How to Increase the Bottom Line for a Coffee Shop

culled from:wikihow.com

Steps

1

Sell your customers high-priced drinks, such as espresso drinks. Profits on espresso drinks can sometimes be 5 times higher than drip-coffee drinks. Offer your customers a free cappuccino or latte to get them to switch. Aim for a total of about 30 percent in coffee sales and 70 percent in espresso sales.

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   Put espresso-based drinks at the top of the menu. Since most people never read through the entire menu, placing your most expensive drinks up top may be a simple way to improve your profits.
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   Suggest that your customers get a flavor shot every time they order a drink. This will boost the customer's overall price and your profit. Feature a flavor that coordinates with the season or holiday, such as peppermint flavor at Christmas or pumpkin spice at Thanksgiving.
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   Add iced tea to your menu. Offer a new flavor every week or suggest flavor shots. Tea is cheap to make, and therefore your potential profit margin is huge.
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   Give your drinks special, unique names. Be creative and make it fun. A drink named Chunky Monkey will most likely raise some curiosity, which may translate into an increase in sales.
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   Develop new drinks and new recipes routinely. You could even get your customers involved with a contest to come up with the best-tasting new drink. Then, consider naming the drink after the customer who thought it up and including it on your menu for a limited time.
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   Offer package deals, such as a scone with a latte for a breakfast special. Packaging items together make them easier to sell.
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   Start a frequent customer program that rewards loyal customers. Very often, coffee shops hand out punch cards that entitle customers to a free drink after paying for 7 or 10.
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   Create gift baskets and have them on display to sell year-round.
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   Schedule regular entertainment. You can host poetry readings or open mic nights to lure new customers in.
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    Host a coffee sampling and education class. Classes like these entertain your customers, and teach them to enjoy expensive products. Charge a small fee for the class or sell your take-home coffee blends and roasting supplies at the event. Make it an experience that customers will remember so they will visit your shop again.
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    Raise prices subtly as your suppliers raise their prices on the costs of goods. A dime increase here and there is not likely to make a huge difference to your customer. However, remember to keep your prices competitive.