How do you tap into the juicing industry, which is worth an estimated $2.2 billion in America? If you’re passionate about fresh foods and opening an independent juice bar sounds like your kind of thing, there’s a lot you need to consider. An alternative might be to take a look at juice shop franchise for a chance to get in on the action by becoming part of a rapidly growing brand. Meanwhile, here’s a quick step-by-step guide to help you set up your storefront.
- Understand What It Takes to Run a Juice Bar
Before venturing into any business, it’s critical to learn how it operates. Juice bars serve a variety of menu items such as juice shots, smoothies, and cold-pressed juices, among others. One way to understand how a juice bar works is to shadow existing employees at a juice bar as you work there. Alternatively, you can research similar businesses to pick up on their operations, marketing approaches, and menu items, among other aspects.
- Prepare a Budget
Budgeting is akin to creating a road map detailing where you intend to go. Having a budget in place can safeguard your cash flow and help you deal with the ups and downs of running a fledgling enterprise. For instance, your business will likely take months before turning a profit. Include an estimation of expected fixed costs such as rent, utilities, and wages in your budget, so you don’t get caught up in a financial fix.
- You’ll Need a Business Plan.
A business needs a plan of attack, if I may. Preparing a business plan provides a rough idea of what lies further down the road. Likewise, a plan comes in handy if you need to seek additional funding.
Striking out on your own is a great option, albeit a strenuous one. As such, it might not be everyone. If you need support so that you can hit the ground running, a franchise opportunity might be the way to go.
- Find a Suitable Location
How do you find the ideal location for your business? If you have a geographical area in mind, consider its practicality. Ponder about the feasibility of your commute as you’re likely to heavily invest your time in the start-up at the initial stage.
Also, is the location conveniently accessible to customers? What is the estimated foot traffic in the area? Are there similar businesses in the area? Your answers to these queries can point you in the right direction.
- Design and Fit-out your Store
Think out the layout of your store, as this can inevitably affect sales. Case in point, a great design can make customers feel at home. As you outfit or design your juice bar, consider other aspects such as the health code requirements in your area, sanitation, and plumbing.
- Acquire Necessary Equipment
The menu items you intend to include in your juice bar ultimately determine the juicing equipment you need to buy. Shop for superior products, machines, or equipment that provide long-term value to your business. Also, have the prospect of growth in mind as you make your purchase, so you don’t have to keep replacing expensive equipment to cater to your business’s evolving needs.
- Prepare Menu Items and Recipes
Designing recipes is an art. Full disclosure, you’ll need to try a variety of recipe ingredients to come up with the perfect items. Rope in your friends or family to try out your combinations and ask for their objective opinions before launching your products.
- Brand Your Business and Market it
A branding strategy helps differentiate your business from similar competing enterprises. To attract prospective customers to your store, you’ll need to create a logo for your business and attend to other basics, such as setting up a website for your digital marketing initiatives.
- Hire and Onboard New Employees
Your business can only be as good as its representatives. Fill positions by picking and choosing the most suitable candidates. If you can find experienced workers for various roles, the better. You also need to train and equip your employees with the knowledge to perform their functions and provide exceptional customer service.
- Organize a Grand opening
Once the preparations are done, it’s time for the rubber to meet the road. You don’t have to go all out to create a spectacle, but the payoff might be worth it- endeavor to grab attention remarkably by hosting a grand opening.
You can prepare for the occasion in various ways. For instance, you can notify local media outlets of your planned event through a press release. The idea is to advertise your business to create awareness of your upcoming event.
- Ramp up Your Advertising Initiatives
Supposing your doors are open for business, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get down to real work. Besides running your juice bar, invest in advertising to garner more attention. You might also consider registering your business on Google. Doing so involves creating a profile that your audience can find when searching for juice bars or related enterprises in a given locality.
Given the projected growth rate of the juice bar market, a well-thought-out plan of action can put your enterprise on course for profitability and success. As such, this guide might be a good starting point for an aspiring business owner. But, if you would rather work with a reputable, established brand, a franchise opportunity can be a viable alternative.
