Wanting to Start a Mobile Coffee Business on a Budget? We are and in this post we will be sharing our real numbers from the first month of operation with our own mobile coffee business.
*** This post is purely an opinion piece and not meant to be used as financial, legal, or business advice. Please seek a professional for your unique circumstances. ***
Top Tips for Starting a Mobile Coffee Business on a Budget?
Start with the Farmer’s Markets and other Community Events.
Begin with a Tent and Table. You don’t necessarily need the whole trailer and truck set up to begin.
Limit supplies and build as you grow. We are only doing one size of iced drinks. Maybe once Autumn starts we will add in hot drinks.
Keep an Excel spreadsheet or Google Spreadsheets account of all expenses and income starting from the day you purchase your very first ounce of coffee, etc. You will thank yourself later for keeping everything from the very beginning.
On top of that, save every single email or paper receipt. This goes along with the spreadsheet tip above. Document, document, DOCUMENT!
How Much Does It Really Cost to Start a Coffee Business?
At the moment of writing this post, we have $3,319.30 of our own money.
At the moment of writing this post, we have made $417.49.
Even still, I’m convinced we could have done it even cheaper.
What Did We Spend $$ on to Start a Coffee Business?
Espresso Machine and Grinder (Seattle Coffee Gear Online)
Coffee Beans (Wholesale from a local company)
Syrups and Milks (Webstaurant.com)
Cups, Lids, and Straws. One size iced drinks is all we are doing at the moment. (also Webstaurant.com)
Stickers and Flyers (VistaPrint Online)
How Many Events Did We Attend?
So far, this month we have attended 4 Farmer’s Markets.
Lesson Learned: Bring more product even if the previous market day was a bust. We actually sold out of product at TWO of the market days.
Since we didn’t know a whole lot at the beginning we also missed three super big events because we are newbies and learned really quick from a chance meeting with another local food vendor about how to jump into other community events. (Read more about that experience here.) Those three events we missed even pulled Farmer’s Market customer turn out and apparently all the food trucks reported they sold out. Sad day for us!
How Did We Market?
Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. And then link your Facebook to an Instagram account. Try using Canva or PicMonkey to create your own posts for free. I use both. Even VistaPrint, where I purchased our stickers and flyers, has a free media creating portal. All of those sites also have templates and stock pictures which makes it even easier to have an amazing social media presence.
On that note, post twice per event. First, post a couple days ahead of the event. Then, post again once the event opens. Either a short boomerang video or a simple picture of your set up will do.
Hand out flyers to local businesses. We want to include catering so we handed out a stack of flyers to the local convention center that does a lot of weddings and corporate events. The local dress shop. A couple local bakeries. Restaurants. “Happen” to go by the local news paper and ask “if they have a bulletin” (and if they just happen to do a story on you even better hehe).
Share the event you’re attending’s FB and Insta posts. Ask them to share your’s in turn. We haven’t had someone say no yet.
Sticker your cups. Every time someone is carrying around your product or taking pictures of it then it’s free advertising for you!
What Did We Do Right?
Foremost, we really think making a cold brew concentrate (follow link for recipe) and only doing iced drinks is the way to go. We’ve turned down a couple old people who wanted hot black coffee. So we’ve lost maybe 2 sales at each event. In the future we could add just a carafe of hot brewed coffee if we think it’s a big deal.
Surprisingly, Italian Sodas are a huge hit and are probably close to half our sales. We even got an energy boost syrup from Monin to add to them and that has been a hit.
Edible glitter for the sodas. It’s been hit or miss. People think its gimmicky and will either go for it or not. However, I think it’s super pretty and totally worth keeping around since it doesn’t spoil.
Definitely start with the Farmer’s Markets but don’t pigeon hole yourself to them. Keep your eye open for the other events happening around town.
Also, people have LOVED our coffee so far and it is so exciting.
What Will We Do Different Next Month?
Firstly, MORE EVENTS. We only did 4 market days (slow market days at that). Next month we have 6 events. And the month after that we have 9 events and adding.
Secondly, bring extra product. More cold brew concentrate (you can freeze the extra) and more club soda.
The Bottom Line?
$3,319.30 – $417.49 earned = $3,271.81 of our own money still in the business.
Not too bad for our first month with a STEEP learning curve. Next month as it gets hotter and with more events we are hoping we will be doubling our money earned and slowly start to build that revenue.
Ultimately, our goal is to be able to afford a trailer by the end of summer. We probably won’t see our money back for awhile and all profits will go back into the business. That’s ok. If we keep growing it won’t be a big deal in the long run!
Have you started your coffee business yet? How was your first month?
Best wishes,
Ashley
Me and my husband are starting a Mobile Coffee Shop and are in the VERY BEGINNING stages! I found your articles on Pinterest and I could have cried because you are doing the EXACT things we want to do and you are starting off the EXACT way we want to as well!!!!! Tears really did feel my eyes, knowing that we aren’t alone in this and we also aren’t crazy wanting to start off this way. We 100% don’t have the money for an espresso machine and all the things it takes for hot coffee so we want to start off with iced stuff just like you! I am known for my Cold Brew Lattes with our friends and family anyways so we thought that would be the perfect start! We would love to only do iced coffees long term (or until we get an actual brick and mortar shop) but how do you think that will go over in the cold days? We live in Georgia so it doesn’t get too cold and sometimes still feels like summer in December, but we do have our cold days occasionally. Have people been upset that you only sell iced drinks? I never drink hot drinks unless I feel like I am going to freeze LOL! But I know how ornery people can be with their coffee, so I was wondering if you had had any negativity towards that? We have decided to call our sho ” Cole Brew Drink CO.” (our last name is Cole), hoping that that would help a little bit and shed some light with us only wanting to sell Cold Brew Lattes and Dirty Sodas. I would love to hear any advice you have to share and I have been looking out for any new articles!
God Bless!
Clara Cole
Hey there! Love the name! It’s so nice to hear from someone on the same path as us! Actually, I am on a FB group called Mobile Coffee Business Owners and there’s a ton of people on there who only do iced drinks and do super well. I honestly only get a handful of older people who want a cup of black drip coffee every so often. Other than that we don’t really get any complaints. If it’s going to be super chilly or something like a harvest festival we’ll do a small thermos pitcher of black drip coffee or apple cider to satisfy those hot drink people!
Hope that helps and I send you all the good vibes for your business venture!
Thank you so much for sharing! I’m in the infancy stages of opening a coffee shop, and I truly appreciate you sharing your experience.
Are there any books, podcasts or other things that you’d recommend?
Definitely look into Green Joe Coffee if you’re planning a mobile unit! Also, join some facebook groups. We are part of a couple groups and they have taught us sooooo much! The Coffee Business Owners group is super active and an awesome environment.
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