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The $69.99 startup kit puts Greg Ubert’s 7 key principles in your hands before you take another step. It’s the same starting point most of our 300+ shop owners used before they ever talked to our team.
Learn more about how we’ve helped open more than 300 successful coffee shops in 37 states through our frequently asked questions.
Trusted by 300+ Coffee Shop Owners Across 37 States Since 1991. 66% of the shops we currently support have been open five years or longer.
It’s a partnership, not a franchise. You open under your own shop name and keep full ownership of your brand, while getting Crimson Cup’s training, products, and ongoing support.
Every 7 Steps customer gets a proven path from idea to opening day: a business plan template and financing roadmap, hands-on training in your own shop, a proprietary recipe system and full product line, and consultants who provide ongoing support after you open to help with pricing and profitability.
You don’t need coffee experience; you need a plan that’s already worked for 300+ owners.
EXPLORE. Decide if coffee shop ownership is the right fit for your life and goals, backed by our business plan template and interactive proforma tool.
BUILD. Turn your vision into a functional space with guidance on coffee bar design, equipment selection, and layout.
LEARN. Build confidence in the business side of ownership through weekly virtual consulting on hiring, marketing, pricing, and operations.
TRAIN AND OPEN. Get five days of hands-on, in-shop training before your soft opening, plus support through your Grand Opening.
GROW. Get ongoing support with pricing strategy, marketing, labor management, and cost-of-goods control after you open.
We roast our own award-winning coffee and back it with hands-on, in-person consulting. You get coffee expertise rooted in real-world experience operating profitable coffee shops, not a reseller relationship. We see ourselves as a participant and mentor in your business, not just a supplier. Meet the 7 Steps Consulting Team who will join you on your business ownership journey.
No. It’s more of a partnership. You open your coffee shop under your own name, not the Crimson Cup brand, and you get our training, products, and ongoing support. Unlike a coffee shop franchise, the 7 Steps program has no franchise fees, contracts, or royalties, so you keep full ownership of your brand, menu, and profits.
You do not. The 7 Steps program carries no franchise fees, no contracts, and no royalties. You control your menu, branding, and day-to-day operations from day one. Buy the $69.99 startup kit to learn how to open your shop using the 7 Steps program, and keep full ownership of your brand and profits.
Our sourcing team travels more than 80,000 miles a year to meet farmers directly, and two certified Q Graders evaluate every coffee before it’s roasted. We also invest directly in smallholder farmers through our Friend2Farmer® Sustainability Program. Get a closer look inside our Innovation Lab.
Beyond award-winning coffee and tea, we supply syrups, sauces, frozen drink bases, smoothie bases, refreshers, and café essentials. Our proprietary recipe formulation system helps you serve consistent, high-quality drinks from day one. See the full lineup in our Product Guide.
No, you’re not required to use our products or follow our system. Most owners choose to because our package is built to work together. It removes the guesswork and saves time, testing, and startup costs compared to developing one yourself.
Yes! Every 7 Steps customer gets five days of hands-on training in their own shop, plus pre-opening consulting and ongoing support. In the months before you open, your Customer Growth Consultant also runs virtual sessions on hiring, pricing, and marketing. See what’s covered in our Training Programs.
Startup costs typically range from $90,000 to $400,000 depending on business model, size, and location. A coffee kiosk or mobile cart sits at the lower end, drive-thru-only and seating-only shops fall in the middle, and a full-seating café with a drive-thru lands at the higher end. Our Opening Cost Guide breaks down the range by shop type.
Most coffee shop projects take 6 to 12 months from planning to opening day, depending on funding, location, and build-out timeline. Our consultants guide you through each phase, from financing and permitting to construction and staff training. Our goal is to reduce the unknown and prepare you to successfully open your business so nothing catches you off guard. Our Coffee Shop Business Plan walks you through the planning process to turn your vision into reality.
Among the coffee shops we currently support, 66% have been open five years or longer, a strong signal that the model holds up well past opening day. Our consultants provide ongoing support after you open, helping with pricing strategy, cost-of-goods control, and labor management, the primary drivers that affect your profitability. See real outcomes in our Success Stories.
Most new owners need a general business license, a food service or health permit, and an EIN at minimum, though exact requirements vary by state and city. Many local health departments also require a plan review before construction starts, so it’s worth checking early. Talk to our 7 Steps consulting team for guidance specific to your location.
Location is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for a reason: foot traffic and visibility matter more to your bottom line than square footage. Our Coffee Shop Business Plan includes insight to help you pressure-test a location before you sign a lease.
Most of the 300+ owners who’ve gone through our program started with zero coffee experience. That’s exactly what the 7 Steps consulting team is built to teach. The 7 Steps book breaks down exactly what to learn first, no prior coffee background required.
Scott Fullerton has helped open more than 200 coffee shops since joining Crimson Cup in 2007 and is usually the first person you’ll talk to about your own plans. Steve Bayless and Heather Syx round out the team, handling project management, training, and ongoing growth support once you’re open. Meet the 7 Steps Consulting Team to see full bios.
“I’m very grateful it was not a franchise situation. Crimson Cup has far exceeded my expectations.” Angie Davis, Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery, Sandwich, IL.
“We didn’t know what we didn’t know, but we couldn’t have done it without Crimson Cup. Working with experts who have done this before gave us so much peace.” Mike Stevenson, Coffee Cravings, Yorktown, IN.
Read more Success Stories from 7 Steps owners.
The $69.99 startup kit puts Greg Ubert’s 7 key principles in your hands before you take another step. It’s the same starting point most of our 300+ shop owners used before they ever talked to our team.
Have a question specific to your market or budget? Our consulting team will talk it through with you, no pressure, no obligation. Even if you’re only exploring the idea right now, we’re glad to have the conversation.