Are you interested in learning how to open a coffee shop in Virginia? You don’t have to go through the startup process alone or pay high franchise or coffee school fees. Instead, discover how to open and operate a successful coffee shop in Virginia with our 7 Steps to Success program.
Wondering why you should read this guide? Our team of experienced coffee shop startup consultants has helped over 300 entrepreneurs – including two from Virginia – to open and grow their coffee shops. Many of these business owners began with little or no coffee experience.
Through our proven 7 Steps program, we can help you develop a strong coffee shop business plan and calculate coffee shop startup costs in your Virginia community.
As a one-stop shop for independent coffee shop owners, we 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 quality 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!
Virginia Is a Prime Location for Opening a Coffee Shop!
If you are looking to open a coffee shop business, put Virginia on your shortlist of locations. With its vibrant coffee culture, supportive business environment and a rich food and beverage culture, Virginia can be your perfect location.
Coffee continues to reign as America’s favorite beverage. Over 60 percent of Americans drink coffee. That means over 3 million of Virginia’s 5 million adult residents are potential customers!
Virginia ranks 34th in coffee shops per capita, according to a study by Zoma Sleep. The study counted 6,593 Virginia residents for every coffee shop in The Old Dominion. The state has only 10 major coffee chain locations per 100,000 residents. So it’s safe to say there’s room for more coffee shops in Virginia to serve both residents and the millions of annual visitors from other states and countries.
The National Coffee Association reports that espresso-based drinks made from premium beans are becoming increasingly popular among coffee enthusiasts. Sales of cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas have seen a remarkable 50% surge since 2015, with millennials and young adults aged 25 to 39 driving the trend.
Small Virginia Cities and Towns Present Big Opportunities
Big cities and highly populated areas like Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Richmond and Northern Virginia near Washington, D.C. have a lot of coffee chain locations. You might consider starting your new business in a smaller city or town where there’s less competition.
Many cities and towns in Virginia‘s 95 counties lack a gathering place where locals can get together over a cup of coffee.
Does your Virginia community need an independent coffee shop? Coffee shops offer more than just a caffeine fix. They serve as gathering places for the community to socialize, work, and unwind.
By establishing a coffee shop in a small town, you can create employment opportunities and attract more visitors, which in turn can benefit other local businesses and even bring in new ones.
In addition, your coffee shop could become a cultural hub for the community, hosting events like open mic nights, art exhibits or book clubs.
Read on for more helpful tips and insights for starting a coffee shop in Virginia.
Virginia is Open for Small Business!
Virginia is a fantastic place for entrepreneurs, with a warm and supportive business environment. Forbes even ranks it as the third most business-friendly state in the country! This means that you’ll have plenty of chances to network, take advantage of business development programs, and find mentors who can help you grow your coffee shop.
Virginia’s government focuses on creating a business-friendly environment for its nearly 750,000 small businesses, which account for over 50 percent of all jobs in the state.
You can find a wealth of resources covering business formation and operation on the State of Virginia government website. This website assists small and medium-sized Virginia 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 Virginia 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
Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry. Our attentive roasting, startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world.
As a coffee roaster and coffee business consultant, we believe our company only succeeds when our customers do. We support coffee shop owners at every step, from concept through opening day and beyond.
A one-stop shop for independent coffee shops, we supply 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.
Coffee Shop Owners Recommend the 7 Steps to Success
Our coffee shop customers in Virginia say they saved time and money and grew their coffee business faster by following our 7 Steps to Success.
But don’t take our word for it. Hear what Crimson Cup customers say about working with our coffee shop startup team.
Vita Nova Creatives & Coffee, Nokesville, Virginia – Founded 2022
When Vita Nova Creatives & Coffee in Nokesville, Virginia. opened in 2022, it fulfilled years of planning by owners Paula and Tom Millar and their family of shareholders.
Their team includes daughters Becca Ferguson and Danielle Lynch and daughter-in-law Jessica Miller. Son Jared Millar works behind the counter as a barista.
Paula and Tom Millar have been together since they were in high school. After Tom retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2005, they both worked in ministry and real estate.
A Dream of Coffee & Creativity
While homeschooling their four children and leading the children’s ministry at her local church, Paula dreamed about creating a space that would combine her artistic interests and passions and allow her to share them with others.
Tom, a private pilot, often flew the couple to explore new scenes.
“As we traveled, we loved to stop in the cute little independent coffee shops in the area,” Paula recalled. “Each shop has its own personality and style, and we often talked about how much we would like to put our hearts into a shop of our own.”
A rapid series of open doors brought Paula’s dream to life. In October 2020, she and daughter-in-law Jessica Millar attended a retreat for creatives in Waco, Texas. There, they received the encouragement and business coaching they needed to pursue the possibilities.
Coffee Connections Lead to Crimson Cup
Similar serendipities led the Millars to Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea. “We saw a presentation at Coffee Fest in Baltimore, and decided to buy the 7 Steps book,” Paula recalled. “We had that for several years and got more serious and finished reading it.”
The book, Seven Steps to Success: A Common-Sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee by Crimson Cup Founder and President Greg Ubert, showed the couple their own coffee shop was within reach.
Then, someone pointed Paula to Village Chic, a coffee shop boutique in South Charleston, Ohio. Soon, she ran across Rare Bird Emporium, a coffee-and-gift shop in Murphy, North Carolina. Both shops opened through our 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, based on Greg’s book.
“We had also been going to The Grounds coffeehouse in Fredericksburg, Virginia and realized that they also started through Crimson Cup and serve your coffee,” Paula said.
Creating the ‘Wow’ Factor
“We were coming in blind on the coffee side of things,” Paula said. “We needed someone who knows the business to tell us what to do. The 7 Steps team from Crimson Cup has been there to answer questions we didn’t even know we had!”
7 Steps Trainer and Project Manager Steve Bayless visited the shop the week before the soft opening to train Paula and her team in drink preparation and all aspects of coffee shop management.
Paula found two of the steps especially valuable. “Step 3, the layout, was really, really important from the get-go,” she said. “Step 5, training, amazed even my daughters who have worked in a coffee shop before. The level of detail and the way Steve taught us how to do it just amazed us.”
“I think a person would be crazy to do this without the hand-holding Crimson Cup provides,” she added. “You want to start with the wow factor, and we’ve been able to do that with their help.”
Ready to Start Your Virginia 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 Virginia?
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.