Thinking about opening a mobile coffee business? Explore our pros and cons to ensure you have all the information you need to make an educated decision!
PROS
- Simply being mobile! Owning a coffee cart can be extremely flexible and easily fit around any type of lifestyleÂ
- Types of mobile businesses include coffee carts, coffee vans, coffee trailers, coffee trucks, coffee kiosks, pop-ups, etc.
- The flexibility of location - coffee carts aren't locked into one location. They can move from location to location as needed for events, popularity, etc.
- Additionally, location fees can be much less than a traditional rent/lease agreement
- Affordability - compared to a traditional coffee shop or cafe, opening a mobile coffee business can be a fraction of the cost to get started
- Licensing is more affordable as no food license is generally required in most states
- They require less staffing and other general resources than a brick and mortar businesses
- They generally require fewer hours of work labor
- They can offer a great work/life balance
- You can make significant income in short periods of time
- Variety! Mobile businesses are often traveling from one location to another which can keep things interesting.
Mobile Coffee Cart Equipment →
CONS
- It can be challenging to find the right events to attend to maximize profit
- It can take some time to establish relationships
- Weather can sometimes play a role in your profitability on any given day
- Because mobile coffee businesses require less staff, they are also dependent on their owners being on call and available at a moments notice
- Managing stock of ingredients and packaging can be difficult as you are working in a compact environmentÂ
- Competition - coffee carts have to compete with large chain companies (Starbucks, Dunkin'), local coffee shops, and other mobile businesses