Cafe set up????
 

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about starting your own cafe or something similar? My mother is bored of her job and would like to do this as she as wanted to do so for quiet some time now. She doesnt know what the first steps are so just looking to see if anyone could shed any light on to the topic? If you could there would a be a free full english in it for you.

Re: Cafe set up????
 

believe me Aleks, its not even worth going there

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Don't the banks have some facilities for advice on setting up small businesses ? All about research too I suppose, and location. Sorry, can't help any further .. best of luck to yer mum.

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Has she any catering experience? ( other than making your meals !)
Would suggest that sorting out the finance and property would be the first things to do; maybe draw up a business plan. I would think you would need basic food hygiene certificate and probably lots more besides.

Re: Cafe set up????
 

She does have exp yes, but one thing i said was what about going mobile with a trailer type cafe and there seem to be many more advantages such as you can do business on industrial estates where most of the business is and you could also do canrivals etc

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Quick Google.

http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/startingup.pdf

Nationwide Caterers Association

HTH

Re: Cafe set up????
 

my mates used to have the olympus on union street in accy, the loss they had was unbelievable, tell her not to bother

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Just because your mates never made a go of it doesn't mean anyone else can't.
Accy could do with a decent cafe, I used to like the Olympus but to be fair it wasn't the cleanest of establishments and was pricey too even back then !

Re: Cafe set up????
 

my 'mates' as you put it made a go of it for 25 years

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Surely it's as YOU put it? :confused:

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Others can have a go your right but its a little bit unfair to say they never made a go of it as they were there for some time and alot long than most shops in accrington have been.

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Aleks was asking for advice, that was my piece of advice...is it still a free country?

Re: Cafe set up????
 

No need to get snappy; you called them your " mates" in your post; you implied that they had made heavy losses ; that would seem to me like weren't running a very successful business.
It's a difficult trade no doubt, maybe Alek's mum has some new ideas and a positive attitude.

( Aleks; in the sense of " having made a go of it " I meant making a profit )

Re: Cafe set up????
 

wasn't teh loss due to a dodgy solicitor and nowt to do with the cafe trade? Thats what I recall from teh Observer articles they had.

If it did make a loss all 25 years then you have to question their sanity of keeping going that long......

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Yes I remembered that too, something to do with the lease or permission to use the building as a cafe. I didn't want to stick my head over the parapet again though !:rolleyes:

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Alexs i have done a lot of catering in my time and believe me its really hard work there are also so many things to consider and then food hygiene certificates to get before she can even look for premises . mobile catering is a lot more difficult because you have to get different licenses depending on area site etc but i would say if its something she really wants to do and can afford to start up look for decent premises in the right place and go for it ..
good luck . oh and do take a look at mr d link .

Re: Cafe set up????
 

Re: Cafe set up????
 

funding first what is the budget?what type of location?what type of food ?what will your market be?what licenses and certifacets are needed?just a few questions to ask your mum all comes up in a good business plan.good forward planning will set your mum in good sted dont be put of with negetive people if it is for your mum and she nows what she wants then go for it at the end of the day its better to of tried than not tried at all! also get a good accountent and put 10% of your weekly take away this will cover your vat and tax and will keep customs of your back