How to Choose the Coffee Shop Franchise That's Right For You
Elliott Fudge, writer
Published at 03/10/2021, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min
Coffee shops have been some of the fastest growing businesses in the UK over the last decade. And with so many now looking to make a big comeback, big coffee franchises are on the lookout for ambitious franchisees to take their businesses forward. If that sounds like you, here’s how to choose the right coffee shop franchise for your needs.
There are many advantages to running a coffee shop franchise. Whether you’re looking to make a career change or are just an interested observer, there are some key steps to take in order to find the perfect coffee shop franchise for you. First, you’ll need to start by working out what kind of coffee shop you want to run.
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- A van-based coffee franchise
Van and mobile-based coffee shop franchises have been growing in popularity over the last few years, and this has only been intensified by the pandemic. More and more businesses have been looking to move away from fixed-location business premises and towards more flexible ways of working. In this environment, van-based franchises have been thriving.
As a mobile franchise, you’ll be able to go wherever your customers are. Rather than having customers come to you at a fixed location, you’ll be able to take your business to:
- Events
- Festivals
- Village fetes
- Shopping centres and high football locations
Choosing the right van-based franchise
When it comes to choosing which van-based franchise you want to work with, there are a few considerations you should bear in mind. A key point to consider is how much support, if any, is available to you when it comes to owning or purchasing your vehicle or van. It may be the case that you need to purchase a vehicle using your own working capital, or a vehicle may become available to you after your investment.
If this is the case, you shouldn’t let an initial or minimum investment put you off starting your own coffee shop franchise. As franchising is seen as a safer way to run a business, many major and high street banks are prepared to lend up to 70% of your start-up costs. However you need to acquire a vehicle or van, there are financing options available.
- A subscription-based coffee shop franchise
Many franchises entered the pandemic off the back of successive years of growth. Almost every high street in the UK now has a coffee shop of some kind. But with so many unable to operate during the lockdown, many franchises were forced to innovate, which is why some businesses have started to offer their products and goods on a subscription basis.
Coffee franchises have also started offering subscription services. Through offering a subscription service, coffee franchises can deliver their food and drink directly to the customer, who can enjoy their favorites from the comfort of their own home. Subscription services have been growing in popularity for a while, but with the pandemic forcing businesses to innovate, subscriptions could well be a future trend to watch out for.
The UK subscription box market is forecast to grow by 72 per cent by 2022, according to our report on the UK Subscription Box Boom. The market is forecast to be valued at £1 billion by 2022, compared to the £583 million estimated spend in 2017. - Royal Mail
Choosing the right subscription-based franchise
All businesses have had to adapt to finding new ways of working, so if you’re looking for a business with an explicitly subscription-based service, you will need to do some research to find out which franchises are best suited to help you do exactly that.
When it comes to choosing the right franchise, you will also want to consider things like:
- Working practices
- Start-up costs
- The training and support on offer
- Whether there are any specialist business coaches and mentors
- What pre-existing marketing and branding strategies you will be able to make use of
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- A bricks-and-mortar coffee shop
Traditional bricks-and-mortar stores are as popular as they’ve ever been. Coming off the back of several years of consecutive growth, coffee shops offer just about every coffee and food-related service imaginable. Whether you’re looking to sit-in, take away, or order on a platform like Deliveroo or Uber Eats, coffee shops can do the lot.
Because bricks-and-mortar coffee shops have been so successful in recent years, many of the biggest coffee shop franchises are on the lookout for new and ambitious franchisees looking to take their businesses forward. You could be an ideal franchisee if you have some of the following skills in abundance:
- Organisation
- Leadership
- Good communication
- Ambition
- Determination
Choosing the right bricks-and-mortar coffee shop for you
There are many different bricks-and-mortar coffee franchises on Point Franchise, so you might want to take a look at any of the following options:
Auntie Anne’s one of the UK’s largest soft pretzel franchises, as well as offering some delicious coffee and plenty of snacks besides. For a total investment of £145,000, you will be entitled to a whole lot of training and support as you get your new coffee franchise up-and-running.
The Acai Spot is a creative coffee franchise with a range of visually appealing and tasty snacks, coffees and soft drinks. To be part of this fast-growing and ambitious franchise, you’ll need to make a minimum investment of £135,000.
Find the perfect coffee franchise for you today
Not only is the coffee industry extremely popular, it’s diverse and exciting as well. There are many different ways to serve excellent tasting coffee to your customers, so the sky really is the limit.
If coffee franchises aren’t the right opportunity for you though, there are a wide range of franchising opportunities in other sectors on the UK franchise directory.
Elliott Fudge, writer