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Before you buy a coffee shop you need to have an excellent plan of action in place. You need to know what direction you plan to take before you just jump into it. That way you can avoid common mistakes that other people have made. There is quite a demand for coffee and related products so you should have a market for such a business.

Think carefully about your location as it is a prime factor that can benefit you or lead to your demise. People need to be able to get to it easily as they go about their daily business. With gas prices at a premium they aren't going to drive extra miles to get to it. Take a look around to see if the location of the coffee shop works well.

It may be that once upon a time it did but things have changed. For example prime businesses in the area may have closed their doors. That means less foot traffic than there once was. Also, find out why the coffee shop is being sold. Is it a lack of profits or something else? It could be the current owners are just ready to move on to something else.

You definitely want to buy a coffee shop that has potential though. If you can get it for a low cost and then invest a bit in fixing it up that is terrific. Don't get yourself involved in a place that you can't afford though. You need to stay on top of your expenses and do your best to keep them as low as possible.

When you buy a coffee shop the equipment there may come along with it. This can be a good deal as long as it all works like it should. Take your time to examine the equipment if it will be part of the sale. That way you can get an idea of the true value of it. Sometimes the seller will inflate those costs due to money they still owe so be careful.

Think about your future as well. If you buy a coffee shop location you may outgrow it. Then you will have to try to expand there or to get a new building in place. It can be difficult to sell the place that you are in as well. Sometimes leasing a building is better as you aren't locked into a long term commitment to it. Take a look at both options and find a coffee shop location that offers what you want in this aspect.

You can buy a coffee shop that is owned by an individual or you can become part of a franchise. They both have some benefits as well as some downfalls to examine. For example a franchise is likely to be well known, but very expensive to get involved with. An independent coffee shop may be less expensive but you will have to work harder to promote it on your own.