I want to start a cafe...?

Question

give me the most incredible ideal, that would make my cafe the most unique, i want this to be the best cafe ever.......also, how would u feel, if there was a live web cam, in the cafe, would it stop u from coming in?

Answer 1

Your cafe might be the best ever, but I think you'll find that someone, somewhere, has already used your unique idea.  What is the point of the web cam?  I would probably go somewhere else.

Do you have any work or, especially, management, experience in a cafe?  Unless you can fund the startup costs entirely from your own pocket, you'll need a bank loan, and the first thing lenders will look at is your experience in that area and your business plan.  In a class I was in last year, I got a chance to read the business plan for a restaurant to be opened in San Francisco.  The principals in the restaurant had many years of combined experience in restaurant management, and the start up cost was in excess of $3,000,000.  

Have you prepared a business plan to determine if you can afford to open your cafe, or if you can make a profit at some point.  Remember that new restaurants have a failure rate of over 80% in the first two years.

Before you go any further, I STRONGLY recommend you contact the Small Business Development Center (at your local community college) and talk to them; the counseling is free.  

Then sign up for the NxLevel Entrepreneurial program...  it's a 12 session course that walks you through the ins and outs of starting or growing your business, and as part of that you will write a business plan.  There is a cost for the NxLevel program but it’s a lot cheaper than losing your investment.

Even if you hire a professional to write your plan, you should still take the NxLevel course.  

Business plans may be a pain in the butt to prepare, but without one, your business is doomed to failure.  To start with, you won't know what your startup costs are going to be, what kind of income to expect, what your ongoing expenses are, who your competition is, and even whether or not you can make a profit.  Without a GOOD business plan, you will not be able to get a business loan to get your business off the ground.

Answer 2

Most people would hate the webcam, but some would love it. Maybe have a cafe with one section or room that has the webcam and the main part without it. And put a decorative sign on the wall under it, maybe something saying, "You're on the web! Wave hello!" or "Be seen!" People will mug for it and have fun with it. I suspect this will work best with a young crowd, though.

IMO all the decor and atmosphere in the world don't count a much as the FOOD. Most places today just use microwaves. They make stuff ahead of time, feeze it and heat it up. So cooking fresh from scratch would make your cafe unique. But really cook, don't just serve sandwiches and salads. It doesn't have to be gourmet unless that's what you love. Where have all the home cookin' places gone? Savory, filling, delicious comfort food is mkaing a comeback, but there aren't enough of these places yet.