Table of Contents:
1. Executive Summary
2. Business/Industry Overview
3. Market Analysis and the Competition
4. Sales & Marketing Plan
5. Ownership and Management Plan
6. Operating Plan
7. Financial Plan
8. Appendices and Exhibits
Section 1: Executive Summary
Place the executive summary near the beginning of the
plan, but write it last. It should provide a short, concise, and
optimistic overview of your business that captures the reader's
attention and gives them an interest in learning more about it.
The executive summary should be no more than two pages
long, with brief summaries of other sections of the plan.
Java Jake's Coffee House will be the go-to place for coffee
lovers. We plan on serving the highest quality coffee and snacks
in a trendy, comfortable atmosphere. Our convenient location
and excellent customer service should build a steady repeat
customer base.
Owners Jack Valdez and partner Juanita Sanchez each have
more than a decade in the food service industry, including
management experience.
Our main products will be higher margin gourmet coffee
products such as espressos, cappuccinos, lattés, and a variety of
snacks, including healthy alternatives.
Strategically located within easy walking distance from the
technical school, nursing colleges, and a variety of office
complexes, we intend to cater to students and young office
workers by providing plenty of seating space and superior
customer service with a trendy vibe.
In the immediate area, our competition consists mainly of fast
food vendors such as McDonald's and Dunkin. We plan on
capturing the upper end of the local coffee market by serving
gourmet, nonmachine-made coffee products at reasonable
prices. Along with our superior atmosphere and great customer
service, we intend to target sophisticated coffee consumers.
The location we have selected has 2,000 square feet of space,
room for an outdoor patio, and requires minimal renovations.
The space has been vacant for several months and the owner is
motivated and has offered a four-year lease with a fifth year
free.
We expect sales revenue to grow from $200,000 in the first year
of operations to $250,000 by the end of the third year. To
minimize operating expenses, both of the principals will be
onsite on a full-time basis to reduce staffing costs, supervise,
and maintain quality control. We expect net profits to grow
from $50,000 to $100,000 by year three.
$200,000 in startup funding is required for lease costs,
renovations, equipment, and furniture. The principals have
$100,000 in cash and will obtain the rest from commercial
lenders.
Section 2: Business/Industry Overview
Provide an overview of the coffee industry, the local market,
and what makes your business unique.
The Coffee Industry
According to analysis by Pew Research, millennials have
overtaken baby boomers as America's largest living generation.
Millennials are more social and mobile than previous
generations and prefer to have coffee with friends in trendy,
public locations, increasing the popularity of high-end coffee
shops. U.S. statistics indicate that:
Gourmet coffee's popularity is increasing across diverse
demographics
Americans consume more than 600 million cups of coffee
per day
Retail sales of coffee exceed $47 billion per year
Our Position in the Industry
East Clovervale is an affluent area with a high density of
students and young professionals, an ideal market for a coffee
shop such as Java Jake's Coffee House. People in this area can
afford to spend money on specialty coffees and snacks and are
willing to do so.
Our market research has shown that seven out of 10
people polled in East Clovervale consume at least three cups of
specialty coffee per week.
The Competition
While there currently are two other coffee shops within the
immediate area, neither offer patio seating or substantial
parking. One does not offer free wifi.
What Makes Java Jake's Coffee House Unique
Java Jake's Coffee House marketing strategy is to cater to the
the young and young at heart with top quality products, great
service, and plenty of seating indoors and out. We aim to be the
place to meet with friends, relax, and enjoy a great cup of
coffee. Ultrafast wifi will enable students and business people to
readily communicate and work on school or business activities.
Section 3: Market Analysis and the Competition
Demonstrate that you have thoroughly analyzed the target
market and that there is enough demand for your products to
make your coffee business viable. The competitive analysis
includes an assessment of the competition and how your coffee
business will compete in the sector.
Given the proximity to schools and office complexes, our
primary target market will be students and professional
business people. Both groups are heavy consumers of coffee,
tea, and snacks.
Based on our customer surveys, there is a strong demand for a
high-end coffee shop in a central location that serves great
coffee and has both outdoor seating and available parking. The
three most common complaints about the existing competition
in the area are:
Inconsistent product: Discerning customers are reluctant
to become regular patrons of a coffee shop that cannot
consistently serve a high-quality product.
Lack of patio seating: Many people prefer to consume
their food and beverages outdoors on a sunny day.
Lack of parking: The lack of parking makes it difficult to
attract vehicle commuters.
The local customer base consists of approximately:
3,000 students from two post-secondary schools
200 school staff
1,000 business people and office workers
Both schools have solid attendance and are expanding their
student populations. The local business market is strong and
has been relatively unaffected by previous economic downturns.
Compared to our compeition, we expect our revenues to grow
strongly as we build our customer base:
Coffee to Lindens Java Jake's Coffee
Go (Year 1)
Est. Annual $150,000 $250,000$200,000
Revenue
Employees 8 10 6
Price Low High High
Quality Low Average High
Section 4: Sales and Marketing Plan
Describe how you intend to entice customers to patronize your
coffee shop, including advertising, promotion, pricing strategy,
sales, and service.
Our Product Offerings
The existing competition uses lower grade beans, inexpensive
equipment, and does not properly train staff — resulting in
inconsistent product quality and dissatisfied customers.
At Java Jake's we are passionate about coffee and intend to
focus on consistently serving the highest quality product by:
Sourcing premium beans and snacks and maintaining
freshness at all times.
Using a top-of-the line espresso machine and related
equipment.
Providing baristas with professional training.
By focusing on quality, consistency, and great customer service,
we will build a steady repeat customer base.
Pricing Strategy
We intend to focus on specialty coffees including espresso,
cappuccinos, mochas, etc. as the profit margins are much
higher than regular coffee. To command a higher price for
regular coffee, we will not use drip machines. Instead, each cup
will be single served using a coffee press so that every cup is up-
to-the-minute fresh and delicious.
Our pricing will be competitive with the higher end of the
market. We believe that customers will be happy to pay top
prices for a great cup of coffee.
Sales
We will be offering counter service in a professionally designed,
cozy, inviting interior space. Interior seating will be a mix of
smaller individual tables for intimacy, and longer, bench-style
ones for larger groups. Exterior seating will consist of
weatherproof tables and chairs with available sunshade
umbrellas. We intend to be open from 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. on
weekdays, and 7 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends.
In addition to cash, credit, and debit, we also will be accepting
Apple Pay for purchases.
Advertising and Promotion
To minimize costs and connect with our customer demographic,
most of our advertising will be of the digital variety. We intend
to aggressively promote our products using the following
methods:
Posters on the local campus billboards
Our state-of-the-art website
Daily specials announced on Facebook, Instagram, and
Twitter
Statistics demonstrate that loyalty cards are highly effective,
and Java Jake's will use a custom-designed rewards card to
promote repeat business.
Section 5: Ownership and Management Plan
Describe the legal structure, ownership, and (if applicable) the
management and staffing requirements of your business.
Ownership Structure
Java Jake's Coffee House is a private corporation registered in
the state of Texas. The business is 100% owned by Jack Valdez
and Juanita Sanchez:
Jack Valdez: 60 Class A Shares
Juanita Sanchez: 40 Class A Shares
Management
Owners Jack and Juanita will co-manage the business, and at
least one will be present at all times during open hours. Both
owners have previous food service management experience and
are trained and experienced baristas.
External Resources and Services
Melford's Design Services will be contracted for the interior
design of the premises.
Jackson and Jackson will provide accounting services for the
business.
Jody's Catering will supply the baked goods.
Section 6: Operating Plan
Outline the physical requirements of your business, such as
retail space, equipment, inventory and supply needs, labor, etc.
For a business such as a coffee shop that requires custom
facilities, supply chains, specialized equipment, and multiple
employees, the operating plan needs detail.
Facilities
The premises we have chosen are at 2303 Stewart St. The space
features:
2,000 square feet of indoor space in a modern, well-
maintained building in an excellent location
Approximately 500 square feet of outdoor patio space,
with lockup racks for bicycles
Existing zoning for restaurant usage
A four-year lease at $3,500/month with a fifth year free
The building owner is responsible for trash collection,
recycling, pest control, and security
Utilities (water, electricity, gas, internet, phone) are
estimated to be $800 per month
The previous tenant was a restaurant, and there are existing
kitchen and washroom facilities already in place. The previous
tenant has offered to sell used kitchen equipment at heavily
discounted prices.
Staffing
Two full-time and four to six part-time baristas will be hired at
industry standard wages. Baristas will be trained at a regional
barista training academy. The two full-time employees are
previous employees of the owners. The part-time employees will
be sourced from the local post-secondary institutions.
Owners and staff will share all regular duties, including taking
orders, making coffee/tea, clearing tables, restocking,
dishwashing, maintaining washroom facilities, etc.
To increase employee loyalty, a bonus/profit sharing system will
be put in place.
Equipment
The following equipment will be purchased:
Commercial grade La Marzocco Espresso machine
($25,000)
Espresso grinder ($1,500)
We currently are negotiating the purchase of used commercial
equipment from the previous tenant, including:
Glassdoor fridge ($1,000)
Dishwasher ($1,500)
Microwave ($700)
Misc. shelving, storage bins, etc. ($500)
Maintenance contracts for the equipment will be negotiated
with local vendors.
Supplies
We have negotiated an agreement with Murphy's Coffee
Wholesalers to supply premium gourmet Columbian
coffee/espresso beans with two-day shipping. Milk, juices, soft
drinks, fruit, etc. will be sourced from the local Costco.
Muffins, scones, cookies, yogurt fruit cups, and sandwiches will
be supplied on a daily basis by Jody's Catering.
Section 7: Financial Plan
This is the most important section of the business plan,
especially if you need debt financing or wish to attract
investors. The financial plan has to demonstrate that
your business will grow and be profitable. To do this you will
need to create projected income statements, cash
flow statements, and balance sheets. For a new business, these
are forecasts, and a good rule of thumb is to underestimate
revenues and overestimate expenses.
Include these financial statements:
Income Statements: These shows your projected revenues,
expenses, and profits. Do this on a monthly basis for at
least the first year for a startup business.
Cash Flow Projections: These show your monthly
anticipated cash revenues and disbursements for expenses.
It is important for demonstrating that you can manage
your cash flow and will be a good credit risk.
Balance Sheet: This is a snapshot summary of the assets,
liabilities, and equity of your business at a particular point
in time. For a startup, this would be on the day the
business opens. Note that a new business will have no
accounts receivable entries on the balance sheet. Note also
that the balance sheet is much simpler for unincorporated
businesses without employees. Income tax, pensions,
medical, etc. are only applicable
to incorporated businesses, as are earnings/retained
earnings.
Breakeven Analysis: Including a breakeven analysis
demonstrates to financiers or investors what level of sales
you need to achieve to make a profit.
Section 8: Appendices and Exhibits
The appendices and exhibits section contains any detailed
information needed to support other sections of the plan.
Possible appendix/xxhibit Items include:
Credit histories for the business owners
Detailed market research and analysis of competitors
Resumes of the owners and key employees
Information about your industry
Information about your products/services
Site/building/office plans
Copies of mortgage documents, equipment leases, etc. (or
quotes on these)
Marketing brochures and other materials
References from business colleagues
Links to your business website
Any other supporting material that may impress potential
lenders or investors if you are looking for financing.