What steps do you need to take in the journey of establishing your cafe?

Lots of us dream of opening their first restaurant or cafe, but mostly what we miss is some guidance. The journey of establishing your business goes through multiple steps which you need to consider. We try in this article to simplify these steps and guide you in your journey of establishing your first cafe. 

1/ Vision and Design

The 1st step is considering your vision and how you intend to portray your brand in the market. Are you interested in establishing a French cafe, which is specialised in French pastries? or are you more interested in establishing a cafe which follows a Greek atmosphere? Having this vision in mind at the very start of the journey will help you in establishing your brand identity and interior design. 

The brand identity is the base that will build the relationship with your clients through social media channels and through your packaging. Hence, investing in your brand identity is crucial. Prior to moving to your next step, it is essential to register your brand with the Authority for Intellectual Property to ensure that your brand is unique and does not get imitated by others. 

Upon completing the design of your brand identity, you will need to translate the main theme of the brand into your interior design. The purpose of starting the design of the brand identity prior to the interior design, is to ensure that the patterns and colors of the brand are reflected in the interior environment which will strengthen the positioning of your brand with your clients. 

The designing phase also has a crucial element which is designing the Coffee Bar. In this step, you will need to decide on how the equipment will be laid out in the bar so you can arrange the required wiring accordingly. This will also help you visualize the employees’ movement during the operation inside the coffee bar. 

2/ Sourcing

This step includes sourcing the required equipment, furniture and accessories. The main factor in this step is deciding on your budget because of the variety of options available in the market in terms of price and quality. Once the required budget is arranged, you will then need to search for the available vendors in the market which will match your budget.

3/ Management and Operation 

Upon completing the required steps in establishing your cafe, it is essential not to overlook the operation part. This step includes deciding on the number of staff required, interviewing and hiring, arranging the employees’ shift schedules, building relationships with the vendors for the raw materials and operational essentials, inventory and waste management, and planning your marketing campaigns. Hiring an accountant at this step is also crucial to ensure you have control over your expenses and to lower any potential waste. 

In the end, this article aims to provide a simple overview for the required steps to establish your cafe. A series of articles will follow to provide you with more depth and detailed explanation for every step in managing your business. However, it is essential to note that you should not start with these steps until you have completed the feasibility study for your project and identified your competitive advantage in the market. 

HORIZOONX aims to provide full solutions during your journey of establishing and managing your business, and we hope to be your success partner in your entrepreneurship journey.