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Make sure to have an interesting name. That way you get curious folk
If you do want to be in San Antonio, the obvious place may be to locate on the far north side, but I would actually recommend the South Alamo area. King Williams (which is part of/next to south alamo) was just designated a state art area of some sort (supposedly a big honor and one of only 16 in the state). So it will be an even bigger draw to the countercultural types who would probably be the bread and butter of a small startup coffee shop. Plus you would have the added bonus of a huge boost once every month as first friday draws a HUGE amount of people to the area for the art exhibits, etc. Additionally during these first fridays you could rent out the area in front of your store to the different vendors who set up along S. Alamo.
I say all of this with the caveat that I have not gone down there specifically looking for coffee shops so I don't know if it is over saturated or not. I know that there is a tea shop called the Mad Hatter which serves sandwiches and tea, and cool restaurants, biergartens, etc.
Last edited by Drachen; 11-30-2011 at 10:23 AM.
Make sure to have an interesting name. That way you get curious folk
50/50 partner?
You won't be there the first year?...
That's a recipe for disaster...
Bars are a cash business and your friend (no matter how much you like each other) is going to resent you being MIA. It's going to be very tempting for him to fudge the numbers. The bar business can be very profitable IF you keep a close eye on the drinks/cash but it's easy for an employee/partner to steal you blind if you aren't diligent.
Also, 50/50 business partnerships are WORSE than marriages...you better make damn sure you guys are compatible and that you go into it with an EXTENSIVE AND DETAILED buy sell agreement....on a 50/50 deal without one the lawyers will get rich if either of you decide it's not working for you...
yep i know a guy who owned a VERY popular dance club in san antono who went MIA at meetings for two months. he came back to find his partner had sold his assets and high-tailed it to mexico. commercial development is a very cutthroat business that requires a career and not an interest.
What's that Dave Ramsey quote, "the only ship that won't stay afloat is a partnership"?
JMO, but coffee joints in Austin are a dime a dozen. Yeah, you're going to offer better coffee than the Starbucks' of the world. So does every other small, independent coffee joint of which there are many. There's no need for anyone wanting coffee to go out of their way, so it becomes all about location. You have to pick between being a "hang out" coffee joint which requires you to be in a high rent location downtown or near the campus, or being a "morning commute" joint where the rent may be cheaper, but the customers are more interested in how quickly they can get in and out of your establishment than they are how good your coffee is.
yup, flight path, pacha, epoch, thunderbird, ruta maya, genuine joe's, etc, etc all have rabidly loyal followings.
Bars have the highest fail rate of new businesses, no? Followed closely by restaurants?
It's something important to consider. No matter he location, the quality of the food/drinks, the gimmick, and so forth, if you're going into food service you're going to want to plan just as carefully for failure as for success. Especially with a partner. Know in advance how the work/money/responsibility is going to be distributed if things go bad.
In all partnerships there is always one who works harder than the other. Not a good thing unless the business is crazy successful.
Bars can be very profitable and a good bar will usually be profitable within 6 months. There are other things you can do to keep costs down like sometimes the landlord will give you a few months free to get on your feet, with a discounted rate for the first year or two. Sometimes the alcohol distributer will stock the bar for free, and you pay as you go during the initial stocking.
Just ask questions and make sure that those who you are working with know that ti's in their best interest that you stay afloat as much as it is in your interest.
Man, this makes me want to give it another shot again. Just need some loaded Angel investor(s)
Thanks for all the advice. When I get some time, I will definitely respond to each person, since yall took the time to give me free advice.
I do see the 50/50 thing going wrong. Maybe ultimately one of us will have to be majority owner, just by a little. I always wanted to open my own biz but always said I would pick something that I see as lacking in the area and didn't have any perishable items. I really thought a oil changing center would be pretty profitable. However I love coffee and it has always been my dream to own a coffee shop. The barthing is just something I think can work. I would not do much of the running of the business, until I get out of the army, which is in two years. We have also agreed to have two years expenses set aside for the likelyhood of not making a profit right off the back. He seems very practical like me with money. Sorry I am getting off subject.
Get you a white van and some speakers, dawg.
The only thing WORSE than a 50/50 partnership is being a minority partner.
That seems kind of broad. Is it worse to be a Mexican partner or a Negro partner?
racist tbh
I have no advice to give, but I'll say good luck. Love the rest of the feedback in this thread.
One last thing and this is by far the most important.
Get a job working at a bar or coffee shop and make sure this is the lifestyle change you want. Tell the manager or owner what you are doing and you will find someone who will be willing to help.
When I was working towards my own shop I did this and I can't tell you how helpful my managers/ everyone else was. You can meet liquor reps and build a relationship early, learn all the little tricks like lighting, color schemes, what to carry and what not to. It is so unbelievably important in the bar business. Also keep in mind the lifestyle change this is going to require. You will be spending a good 14 hours 7 days a week in this place the first few months if not year. Sometimes it takes that kind of commitment to get things going.
I helped startup a very well known bar and restaurant in Austin a few years ago and these guys were crazy successful, but they still were forced to spend the first 3 months there all the time. Even going into the first year it is vital that you are there making sure things are run the way they should. That doesn't mean micromanaging but small things like drinks are picked up, customers are taken care of, all customer service issues are handled by you. It's a if you want it done properly.
Once again, goodluck.
Quite frankly bar/coffee shop makes this sounds like this is about you having access to loans rather than having an idea to start a business. Unless there is some time frame by which you have to take those loans or the chance is gone I would spend much more time thinking of an idea of what kind of business to start.
There are many more services and commodities than just food service.
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