Coffee Shop Business Plan B worked for me !
Everyday I am encouraged to hear from people who have re-invented themselves and gone on to run profitable business‘.

When people come to JumpinGoat Coffee Roasters retail store in Helen, Georgia‘s Nacoochee Village, often times I have a chance to speak with them one-on-one and I always try to understand what people and their families are experiencing out there.

I want to know what they see, what they feel, and what they hear about our economy.

The most pervasive belief among these folks is that they have no appreciable respect for big business any longer. Big business, and old media  have lost their footing…They have been found out by the American people, and a significant portion of relevance has shifted back to small to medium business. What I see and hear is that the ground is swelling with a new sense of trust in small or “locally owned” business. I am also seeing a sincere interest and curiosity in the rise of entrepreneurial spirit.

My sense is that small business, and cottage industries will see a very strong comeback in the years to come…largely born from job loss. Like my own story seen on ABC International News – Coffee Business Plan B, and CNN Live…people are realizeing that “The Free Enterprise System” is alive and well. I see many positive people rising to the economic challenges that face us all.

Let’s face it, “jobs” are in short supply, but we still have our freedom. I know people who have turned down promotions because they would rather pursue their dreams than money or title. Independence, your independence, is only as strong as you are willing to make it.  People want their freedom back…people want America back.
Trust me when I tell you you will never know greater independence, freedom, or a greater liberty than when you are standing on ground that you have won !

ABC World News executive producer BETH TRIBOLET and Business Correspondent BETSY STARK came all the way from New York City with Cast and crew to tell my story. It’s a story of hope. The story, my story, is not without it’s challenges. Everyone should have a Plan “B”. This is My Coffee Business Plan B, and I hope you enjoy it. Here is the video that aired at ABC<

Related articles by Zemanta

• Be Your Own Boss: A Step-by-Step Guide (usnews.com)

A coffee shop franchise, or a license…that is the question !

If you are thinking of opening a coffee business there are many considerations when picking your business model.

Ideally, you want to deploy a successful business model, so strongly consider the advantages of a coffee business franchise vs. licensing a brand.

Many would argue that franchises are expensive, too restricting, and that in many cases you end up paying hefty fees. However, a franchise can help with demographics, location, and the charter is largely a “baked in” model; however, the purchase of a franchise will not guarantee your success.

You may also consider licensing a successful coffee shop business brand. Licensing is often times far less expensive because the onus rest upon the entrepreneur that purchases the license to deploy his or her business.

Some of the most difficult aspects to building a coffee business is ‘branding” and keeping your cost down while mitigating your risk for start-up failure. Wile licensing will not insure your success, it may be a far lower barrier to entry. In addition, licensing a successful and recognizable brand may be far cheaper in terms of ongoing fees, and much less risky than trying to create a “successful” brand identity for yourself.

Ultimately you and your attorney will need to weigh the pro’s and con’s of each opportunity.

Just realize that there are two distinct opportunities: coffee shop brand licensing, or a coffee shop franchise.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Tips to franchise financing. (startups.com)

For all of you doubters out there who don’t believe social media sites like Twitter or MySpace can be successfully used for marketing your business.. I give you, The Goat. On February 6, 2010, “Can this Goat get more fans than Barack Obama” made its debut on the social media website more popularly known as Facebook. What started out as probably a little curiosity and humor combined has turned into probably the best proof that social media can be completely systemic. Six days later on Friday, February 12th, at exactly 4:20 in the afternoon the number of fans had already reached 99,078 and exactly four minutes later that number had jumped to 99,171. That’s 93 people/fans in just 4 minutes! And only 52 minutes later at 5:16 p.m. the number has grown by 1,362 fans, creating a new total of 100,533. Now, you don’t have to be a math genius to figure out that this is a substantial exponentially increasing number of people. The remarks on the page vary from “somebody feed him the health care bill please” to “I think the goat could pick a Super Bowl winner” (of course, you can’t have a conversation without mentioning the Super Bowl). They even have a conversation raging over what to name the goat. Those names range from just ‘The Goat’ to your everyday ‘Joe the Goat’ or ‘Bubba Goat’ to the more clever suggestions like ‘Oba-a-a-a-a-ma’ and ‘Baaaa Rack the Goat’. So whether you think this whole mess is just quite silly and even laughable, you have to admit that the universal effects of social media are astounding and cannot be denied. I invite you to examine the limitless possibilities social media has to offer your business endeavors. Of course, nothing takes the place of good ‘ole face to face interaction, but social media seems to come in a close second. Who could deny the insight to people’s emotions and opinions or the frank communication these platforms have to offer to the everyday person or businessman. Now just stop and think of those possibilities… reaching 100,533 in six days.