COFFEE DRIVE-THRU BUSINESS SUCCESS PROGRAM: THE FUTURE OF THIS INDUSTRY!
Have you seen our home page? Please go there before you read this, it will help you to understand this business better.
In many business districts throughout the country you may see lines of people waiting in front of a $$$bucks for as long as fifteen minutes to get their overpriced morning "latte fix." As more and more consumers get familiar with espresso based drinks all across the country and the demand grows, there is a great opportunity to satisfy that demand with a drive-thru in a more convenient way, with faster service, a better tasting product, and at a more reasonable price.
Note: The picture on this site are of some of our consulting clients
The best place to locate a drive-thru coffee stand would be in a relatively "espresso educated" market. And the best possible location would be right next to a Starbucks that does not have a drive-thru! But even if your are "espresso challenged," this can be overcome -- our Espresso Success Program gives insight on how to circumvent these challenges. In 2006, Alex helped open successful drive-thrus in states, such as, Indiana, Pennsylvania Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, where most of the customers were "espresso challenged."
A drive-up is the ultimate state in the "espresso concept evolution." Unlike a coffee shop or coffee house, where people may go for other reasons than to drink coffee, it does not offer any social setting or entertainment value; people drive up just for your product and because it may be faster and more convenient than standing in line in a $$$bucks.The best possible location to open a Coffee Drive-Thru is next to a Starbucks without a Drive-Thru!
There are many places that you can locate your drive thru. Our Espresso Success Program talks about some items you want to incorporate:
- traffice count during morning commute hours
- locations near other food operations
- locations near schools
- locations near retail centers, hospitals, etc.
At the present time, the espresso drive-thru concept is still in its infancy stage in most of the country. But three to five years from now, there will be thousands of these stands all over the country. They will range from "Ma & Pa" small home-made trailers, where allowed, to full size, double drive-thru "Fast-Food" type structures costing $300,000+
There is a tremendous opportunity for serious investors to create coffee drive-thru concepts that combine an attractive design, good locations, proper equipment layout, effective marketing, fast service and a good tasting product!
If you think that you can "wing it" on your own, go here: "Coffee Shop Business for Dummies"Before you start planning a coffee drive-thru in your part of the country and see big $$$$ signs, please consider the following:
· Many communities across the country won't allow any kind of drive-thrus.
· Most communities allow drive-thrus, however some communities may
have a moratorium on them, whether it be a McDonalds or a Taco bell.
· Most communities that allow drive-thru require a restroom and full hook-ups, such as water, etc. and will treat your operation like any other kind of fast food drive-thru drive-thru restaurant. This might discount most of the self contained trailers, except pre approved mobile units/carts.
Options in opening your coffee drive-thru business are discussed at length in our Espresso Success Program.
1. Check with various city or county department, e.g. zoning in your community. While here in the Northwest drive-thru espresso stands have been in operation for some time, in other parts of the country they have no clue. Alex's book "Espresso Business Success Program" has some interior and exterior pictures you can show the city or county as examples of what you are planning to do.
2. FIND A SPECIFIC LOCATION, TALK TO THE OWNER or PROPERTY MANAGER. Without a location, you have no business. Alex's book tells you what to watch for in leases. Again, you must have something to show the owner of the property.
3. Before signing the lease, call us and let's talk about your location. This call may save you a lot of money, time and aggravations. This phone consultation is included in the price of Alex's book.
Before you call, please do the above homework of finding a specific location and checking with the owner and all the bureaucrats.
Start-Up Coffee Business Advice
Alex & Assoc. 503-590-9423. You may call us until 6 p.m. Pacific time.In order to make the coffee drive-thru venture a success, the following factors must be considered:
1. Site location - without a good location, you may have the best coffee in the world and fail! A good drive-thru location has very specific criteria -- read about those requirements in Alex's book.
2. Building design and signs - Again, there are certain requirements for excellent marketing....read about them in Alex's book. One of the questions that the owner of the property will ask you is "What does the stand look like?" If you can show him a very attractive structure, your chances of securing the location will be greatly enhanced.
3. A large menu board that can easily be read....how far back from the first car? Requirements can be found in Alex's book.4. A simple, basic item menu, emphasizing espresso based drinks, with reasonable prices. One thing is to pay premium price for a "latte" in a high class coffee bar, where the customer may tie up a seat for 30 minutes or more, another altogether is to get your drink from a window and be on your way within a minute.
5. Proper equipment lay-out so as to be able to produce drinks fast and efficiently. Customers have only so much patience.
6. The owner/barista must be thoroughly trained in all phases of operation, with emphasis on fast and correct drink preparation techniques so as to keep the line moving.
7. Hundreds of other small details that one by one would not affect the business to a great degree, but when added up may make or break your business! Read all about those details in Alex's book.
Check out our:
Three Day Coffee/Barista Business Class -- teaching "What to do and How to do it!"
Book & DVDAs compared to a conventional fast-food drive-thru operation, that may cost anywhere from $400,000 to sky is the limit, an espresso drive-thru may range, fully equipped, from around $45,000 for a basic 8' x 16' trailer, to a $150,000 or more for a full blown 14' x 25' double drive-thru structure, with permanent utilities, restroom and long term lease.
If you are the owner of a strip mall with a large parking lot or a gas station, you have a great opportunity to make some real money with a coffee drive-thru by placing an attractive kiosk for around $85,000. In a good location that investment may be recouped in less than a year.
Depending on the location, appearance of the structure, marketing and the overall understanding of the business, sales may range from $60,000 to $1,000,000 a year.
The best opportunity for a coffee-drive thru entrepreneur would be to find a "defunct" or failing conventional fast food operation and convert it into a first rate espresso drive-thru. Such a conversion could probably be accomplished, including all the necessary equipment, for around $50,000. We would be very happy to help you with the necessary expertise to accomplish that task.
Please remember: Do not waste your time and effort shopping or "researching" for equipment etc. unless you have a specific location and are ready to sign your lease. What you need first is to learn to understand this business so you prevent major mistakes and start on the right track.
You will find most of your answers on how to start and operate this business in our book and dvd:
"Espresso Business Success Program" Book & DVD
For a complete, turn-key consultation please go here:
ESPRESSO SUCCESS CONSULTING SERVICES
We will be happy to provide you with sources where you can get a self contained, fully equipped, turn key trailer, or a manufactured building with a restroom and full hook-ups for utilities. Please feel free to call us after you do your home work.
Alex & Assoc. 503-5909423 9 am-6 pm PacificE-mail: alex@espressobusiness.com
If you wish to receive a free fact filled E-MAIL "Espresso Report" that gives some information on, e.g. start-up costs to open a coffee bar, kiosk or cart, a P & L statement, Alex's background, article on "How to Find a Proper Location," and much more that will increase your knowledge of what this business is all about, just click here and send us e-mail with a brief description of what you would like to do. Please include "Espresso Report" on the subject line. We won't email without it!
Alex Fisenko helped companies and individuals develop successful espresso concepts for the last 25 years. He was the ORIGINAL - called the FATHER OF ESPRESSO. He provided initial "espresso expertise and inspiration" to some of the biggest players in the field. Besides having opened and operated 16 espresso bars for himself, he traveled all over the world helping clients to open highly successful espresso bars, including South Korea, Thailand, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, and most of the US states. He was also the initial "Espresso Business Seminar" presenter for the Coffee Fest in Seattle. His wife Oksana and his son Michael are now carrying on Alex's legacy, offering all the programs Alex developed over the years. Alex & Assoc. can be reached in Portland, OR (503)590 9423.
Here are some links of interest to your particular need:
"How to Make Real Money with Espresso" Main Page
ESPRESSO BUSINESS SUCCESS BOOK & DVD
ESPRESSO SUCCESS CONSULTING SERVICES
"HOW TO INCREASE ESPRESSO SALES IN YOUR PRESENT LOCATION" Increase your revenues, the value of your business and build a loyal customer base.
HOW TO SELL MORE ESPRESSO IN YOUR BAGEL/BAKERY SHOP
"ESPRESSO WORKSHOP FOR FRANCHISED/CORPORATE STORES"
This one day "Espresso Business Workshop" presented in the location of your choice, will show you and your franchisees how to increase your espresso sales, revenues, customers satisfaction and the value of your business.
