So, you’re starting a coffee shop and would like to get everything ready and set to go. You need a coffee shop checklist to help you tick off all the boxes and ensure you’re all set. Owning a coffee shop is a great experience, and it gives you a chance to interact with people and serve up some incredible beverages, treats, and light meals.
You can use this coffee shop checklist to get you started, and in this article, we discuss some essential aspects that will help you with your endeavor.
Make Your Space Accessible
Having an accessible space is crucial for any business since you want people to find you. Accessibility is also vital to accommodate customers with low mobility and who have wheelchairs. Installing railings and ramps is a good idea. You can also choose to have your coffee shop located in a building with a lift to give people more access. Lift accessibility is perfect for people shopping, people with shopping carts, wheelchairs, and walking aids, and those who don’t want to take the stairs.
If you own the building, then getting elevator maintenance is crucial because it will guarantee safety and functionality. You can hire local elevator maintenance companies in your area after getting their quotations and checking how well they work and their reputation.
Fix Your Roof
If you’re looking to improve the condition of your coffee shop, one of the first things you need to do is fix the roof. Many commercial roofing companies can help you get your building’s roof repaired or even replaced if required. Roof replacements can be expensive, as are excessive repairs, but all this can add to the value of the building and will also give your property a good look. Everything reflects on the owner even when it’s caused by weathering, so a bad-looking roof might give the impression that you don’t care.
For your coffee shop checklist, make sure that the roof is in good condition and free from any leaks or damage, as this can cause a variety of problems. Some issues resulting from moisture buildup and leaks include mildew and water damage. You should also check the insulation since a poorly insulated roof can lead to expensive energy bills. Another thing to do is have the gutters inspected and ensure they’re free of debris and working properly.
Renovate Your Bathroom
In addition to fixing the roof, you should also take the time to renovate the bathrooms of the coffee shop. Having a beautiful restroom is always good, and even on the residential level, bathroom renovations have increased the selling price of a property. Bearing this in mind, you can imagine the positive impact that a beautiful and contemporary bathroom will have on your staff working there and the customers supporting your business. Ensure all fixtures and fittings are in good condition, and the plumbing is working correctly. You can hire a 24 hour plumber for all plumbing emergencies that arise. You can choose to replace any bathroom fixtures with more modern designs and also add appropriate lighting.
You should also consider updating the decor and adding any necessary amenities like hand dryers, soap dispensers, and air fresheners. Keeping the bathrooms clean and tidy shows the cleanliness of your shop, too. So, the entire premises should reflect and will reflect on you as the owner of the café. Use this point on your coffee shop checklist.
Maintain Your HVAC
The HVAC plays an important role in helping to regulate the temperature of your coffee shop, and it is one of the things to have on your coffee shop checklist. It is vital to maintain the HVAC system of the coffee shop. Ensure the air filters are changed regularly, and the system is free from dust and debris. A poorly maintained HVAC system can lead to health issues like allergies and increase asthma symptoms.
You can hire skilled HVAC companies to help you get repairs, maintenance, and even replacing your system done. If necessary, consider upgrading the system to one with better energy efficiency, as this can help to lower the energy bills and improve the air quality in the shop. With a comfortable climate in the coffee shop, you can be certain that it will increase the customer and the staff members’ experience while being present.
Offer Catering Services
Organizing a business event catering for your coffee shop can be a great way to promote your business and increase customer loyalty. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your delicious coffee and other products to potential customers. Business event catering is something to add to your coffee shop checklist as this venture can help promote sales and increase revenue on a larger scale.
To ensure success, planning and organizing the catering services carefully is important. Start by considering the size of the event, the budget, and the type of food and drinks you’ll serve. You’ll need to determine the overall layout of the event, including seating arrangements and the number of guests. By including corporate event catering, you can also be certain that there is lots of opportunity for word of mouth, networking, and potential for increasing your customer base.
Maintain Your Utilities
Utilities cannot be missed because they are so critical to the running of your business. Be sure that you maintain your utility bills, and that you negotiate any late payments or other payment concerns you might have regarding utilities. Invest in energy-saving equipment and systems to tremendously reduce the usual utilities. Many energy-saving commercial coffee shop equipment will be of great help. There are also multiple water-saving systems and equipment that can make life easier where this is concerned too.
You also must consider other utilities like payroll or staff salaries, your monthly rent, marketing and advertising, insurance, tax, licenses, credit facilities, and repairs and maintenance for the equipment like water heater repair and all others used in the coffee shop. Managing all these is critical for surviving, and making good turnover will help you maintain these and make good profits.
Care for Your Exterior
Maintaining the exterior of your coffee shop is essential, and it will encourage your customers to keep coming back. Regularly check to make sure the outside of your coffee shop is clean and inviting. You can do a quick clean-up before opening the shop by sweeping away debris and making sure that all windows and doors are in good condition and clean. You can do periodic power washes to the surfaces of the walls and the front paving for a quick and low-cost clean alternative. You can hire an expert building power washing company to assist you and get all these washing done.
Take time to inspect the outside of your building for any needed repairs and replace any damaged or broken windows and doors. Keep the paint job updated, and consider adding a new coat to make it look fresh and inviting. Make sure the outdoor seating area is comfortable and free of debris. To increase comfort for your alfresco diners, you may add some outdoor seating or awnings to provide shade and shelter from the elements. Ensure that your business signage is up-to-date and clearly visible from the street.
Don’t forget about the parking area near your coffee shop. If you own the entire building, providing neat and safe parking for your customers also matters. You can also go ahead with other stucco repairs on walls, as these can be unsightly if they are left with cracks and look worn and damaged.
Install Security Features
An important point to add to your coffee shop checklist is health and safety features. Maintaining and checking the safety, such as fire sprinkler system installation, smoke detectors, and alarm systems, is important for emergencies. These safety systems must be checked regularly to ensure that they are in working order should they be required.
Having regular health and safety checks says a lot about you as the owner and your business, it also shows that you do care. Any new regulations and implementations should be followed and implemented. Keeping an accurate record of health and safety on your premises is critical for a better idea of where you stand.
Invest in New Windows
You should take the time and funds to invest in good windows for your business. Yes, windows are another aspect to add to your coffee shop checklist. Windows need to be private in a way that it gives some privacy from the people eating on the inside, yet also visible enough so that shoppers passing the café can have a look and sot some of their favorites. They may also rather be inclined to go inside the beautifully adorned exterior café, being attracted from what is seen outside, they go in and purchase.
Windows should also reduce the sun’s glare to help increase the comfort level of diners inside. The windows should be strong and safely constructed with shatterproof glass to guarantee lower chances of injuries by the glass breaking. If your current windows aren’t working for your café, then you could look into hiring a window glass replacement company to come out and have all the windows replaced.
Recruit Staff
The business can’t run without the helping hand of staff members on the team. You’ll need to find suitable people to tackle work in the kitchen, preparing food. You also need servers or wait for staff to serve customers and take orders. Apart from hiring the right staff, you also need to train those who need training because, in peak season, you may need to recruit even more hands to assist.
You can opt to use a recruitment agency to help you find the best possible matches for your coffee shop’s dream team. Using a recruitment agency will save you from having to source through hundreds of applications and trying to figure out who is the best fit. Recruitment agencies are also trained to spot certain signs that may indicate the person will be a bad fit from the get-go.
Double Down on Marketing
Marketing is sometimes taken for granted, and many entrepreneurs, when they’re looking for ways to reduce their costs, start ending marketing and content creation. Marketing and creating content to help with the marketing process is the lifeline of a company. There are many ways to market your business and to ensure that it keeps your company a good memory in your customers’ minds and that they make positive associations with your brand.
Marketing helps create engagement with your audience; it also makes you and your brand trustworthy. You can use marketing to reach more people and to ensure that your business is thriving and doing great. Some ways to tackle marketing for your coffee shop may include content creation because all marketing stems from content. When you see that YouTube video or that email coming through, the newsletters, and those blog posts, everything is created through content development. You can also blend digital and traditional marketing to help get your business more reach and recognition.
Find the Ideal Location
Choosing a location for a coffee shop can be a daunting task. It requires careful consideration of a variety of factors to ensure the shop’s success. Location is key, and it should be accessible, visible, and fit the demographic of the target customers. There should also be enough parking for the customers so they can enjoy their meals without worrying about their vehicle’s safety. It’s also important to consider any local regulations or zoning rules that will impact the shop and its functionality. There are also protocols and rules regarding the licensing to sell food and beverages, hence another feature for your coffee shop checklist.
Now that you have the basics and a valuable coffee shop checklist, you can use these points to give your coffee shop a good start. Applying rules and regulations and also providing good service will help ensure the success of your business for many years to come and make your business a success for both yourself and your customers.
