Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Business Plan Outline

Start Your Coffee Shop Plan Here

Coffee Shop Business Plan

Whether you are planning to start a new business or grow your existing coffee shop, you’ve come to the right place to create your coffee shop business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their coffee shops.

A coffee shop business plan is used to start and/or grow your business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can download the coffee shop business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Sample Business Plan for a Cafe or Coffee Shop

Below are links to a sample of each of the key elements of a coffee shop business plan example:

  1. Executive Summary – The Executive Summary will provide an overview of your coffee shop business plan including highlights from each section.
  2. Company Overview – The Company Overview section provides a brief business description and history of your coffee business, as well as your business model, retail space location, and mission statement.
  3. Industry Analysis – The Industry Analysis leverages market research to provide an overview of the coffee industry, including trends, growth potential, and competition in the coffee market.
  4. Customer Analysis – The Customer Analysis section provides insights into the segments of your target market (i.e., business professionals, college students, etc.), including their needs and preferences, as well as how you plan to attract and retain them.
  5. Competitive Analysis – The Competitive Analysis section provides an opportunity for you to research other coffee shops in your area and identify their strengths and weaknesses. You will also detail your unique selling proposition (i.e., high-quality coffee, specialty coffees, welcoming atmosphere, etc.) for attracting new and repeat customers.
  6. Marketing Plan – The Marketing Plan offers a detailed marketing strategy for promoting your coffee shop to attract and retain customers, including advertising and social media marketing. It will also include your pricing structure for your products.
  7. Operations Plan – The Operations Plan includes information on the daily operations of your coffee shop, such as staffing, inventory management, and equipment.
  8. Management Team – The Management Team section introduces the key players in your coffee shop, their roles and responsibilities, and their relevant skills and experience.
  9. Financial Plan – The Financial Plan will provide detailed projections for the financial performance of your coffee shop, including startup costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses. This section should include an income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement.

Coffee Shop Business Plan FAQs

A coffee shop business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your business. Among other things, it includes your company overview, allows you to conduct a market analysis to identify your target market, includes a sample menu, presents your marketing plan and pricing strategy to attract your local customer base, details your sales forecasts, and provides the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement for your coffee shop.

You can easily complete your coffee shop business plan using our Business Plan Template for a Coffee Shop here.

The different types of coffee shops include cafes, coffee bars and coffeehouses that sell coffee drinks and other snacks. Some coffee shops offer lunch and dinner menus and are close to being full-service restaurants. There are also coffee shops that are more accessible for people on the go or those who want to make their own coffee. These are retail coffee shops, drive thru coffee shops, coffee carts and trucks, and roasters or retailers.

The primary source of revenue for many coffee shops come from its food and drink sales, which includes brewed coffee, coffee beans, seasonal drinks and refreshments, and baked goods. Gift card and merchandise sales like tumblers, mugs, and coffee makers also contribute to a coffee shop’s revenue stream.

The expected expenses for a coffee shop are the cost of coffee and food products, salaries and wages, rent, and advertising costs. 

Opening a coffee shop business can cost anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 depending on the size and location of the business. Additional costs such as inventory, employee salaries, and marketing expenses can range from $5,000 to $15,000 per month.

The best way to get funding for a coffee shop business is through a bank loan or utilizing your personal savings, business credit cards or borrowing from friends and family. You can also look into government grants or loans, or try to find a partner who is willing to invest in your business. Whatever route you choose, be sure to have a solid coffee shop business plan for potential investors including a sales and marketing plan as well as a realistic idea of how much money you need to get started.

  1. Determine the type of coffee shop business you want to open. There are many different types of coffee shops, from small mom-and-pop shops to large chains.
  2. Create a coffee shop business plan. This will outline your plans for starting and running your coffee shop. 
  3. Secure funding. You will need money to start and run a coffee shop, so you'll need to find investors or borrow money from a bank or other lending institution.
  4. Find a location for your coffee shop. This can be tricky, as you'll need to find a space that is affordable and has good foot traffic.
  5. Equip your coffee shop. You'll need to buy or lease equipment such as espresso machines, coffee brewers, and furniture in addition to the coffee beans and other food products you plan to sell.
  6. Hire staff. You'll need employees to run your coffee shop, so post job ads and interview potential candidates.

Learn more about how to start a successful coffee shop business:

You can download our free coffee shop business plan template PDF. This free coffee shop business plan template can be used to write your own business plan.