Cafe set up????

Mr Aleks · 20-09-2007, 18:29

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about starting your own cafe or something similar? My mother is bored of her job and would like to do this as she as wanted to do so for quiet some time now. She doesnt know what the first steps are so just looking to see if anyone could shed any light on to the topic? If you could there would a be a free full english in it for you.

flashy · 20-09-2007, 18:34

believe me Aleks, its not even worth going there

katex · 20-09-2007, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleks

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about starting your own cafe or something similar? My mother is bored of her job and would like to do this as she as wanted to do so for quiet some time now. She doesnt know what the first steps are so just looking to see if anyone could shed any light on to the topic? If you could there would a be a free full english in it for you.

Don't the banks have some facilities for advice on setting up small businesses ? All about research too I suppose, and location. Sorry, can't help any further .. best of luck to yer mum.

lindsay ormerod · 20-09-2007, 18:37

Has she any catering experience? ( other than making your meals !)
Would suggest that sorting out the finance and property would be the first things to do; maybe draw up a business plan. I would think you would need basic food hygiene certificate and probably lots more besides.

Mr Aleks · 20-09-2007, 18:51

She does have exp yes, but one thing i said was what about going mobile with a trailer type cafe and there seem to be many more advantages such as you can do business on industrial estates where most of the business is and you could also do canrivals etc

***Mr D*** · 20-09-2007, 19:56

Quick Google.

http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/startingup.pdf

Nationwide Caterers Association

HTH

flashy · 20-09-2007, 20:17

my mates used to have the olympus on union street in accy, the loss they had was unbelievable, tell her not to bother

lindsay ormerod · 20-09-2007, 20:36

Just because your mates never made a go of it doesn't mean anyone else can't.
Accy could do with a decent cafe, I used to like the Olympus but to be fair it wasn't the cleanest of establishments and was pricey too even back then !

flashy · 20-09-2007, 20:41

my 'mates' as you put it made a go of it for 25 years

Tin Monkey · 20-09-2007, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashytart

my 'mates' as you put it

Surely it's as YOU put it?

Mr Aleks · 20-09-2007, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindsay ormerod

Just because your mates never made a go of it doesn't mean anyone else can't.
Accy could do with a decent cafe, I used to like the Olympus but to be fair it wasn't the cleanest of establishments and was pricey too even back then !

Others can have a go your right but its a little bit unfair to say they never made a go of it as they were there for some time and alot long than most shops in accrington have been.

flashy · 20-09-2007, 20:52

Aleks was asking for advice, that was my piece of advice...is it still a free country?

lindsay ormerod · 20-09-2007, 21:04

No need to get snappy; you called them your " mates" in your post; you implied that they had made heavy losses ; that would seem to me like weren't running a very successful business.
It's a difficult trade no doubt, maybe Alek's mum has some new ideas and a positive attitude.

( Aleks; in the sense of " having made a go of it " I meant making a profit )

entwisi · 20-09-2007, 21:24

wasn't teh loss due to a dodgy solicitor and nowt to do with the cafe trade? Thats what I recall from teh Observer articles they had.

If it did make a loss all 25 years then you have to question their sanity of keeping going that long......

lindsay ormerod · 20-09-2007, 21:27

Yes I remembered that too, something to do with the lease or permission to use the building as a cafe. I didn't want to stick my head over the parapet again though !