The area of Siberia is more than 50 times that of the UK; the population about half that of the UK.
Siberia has a population density of less than eight people per square mile.
Lake Baikal in Siberia is 400 miles long, 50 miles wide and a mile deep. It is the world’s largest freshwater lake and contains 20 per cent of the world’s non-frozen fresh water supplies.
Yakutsk in Siberia is said to be the coldest city on Earth. The average January temperature is around –40C, though it can be hot in summer.
The Trans-Siberian train from Moscow to Vladivostok takes a week to complete its journey.
The Siberian tiger is the largest member of the cat family. Only about 500 remain in the wild.
In 1995, the Isle of Wight Zoo had to give special training to its Siberian tigers as it was the first time they had ever seen snow.
The highest point in Siberia is the volcano Klyuchevskaya Sopka, considered sacred by many locals as the place the Earth was created.
If Siberia were independent, it would be the largest country in the world.
How Much Does it Cost to Start a Coffee Shop?
The essential details in terms of costs you will incur.
It goes without much saying but the rule of thumb is that man must drink. The common drinks range from beer, soft drinks to beverages. It’s not therefore surprising that coffee comes into mind when the term beverage is mentioned. To put it into context, over 400 million cups of coffee are consumed daily by Americans. It contains caffeine that will stimulate your mind and keep you alert all day long.
Given this popularity, perhaps starting your own coffee shop sounds like a lucrative venture to dive in. But is it easy to own a coffee shop? Answering this question isn’t straight forward. There are a few things here and there that you must take into account. Don’t be scared, others are doing it. There are more than 35,000 coffee shops in the USA and several of them springing up daily.
Starting your own coffee shop just like any other venture requires a detailed plan. You can’t just dream about an idea overnight and wake up the following day ready to set up. It certainly would require some sought of initial investment to get you up and going. You will need to set aside a budget. But how much again? It all depends on you and the size of the coffee shop you intend to start. Will it be mobile or a coffee kiosk? The following is a guide as to what you need and how much it would cost you.
Business plan cost
Just like any other modern venture, you will need an elaborate plan. You can come up with your own researched plan but hiring a consultant is a good idea. Consultants might charge anywhere from $600 to $1200. Business plans from consultants really come in handy. A good plan is expected to highlight the specific steps necessary to make your coffee shop ideas succeed. The plan is supposed to address various issues such as competitors in your area, viable locations to set up, industry trends, market analysis, and also promotion strategies. These issues are supposed to be well researched and getting the information from a well-versed consultant is a sure plus before you get going. It won’t hurt knowing all the ins and outs of the coffee industry. Research has also shown that having a business plan doubles your chances of success.
Yes to a good location
Before starting up you must consider the prime location for your coffee shop. How much will it cost in terms of rent? Ideal locations are usually in urban areas along busy streets where there is a continuous flow of customers. Areas near offices, institutions, and factories are also good. You might also want to consider drive-through areas to target vehicle traffic. However, renting a store near these places won’t come cheap. You can expect to pay an average of $23 per square foot each month for a vacant store. The rental cost might be slightly higher but it is worth the risk. Rent a place in a remote area and you might as well forget the term “customer”. If you lack the said finances of renting a store, you might try a mobile shop. Purchasing some sought of food truck might do the trick. Expect to dish out up to $30,000 for a coffee truck. The good news is that you’ll say goodbye to monthly rents.
Purchasing equipment
You will need some tools of the trade for you to run your coffee shop. There are some must-have equipment that you should own. You can’t survive without the following equipment
[ul]
[li]Coffee grinder[/li][li]Espresso machine[/li][li]Espresso grinder[/li][li]Coffee brewers[/li][li]Refrigeration [/li][li]Water filtration system[/li][/ul]
The cost of these equipment varies a lot depending on the volume, quality, and manufacturers. The best way is to start on small volume equipment then upgrade as the number of customers increases. Expect an average cost of between $500 and $2000 for an Espresso machine, $500 for an Espresso grinder, $800 for a coffee grinder, between $500 to $12,000 for a refrigeration system, and $1500 for a water filtration system. These prices really vary and will depend on how much your budget is. Generally, the average price of all this equipment should be below $50,000 at startup. In the case of limited cash, you might also try purchasing second-hand equipment.
Licenses and permits
Just like any other business, you must acquire permits from the relevant authorities before operating. You intend to run a legal business and so you have to pay the authorities. The cost of acquiring these licenses also varies a lot depending on several factors. You will need to enquire about following licenses
[ul]
[li]A business license[/li][li]Liability licenses[/li][li]Building permit[/li][li]Retail food establishment license[/li][li]Employer identification number[/li][li]Revenue retail sales tax license[/li][/ul]
The list is nowhere near exhaustive but highlights some of the licenses and permit fees that you might need to pay during start-up and some on an annual basis depending on the lifetime of your coffee shop.
Marketing costs
You are just a startup and the probability of being known is low. What will you do? The answer to this is an extensive advertisement plan. In order to have any meaningful sales, people have to know your coffee shop. The mode of advertisement really depends on you and your vision. You can place a huge billboard by the roadside, you can advertise on local television or radio stations, the list is endless. Perhaps what you can’t avoid is social media advertisement. You need to come to terms with the “digital world”. It is claimed that social media advertisement converts more than other advertisement forms in terms of sales. Different forms of advertisements attract different costs but the initial cost has to be higher. Expect to invest highly in different advertising avenues as your coffee shop looks to get noticed.
You will need employees
Of course, you can’t do it all on your own. Depending on the size of the coffee shop you will need some employees. During the initial setup, the number might be few but you can increase the number depending on your sales. The cost of employing also varies depending on factors such as the minimum wage per hour. The minimum wage per hour might be close to $9. The amount payable will likely be dependent on you and the kind of contract you enter into with your employees.
From the above, an average budget of about $200,000 should be enough to get you up and running. Never be discouraged by competition because in business there is room for one more.