A good coffee shop is a great place to be. The smell of freshly-brewed coffee, along with the comforting splutter of the coffee machine, the hum of conversation and good service from friendly staff are the sort of things that make customers come back time after time. If you feel there's a gap in your local market for a new coffee shop, you'll need to start planning now.

Coffee machines and more

As with any new business, there are many things to consider if you're planning a new coffee shop:

• Market - you need to be sure that there's a market for quality coffee in your area. Are people prepared to pay for good coffee? When will they expect you to be open? Will they want counter and takeaway service or table service? Will they want a range of food available? Will you get enough people through the doors to cover your costs?

• Property - you'll need to find a property you can afford. It needs to be in the right place for your target market and it needs to be big enough to hold the tables, counter, coffee machines and supplies, stores, preparation area, toilets and any other facilities that you need and want.

• Budget - you need to consider a wide range of things when you're planning your finances. There are set-up costs and ongoing costs, including staff, supplies, taxes and interest on your business loans. A bank manager or business finance broker will want to see a comprehensive business plan before they will lend you any money.

• Coffee machines - you can't run a good coffee shop without decent commercial coffee machines. The quality of your coffee will be a major factor in building up your business, so you need to be sure that you choose machines that make good fresh coffee, are easy and efficient to use, straightforward to clean and maintain, and that will give you many years of service. Brands such as Unic, Stafco, Gaggia and Jura all provide quality and value for money.

Don't be put off by the planning and investment that's needed to start a brand new coffee venture. Coffee drinking in all its forms is becoming increasingly popular and if you find a good site in the right market place and choose great coffee machines and supplies, you could find that you have the perfect business opportunity.

Coffee Xclusive supplies a wide range of top-quality coffee machines for use in the home, the office, or for commercial purposes. We also provide coffee beans, pods and capsules along with all the accessories you need. To find out more, or to order online, just browse our website. We're always happy to answer any questions you might have - just fill in our online enquiry form on the Contact Us page.