It seems like everyone dreams about opening a coffee shop these days. The idea of starting a franchise with a brand you love can be an attractive prospect for entrepreneurs, investors, and people that want to own their own business. The right franchise can set you up with everything you need to run a successful company. With the right brand, in the right industry, the sky can be the limit.
The coffee industry is big business in the United States. In fact, the market is estimated to be worth $48 billion. And it keeps on growing! Did you know that Americans drink an estimated 400 million cups of coffee each day? That’s a lot of java! It doesn’t take a big piece of that pie to quickly add up to a large chunk of change.
With more consumers leading busier lives, they need to be able to get their coffee on the go. Thanks to the high demand for quality coffee people can grab quickly, the drive-thru coffee model is exploding in popularity. Scooter’s Coffee® is right there at the head of the pack!
But what does it take to run a successful coffee franchise?
At Scooter’s Coffee, we know a thing or two about what it takes to run a successful coffee franchise. Here are 10 things you need to know to brew up a recipe for success when opening a coffee shop.
1. Trust the Process
Always remember that you’re joining a franchise for a reason. If you wanted to start your own business and create your own business model, you would have done it. Thankfully, an investment in a Scooter’s Coffee franchise is an investment in proven processes and support for running your business. That means you’re buying into a business that has already been built to run like a well-oiled, lean, mean, coffee bean machine. These practices have been developed through extensive experience over years in business, and the processes are here to help.
2. Take Advantage of Franchisor Support
When you’re opening your coffee shop, you don’t have to do it alone. A good franchisor is dedicated to helping its franchisees succeed. That means providing you with the necessary guidance you need to get your new business off the ground during real estate selection and construction. Scooter’s Coffee also offers extensive on-boarding for all its franchisees and is here to lead you on the path to success. This support will continue far beyond your opening week with the marketing and field operations teams, so be sure to make the most of it!
3. Find the Best Location Possible
You probably know the old saying, “location, location, location.” One of the most important aspects of opening a coffee shop is finding the right location for you and your business. That means finding a spot that gets the right amount of traffic and is also convenient for customers to drive in and out. At Scooter’s Coffee, we know that location makes all the difference. A Scooter’s Coffee store needs to be on a busy route for morning commutes. We know this can seem like a lot, but it’s all tested to help you get the most out of your store, and you don’t have to do it all by yourself! We’ll help you navigate the site selection process.
4. Marketing is a Franchisee’s Best Friend
Even the most well-organized franchises can’t succeed if customers don’t know about them! Marketing is key to keeping people in your community informed about your business. Scooter’s Coffee wants all of its franchisees to succeed. This is why Scooter’s Coffee works extensively with its franchisees on marketing campaigns well before your new location even opens.
5. Have a Backup Plan for Money
When you’re opening your own coffee shop, or any franchise for that matter, it’s important to overestimate when it comes to expenses. The importance of capital to fuel franchise growth cannot be overstated. Your franchisor will be clear about overhead expenses and any fees ahead of time, but it’s up to you to stay on top of things. What if you need to hire more employees? Maybe you have to replace equipment early on. Whatever it is, things always have a way of coming up. Be prepared by having a rainy-day fund for unexpected expenses.
6. Understand the Competition
Before you take the plunge with your own coffee shop, it’s important that you size up potential competition in your area. How many other coffee shops already exist in your community? Are these sit-down cafes or drive-thru operations? The better you understand the competition, the better you can see why Scooter’s Coffee is so much better — our fast and friendly service!
7. Talk to Other Franchisees
One of the most valuable resources available to you is the experience of other franchisees. It’s important to talk about things with other franchisees. They’ve dealt with the same things you are experiencing, and can offer support, guidance, and advice that you can’t find anywhere else. Your fellow franchisees can let you know what to expect and help keep you grounded during what’s a busy and exciting time in your life and your career.
8. Remember that Building a Business is a Team Effort
No matter how talented of a businessperson you might be, you can’t do it all yourself. A successful franchise takes a whole team working together to succeed. From the parent company to the franchisee to the employees, it takes everyone to make the dream work. Your friends, family and community members are all invested in your success. With the support of a strong team behind you, you can achieve anything and turn your coffee shop into the best business it can be.
9. Serve an Amazing Product
There’s a reason that everyone loves Scooter’s Coffee so much. We have amazing people, serving amazing drinks, amazingly fast! Note that a third of this winning formula is our amazing drinks. We pride ourselves on the quality of our products, and it’s important to us that all our franchisees do too! We provide all of our franchisees with the recipes and ingredients they need to deliver the same amazing products that people expect from Scooter’s Coffee. When you combine amazing service with an amazing product, you get a recipe for success every time.
10. Service Keeps Customers Coming Back
Amazing products bring customers to your business, but it’s amazing service that keeps people coming back. Amazing people are an integral part of our brand promise, and we take it seriously. Customers like returning to a place where they had a good experience. It takes more than an amazing cup of coffee to make a repeat customer. It takes a friendly smile and positive attitude to keep people visiting day after day.
Starting your own coffee shop can be an incredibly fun and rewarding endeavor that can bring out the best in both you and your community. Scooter’s Coffee can provide you with the platform and support you need to make your drive-thru coffee franchise a success. Sign up today and fill out our franchise form to learn more about the next steps for owning your own Scooter’s Coffee franchise!
Click Here to Download Scooter’s Coffee Franchise Brochure.
Learn more about how we are serving up world-class coffee.
