How to Open a Coffee Shop in Colorado

Welcome to Colorado sign

Looking to learn how to open a coffee shop in Colorado? You’ve landed on the right page!

Opening a coffee shop can be a great way to profit from the booming hospitality industry in Colorado, but only if you do it right.

Still, you don’t have to go through the coffee shop startup process alone. Or pay hefty franchise or coffee school fees.

Instead, you can learn how to open and run a successful coffee shop in Colorado through Crimson Cup’s proven 7 Steps to Coffee Shop Startup Success process.

Why listen to our advice? Since Founder and President Greg Ubert started roasting coffee in 1991, we’ve become one of the country’s top coffee roasters and coffee business consultants.

We’ve won major awards, including Roast magazine’s 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year. And our experienced coffee shop startup consultants have helped entrepreneurs across the U.S. – most with little or no coffee shop experience – open over 300 coffee shops in 30 states.

We also operate a growing number of our own Crimson Cup Coffee Shops. Roast magazine recognized our CRIMSON retail flagship store as one as one of the best new coffee shops in the Midwest when it launched in 2020.

Using the 7 Steps process, our experienced consultants can help you develop a strong coffee shop business plan and calculate coffee shop startup costs for your Colorado community.

As a one-stop shop for independent coffee shop owners, Crimson Cup also can help you find a terrific location, lay out your shop, hire and train staff, market your shop, and more.

You’ll also gain access to award-winning coffee and coffee shop products that will keep your customers coming back!

Keep reading to learn more or call 888-800-9224 now to connect with our coffee shop startup consulting team!

Colorado is a Terrific Place to Open a Coffee Shop!

small businesses in Telluride, ColoradoIf you’re thinking about opening a coffee shop, Colorado has a lot to offer, including a thriving economy, a growing population, natural beauty, and a passion for quality coffee.

And, with just 29 major coffee chain locations per 100,000 residents in Colorado, there’s plenty of opportunity to open and run a successful independent coffee shop in your local community.

Colorado ranks 14th in overall coffee shops per capita, according to a study by Zoma Sleep. The study counted 4,471 Colorado residents for every coffee shop in The Centennial State.

There’s no shortage of coffee lovers in Colorado. In fact, according to a study by the National Coffee Association, 63 percent of Colorado adults drink coffee daily. So it’s safe to say there’s room for more coffee shops to serve both residents and the millions of annual visitors from other states and countries.

The National Coffee Association also reports that coffee drinkers are flocking to espresso-based beverages brewed from high-quality beans. Consumption of cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas has increased by a staggering 50 percent since 2015, driven in part by strong popularity with 25 to 39-year-olds.

Small Colorado Cities and Towns Present Big Opportunities

With many parts of Colorado underserved by major coffee chains, it might pay to consider starting a coffee shop outside the large cities including Aurora, Colorado Springs, and Denver.

Many cities and towns in Colorado‘s 64 counties lack a gathering place where locals can get together over a cup of coffee.

Does your Colorado community need an independent coffee shop? Would you like to be the result that comes up when people in your part of Colorado search for “coffee near me?” Read on to learn more about how to start a coffee shop in Colorado.

Colorado is open for Small Business

Small businesses line a Colorado streetOne of the most important factors to consider when choosing a location for your business is the strength of the local economy. After all, a thriving economy means more people with disposable income who are looking for places to spend it.

And that’s exactly what you’ll find in Colorado. With the second-strongest economic climate in the U.S., Colorado is a great place to open a coffee shop!

Home to over 650,000 small businesses accounting for nearly half of all jobs, Colorado 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 Colorado government website. This website assists small and medium-sized Colorado 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 Colorado 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.

Get a Head Start with Our Coffee Shop Startup Consultants

Training a barista

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 Colorado Coffee Shop Journey?

7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup guide

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 Colorado?

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.