There are plenty of coffee franchise opportunities on the market, each catering to a slightly different customer base. When considering them, you need to take several factors into account. These points can make the difference between a golden opportunity and a guaranteed money pit.
Arguably the most important choice when considering different coffee franchise opportunities is the brand name. As a very general rule, the more well-known the brand you choose, the better your chances of attracting customers. However, this is by no means guaranteed. A bigger brand may increase the risk of being affected by direct competition from other outlets in the same chain. There’s also a slim, but genuine, risk of your business suffering if the brand itself is hit by a scandal or other negative publicity.
You will also need to make sure the coffee franchise opportunities you consider are for suitable sites. This can be a delicate balancing act. You will be looking for somewhere with a large potential audience which is likely to have both the time and inclination to buy coffee. At the same time, you will want to avoid locations which already have a wide variety of coffee outlets.
The best coffee franchise opportunities usually include comprehensive training. This can include varying degrees of training in both operating a business and the specific area of coffee production and sales. You will also be looking for a franchise which offers ongoing support to help you deal with the inevitable hurdles you face. Training and support is often the difference between a genuine opportunity and a franchising scheme designed to make its money from selling franchises rather than from people buying coffee.
It is important to investigate the level of control you will have over the business and how it operates. Some franchises will have extremely strict rules about everything from pricing to the layout and décor of the store. While these can be important to maintain a carefully designed brand image, they can also restrict your ability to adapt the store to your particular market.
One point which many potential franchisees forget is what happens when you want to sell the business. For some franchisees, this is a conscious target from the outset, with the idea being to grow the business and sell it as a success. For others it is something that become a necessity either because the business struggles or their personal situation changes. It’s important to check what, if any, restrictions apply on reselling the franchise and whether there are any financial penalties for doing so.
