to make the leap as a coffee shop owner!

“I know my way around a coffee grinder. I want my own coffee house!”
For those of you who are dedicated to your coffee and have a keen understanding of all things “coffee bean” then by all means, go forth and create the independent coffee house of your dreams! And please, if it’s that good, then send us some for our own coffee pot!

Opening up a coffee business has its highs and lows – and pros and cons, but what do you need to know before you begin to investigate the coffee business? Here are a few things you should consider before writing that check and diving in.

1. Go with a franchise or become an independent coffee shop owner? Unless you are a master roaster, have a ton of restaurant and café experience, can source your own beans and have the time and money to invest, your best bet would be to go with a franchised concept. Many coffee franchises offer a variety of complementary products and unlimited niche concepts. Remember, you still are a small business owner, and it is still your “locally-owned business.” There are just different ones scattered around town and around the country. The franchisor can supply you with the tools and the products, but it is ultimately up to you to take the initiative to make your business work. In many cases, a franchised concept also has greater brand recognition than an independent coffee business owner might have. Which leads us to the next thing to consider.

2. Do your homework! This may bring back memories of your parents hovering over you after school, but if there can be only one thing to do, it’s do your research! There are many franchised coffee concepts out there, which one suits your personality? Are the products good? Do you know anything about coffee beans? What makes a truly good cup of coffee? If you can’t answer these basic questions, then you have a lot of homework to do, my friend. Once you have found the concepts you are interested in, make a list of your top five and dive into your research. Utilize Google, visit a location if you can, find out as much information before you narrow down your choices. Once you have your choices narrowed down, you will then enter in a more detailed phase where the franchisor will set up regular phone calls, work through spreadsheets, teach you more about the business and how to get started. This is the time to ask all your questions to determine which concept is the right fit for you. In addition to the discovery process, many franchisors offer “Discovery Days” which allow you to visit the headquarters, taste the products and ask the staff detailed questions. Take advantage of this, sometimes this can make or break your decision.

3. Products! Products! Products! More important than location, the products that you will be serving are a top consideration for many potential franchisees. If you do not have a background in coffee or do not have a working knowledge of coffee, the advantage of going with a franchise system is that you will learn the tricks of the trade, have a dedicated staff that is focused on product development, quality and distribution. What makes one concept’s coffee different from another? Not every concept is going to be a “mini-Starbucks.” There are a lot of nuances to coffee, a lot like a fine wine, so doing preliminary research into the products you may be serving and learning about them to see if they are products worth standing behind and serving to your customers is of tantamount importance.

4. Self-motivation – Do you have it? Regardless of the title on your resume or business background, opening up a coffee business is hard work, just like any other job. Oftentimes, as the owner, you are the one who is ultimately responsible for your business’ success or failure. The coffee business should not be taken lightly. With hard work and dedication, many franchisees without real world business experience have succeeded where others with a long list of degrees and accreditations have not. Take time to learn from the franchisor, other franchisees who have been there, and realize that you really don’t know it all. If you are willing to put in the time, learn as much as you can, emulate the success of others, you will make your coffee business dreams a reality.

5. Do you have realistic expectations? The coffee business, like most businesses is constantly fluctuating. This is not a “sit here and wait for the customers to knock the door down” kind of business. If you choose to sign on with a franchise concept, realize that you hold the keys to success. As the one “in the trenches” you must be willing and able to adjust to changing market conditions and increased competition from other concepts and independents. This requires you to stay engaged in your community, be a master networker, and most importantly – stay positive and upbeat amid the business cycles. No one can make you succeed or fail, but yourself

Java Drive Thru.com
An informative site for those looking to enter the coffee business. Find coffee shop start up costs and much more helpful information.

Do They Franchise?
Are you trying to find out which coffee companies franchise? Want to know how much a coffee shop’s franchise fee is? Start your search here.

WhichFranchise.org
WhichFranchise.org-complete franchise and franchising opportunities resource for the USA. Free franchise information on US franchises, in association with the International Franchise Association (IFA)

Asia Pacific Coffee and Tea Company
sells organic coffees and teas from around the world.

Avalon Organic Coffees
organic coffees grown with respect for human and natural resources.

Beantrees
sellers of organic coffee. Offers wholesale distribution to the trade and office coffee service anywhere in America.

Cafe Altura
[SPONSOR] – offers organically grown coffee.

Caffe Ibis
specializes in mountain-grown, shade-grown, fair-traded, certified organic coffees.

D & M Coffee Company
micro roaster in eastern Washington state offering high quality organic and high caffeine coffees by the pound.

Dean’s Beans
certified organic coffee.

ECO Organic Coffee Company
offering shade grown organic Café Canopy blend.

Elan Organic Coffee
importer and seller of coffee beans.

Equal Exchange
a worker cooperative selling organic coffee from farmer cooperatives in various countries.

Grounds for Change
offers 100% organic, shade-grown fair trade coffee roasted to order and shipped fresh daily.

Jim’s Organic Coffee
wholesale rosters of organically grown coffees.

Kalani Organica Coffee
chemical-free and certified organic coffee roasting company.

Kuaiwi Farm
purveyor of certified organic, hand-picked 100% kona coffee. Also features estate history.

Organic Products Trading Company
works with coffee farmers to develop and import organic coffee.

Sacred Grounds Organic Coffee Roasters
sells certified organic coffees, retail and wholesale.

Song Bird Coffee
shade grown coffee produced in collaboration with the American Birding Association by the Thanksgiving Coffee Company.

Summit Coffee
offering a variety of organic, shade-grown coffee. Also sells accessories, clothing, and gift packs.

Sustainable Harvest
specialty importers of organic and sustainable green coffee.

Taylor Maid Farms
offering organic coffee and teas, as well as herbal products.

Tesoros Del Sol
offers organic coffee from Costa Rica.

The Ugly Mug Coffee Company
sells organically grown fair trade coffee, original hot chocolate, teas, gift boxes, mugs, T-shirts, and more.

Urth Caffe’
produces certified organic coffees and teas.

Blue Mountain Coffee
purchase whole or ground Blue Mountain coffee beans online.

Blue Mountain Coffee Beans.com
offers beans and ground version of 100% Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

Blue Mountain Coffee Inc.
official site offers whole beans, ground coffee, and more.

Wallenford Blue
100% Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee via mail order in North America.

Na Pookela O Honaunau Estate Coffee
grows 100% Kona coffee on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Oates Kona Coffee Farm
coffee grown on the slopes of Mauna Loa, on the big island of Hawaii.

Ohia Republic Coffee Company
featuring 100% pure Kona coffee.

Rooster Farms Coffee Co.
certified organic 100% Kona Mauka coffee, sun dried and shipped fresh to you.

Smithfarms
independent, pesticide- and chemical-free Kona coffee, macadamia nut, and honey farm.
Alphabetical

Surfin’ Ass Coffee Company
retailer of Kona coffee and Donkey Balls chocolate.

Wild Mac Kona Coffee Company
pure estate Kona coffee and macadamia nuts.

Left Coast Kona Coffee Farm
ships Kona coffee in Hawaiian print fabric bags direct from the farm and grower.

Lehuula Farms
offering 100% private reserve Kona coffee and macadamia nuts grown in the Kona coffee belt on the island of Hawaii.

Lions Gate
offers Kona Coffee and macadamia nuts.

McClure Farms
100% Kona estate coffee. Gourmet roasted and green beans.

Mountain Valley Estate
grows their own Kona coffee beans in the volcanic soil and lava of the Honaunau Valley.

Na Pookela O Honaunau Estate Coffee
grows 100% Kona coffee on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Oates Kona Coffee Farm
coffee grown on the slopes of Mauna Loa, on the big island of Hawaii.

Ohia Republic Coffee Company
featuring 100% pure Kona coffee.

Rooster Farms Coffee Co.
certified organic 100% Kona Mauka coffee, sun dried and shipped fresh to you.

Smithfarms
independent, pesticide- and chemical-free Kona coffee, macadamia nut, and honey farm.
Alphabetical

Surfin’ Ass Coffee Company
retailer of Kona coffee and Donkey Balls chocolate.

Wild Mac Kona Coffee Company
pure estate Kona coffee and macadamia nuts.

Key-Pak Machines
Your solution for coffee and tea packaging. To package coffee, tea, cocoa and more into fractional, urn and institutional bags or bag-in-bag, KEY-PAK has the solution for packaging with ease, speed and high-volume from ground to whole bean.

Quality Packaging, Inc.
Quality Packaging Inc. is the U.S. and Canada Sales and Service Representative for ICA S.p.A. ICA is based in Bologna Italy and is recognized throughout the world for innovative packaging machinery.

Boxes for Tea and Jewelry
Tea and Jewelry boxes in exotic woods and burls hand crafted by award winning Florida artisan Donald R. Boudreau.

Bubble Tea.ca
bubble tea supplies and home party kits.

Continental Engineering
manufactures and exports CTC cutters and chasers used in plantations.

Gem Forgings
exports a wide range of tea processing machineries.

Karma
manufactures coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate, and mashed potato machines, and juice, tea, and beverage dispensers.

Vikram India
exports tea machinery and equipment.

Wilbur Curtis Coffee Brewing Systems
coffee, cappuccino, and tea brewing systems with digital electronic technology, soup machines, hot water boilers, and more.

arkay Industries
manufactures tea and tea processing machinery.

Asia May Zest Tea Co., Ltd.
exporter of oolong teas, oriental beauty tea, green tea, black tea, formosa tea, high mountain tea, semi-fermented tea, and more.

Asian Tea & Exports Ltd
exports green and black tea.

British Express
wholesale importer of tea from the UK, Ireland, and South Africa.

Cape Natural Tea Products
specializing in sourcing herbs and preparing them for bulk export, as well as offering a range of single and blended teas in retail packaging.

Ceylon Black Tea
exporters of black tea, green tea, flavoured tea and organic teas as bulk tea, tea packs, and tea bags.

Ceylon Black Tea Company
exporters of pure black tea in bulk, tea packs, and teabags under company brands or to buyer’s choice.

Ceylon Tea Exotica
exporter of Ceylon tea in bulk, packets, bags, and gift packs.

D.C. Ghose & Co.
produces, blends, packs, and exports North and South Indian teas.

Decent Libra Impex
exports dehydrated fruits, electroplated teapots, regular, flavoured, and spiced teas.

Dilmah Tea
supplies garden fresh and unblended direct from the highlands of Ceylon.

Elmstock Tea Company
wholesaler and distributor of premium Ceylon and Indian teas.

Fine Indian Tea
exports Indian tea to USA, U.K., and Middle East.

Kaburagien
green tea wholesaler. Site includes secrets of tea and product information.

Kalubowitiyana Tea Factory Ltd.
exporters of unblended and blended teas.

Kas & Kami International
producer and exporter of Ceylon tea. Also customises flavoured tea in bulk, packets, and bags.

Lim Lam Thye
manufactures and exports black and green tea. Also trades in agricultural commodities.

MEH Industries
exporter of packaged Ceylon, green tea, and flavoured tea.

Neptune
manufacturer and exporter of Ceylon tea and flavoured tea in bulk, packets, and bags.

OnlineChinaTea.com
supplier of green, black, oolong, white, and specialty Chinese teas.

Senok Tea
offering a variety of Ceylon Tea.

Siddhalepa
herbal products from Sri Lanka.

Southern Group Tea Exports
producer and exporter of Ceylon tea. Also customises flavoured tea in bulk, packets, and bags.

Tata Tea Limited
features information on the tea plantation company and their worldwide brands.

Teekanne Group
German tea trading company.