A Rather Simple Startup Business: Coffee Services
If you are looking for a way to make some money and get started with a business in the food and beverage industry, look no further than coffee services (Five Star Water is a great example). While you will need to have a business license and check with the local health department on what type of facilities you will need, you would have to do this for any business in the industry. Coffee is easy to make, can be portable, and there shouldn't be much waste or spoilage. Here are a few ideas on how you can get started.
Coffee Truck
This is a good way to get started. Find out what exactly will be needed to comply with any health department regulations and set up the truck that way. You can even use the back of a cargo van. You will need to have big coffee makers and a few urns to hold the prepared coffee or water for making the coffee. Make sure that the coffee makers and urns can be secured in the back of the vehicle. With the business license and health department approval, you can then drive around to different work sites or office buildings and park. Keep a good schedule as to when you will be at each site so the workers know when to come.
Coffee Delivery
In addition to selling right from your coffee truck, you can also have a second person making deliveries. Leave flyers and such in offices and other places of business with a number to call to place an order. Once the order is placed, the drinks are made and the delivery person can take them where they need to be. If many deliveries are going to the same place each day you might want to consider adding that area to your scheduled stops.
Additional Goods
You can add things like donuts, muffins or rolls to your offerings too. Go to a wholesale store to buy individually packaged treats and add them to your menu. Over time, add more items that some of the customers are requesting.
With a well-planned schedule, and good coffee, you should be able to add a few trucks to expand your business in no time. Construction sites are often better than office buildings because they do not have the ability to make their own coffee. Don't forget to include bottled water too as some people will want this especially in the hot months. It will be up to you as to whether you expand to a permanent location with more cooking capabilities or just keep it simple with the trucks.