Coffee Shop Business Plan – Executive Summary

Java Culture

Executive Summary

Opportunity

Problem

People near the University of Oregon need not just coffee and tea, or pastries and snacks, but also a place to meet comfortably, have a group discussion, or just sit quietly, work, and read. That is available now near the University of Oregon campus, but too crowded too often, and not the right combination of factors for everybody.

Solution

Java Culture coffee bar is determined to become a daily necessity for local coffee addicts, a place to dream of as you try to escape the daily stresses of life and just a comfortable place to meet your friends or to read a book, all in one.

Market

Java Culture will focus its marketing activities on reaching the University students and faculty, people working in offices located close to the coffee bar and on sophisticated teenagers. Our market research shows that these are the customer groups that are most likely to buy gourmet coffee products. Since gourmet coffee consumption is universal across different income categories and mostly depends on the level of higher education, proximity to the University of Oregon campus will provide access to the targeted customer audience.

Competition

Java Culture’s direct competitors will be other coffee bars located near the University of Oregon campus. These include Starbucks, Cafe Roma, The UO Bookstore, and other Food service establishments that offer coffee.

Why Us?

Great coffee, pastries, additional options for tea etc, very welcoming atmosphere, good wireless, desk space, comfortable chairs and tables, good pastries, a location close to the university campus.

Expectations

Forecast

We plan to grow as shown in the chart below, taken from our sales forecast. We aim to maintain an industry-standard 60% gross profit margin and reasonable operating expenses, and to produce reasonable profits in the second and third year.

Financial Highlights by Year

Chart visualizing the data for Financial Highlights by Year

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Financing Needed

The owners will invest $140,000 and take out a bank loan for $30,000  to cover the start-up expenses and assets needed plus deficient spending in the early months.

The start-up expenses of $27,000 include:

  • Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services totaling $1,300.
  • Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Java Culture in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
  • Consultants fees of $3,000 paid to ABC Espresso Services <name changed> for the help with setting up the coffee bar.
  • Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium of $2,400.
  • Pre-paid rent expenses for one month at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $4,400.
  • Premises remodeling in the amount of $10,000.
  • Other start-up expenses including stationery ($500) and phone and utility deposits ($2,500).

These expenses will be incurred before launch, so they take their place in our financial projections as negative retained earnings of $27,680 at the end of the month before we begin. That number shows up in the balance sheet.

The required start-up assets of $143,000 include:

  • Cash in the bank in the total amount of $67,000, which includes enough to cover employees and owner’s salaries of $23,900 for the first two months and cash reserves for the first three months of operation (approximately $14,400 per month).
  • Start-up inventory of $16,000, which includes:
    • Coffee beans (12 regular brands and five decaffeinated brands) – $6,000
    • Coffee filters, baked goods, salads, sandwiches, tea, beverages, etc. – $7,900
    • Retail supplies (napkins, coffee bags, cleaning, etc.) – $1,840
    • Office supplies – $287
  • Equipment for the total amount of $60,000:
    • Espresso machine – $6,000
    • Coffee maker – $900
    • Coffee grinder – $200
    • Food service equipment (microwave, toasters, dishwasher, refrigerator, blender, etc.) – $18,000
    • Storage hardware (bins, utensil rack, shelves, food case) – $3,720
    • Counter area equipment (counter top, sink, ice machine, etc.) – $9,500
    • Serving area equipment (plates, glasses, flatware) – $3,000
    • Store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
    • Office equipment (PC, fax/printer, phone, furniture, file cabinets) – $3,600
    • Other miscellaneous expenses – $500

Funding for the company comes from two major sources–owners’ investments and bank loans. Two major owners, Arthur Garfield and James Polk, have contributed $70,000 and $30,00 respectively. All other investors have contributed $40,000, which brings the total investments to $140,000. The remaining $30,000 needed to cover the start-up expenses and assets came from the two bank loans–a one-year loan in the amount of $10,000 and a long-term (five years) loan of $20,000. Both loans were secured through the Bank of America. Thus, total start-up loss is assumed in the amount of $27,000.

The amounts show up in the balance sheet in the month prior to opening. The $140,000 investment shows up as Paid-in Capital. The $27,000 expenses show up as negative retained earnings. Assets and liabilities are there. This is all according to financial standards.