Just ask Starbucks! People love their coffee and express it with their money by paying crazy amounts, like $18 for a cup of coffee.
This is one of the few businesses where you can charge significantly different amounts for the exact same product. It’s one of the factors that make starting a coffee business very attractive for many entrepreneurs.
Interested in starting your own coffee business?
Table of Contents
How to Sell Coffee
Here are a few ways to do it:
1. Start a Coffee Cart/Stand Business
Building a coffee cart business is one of those low-cost businesses that is relatively easy to get off the ground.
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Figuring out the legal stuff
The first thing you need to consider is whether your local regulations allow you to sell coffee from a cart. Health concerns govern any mobile food business, and while some cities strictly ban it, most major cities have open but strict rules to protect customers and operators.
You can usually find this information on your local government’s website or by contacting them directly.
Location, Location, Location!
Once you have the legal aspects sorted, start forming your business plan. Target high-traffic areas, with the downtown of your city being an ideal location for a coffee stand or any food truck business.
What’s on the menu?
The next step is to decide on your menu items. Are you serving a simple cup of coffee, or will you offer other beverages like Latte, Cappuccino, Iced Tea, and more?
Find your vendors
To save money, find wholesalers to purchase your ingredients like coffee beans in bulk at discounted rates. You can find this information online, especially on related forums, or by asking other local businesses.
Buy your equipment
Even a simple coffee stand requires equipment beyond a coffee maker and paper cups. Fortunately, there are many places where you can buy what you need. The steps outlined here are a general reminder; extensive research is crucial for starting a coffee cart business successfully.
Some people roast their own coffee, while others use pre-ground coffee or buy coffee beans in bulk and grind them on the spot. Take your time, read, research, and ask before diving in.
2. Open a Coffee Shop
If you prefer a traditional brick-and-mortar store over a mobile station, consider opening a coffee shop.
You have two options:
- Go for a franchise.
- Open a totally independent store.
Although Starbucks isn’t a franchise, there are other popular nationwide coffee shop franchises. If you decide on your own store, read our comprehensive guide on how to start a coffee shop. Regardless of your choice, research thoroughly before starting.
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3. Coffee Vending Machine
This option relies heavily on location. Having a coffee vending machine in the right place can be profitable and relatively easy to operate.
The challenge is finding good locations for your machines. Explore coffee vending machine franchise opportunities or start your own.
4. Sell Coffee Online
Another profitable avenue is creating a website to sell specialty coffee. With the price of specialty coffee being high and a decent loyal customer base, making a profit is achievable.
The challenge lies in sourcing quality coffee and finding a trustworthy supplier.
To attract customers initially, consider offering free coffee samples through social media promotions.
Here are a few examples of sites that sell specialty coffee online:
Resources
As mentioned throughout this post, thorough research increases your chances of success. Learn from online forums where coffee lovers and entrepreneurs discuss starting or running coffee-related businesses.
Here are some popular ones:
Brewing Success!
Selling coffee, like anything else, requires planning, hard work, and commitment.
What sets this business apart is that, as long as you can brew a good cup of java, you don’t really have to persuade people to buy it from you. People love their morning (or anytime) cup of joe and are happy to pay for it. And that makes selling coffee to make money an evergreen small business!
All coffee sellers should aim to have enough money to invest in setting up a coffee shop.