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KEITH COOPER CYNTHIA MEADORS CYNTHIA MEADORS BUSINESS BASICS continued from page 29 purchase items. If you have the choice between a piece of furni- purchased fairly durable furniture on the first round. This ture that costs $300 that will last for three years and a piece of means that you need to build enough cash flow in your business furniture that costs $400 that will last for six years, you're better so that you can replace everything in this time frame. If you off purchasing the $400 item provided you have the cash to afford estimate that it will take $50,000 to replace your furniture, you it—the cost per year of the $300 item is $100, should plan on making enough cash that you while it's $67 for the $400 item. can save $10,000 per year for future furniture For more on picking Another thing to consider in a coffee shop replacement. If you don't save up this money items for your shop, is that your furniture will be exposed to cofevenly over time, it can be problematic when see "Fully Furnished," fee spills and pastries, therefore stark white you suddenly need to come up with $50,000 to p. 36. couches may not be the best choice. Choosing replace your furniture. furniture that is stain resistant or has a pattern Purchasing furniture for your coffee shop is that can hide spills is critical in our environment, and it can be an exciting task, but make sure you approach it with the proper worth paying more for. gravity, as the look and feel of your business are major elements When you do your long-term planning, it's important to bud- of your overall brand. When you entered the coffee business, get for furniture upgrades. Not only will you want to upgrade you probably had a vision of what your coffee shop would look your items as styles change, but the high volume of use that you like, and the furniture was surely a part of that look. Taking experience in a coffeehouse will lead to wear and tear that will the time to choose furniture that matches your brand and has a warrant replacement. For most coffee shops, I advise replac- long-term return on investment will help make your shop more ing furniture items every five years, assuming that you have profitable over time. 30 Fresh Cup Magazine freshcup.com