Hey guys. I thought I'd ask here since many of you are successful business people. In short, I have the opportunity to open up a small juice bar business. When I say juice bar I don't mean one of those stands in the mall that have fresh cut fruit sitting out all day but rather a protein shake/smoothie spot that sells other items like coke, red bull, ABB products and water bottles. Also I think the owners of the building want me to sell hot dogs, pretzels, and anything little kids like really. The customers range from grown adults with busy schedules to parents picking up their kids from dance class and college students. It's in a new building that hasn't been fully completed yet so I can basically I think design how I want it to be. It would be in a building with dance classes, fitness classes, and a casual byob restaurant with a focus on affordable food catering to college crowd and a nice brunch spot on weekends "I'll get back to that later".
With not getting to personal I always do things backwards. For example, I own a nsx with lots of mods and parts sitting in my bedroom at my parents house but I don't own a house. Pretty dumb huh? I never finished school even though I could but there's a few reasons for that. Basically I'm not good with kids, and I was going for music education to teach.
Many of you have started your own business. Probably never a juice bar but if you could give a guy in their mid 20's advice then what would it be? There's so many questions I have but I'll start with some things on the top of my head right now.
1. I know you pay per square foot usually, does that include electricity and water and gas if you use it? Do you sign a one year contract usually for the space and pay all up front or just pay each month? Is there a way maybe I could BUY the space inside the building? So if later years down the line I could rent it out to another business if my business fails at least I still have the property?
2. Equipment. Well I have the blender, but I'm going to need to pick up another one which I can surely source. Coolers with sliding glass doors I hear are provided by a company if you carry just their products. For example if I bought coke products instead of pepsi they would give me a coke cooler. So those are rather "borrowed" I think? I'd need an ice machine, a deep 3 row sink in the back, a freezer, and maybe a "lowboy" with a removable cutting board.
3. Health codes. I'm very familiar with restaurant health codes but I'm not sure where the full blown restaurant guidelines step in and the other ends if there is a small one. For example, if I DON'T serve hot food, or if I only serve 1 item that's hot food.
4. Money to start up. Let's just say I have all the equipment. Do I need lots of backing in the bank?
This is just an idea that was presented to me last night. I worked in a juice bar before and it was probably one of the most fun jobs I've ever had. I just went to work, ate food, and went home. I know owning a business is a lot more stressful but I think of it as a great opportunity to break into the business.
If I start the business I know about food costs and all the little tricks to keep your % in check. The hours I'd basically just live there until it would get up and running. In the case it does take off for some reason I could work mornings and pay someone at night. Then I could do my normal restaurant gigs in the city.
My main concern is foot traffic now. It's not a gym with weights. It's a spot trainers hold boot camps at and also ballet classes and other things as well. I have not seen the space but I don't need more than a small 10x12 back room and a 10x10 in the front. I'm not sure of the location so if it's not near the entrance I may just take a pass. I also need to find out this restaurants price point. I believe they'll have 10+ dollar sandwiches. I don't think I'll be pushing to much food, but who knows since it's not a gym how many people will be buying protein shakes and smoothies.
If any of you guys have input please feel free to post it up. Let me know if this is just a dream or I can make it happen. Right now I'm just working around 50 hours a week as a restaurant service manager, living in the ghetto, and putting money away for a house. If worse comes to worse I just close up shop after my year or whatever the contract says, take all my equipment and leave? I have no bills but rent each month.
Stephen
With not getting to personal I always do things backwards. For example, I own a nsx with lots of mods and parts sitting in my bedroom at my parents house but I don't own a house. Pretty dumb huh? I never finished school even though I could but there's a few reasons for that. Basically I'm not good with kids, and I was going for music education to teach.
Many of you have started your own business. Probably never a juice bar but if you could give a guy in their mid 20's advice then what would it be? There's so many questions I have but I'll start with some things on the top of my head right now.
1. I know you pay per square foot usually, does that include electricity and water and gas if you use it? Do you sign a one year contract usually for the space and pay all up front or just pay each month? Is there a way maybe I could BUY the space inside the building? So if later years down the line I could rent it out to another business if my business fails at least I still have the property?
2. Equipment. Well I have the blender, but I'm going to need to pick up another one which I can surely source. Coolers with sliding glass doors I hear are provided by a company if you carry just their products. For example if I bought coke products instead of pepsi they would give me a coke cooler. So those are rather "borrowed" I think? I'd need an ice machine, a deep 3 row sink in the back, a freezer, and maybe a "lowboy" with a removable cutting board.
3. Health codes. I'm very familiar with restaurant health codes but I'm not sure where the full blown restaurant guidelines step in and the other ends if there is a small one. For example, if I DON'T serve hot food, or if I only serve 1 item that's hot food.
4. Money to start up. Let's just say I have all the equipment. Do I need lots of backing in the bank?
This is just an idea that was presented to me last night. I worked in a juice bar before and it was probably one of the most fun jobs I've ever had. I just went to work, ate food, and went home. I know owning a business is a lot more stressful but I think of it as a great opportunity to break into the business.
If I start the business I know about food costs and all the little tricks to keep your % in check. The hours I'd basically just live there until it would get up and running. In the case it does take off for some reason I could work mornings and pay someone at night. Then I could do my normal restaurant gigs in the city.
My main concern is foot traffic now. It's not a gym with weights. It's a spot trainers hold boot camps at and also ballet classes and other things as well. I have not seen the space but I don't need more than a small 10x12 back room and a 10x10 in the front. I'm not sure of the location so if it's not near the entrance I may just take a pass. I also need to find out this restaurants price point. I believe they'll have 10+ dollar sandwiches. I don't think I'll be pushing to much food, but who knows since it's not a gym how many people will be buying protein shakes and smoothies.
If any of you guys have input please feel free to post it up. Let me know if this is just a dream or I can make it happen. Right now I'm just working around 50 hours a week as a restaurant service manager, living in the ghetto, and putting money away for a house. If worse comes to worse I just close up shop after my year or whatever the contract says, take all my equipment and leave? I have no bills but rent each month.
Stephen