Surviving in a highly competitive environment and becoming popular is the goal of every businessman. KOLORO branding agency knows how to open a coffee shop and make it successful.
Opening a coffee shop. Where to start?
1. A business plan for opening a coffee shop is needed like air. It includes:
- market analysis and study of the competitive field;
- marketing program of action;
- description of work technology;
- miscalculation of initial financial needs;
- forecast for the future.

2. Why will people come to me? This is the first question a future coffee shop owner should ask himself. What is the customers’ goal? Will they stop by for coffee and fresh baked goods on their way to work? Buying a sandwich at lunchtime? Or maybe spend time with family this weekend or meet up with old friends?
3. communication with the visitor. People create the atmosphere. You always want to come to a cafe with good service, friendly baristas and waiters. Staff should support the overall concept of the establishment and be friendly to visitors. If you have a typical American burger shop, the uniform of waiters in the form of a plaid shirt and jeans will look organic.
4. rent and renov ate the premises. Choose a room with renovation or do it yourself. When decorating, it’s worth keeping everything in the same concept: from tables and chairs, to bonfires and napkins.
5. Purchase equipment and basic products. Purchase everything you need so you can get fully operational. Find suppliers that offer items at good prices.

How much does it cost to open a coffee shop in Kiev?
About how to name a pastry shop, you can read in our material. The cost of opening a cafe depends on the start-up capital that you are willing to allocate to your own business. Be sure to take it into account when making calculations:
- the cost of renting the space;
- the cost of furniture, decorations;
- price for signage and other corporate identity elements;
- purchase of the necessary equipment and its installation;
- employee paychecks;
- execution of documents for authorization of activities;
- buying the necessary groceries;
It is not easy to accurately calculate the necessary financial infusion. But if you generalize, you’ll need about $100,000 to open a full-fledged cafe. The final amount depends on a number of factors: how many people are on staff, whether you prepare your own dishes from scratch or order ready-made ones from a contractor, whether you will sell alcohol that needs a license or not. The factors affecting cost are many. Mobile coffee shop business plan and coffee shop on wheels business plan will be simplified because the cost item is much less than a regular coffee shop.
Opening your own coffee shop is an interesting endeavor. Branding agency KOLORO will help to create a unique institution, near which a long queue will be lined up.
How to develop a concept
To open a successful coffee shop, you must have an original and attractive concept. Special attention should be paid to the design of the coffee shop and the menu. Logo, slogan, staff uniforms should emphasize the brand positioning.
Types of off-beat coffee shops:
- A coffee outlet. According to the format up to 10 tables can be set up near the barista’s counter, but there is no kitchen in this case. Investments in an island with coffee need an order of magnitude less than a full-fledged cafe. People will run into such a place for a tasty and quick snack. One of the main advantages is mobility. If the location is not well chosen, there is an option to move to a new location at no great cost. Organize the work can be faster than in a cafe, because it does not require as many permits and the staff is much smaller. Coffee shop branding attracts guests. The place should be interesting for visitors. A well-recognized rack should be made, especially if your outlet is a chain outlet. We recommend branding the barista uniforms, and of course, the cups.

Design of a takeaway coffee shop

- Coffee shop on wheels. A good option for the big city. Business plan for a coffee shop on wheels to make much easier than a full-fledged cafe, because there are a number of additional issues, such as renting space. The list of permits required to operate is much shorter. The main design challenge is to attract the attention of passersby. Most often, owners brand the machine itself, the umbrella and the range sign.
You can read about the importance of branded products in the COLORO piece.

Successful global street cafe concepts and trends:
- Le Café Des Chats (France)

Cat-infested coffee shops are popular all over the world. There are similar projects in London, Singapore and other cities. Visitors can order their own coffee and play with the local pets.
- Barbie Café (Taiwan)


A true Mecca for Barbie doll fans. It seems that you get into a doll’s house: even the waitresses are dressed in this style. To fully match the concept, diners are offered pink-colored desserts.
- Bench Cafe.
Here you will always have enough money to pay the bill. The institution’s principle is simple: everyone pays as much as he or she thinks necessary. The chefs buy food from local supermarkets that has been discounted due to out-of-stock packaging, but this does not affect the quality of the food.

The design of a small coffee shop
- Cafe Mocha-Mojo
The cafe is located in the Indian city of Chennai. When you walk in here, it feels like you’re inside a huge Lego construction. The interior is designed with the help of 3D design. The basis is taken from the decorative techniques of the 60-70s, when interiors were decorated in pure colors, using simple textures.

- D’espresso bar D’espresso
The espresso bar in New York City is located near the Bryant Park Library, and this fact determined the design of the establishment. Traditional library motifs are clearly visible here: shelves with books, tables with lamps. It’s immediately noticeable that the floor and walls have been swapped out.


As you can see, with a non-standard approach to the design of the coffee shop and a detailed business plan can be realized any conceptual project. Branding agency KOLORO will develop for you a unique corporate identity and slogan for your coffee shop.
