Business Overview:

If you’re a people person who likes working with cars and you are looking for a way to be your own boss, you should learn how to start a towing business. Maybe you already work for a towing company or auto mechanic business and are looking to branch out on your own. Or maybe you’ve never towed before but want to break into this business by hiring a crew of tow truck operators. Either way, the first thing you need is a tow truck business plan. This plan will help outline things like whether you’ll purchase a franchise or start your own business from the ground up. Your business plan will also help you figure out how many trucks and tow truck operators you will need initially—and what rate of growth you’ll need to experience in order to add more. Starting a towing business can be a costly investment so you will need to line up some financing. Find out where the best places are to purchase tow trucks. You don’t necessarily need a storefront for this business idea but you will need a home office where you can keep your records. You will also need a place to keep your tow truck(s) so you need to look into garage space if there is no room at your home. Once you have your trucks and your staff, you will need to kick your marketing plan into action and form relationships throughout your area. Talk to the police station to see if you can be on the list of towing companies they call when there’s an auto accident. Talk to the city office in charge of parking violations; find out how the impound lot works and how you can get on that list. You can contact AAA and seek to be registered with them. Also, you should distribute your business cards to local auto repair and auto detail shops. Just getting the word out will help build your client base immensely. Unfortunately, everyone will need a tow sooner or later. Learning how to start a tow truck business could put you on the fast track to financial freedom while helping others get through a difficult time.

A Day in the Life of a Towing Business Owner:

If you are the sole tow truck operator of your business, you will want to always have your cell phone with you so that people may reach you when they need a tow. Each day you will spend your time talking to people about your business and distributing your business cards around town. If you have a staff working for you, you or an answering service will work as the dispatcher, taking calls when they come in and assigning jobs to your crew. Your day as a towing business owner will not end at 5 o’clock since tows are needed 24 hours a day. You will likely be on call at least a few days a week so you will need to have your phone on and be available at a moment’s notice to take that next job. As with any business, you will need to record each day’s payments and keep an eye on your finances.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals needing a tow for their broken down car, the police department needing a wrecked car towed, the city needing a car towed to impound and other various individuals who need an automobile moved to another location.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marking plan and materials
• License and insurance
• Tow truck(s)
• Tow truck operator(s)
• Area to house your truck(s)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• This business is truly recession proof.
• If you offer fast, friendly service, you can charge top dollar.
• Towing is relatively easy work.
• You don’t have to work at an office 9-5.
• You get to work with people all day.

The Bad:

• The initial investment can be high.
• You will work odd hours, nights and weekends.

Resources:

• Towing and Recovery Association of America
• National Road Service Registry
• Wikipedia on Tow Trucks

Technorati Tags: how to start a tow truck business, how to start a towing business, starting a towing business, tow truck business plan

Business Overview:

If your friends have ever urged you to put your comic talent to the test, it might be time to look more seriously at how to become a stand up comedian. Though it may seem like an unnecessarily simple “how to,” stand up comedy as a business can be more rewarding than just open mic night at the local pub. The comedy business is much like any customer-driven venture; you provide the customer with what they want and your business thrives. While you might be interested in learning how to be a stand up comic yourself, you might also consider hiring comic talent to work for you. In this sense, the business is very much like a talent agency specializing in comedy acts: You work for the comedians, finding them jobs (and even helping them iron out their acts), and your company takes a percentage of their profits from the gigs you get for them. You can still work on the details of how to be a stand up comedian yourself, but in the meantime, you can hone your scouting and comic skills while building on this business idea and marketing your brand of comedy. However you go about it, isn’t it time you put your money where your funny is?

A Day in the Life of a Stand Up Comedy Business Owner:

Whether you’re the comedian, the business owner or both, you will always be looking for the next big gig for yourself or your comics. To that end, a typical day will involve scouting locations that hire comedians and booking as many gigs as you—or your talent—has time for. In your free time, you will want to be writing, editing, and practicing your material for your upcoming shows. If your comedians are willing parties, you might have them rehearse their material for you, not only so that you might get a sense of their shtick and be able to market them more effectively, but also to give them as much practice as possible. You will always want to confirm dates the day before the show, and ensure payment and satisfaction afterwards. Finally, you will want to see that your business is pulling in profits, and then you can determine how to proceed with your enterprise.

About Your Customers:

Your customers are many in a business like this. Your most important customers are the ones sitting in your audience—not only will they critique your material and delivery, but they can be the best advertisers for your business. If they like you, you can be sure they will tell their friends or even seek out your act next time you’re in town. Your other customers are the proprietors or managers of the shows. If they’re happy with your act, they will likely hire you again. Finally, if you’re the comedy business owner, you will work for the comedians you sign on. They will be giving you a percentage of their profits, so you will want to ensure they are getting enough work and are happy with the representation you provide for them.

What You Need to Start:

• A funny comedy act or comedians with solid material
• Venues at which to perform your material, preferably for money
• A “price” for your gig, though it might be on a sliding scale
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• If comedy is your passion, you can combine your hobby with your career.
• The business can be lucrative if you or your comedians are good at their act.
• The business is entirely scalable; you can work on weekends only, all week, or even travel for shows.
• You can decide whether you want to participate as a comedian or just represent other comedians.
• You get to run a business that makes people happy.

The Bad:

• Even professional comedians have a bad night every now and again, so you should expect the occasional dud of a show.
• When starting out, comedians often do shows for free or for very little compensation. You might have to work for a while before you see true profits.

Resources:

• National Association of Comedians
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
• Wikipedia on Comedian

Technorati Tags: comedy business, how to be a stand up comedian, how to be a stand up comic, how to become a stand up comedian, how to stand up comedy

Business Overview:

If you frequent the department store makeup counter and pride yourself on your makeup application skills, you may be ready for your own cosmetic store business. Imagine working with people all day, making them feel better about themselves by highlighting their natural beauty. Getting to experiment with all the latest products and colors is just one of the perks to this business idea. But first things first. You need to find a location for your store. You should look in areas where women tend to shop. A cluster of boutiques or an outdoor shopping mall would be perfect. Once you find your location, you will need to secure funding. Starting a store from scratch can be a lot of legwork so it might be worthwhile to purchase a franchise business. A franchise will be more expensive up front but it should come with furnishings, a staff and likely some cosmetics stock. A business plan will help you sort out these types of details as well as what types of customers you will cater to, how many product lines you will carry, what your price points will be, etc. You will also need to market your business locally in magazines and on the Internet. Having a slick website will not only increase business by getting customers into your store, but you can also sell your products online. The best part of this business is the freedom it will give you to work only when you want to. Assuming you have a capable staff in place, the business will run itself and you can spend your time marketing and researching the latest cosmetics trends.

A Day in the Life of a Cosmetic Store Business Owner:

Your day will begin by making sure the store is clean and organized. You will check that your staff is on time and be sure they are familiar with any new products. Throughout the day you will visit with customers and help them find the products best suited for their needs. You will spend some time marketing your business by distributing coupons or fliers to other shops in the area who cater to your clientele. At the end of the day you will record your income and straighten up the store for the next day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for high quality cosmetic products for themselves or as a gift for someone else.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Storefront
• Funding
• Marketing plan
• License and insurance
• Makeup counters, shelves, drawers, cabinets, etc.
• Staff
• Cosmetic products

The Good:

• Helping people look and feel their best is very rewarding.
• The demand for cosmetics will always be high.
• You can be your own boss and take time off when you want to.
• You get to spend your day doing something you love.
• After you make back your initial investment, your profit margin can be quite high.

The Bad:

• The startup costs are steep.
• If you don’t price your products correctly, your bottom line will suffer.

Resources:

• Personal Care Products Council
• Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Barbers, Cosmetologists and Other Personal Appearance Workers
• Wikipedia on Cosmetics

Technorati Tags: cosmetic store business

Business Overview:

If you are interested in helping others save money while being a friend to the environment, you should look into starting a solar water heating business. With the rising costs of electric and gas power today, more and more people are looking into alternative methods to heat and cool their homes. A solar water heater can save a homeowner more than 50% on his or her water energy bills. They do cost more than a regular hot water heater up front, but in a few years, homeowners usually recoup those expenses, making this a very attractive option for many people. Owning a solar water heater can also get you some pretty attractive tax credits. It seems solar water heaters should be able to sell themselves, right? In some cases, that’s true but if you have good research to show your potential customers and high quality installation experts putting in the units, you should have no problem convincing customers that this green business idea is worth the initial expense. Once your business has some residential clients, you might look into installing solar water heaters in apartments and commercial buildings. You will want to advertise your business in the green community in your area. If there are any businesses that sell environmentally friendly home improvement products, it would be a good idea to get your business prominently displayed there. Even big box home improvement stores should be receptive to energy saving products. You can also advertise in local magazines, in the newspaper and online. After you get a few installations under your belt, you should have homeowners and business owners lining up to take advantage of this energy-saving green business idea.

A Day in the Life of a Solar Water Heater Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your calendar to see if any installations are scheduled that day. You will talk to your installation experts to make sure they have the equipment and information necessary to do the installation. You will follow up with your customers after the installation to ensure they are happy with the work. You will spend some time marketing your business and doing research into the latest solar water heater technology. At the end of the day, you will record the day’s payments and make sure your crew is ready for any jobs the next day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be homeowners, business owners and apartment or condo owners looking for a cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to standard hot water heaters.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan including research to show customers
• License and insurance
• Relationship with solar water heater equipment distributor
• Staff of installation experts
• Vehicles to transport large equipment
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• As more people become aware of this technology, the demand will continue to rise.
• Installations are simple.
• Tax incentives are available for operating a green business.
• Helping people to be more environmentally responsible is rewarding.
• You can charge top dollar for high quality installations.

The Bad:

• It could take some time to build up your client list.
• It might be difficult at first to find skilled installers who are familiar with solar equipment.

Resources:

• Solar Energy Industries Association
• Solar Trade Association
• International Solar Energy Society
• Wikipedia on Solar Water Heaters

Technorati Tags: solar water heating business

Business Overview:

If you’ve got an interest in the strategies and solutions that can help sustain our natural resources, green business consulting might be the industry for you. A green business consulting firm works hand-in-hand with existing businesses to review and revise (or even overhaul) the company’s production or processing methods in order to make them more environmentally conscious. In other words, you teach businesses how to make less of an impact on the environment in everything they do—whether it’s a manufacturing plant, a newspaper printer, or a technology company—and as a result, they either save money or even make money. It’s an awesome job, and an awesome responsibility, and it requires more than just an entrepreneurial spirit. In order to be a consultant or even just to consider a business idea like this, you need to be talented both in business and environmental science, and you need to be able to develop viable solutions for the businesses that hire you. Unless you have a degree in these fields, you will likely need training and mentoring from green business consultants who are finding success in this field. Luckily, there are many training programs and guidebooks that can help you get your credentials in order and your business up and running. Aside from preparing yourself to enter the industry, there are few startup costs associated with running a business like this, especially if you plan on starting from your home-based office. Once you get your feet wet and you have client recommendations under your belt, the sky is the limit to the number of businesses you can help find their sustainability—a win-win-win situation!

A Day in the Life of a Green Business Consulting Firm Business Owner:

Initially, much of your time will be spent learning the ropes of this business and understanding what your role as the consultant will be. Once you’re working with clients, your days will consist of networking, researching, planning, and revising the model you will propose to your client. You will need to fully understand your client’s business approach in order to modify it to be more environmentally responsible. Having a solid training background and a mentor you can bounce ideas off of will help you considerably in this business, especially as you first start out. You will also need to prepare either a report or a presentation of your plan for the client, so some writing and interpersonal tasks will be part of your daily activities. At the end of the day, you will want to make sure your efforts pay off and your business is holding up—using financial tracking software will make this aspect of running your business a breeze.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be the owners or managers of businesses who are looking for ways to make their businesses “greener” and ideally will be looking to cut costs while they’re at it. If you can create plans that help businesses cut costs, increase production, and become more environmentally friendly, you will find yourself with no shortage of customers.

What You Need to Start:

• Knowledge of business management and environmental science
• A solid business and marketing plan
• An efficient home-based office
• Training or mentorship in green business consultation
• A pricing schedule for your customers

The Good:

• This business is entirely scalable.
• You can start a business like this with little money upfront.
• Once you start helping clients, you can earn a solid reputation and become the go-to firm for green business consultations.
• You can feel good about what you’re doing to earn money.

The Bad:

• This business is not a one-size-fits-all opportunity; you need some talent and expertise in the fields in order to make it work.
• Your business might start off slow; you might work with a company for weeks or months before they sign off on your plan.

Resources:

• Green Business Association
• Institute of Management Consultants
• Association of Management Consulting Firms
• Wikipedia on Green or Sustainable Business

Technorati Tags: green business consulting

Business Overview:

If you want to help our environment and have been looking for a green business, you should consider starting a compost business. Starting a composting business is a great way to go green and be a successful entrepreneur at the same time. These days everyone is looking for a way to save money and help the environment. This business idea has been around for ages but was previously only utilized by rural populations. Today, with the popularity of environmental friendliness, more and more urban and suburban gardeners are interested in using compost in their organic gardens. The only problem is they don’t have the time or space to make it themselves. Compost has to sit for at least six months in order for all the microbes to be killed by the heat of the heap. Naturally, finding space for a rotting pile of compost could be problematic for your average gardener. But if you have some space you can designate for a large compost heap, the compost business may be perfect for you. But before you start collecting organic material in your back yard, you really need to have a composting business plan. This plan will help you decide how much compost you will be able to maintain, what types of containers you will store it in and how you will transport it to your customers. There is also a scientific component to the compost business. It is very important you don’t sell compost with any microbes present. You will need to inspect your compost regularly before packaging it for sale to ensure it is microbe-free and ready for use. This old practice can be a great new green business for the environmentally friendly entrepreneur. You could even decide to sell purely organic compost—something many environmentally conscious gardeners really want. You could carve out a niche for yourself selling only high-end organic compost and have a web site that explains the uniqueness of your product.

A Day in the Life of a Compost Business Owner:

You will need to check on compost that is nearly ready to sell. You will examine it for microbes and package it for transport. You will work with a drop-shipper or other delivery service to ship your compost to your customers. If you’re starting to run out of room, you will need to purchase more containers and get them set up. You will regularly add organic material to your newest batch of compost. Finally, you will spend some time marketing your business in green magazines and on the Internet. If you have a website, you’ll also want to check for new orders and ship out the product to your customers.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be gardeners looking for organic compost for their gardens.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• Space to set up your compost bins
• Compost bins
• Organic material
• Relationship with shipping company

The Good:

• This is a relatively simple business to start.
• The startup costs are low.
• The demand for organic compost will continue to rise.
• There are tax incentives for operating a green business.
• You can set your own hours and work only when you want to.

The Bad:

• There is a storage issue to consider.
• Organizing shipping can be costly if you don’t work with the right carriers.

Resources:

• Association of Compost Producers
• U. S. Composting Council
• Wikipedia on Compost

Technorati Tags: compost business, composting business, composting business plan

Business Overview:

Here’s a green business idea that can feed you well, pad your wallet, and protect the environment all at once: Open a vegan restaurant. The opportunities for a business idea like this are truly endless—you can decide the ambiance, the location, the menu, and the level of eco-friendly resources you use to sustain your restaurant. You don’t even have to be a chef or foodie to make this business work for you, but you should be committed to the philosophy behind it. A vegan restaurant offers its customers food and drink (and perhaps even decor) that contains and uses no animal products or by-products. As a result, the menu is often naturally eco-friendly and customers will be drawn to the animal- and earth-conscious business code. As an entrepreneur you will want to understand the key reasons you might choose a vegan restaurant over another business venture. For one thing, conscious eating has reached new levels as people are keenly aware of the proven connection between bodily health and their diets. Never before has leaving meat off the menu been so attractive—or so lucrative. Knowing that by choosing a vegan restaurant your customers are feeding their bodies well and helping to prevent disease might be enough to keep your tables full and your reservations booked solid. Add to that the idea that you are serving food that sustains our environment and you will add “environmentalists” to your customer base. The truth is that animals raised for consumption take a great toll on our environmental resources (water, land, waste, transportation, etc.). The statistics prove it, and you can use these facts to market your meat-free menu. You will also have easy customers like those animal lovers who have chosen not to eat living beings. A vegan restaurant gives animal advocates a place to eat where they don’t have to pick apart the menu to find a suitable option. But that’s gravy, here’s how to really find success: Beyond your built-in customers, you can guarantee the triumph of your vegan restaurant by having a top-notch chef prepare the myriad vegan dishes that have become more and more mainstream. Delicious meat-alternatives like tofu, tempeh, and seitan make it easy for chefs to prepare five-star meals that will make a diehard carnivore happy. With a cool location, a hip ambience, and a menu that makes the Zagat grade, your vegan restaurant business can keep you rolling in eco-friendly, animal-free “dough” for years to come.

A Day in the Life of a Vegan Restaurant Business Owner:

As the owner of a vegan restaurant, the responsibility of knowing where each and every one of your menu items comes from and being able to vouch for its vegan label will fall on your shoulders. You will want to be able to guarantee your food sources in order to ensure your menu and business philosophy remains untainted because some of your customers will likely be passionate vegans who firmly believe in the vegan way of life. You will also want to work with your chef directly to ensure the quality of your menu. Ordering from vendors, maintaining the building, and ensuring all of your employees understand the philosophy of the restaurant will be tasks you’ll need to attend to often. Of course, keeping track of your finances will be key to your ultimate success as a business owner as well.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will range from zealous vegans who are excited to have a new restaurant in town to curious eaters who are willing to try a something new. No matter the type, every customer will expect a sparkling clean restaurant with professional servers and an interesting menu. And every customer will want to leave satiated and feeling good about their food choices.

What You Need to Start:

• A restaurant location and name
• A business license, food permit, and insurance
• A staff
• A chef experienced in vegan food preparation
• Vegan food suppliers
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• If you are vegan yourself or if you understand the passion behind the philosophy, this is a business idea about which you can feel proud.
• As a small business owner, you will be employing many locals at your restaurant, thereby building the local economy.
• You can find fame and success in a business like this.
• You might decide to open another restaurant.

The Bad:

• Opening a restaurant requires a good deal of money and effort upfront.
• A solid business plan is a must; too many restaurants fail when there is not a clear direction for the business in place.

Resources:

• American Vegetarian Association
• Green Restaurant Association
• Veggie Places (UK)
• Wikipedia on Veganism

Technorati Tags: open a vegan restaurant

Business Overview:

With everyone trying to live a little greener these days, there’s no better time to investigate lucrative and rewarding solar business opportunities. Though there are several environmentally friendly or “green” viable business ideas, you might first consider the solar power business opportunities that are ready to be tapped into. Starting a solar business requires a bit of planning and training, and you need some startup capital ready to invest. However, with a clear solar energy business plan in place you can find yourself in a profitable enterprise that will be strongly supported by many government programs. So here’s how this particular solar business works: The first thing you will need to do is become educated in solar energy (and energy in general) and all the myriad ways it works as a renewable energy source. You will then want to align your business with one of the parent solar companies who lease solar panels for residential use. Then it’s up to you to connect with homeowners and small business owners who are interested in renting the equipment that will enable them to tap into solar power. It’s likely they will have questions and concerns, and it will be up to you to answer them and provide ongoing customer service to your clients. Your teamwork with the parent company enables you to hone your skills as an expert on solar energy without having to own expensive solar equipment and without having to know how to install it yourself. You still turn profits with each one of your clients, and the relationships can continue for many years to come.

A Day in the Life of a Solar Energy Business Owner:

The primary focus of your days in this business will be your customers—existing and potential. Much of your success will come with stellar customer service, so fielding customer calls and emails in a timely fashion and with utmost professionalism will be crucial to your business. Additionally, recruiting new clients via advertising, word-of-mouth, and green campaigns will help your business thrive. Finally, your own education—and those of your employees—will serve you well in this business. Knowing your industry inside and out, and keeping up with all the news in solar energy and renewable sources (as well as government incentives and programs) will benefit your customers and ultimately your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be those home and small business owners who are interested in investing in the environment and in renewable energy sources. Perhaps they’re interested in the long-term potential to save money on power bills, or they want to cash in on some government incentive programs for those who invest in solar power alternatives. They will likely be savvy enough to realize the potential of what your company has to offer, but they will want a highly trained and knowledgeable salesperson to assist them in their decision to switch to renewable energy.

What You Need to Start:

• Training in the field of energy and solar resources, as well as in government incentive programs and grants
• Association with a solar provider
• Strong interpersonal skills
• A home-office

The Good:

• You can feel good about starting a green business.
• The business is scalable to fit your needs.
• Your business could be subsidized by government programs or grants.
• The industry is poised to continue growing as solar energy becomes more mainstream.

The Bad:

• You will have to invest in your training and home office setup before you begin.
• You might have to work hard for your first customers, who might be slow to sign up for this emerging energy alternative.

Resources:

• American Solar Energy Society
• Solar Energy Industries Association
• International Solar Energy Society
• Wikipedia on Solar Energy

Technorati Tags: solar business opportunities, solar energy business plan, solar power business opportunities, starting a solar business

Business Overview:

If you can write and you’re interested in the Hollywood aspect of the writing business, learn how to become a screenwriter and open a screenwriting business. With the right script you can strike gold in this industry, whether you’re the writer or the mastermind behind the screenwriting company. While you certainly don’t need any specific credentials to make it with a business idea like this, it is a given that you will possess a talent for writing and for capturing the essence of the genre you’re writing for (for example, your comedic writing needs to be timely and, ultimately, funny). Additionally, any credentials or contacts in the business can only help you get your foot in the crowded door of screenplay writing. There are lots of resources—the internet, the library, bookstores—to get you started in the right direction and that can help you determine where your screenplays should be sent for review. If you’d rather try your hand as strictly business owner rather than screenwriter, you can recruit writers to work with you; they do the writing, you do the screenplay “shopping” and try to get their work picked up by a producer. You’ll want to make sure you iron out the details of your fees and your rights before entering a business agreement like this, and a legally binding contract between your company and the writer should do the trick. No matter how you embark on the business, one thing is for sure: If one of your company’s screenplays makes the Hollywood cut, your business will take off.

A Day in the Life of a Screenwriting Business Owner:

A typical day for a screenwriter or manager of a screenwriting business will consist of a lot of networking. Your goal each day will be to get one step closer to having your latest screenplay accepted by a production company or agent, so getting your writing out there—and following it up with emails or phone calls—will be of paramount importance. Of course if you or your writers are brimming with ideas, you will also want to take time each day to write. In fact, having a portfolio of screenplays can only benefit your business, so get writing!

About Your Customers:

This is a unique business in that you won’t really have customers per se, though you are selling a product. You are trying to win over production companies and/or agents who will buy your screenplays. Ultimately, though, your final customer will be audiences who see your screenplays come to life on the big—or small—screens.

What You Need to Start:

• Solid writing talent or talented writers working for you
• Contacts in the business to help you get your screenplays distributed
• A contract if you will be hiring screenwriters to work for you
• Copyrighted screenplays (either original or written for your company)

The Good:

• If you’re the writer, you can enter this business whenever you want and work at it as often as you are able.
• If your work is picked up, you could stand to make a good deal of money.
• The work can be very enjoyable for a person who likes to write.
• You need no startup money to write a screenplay.

The Bad:

• This business is very competitive and it could take you some time to get your screenplay read by an agent.
• You will have to do some legwork in order to send your writing to the appropriate places.

Resources:

• International Screenwriter’s Association
• Screenwriters Federation of America
• Writers Guild of America, West
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Motion Picture and Video Industries
• Wikipedia on Screenwriters

Technorati Tags: how to become a screenwriter and open a screenwriting business

Business Overview:

If you love munching on bistro fare while dining outdoors and you’re looking for a terrific new business idea, consider looking into how to start a café. Of course a café doesn’t have to have outdoor seating but if your weather and location allow it, what a lovely advertisement it would be to passersby. Imagine opening such a café in Europe or an even more exotic location. You can see the world and your business can pay your way! Starting a café can be a little bit of work up front – there’s finding the perfect location, working out the menu, hiring staff, etc. – but once it’s up and running, you can spend your days visiting with customers and enjoying the relaxing atmosphere. When researching how to open a café, you’ll find you need a business license, health permit as well as an insurance policy. You will also find that in order for your café to be successful, you will want café business plans. This will help you narrow your focus and nail down your niche. Will you offer soups and sandwiches to a lunch crowd or fine dining to a dinner crowd? How many wait staff will you need? Will you need to line up financing? You will find plenty of advice on these topics when you start looking into how to start a café business. You should know that the restaurant business can be tough. If you’ve ever seen a location open and close with a new name every few months, you know how important it is to have everything planned out before you open. In addition to hiring a staff and sorting out your menu, you’ll need to design and decorate your café and set up relationships with distributors and local farmers’ markets. However, once all your ducks are in a row and word starts to spread about your fabulous new café, you will have to start taking reservations!

A Day in the Life of a Cafe Business Owner:

Your day will begin by checking your café to make sure everything is clean and ready for business. You will meet with your staff, give them their assignments for the day and make sure food preparation is underway. Once you open the doors, you will spend your day managing your staff and waiting on customers to make sure everyone is enjoying their experience. If you have time, you will spend a part of your day marketing your new café by distributing fliers, talking up your customers (encouraging them to bring their friends next time) and taking out ads in local magazines. Finally, you will close up, make sure the store gets cleaned properly and record your receipts for the day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals wanting a great meal in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

What You Need to Start:

• Storefront
• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• License, permits and insurance
• Cook or chef and kitchen staff
• Wait staff
• Tables, chairs, plates, glasses, etc.
• Menu
• Relationship with distributors and markets

The Good:

• Opening a café in another country can be your ticket to seeing the world.
• Spending the day in your café can be a fun and relaxing way to spend your workday.
• Visiting with satisfied customers can be very rewarding.
• Once the initial investment is made back, you can make a good living with a highly rated café.

The Bad:

• The hours can be long, especially as you get your new business up and running.
• This is a sizeable investment and you may have to enlist the help of investors or get a bank loan.

Resources:

• National Restaurant Association
• International Hotel and Restaurant Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Food Service Managers
• Wikipedia on Cafes

Technorati Tags: cafe business plans, how to open a cafe, how to start a cafe, how to start a cafe business, starting a cafe