How to Open a Coffee Shop in Arkansas

So you want to learn how to open a coffee shop in Arkansas? You’ve come to the right place!

You don’t have to figure things out on your own – or pay hefty franchise or coffee school fees. Instead, learn how to open and run a successful coffee shop in your Arkansas community through our proven 7 Steps to Success process.

Why listen to our advice? Our 7 Steps coffee consultants have helped over 300 other entrepreneurs start coffee shops in 30 states. Many of these shops are still thriving five, 10 or 20 years later, and some entrepreneurs have opened several coffee shops.

Started as a small business in 1991, our award-winning coffee company combines three decades of specialty coffee expertise with over two decades of coffee shop startup experience. As proud winners of Roast magazine’s 2016 Macro Roaster Of The Year Award and multiple Good Food Awards, we are ready to help fuel your success today!

When you’re ready to start, our coffee consultants can help you develop a strong coffee shop business plan, get a handle on coffee shop startup costs in your Arkansas community and find a terrific location for your coffee shop. But that’s only the beginning!

As a one-stop shop for independent coffee shop owners, Crimson Cup can help you lay out your shop, hire and train staff, market your shop and more. You’ll also gain access to award-winning coffee, drink recipes and coffee shop products that will win customers and keep them coming back, helping your business grow!

Sound intriguing? Call 888-800-9224 now to connect with our coffee shop startup consulting team! Or, keep reading to gain tips for opening a coffee shop in Arkansas.

Arkansas is a Great Place to Open a Coffee Shop!

Did you know that Arkansas has only nine major coffee chain locations per 100,000 residents? And that many cities and towns lack enough coffee shops to keep up with demand?

Arkansas ranks 44th in coffee shops per capita, according to a study by Zoma Sleep. The study counted 7,869 Arkansas residents for every coffee shop in The Natural State.

Over 70 percent of Americans drink coffee, averaging three cups per day. So it’s safe to say there’s room for many more coffee shops in Arkansas to serve residents and the millions of annual visitors.

According to the National Coffee Association, coffee drinkers are flocking to espresso-based beverages brewed from high-quality beans. Sales of cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas has increased by 50 percent since 2015, driven partly by strong popularity among 25-to 39-year-olds.

Small Arkansas Cities and Towns Offer Big Opportunities

With many parts of Arkansas underserved by major coffee chains, it might pay to consider starting a coffee shop outside of the biggest cities, such as Little Rock and Fort Smith. Many cities and towns in Arkansas‘ 75 counties lack a gathering place where locals can get together over a cup of coffee. Does your Arkansas community need an independent coffee shop? And would you like to be the result that comes up when people in your part of Arkansas search for “coffee near me?” Read on to learn more about how to start a coffee shop in Arkansas.

Arkansas is Open for Small Business!

With the 22nd-lowest tax burden and the second-lowest cost of labor in the U.S., Arkansas is a terrific place to open a coffee shop! Home to nearly 245,000 small businesses making up over 99 percent of all businesses in the state, the State of Arkansas focuses on creating a business-friendly environment where entrepreneurs can prosper. You can find a wealth of resources covering business formation and operation on the State of Arkansas government website. This website assists small and medium-sized Arkansas businesses with:

• Starting a business
• Taxes
• Workforce
• Choosing a legal business structure. Many coffee shops operate as sole proprietorships or limited liability corporations (LLCs).
• Getting a business license and various other licenses and permits, including local health department licenses for food establishments.

The Arkansas Small Business Development Center also assists entrepreneurs who want to start or grow a small business. Experienced business professionals offer management advice, financial analysis, marketing support, and more.

Are you curious about how much it costs to open a coffee shop in Arkansas? The cost of opening a small business varies by state and depends on several factors, including:

• Upfront cost of real estate which could include building, renovating, adhering to zoning codes, and more
• State and local filing fees for new businesses when creating an LLC, S Corp, etc.
• Licenses and permits which are specific to your Arkansas county and/or city.

A quick Internet search for your state, county, or city will provide links to a wealth of resources to help you determine location-specific costs for opening a coffee shop in your part of Arkansas. For general information on costs, please visit our how much does it cost to open a coffee shop article, which we update annually.

Get a Head Start with Our Coffee Shop Startup Consultants

As a coffee roaster and coffee business consultant, Crimson Cup believes our company only succeeds when our customers do. As a result, we support coffee shop owners at every step, from concept through opening day and beyond. A one-stop shop for independent coffee shops, Crimson Cup supplies award-winning coffee and industry-leading coffee shop equipment and supplies. Based on the book, Seven Steps to Success: A Common-Sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee by Crimson Cup Founder and President Greg Ubert, our program covers everything business owners need to run profitable coffee shops:

• Writing a sound business plan
• Choosing a terrific location
• Calculating startup and operating costs
• Designing an efficient shop layout
• Choosing an espresso machine and other coffee shop equipment
• Training your baristas
• Marketing your shop to attract customers
• And much more.

Backed by over 30 years of specialty coffee know-how, our 7 Steps to Success program has taught hundreds of entrepreneurs in over 30 states how to open and run successful independent coffee shops. We love small businesses. We believe that small businesses build communities in ways that big businesses can’t and that being part of a community can be the most rewarding part of independent business ownership. To learn more about how members of our community became successful in their communities, check out our testimonials.

Ready to Start Your Arkansas Coffee Shop Journey?

Begin by reading the book that put hundreds of other coffee shop owners across the USA on the road to success! Backed by a risk-free guarantee, Seven Steps to Success: A Common-Sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee lays out a map for opening and running a thriving coffee shop serving your local community. Inside the book, you’ll find a proven template for creating a solid coffee shop business plan, plus guidance on everything you need to get up and running.

Questions About Opening a Coffee Shop in Arkansas?

We can help. Call 888-800-9224 to connect with our coffee shop startup consultants during regular business hours (Eastern time). Nights and weekends, you’re welcome to fill out this form and we’ll get back to you within one business day.

Need More Information?