Have you always dreamed of running your own sandwich shop? Coffee shops and cafes in town and city centres do a roaring trade and if you’ve ever fancied being your own boss and serving your town with freshly prepared lunchtime fare, then here are a few handy tips:
Regulations
The most important thing to deal with first are the rules and regulations surrounding food service in a commercial business. As well as trading licenses and tax forms, you’ll need to notify your local authority’s Environmental Health Service at least one month prior to opening. It is important that you consult with an Accountants Chippenham way such as https://chippendaleandclark.com/ to help ensure that you have all of your financial legalities covered. Business rates will need to be paid, along with equipping the premises adequately for the safe and hygienic preparation, storing and selling of perishable goods.
Both you and your staff will need certification in recommended hygiene practices and strong cleaning procedures in place. At some point, you can expect a visit from a food safety officer who will look at the building conditions as well as business procedures.
Be prepared to be a ‘people person’
If you intend to be ‘front of house’ then you’ll need to be good with people. You’ll want to attract regular custom by building a good rapport with the public. You’ll want to develop the ability to keep spirits up, keep smiling and laughing even when you’re rushed off your feet.
Don’t neglect the seating
If you intend to have a sit-in café, invest in the best that you can as comfortable seating is a must for customer satisfaction. Even if you don’t plan on having a seating area, a few chairs or sofa for waiting customers is a great touch that can significantly improve your customer experience.
Sell coffee and tea
Both tea and coffee are profitable items to sell. They are cheaply bought in bulk and sell at a considerable mark up. Coffee is also a useful leading product to attract other sales. Many customers will go into a sandwich shop to buy a coffee and then get tempted by the delicious fresh sandwiches and homemade cakes on sale. By offering tea and coffee at low prices, you’ll entice customers to make spontaneous extra purchases, creating bigger profits than by selling your coffee at a slightly higher price.
Have variation in your menu
A lot of customers will return and order the same item each time they visit your shop. While that’s per acceptable, others might want to experiment with something new. If you never add to or change up your menu, some regulars may tire and decide to try somewhere else for their coffee and food. Mix things up every few weeks to keep people curious and satisfy their desire for a change to the norm.