Coffee Shop

Most successful coffeehouses have heavy foot traffic and high-volume sales. Most will serve up to 500 customers per day and manage up to five customer turnovers during the lunch hour, despite limited floor space and modest seating capacity. Profit margins for coffee and espresso drinks are extremely high. After all, you're dealing with a product that's more than 95 percent water. At the same time, your average ticket amount is around $3, so you need volume to reach and maintain profitability. Besides specialty roasted coffee by the cup, most coffeehouses also have espresso-based drinks (cappuccinos, lattes, etc.), assorted teas, bottled water and fruit juices, along with an inviting assortment of baked goods, a selection of desserts and coffee beans by the pound.