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How to Write a Business Plan for Opening a Cafe

• by Lightspeed

minute read

Think of your plan as a roadmap for your entrepreneurial adventure—one that’s easier to create than you might think! In this article, we’ll show you how to write a business plan that will set your cafe up for success.

How to write a business plan for opening a cafe

What is a cafe business plan, start with your vision, study other business plans, building your business plan template, section 1: the executive summary, section 2: how will your cafe business succeed, section 3: study your competition, section 4: analyze your target market, section 5: tell us what you’ll sell and how you’ll sell it, section 6: create a marketing plan, section 7: ownership structure, section 8: your operations plan.

• Section 9: Financial planning

Section 10: Plans for growth

Finally, we’ll end with an example business plan to show you what it looks like in action. 

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  Want a quick summary of what to include in your cafe business plan? Consult this handy table. 

At its core, a cafe or coffee shop business plan is a document that explains what your business idea is and how it will succeed. It answers questions like how much it costs to set up shop, how those costs will be funded and how much money you expect to make from your cafe. A coffee shop business plan includes information about your competitors, target market and pricing structure.

When it’s finished, your business plan can be shown to potential investors, bankers, partners and anybody else who will help you open your cafe. As you can probably tell, it’s an extremely important document, so it’s worth your time and effort to get it right. First, you’ll learn about all the different pieces of information that will go into your business plan and then we’ll help you pull the pieces together.

A business plan is the first step in making your cafe-ownership dream a reality, so take time to dream by laying out your vision for your future cafe or coffee shop. What will your cafe look like? How will it be decorated? Where will it be located? Which items will you sell? Who will frequent it? How will your customers navigate your cafe, from the moment they walk through the door to the moment they swip e or tap their credit card to check out?

Pull inspiration from cafes you love, images you’ve seen, your favorite films or books, even your travels. Then write it all down or post pictures on a wall to create an inspirational mood board . As you spend hours working on your business plan, it will be incredibly motivating to glance up at your initial vision and be reminded of the finish line.

Before you pen your masterpiece, look at business plan examples from your industry: cafes, coffee shops and quick-serve restaurants. Study how they planned their business and make sure that your cafe is on the right track.

Real-world examples from business owners are also invaluable. Seek out current or former coffee shop owners or even franchise owners in your town and ask them how they succeeded and what they would have done differently. While you’re at it, you can seek recommendations for, say, an accountant who can help you write your business plan. Even if local business owners are your future competition, they might be willing to share their experiences.

A blank page can be overwhelming, but there are countless business plan templates available online to help get your started. We’ve outlined the basic sections you should include in your business plan below, as well as further tips on how to build out each one. 

At the end of the day, your template doesn’t have to be fancy or include imagery. The most important thing is that it contains all the necessary information and is logically organized so it’s digestible to anyone reading it.

When a reader opens your business plan, they will see the executive summary first. This gives a high-lev el overview of all the sections in your business plan. A well-written executive summary will get your foot in the door, so be sure to read examples to get a feel for how the summary is worded and to see how all the information is presented.

Just as you thought about the customers who will visit your soon-to-be-open cafe, consider who will read your business plan and tailor the opening paragraphs to your audience. As you’re preparing to open your cafe, your executive summary is the most important marketing tool your cafe has.

It’s designed to capture the attention of your reader, and give them an overview that’s brief and compelling. Here are some tips on writing a strong executive summary:

• Clearly state the purpose and unique value proposition of your business at the start
• Highlight what sets you apart from competitors
• Take your audience and potential investors into consideration as you write
• Summarize the business opportunity you’re presenting

The second section answers questions like, “What problem does your cafe solve?” and “How will your cafe be the solution?” Maybe there is no coffee house or cafe in a busy retail center near you. Or maybe a restaurant just closed downtown.

This summary provides a brief overview of your industry, mentions where your cafe will be located and describes how it will stand out. Will your shop specialize in breakfast sandwiches near an airport? Sell your locally famous pie? You’ve envisioned how your future cafe will be a success. Make sure the readers of your business plan understand that too.

You can talk about the following in this section:

• Your cafe’s unique selling points (these could relate to your menu, brand, other offerings, etc.)
• Your location strategy (how will you maximize foot traffic? What factors were involved in your decision?)
• What your menu will look like compared to competitors 
• A sneak peek into your marketing strategy (more on that later, though)
• How you’ll optimize your operations for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, etc.

The next part of your business plan is usually referred to as the competitive analysis . It explains how your cafe will compete with similar food and beverage businesses—including big coffee chains like Starbucks and fast food giants like McDonald’s. Nearby restaurants, coffee shops and even public gathering areas like movie theaters are all your competition. So now is the time to do the research of visiting your potential competitors and making a note of who their customers are, as well as what’s for sale and how much it costs.

By understanding the pricing strategy for similar businesses, you’ll know how much you need to charge for your coffee, pastries, sandwiches and whatever else you’re selling in order to remain competitive in your particular market. Gross margins (the amount of money you make based on what you sell) for cafes and coffee shops can be high, but small cafes have notoriously small operating incomes (read: profits) due to the high cost of overhead.

However, if you put in the time to undertake a thorough analysis of your competition, your cafe has a higher chance of being successful. By writing down how your cafe will compete against similar businesses, you will convince your reader (and, most importantly, yourself) that your goal of opening a restaurant or cozy cafe is realistic and sustainable.

In order for your cafe to succeed, it needs a steady flow of customers. Unfortunately, attracting foot traffic is not quite as easy as “if you build it, they will come.” In your business plan, your future customers are known as your market , the number of potential customers is your market size and how you’ll reach them is your marketing plan. 

In your cafe or restaurant business plan, you’ll then take your market and divide it further into market segments . For example, if your coffee shop or cafe is close to an elementary school, a market segment might be parents or caretakers who stop by for high-end coffee after dropping their children off at school. Or college students studying for exams as they swig espresso. 

Now that you know what the competition charges, it’s time to create a pricing strategy for your cafe. 

When creating your menu and prices , be smart. You’ll be buying ingredients in bulk, so try to use the same ingredients in many different dishes. Are you thinking of selling wine at your cafe? Liquor, like coffee, offers some of the largest profit margins in the industry, but a liquor license will cost you money and there may be a waiting period, so you might want to start with non-alcoholic beverages.

Don’t be afraid to get creative. If you charge less for a croissant and coffee combination than you do for those items alone, you’ll encourage customers to buy more and cut down on food waste . Once you open for business, you’ll probably end up making changes to your menu. But for the purpose of a business plan, you’ll need to know how much you will charge for the coffee or soup you plan to sell, which you’ll determine by breaking down the ingredients needed to make each item and researching your competition.

Take Toronto cafe and bakery Le Beau , for instance. They’re known for their freshly baked croissants, which come in many different flavors. People go to the cafe specifically for their famous croissants, and of course usually end up buying other items as well. If you want to cultivate this type of loyalty, you’ll have to start early. 

Your marketing plan can be part of your sales plan or it can be a separate section. Will you advertise your specials every morning on social media ? Will you partner with another local business for special promotions? In addition to marketing, this is also a great section to explain your plans for retaining your customers. Will you offer loyalty programs or have your employees give your top customers a free cookie on their birthday? With a cafe point of sale system , it’s easier than ever to reward—and keep—the customers who will frequent your cafe. 

It’s also important to create a strong brand identity. Allow this to guide your marketing plan so that the reader is confident that your business will be able to create more successful marketing campaigns. 

You can also include information about:

• Using your online presence to market your business
• Whether you’ll implement customer loyalty programs 
• Events you plan to host to boost your business profile
• The programs and tools you’ll use to monitor the progress of your marketing initiatives

Your business plan will include the ownership structure of your business. Explain how much experience you and your partners bring to the table and why you’re the right person (or people) to go into business.

Clearly outline the legal structure of your business and what form that will take. That could be an LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship or partnership. To further legitimize your business plan, identify the roles and responsibilities that each owner or partner will take on. Explain how you’ll work together to ensure effective management and decision-making. 

You could even include any plans or contingencies for future ownership, as well as the governance structure of your business and how decisions will be made. 

In this section, you’ll include information about your facilities, employees, equipment and supplies. Think about the direct costs of rent, barista wages, ingredients like coffee beans and technology. Try to get many services out of individual tools, like a POS system that lets your customers check out, your part-time employees clock in and also manages the inventory of your cafe. This will maximize your efficiency and allow you to run your business from one platform, which your employees and customers will also benefit from. 

Approximate how often you’ll need to reorder ingredients like flour and eggs. Carefully considering your operating costs during the business planning stage pays off. For instance, a coffee roaster is an upfront start-up cost, but roasting your own coffee at your cafe can save you operating costs in the long run. Save money where you can (secondhand chairs, anyone?) and don’t scrimp where it’s important, like your espresso machine.

Section 9: Financial planning 

Now you’re ready to craft a financial plan for your cafe. This is usually the most time-consuming and important section of your business plan, especially for lenders and investors. It should include an overview of your start-up costs, an income statement, projected cash flow, a balance sheet and a break-even analysis .

Startup costs

You’ve heard the adage that it takes money to make money, and this is because most businesses need initial funding to get them off the ground. A major reason you might be writing a business plan in the first place is to secure funding, like a business loan, for your cafe, but remember that your start-up funds can come from anywhere. How much money do you need to borrow? Will you dip into your savings? Crowdfund from your fans? No matter where you find your initial financing, a business plan lays out how your cafe will be funded and how that money will cover your business start-up costs.

Income statement

Once you know your start-up costs, operating costs, pricing strategy and target market, you are ready to lay out all this information into an easy-to-digest income statement . Take all of your expenses (mainly operating costs) and your projected sales volume (the amount that you are selling each month based on your pricing strategy and market research) to prove that your cafe business will turn a profit. In your case, create a projected monthly income statement for the first year your cafe will be in business. Explore some examples of income statements to see what your final analysis will look like.

Looking ahead to the future

A big part of writing a business plan for your cafe is figuring out the projected cash flow your cafe will earn over time. Depending on the audience for your business plan, you may have to project your cafe’s cash flow up to five years in advance, broken up into months or quarters. Though this exercise might seem difficult, it’s not impossible. You’ve already completed most of the financial legwork.

Combine those crunched numbers with your personal experience as a customer and a worker to project how much money your cafe will make in the future. Consider seasonal differences, like a spike in business around the holidays if you’re in a busy shopping district, or a lull in business during the summer if your cafe caters to college students. Just like your income statement, these cash flow projections will go into your business plan as easy-to-view statements.

Balance sheet

A balance sheet details the assets, liabilities and equity of your cafe business on the day it opens. It’s generally used to determine how much money a business has to work with. For a small cafe, it’s not as important as the income statement, but it’s useful as a realistic snapshot of the financial health of your restaurant.

Breaking even

Now that you’ve detailed how you will make a profit and you know how much money you are working with, you can approximate how long it will take your cafe to turn a profit. This is called the break-even point.

Did you know? Lightspeed offers funding to businesses through Lightspeed Capital, our merchant cash advance program. Eligible Lightspeed customers can use the funding for any business purpose.

Section 10: Planning for growth

Include a section that discusses potential avenues for expansion in the future. This will show important stakeholders you’ve already started thinking about the future direction of your business.

Review the scalability of your business model and operations to support expansion efforts effectively. Determine whether the infrastructure, systems, and processes you’ll start with can support your visions of growth.

The opportunities you mention could include opening additional cafe locations in new neighborhoods or cities, expanding your product offerings to include catering services or packaged goods, or diversifying into related businesses such as coffee roasting or wholesale distribution.

Example business plan

We’ve created a business plan for a hypothetical cafe called Sip & Savor Café. Keep in mind that it’s shorter than is typical. 

Section 1: Executive summary

Sip & Savor Café is a quaint yet vibrant coffee shop nestled in the bustling downtown district. Our vision is to create a welcoming space where patrons can indulge in artisanal coffee, delectable pastries, and light bites while fostering connections and savoring moments of tranquility amid the urban hustle. With a dedication to exceptional service and a commitment to community engagement, Sip & Savor Café aims to become the preferred destination for coffee enthusiasts and locals seeking a reprieve from the daily grind.

Section 2: How Sip & Savor will succeed

Sip & Savor Café will differentiate itself by offering a curated selection of specialty coffees, locally sourced ingredients, and unique menu offerings that reflect the diverse tastes and preferences of our customers. Our prime downtown location, near office buildings and shopping centers, will maximize foot traffic and visibility. We will optimize our operations for efficiency and cost-effectiveness by selecting suppliers carefully and using a streamlined tech solution while maintaining a strong emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction.

Section 3: Competitive analysis

Through a comprehensive competitive analysis, we have identified key competitors in the area, including national coffee chains and independent cafes. By offering personalized service, a welcoming atmosphere, and distinctive menu items, Sip & Savor Café will differentiate itself from competitors and attract a loyal customer base. We’ll also create a strong loyalty program for our customers to rival the likes of big chains.

Section 4: Our target market

Our target market includes urban professionals, students and local residents seeking a convenient and comfortable place to enjoy coffee and light meals. We’ll create a space that encourages people to sit, stay and work. By understanding the preferences and behaviors of our target market segments, we will tailor our offerings and marketing efforts to effectively reach and engage with our customers. 

Section 5: What we’ll sell

Sip & Savor Café will offer a diverse menu of specialty coffees, teas, and seasonal beverages, accompanied by a selection of freshly baked pastries and sandwiches. We will implement a smart pricing strategy, utilizing high-quality ingredients and creative combinations to maximize value for our customers. Our menu will evolve based on customer feedback and seasonal trends, ensuring a dynamic and appealing selection of offerings.

Section 6: Our marketing strategy

Our marketing plan will focus on building brand awareness, driving foot traffic, and fostering customer loyalty. Strategies include social media campaigns, local partnerships, community events, and loyalty programs to engage customers and generate buzz around Sip & Savor Café. We will also prioritize customer retention through personalized service and rewards programs.

Sip & Savor Café is structured as a partnership between founders Emma and Liam, who collectively bring over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Each partner holds a 50% ownership stake and shares responsibility for day-to-day operations, strategic decision-making and financial management.

Section 8: Operations plan

Our operations plan outlines efficient workflows, staffing requirements, inventory management systems, and quality control measures to ensure smooth and consistent operations. We will invest in modern equipment, staff training, and technology to optimize efficiency and deliver a superior customer experience.

Section 9: Financial plan

Sip & Savor Café will require initial funding to cover startup costs, including leasehold improvements, equipment purchases, and initial inventory. We have secured financing through a combination of personal savings, small business loans, and investor contributions. Our financial projections indicate steady revenue growth and profitability over the first three years of operation, supported by growing customer traffic and cost-effective operations.

As Sip & Savor Café establishes itself as a local favorite, we plan to explore opportunities for expansion, including additional locations and new menu offerings. By maintaining a focus on quality, customer satisfaction, and community engagement, we aim to sustain long-term growth and success in the competitive cafe market.

Keeping the restaurant dream alive

Though creating a business plan can seem complicated, remember that it’s an important step you should take before starting a cafe. A thoughtful business plan proves to others (and yourself) that your cafe can be successful. 

Looking to invest in the right tools for your cafe? Chat with one of our experts to see how cloud software can make your day-to-day more efficient.

1. How profitable is owning a cafe?

Profitability varies, but successful cafes can generate healthy profits with the right management, location, and business model.

2. How do I start a cafe business?

Start by creating a solid business plan, securing financing, finding a suitable location, obtaining necessary permits/licenses, hiring staff, sourcing suppliers, and marketing your cafe.

3. Is a cafe a successful business?

Cafes can be successful if managed effectively, offering quality products, good customer service, and a welcoming atmosphere.

4. How do I write a business proposal for a cafe?

Include sections on your concept, target market, location analysis, marketing strategy, financial projections, and management plan.

5. What is the failure rate of coffee shops?

Failure rates vary, but some studies suggest around 60% of new coffee shops close within the first five years due to various factors like location, competition, and mismanagement.

6. How much do small cafe owners make?

Earnings vary greatly depending on factors like location, size, and business model, but small cafe owners may make anywhere from modest incomes to substantial profits.

7. How much does it cost to run a coffee shop per month?

Costs can vary widely based on factors like rent, utilities, staff wages, inventory, and marketing expenses, but estimates range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars per month.

8. Are cafes a good investment?

Cafes can be a good investment if carefully planned and managed, offering opportunities for profitability and growth in the food and beverage industry.

9. Are cafes more profitable than restaurants?

Profitability depends on various factors including location, target market, and operating expenses. While cafes may have lower overhead costs than full-service restaurants, profitability can vary widely between individual establishments.

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Lightspeed is a cloud-based commerce platform powering small and medium-sized businesses in over 100 countries around the world. With smart, scalable and dependable point of sale systems, it's an all-in-one solution that helps restaurants and retailers sell across channels, manage operations, engage with consumers, accept payments and grow their business.

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10 Tips for Running a Successful School Cafeteria

How do I run a successful school cafeteria? This is a question that many schools and school administrators ask themselves. But there are a few basic ideas you can use to make lunchtime orderly, calm, punctual and even fun.  

If you’re wondering how to manage a school cafeteria, keep reading for tips on how to set up the cafeteria, from the room to seats and tables, and how to use signs and rules to make the process run smoothly. Using cafeteria supervisors, school bells and an effective schedule keeps students moving, while giving them time to enjoy time with their friends. Keep reading for tips on managing your school cafeteria!  

Table of Contents:

• Create the Layout
• Add Design Features
• Keep It Minimal
• Have Cafeteria Rules
• Have Supervisors in the Room
• Have Strict Times
• Serve Better School Lunches
• Have Assigned Tables
• Benefits of School Cafeteria Management
• How Do I Run a School Cafeteria Efficiently? 

Create the Layout  

Creating a cafeteria that runs well is one of the most difficult parts of running a school. One of the first things you need to look at is the layout of the cafeteria.  

A cafeteria should have a very basic layout that is easy to understand . You need to create a room that allows the eye to travel from one area to the next.  

You want students to be able to look around the room and know where they need to go. Any confusion is only going to add to the chaos of students trying to get their food.  

The cafeteria should be a large room with the area for serving food on one side. It is best to keep the food on the sides of the room and the tables and chairs in the center.  

You may need to step back and envision what it would be like for a student. Are the tables hard to navigate around? Or are they too close together? Is it easy to join the line to get food, or is it difficult to find it in the room? These are things you need to consider when learning how to run a school cafeteria.  

Add Design Features  

Another thing you need to do is add design features to the room. This is not a complicated step because there aren’t many features that a school cafeteria needs.  

Designing a cafeteria needs to be about how the room will function, not how it will look. But there are some features you should include for a more cohesive space.  

One thing you should include are signs instructing students where they need to go in the room. This can be very useful for new students or at the beginning of the year when the layout is new. You can also include signs with the cafeteria rules.  

You can also incorporate positive signs with quotes or encouraging words. This is a great way to bring some character into the space and make it more fun.  

You should also consider giving the school cafeteria a more modern look. A lot of cafeterias tend to look outdated and unappealing to students.  

You can keep the design modern and minimal so that it looks nice but does not distract. Investing in high-quality menu displays is also a great way to help students make up their minds.  

These displays will catch their eye and help them to decide on the food they want before ordering.  

Keep It Minimal  

As much as you may want to go all out, a cafeteria should be minimal. The more you add to the space, the less efficient it will become.  

The main objective should be creating a space that is easy to navigate for all. Students should be able to get to where they need to go and find their seats as quickly as possible.  

You should estimate how many chairs and tables you need so you don’t have too many. These take up space and clutter the room, making it hard to navigate.  

Too many tables also encourage students to spread out far from each other. Fewer tables will encourage them to sit together and engage more.  

A minimal space also encourages more cleanliness without clutter. Things like trash cans and places to put trays should be visible and available in several areas.  

Including only the necessary features throughout the room will help it to stay efficient. This will also help to encourage students to do what they need to do and follow the rules.  

Have Cafeteria Rules  

Another answer to the question, “How do I run a successful school cafeteria?“ is rules. You need to create a list of guidelines for students.  

The cafeteria should be a fun place where students can take a break and enjoy their meals, but it is still important to maintain structure and good behavior. You don’t want to simply let the students loose in the cafeteria to behave as they see fit.  

Running a cafeteria is difficult, and having rules in place will help with that. Some general cafeteria rules include no yelling or running in the room.  

These are behaviors that create chaos and make it hard to control the students. Everyone should use their indoor voices and stay seated until they finish their meals.  

Bad behaviors like stealing food, throwing food or standing on tables are not allowed. Many of these rules are the same as those used throughout the rest of the school.  

Be sure to announce these rules and put them on posters or signs. This will help to remind students how to behave and reinforce good behavior.  

Have Supervisors in the Room  

If you need to know how to manage a school cafeteria, having supervisors is vital. Supervisors can be teachers who stay in the cafeteria to watch the students.  

Their presence is often useful in keeping students in line because an adult is in the room. Often this is all that is required to remind students that they need to behave.  

Supervisors are there to supervise and discipline as necessary. They can help to break up any bad behavior and encourage students to move efficiently.  

Having supervisors present will help keep lunchtime efficient and punctual. It also helps those managing the food in case any issues arise.  

If a student is acting up badly, supervisors can issue punishment. Often this means that the student will have to sit with the supervisor until the end of lunch.  

Have Strict Times  

Are you wondering, how do I run a successful school cafeteria? Part of this is maintaining a punctual schedule for those eating lunch.  

Many people tend to overlook the importance of having scheduled times for lunch. Even if students are just five minutes late to the cafeteria, this has a domino effect.  

Students will feel rushed and will not behave as they should. If they are late, some students may not get their food in time to eat it.  

When lunch starts later than normal, students will not want to go back to class on time. Lunchtime provides just enough time for students to eat, so there isn’t any room for tardiness.  

Use a bell to announce when lunch begins and when it ends. This instructs students so they do not accidentally arrive or leave late.  

The available supervisors can use the bell to make sure students are staying on schedule. They may have to move along students who are lagging behind after lunch.  

Serve Better School Lunches  

The majority of school lunches have a bad reputation among students. This is due to the poor quality of food being served in a lot of schools.  

The good news is that now more and more schools are starting to step up. School lunches are becoming more nutritional and tastier to encourage better eating habits.  

There are many resources that schools can take advantage of for better school meals. These include healthier options that parents and students will appreciate.  

Keep in mind that advertising school lunches is also important. You can encourage students to buy lunches by advertising in appealing ways.  

It is also a great option to have snacks available or vending machines. You should lean toward healthier options instead of candy and soda vending machines.  

Have Assigned Tables  

For help with how to manage a school cafeteria, one approach that many people don’t use is assigning tables and seats. This may seem like a lot of extra work, but it can make a huge impact on how the cafeteria runs.  

Part of the chaos is due to students trying to find a place to sit. They may be looking for their friends or for empty seats in a crowded cafeteria.  

This results in lost time and difficulty navigating the room. Students who are trying to get their food may be interrupted by students walking around.  

The best way to counteract this problem is to have assigned seats and tables. Students may not like this at first, but they will quickly understand how helpful it can be.  

This means that students will know exactly where they need to go once they get their food. There will be no confusion, and they won’t have to search for empty seats.  

How you assign these areas depends on your school and your goals. You may do this according to the ages of the students or the students who are in classrooms together.  

One of the easiest ways to do this is to group students according to grades. This means that students the same age will be together, allowing friends to stay together.  

Benefits of School Cafeteria Management  

If you are in charge of school cafeteria management and you want to know how to run a school cafeteria, you may not know where to start. These tips will help you implement a plan that provides an efficient structure and a positive experience.  

There are many benefits to running a school cafeteria successfully. You may not notice them at first, but you will definitely notice if the cafeteria is not running well.  

If you are running a school cafeteria well, the entire process should flow seamlessly.  

Less Stress  

The biggest benefit of a well-designed school cafeteria is less stress. Teachers and administrators all feel extreme stress when lunchtime is not running efficiently.  

This creates a feeling of chaos that spreads throughout the school, even among the students. Everyone will feel the stress, and it impacts how everyone is able to perform during the school day.  

How do I run a successful school cafeteria? The answer is that you eliminate all of the sources of stress that you can find. Less stress keeps everyone in a positive mood and helps students to focus on their work.  

This also helps teachers and administrators to focus on their students’ well-being. Allow them to do their jobs instead of worrying about how everything is running.  

Calm Environment  

Having a structured school cafeteria helps to create a calm environment.   

Most people do not associate cafeterias with anything other than noise and chaos, but you can avoid this by implementing some of these cafeteria tips. This will help students get their food easily, find seats, and have time to eat their meals.  

Less chaos also allows students to do what they like most during lunch, which is talking to their friends.  

Better School Structure  

Making sure the school cafeteria is running efficiently impacts the entire school. An efficient cafeteria helps to lower the expectation that lunchtime is going to be chaotic and not punctual.  

An efficient cafeteria affects the entire school day because students may go to their next classes late. They may not have been able to eat their lunches in time , resulting in them feeling hungry and grumpy.  

How Do I Run a School Cafeteria Efficiently?  

To learn how to run a school cafeteria the right way, you need to create a cafeteria plan. This is an important part of the school, as it is in all of the other classrooms.  

It is a good idea to get some help on this project so you have a second pair of eyes. If you have a group of administrators helping you, that is even better.  

This will help you to create a good cafeteria system that benefits everyone.  

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Top 10 Cafeteria Development Proposal Templates with Samples and Examples

Today, a cafeteria   is more than just a place to grab a quick bite to eat. It's a hub of social interaction and a space for nourishment. It serves as an oasis, a space where employees come together to recharge, connect, and refuel. The cafeteria plays a pivotal role in fostering a positive workplace culture and employee well-being.

A proposal for cafeteria development holds significant importance, as it addresses the essential need for a well-designed dining space that goes beyond serving food . The cafeteria development proposal serves as a persuasive tool for securing necessary approvals, funding, and support.

The Nuts and Bolts of a Cafeteria Development Proposal 

• Clarity of Vision: A proposal outlines the vision and objectives of the cafeteria development project. It assists stakeholders, including management, investors, and team members, understand its  purpose and scope.
• Budgeting and Funding: Proposals provide detailed cost estimates and financial projections. A well-constructed proposal ensures that financial resources are allocated effectively and efficiently.
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation: A proposal identifies potential risks and challenges associated with the cafeteria development project. This enhances the project's chances of success.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Many cafeteria development projects are subject to  regulations and permits. A proposal addresses these legal considerations, ensuring that the project adheres to  relevant laws and standards, which helps prevent legal complications.
• Project Management: The proposal serves as a project management tool, defining roles, responsibilities, timelines, and milestones. It helps project managers and teams stay organized and on track, facilitating effective project execution.

It's essential to adapt cafeteria spaces to meet the evolving needs and desires of the community. The development of the cafeteria to a modern, inviting, and sustainable space that will not only serve as a dining area but also as a central gathering place. Keeping that in mind, SlideTeam has curated this PowerPoint Template Bundle on Cafeteria Development Proposal.  A  well-designed presentation adds a professional touch, showcasing a commitment to clarity and organization. SlideTeam has curated these pre-designed and 100% customizable and editable PPT Templates. The structured layout of these presentation designs simplifies conveying objectives, methodologies, and roles. With these content-ready slides, you get a head-start with the much-needed structure and flexibility that allows you to tailor your proposal presentations. 

Let us go through the templates now!

Template 1: Cafeteria Development Proposal Report PPT Template Bundle

This  PowerPoint Template  allows you to  showcase elements such as project context, objectives, the current restaurant market scenario, and more. Effortlessly exhibit your food menu, provide a clear timeline for setting up a new cafeteria chain, and outline  necessary investments. Additionally, the template allows for a brief background on your firm, adding a sense of history and credibility to your proposal. Download now!

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Template 2: Project Context of the Proposal PPT Slide

This PPT Template provides a structured platform to convey  information about the project's surroundings and challenges. It  communicates the funding scenario, shedding light on financial aspects crucial for decision-makers. It also addresses any pertinent issues, such as inaccessibility to residential areas, which can impact the cafeteria's viability. This template offers an organized format for presenting these critical factors ensuring that  stakeholders  grasp the significance of the project's location and the obstacles it may encounter. Download today!

Template 3: Project Objectives of the Proposal PowerPoint Slide

This PowerPoint Slide outlines the project's key objectives, including the opening of a new branch near a residential area, addressing the strong demands of customers, and catering to both local and foreign patrons. In addition to these objectives, the template provides  project duration, cost estimates, and the proposed location. This Slide serves as a clear roadmap, ensuring that your audience understands the project's goals and the strategic approach. Download now!

Template 4: Determine Restaurant Market Scenario PPT Template

This PPT Template offers a structured platform to delve into the intricacies of the restaurant industry's current landscape. It enables presenters to  explore key aspects of the market scenario, including crucial growth drivers. The template puts the spotlight  on factors such as evolving customer tastes and preferences, the rise in disposable income, increased consumer spending, and the expanding presence of restaurants. Use this presentation template to  illustrate these factors, assisting in understanding the market dynamics that are shaping the cafeteria industry. Download today!

Template 5: Service Spectrum of Cafeteria Development Proposal PPT Slide

This PowerPoint Design covers details  on the services of the cafeteria. The offerings included  are specialty food items, seafood items, gourmet dishes, appetizers, desert and salads. Get this template to set clear expectations for the stakeholders.

Template 6: Our Process for Cafeteria Development Proposal 

This PowerPoint Slide covers details regarding the firm process for a cafeteria set-up presented in  phases. The first phase includes site survey and inspection, while the second phase includes setting up suitable kitchen equipment and raw material. In phase three the bar unit and crockery is designed. The fourth phase depicts licensing and setup followed by development of service area, interior and furniture. The last phase in the process is  finalizing the menu and drawing up a plan for digital marketing. Download now!

Template 7: Time Frame for Services Rendered for Cafeteria Development Proposal

This PowerPoint Template highlights the time frame taken by each setup process for the cafeteria development proposal. This Slide assists in estimating the total time required for setting up in each task.  The slide documents site survey and inspection, which would take  one to two weeks. The detailed plan and review would take up to four weeks. Other tasks highlighted are management team on boarding, licensing, marketing, etc. Download now!

Template 8: Your Investment for Cafeteria Development Proposal

This Slide focuses on the financial aspects of the cafeteria development project. It provides a  breakdown of the management's financial commitment to the project. It outlines the components of management fees, encompassing the initial investment, which kick starts the project, 10% of the actual return on investment, ensuring an equitable share of profits, and 2% of the total investment to cover ongoing costs (remember, these are sample figures, based on best-practices. You decide the figures after the download). Additionally, the template highlights the fund's costs, which include  operating expenses, administrative costs, legal documentation, workforce salaries, and more. This PowerPoint Slide serves as a crucial resource for stakeholders, illustrating the financial commitment and structure of the project, enhancing transparency and trust in the investment process.

Template 9: Why Associate with Us as Cafeteria Development Proposal

This PowerPoint Slide  communicates  compelling reasons for clients to choose the company for cafeteria development. This slide showcases the company's credibility and track record with showcasing  of awards and recognitions they have on their workplace shelves. . It also elaborates on  factors that have contributed to their success, emphasizing  expertise, innovation, and commitment to excellence. This template serves as a persuasive way to instill confidence in potential clients, demonstrating why they are the ideal partner for their cafeteria development needs. Download now!

Template 10: Addressing Brief Description About the Firm PowerPoint Slide

This PPT Template is designed to convey information,  such as the company's beginning year, vision, and purpose statements. It also introduces the company and gives background information. This slide provides the client with information, such as  company history, and its fundamental values. It contributes to a better bond between the management and the cafeteria. Get this Slide Bundle now!

Cafeteria Development: Nourishing Bodies and Building Community

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, the importance of cafeteria spaces cannot be overstated. Investing in a well-planned cafeteria is a strategic move that not only nourishes the customers,  but also fosters a sense of belonging and community within the organization, ultimately benefiting both employees and the company as a whole. For presentations to be consistent and professional, the PowerPoint template from SlideTeam is key. Our templates increase productivity by offering pre-designed illustrations and layouts, which also save time.  This tiny investment  has a big payoff.

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Cafe Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Cafe Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Cafe business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Cafes.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Cafe business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

The Countryside Cafe is a startup cafe founded by Cheryl Nelson and Tammy Overton in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Together they have over twenty years of experience in managing and operating cafes and they are highly skilled in the creation of menu items customers love, exemplary service to customers, and in their honed expertise in running efficient and profitable restaurants. Cheryl is the former manager of a family-owned restaurant, where she had oversight of the employees, ordering, systems and financial record-keeping for the restaurant. Tammy was the head staff person of a chain restaurant who managed the scheduling, training and day-to-day operations of the restaurant. Together, they have decided to bring a family friendly environment and classic menu items to Tulsa.

Product Offering

The following are the products and services that Countryside Cafe will provide:

• Exemplary service for customers
• Honest, reliable relationships with vendors and suppliers
• Restaurant services 24/7 hours to accommodate all residents of the area
• Discounted menu pricing and expedited service for first responders
• Family-friendly menu items that everyone can enjoy
• Day to day management

Customer Focus

The Countryside Cafe will target customers throughout the Tulsa region who enjoy eating comfort foods, such as they may have grown up eating. Secondary target customers will be those who enjoy the hometown-feel of a small cafe rather than a large or more modern establishment. Those individuals who occupy nearby businesses or government offices will also be targeted by the Countryside Cafe, as well as those who own farms or ranches in the region.

Management Team

The Countryside Cafe will be owned by Cheryl Nelson and Tammy Overton. Together they have over 20 years of experience in managing and operating a regional cafe and they are highly skilled in the creation of menu items customers love, exemplary service to customers, and in their honed expertise in running efficient and profitable organizations. Cheryl is the former manager of a family-owned restaurant and Tammy was the head staff person of a chain restaurant. Together, they have decided to bring a family friendly environment and homestyle, fresh foods to Tulsa. The menu will include breakfast, lunch and dinner meals, as well as popular favorites such as ice cream sundaes and homemade pies any time of day.

Success Factors

Countryside Cafe will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team of Countryside Cafe
• Comprehensive menu of meals for any time of day, including snacks, such as French fries and desserts, along with soda fountain favorites such as sundaes, malts and milkshakes.
• Countryside Cafe will offer special discounted pricing for first-responders in Tulsa.
• Countryside Cafe will offer a child menu and a play area for children while their parents enjoy their meal.
• First-time visitors to the Countryside Cafe will receive a free dessert of their choice.
• Countryside Cafe offers the best pricing in town. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

Financial Highlights

Countryside Cafe is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its cafe business. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the restaurant space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and marketing costs. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Restaurant space build-out: $20,000
• Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph outlines the financial projections for Countryside Cafe.

Company Overview

Who is countryside cafe.

Countryside Cafe is a newly established, full-service homestyle cafe in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Countryside Cafe will be the most reliable, cost-effective, and efficient choice for individuals and families, as well as businesspeople in Tulsa and the surrounding communities. Countryside Cafe will provide a comprehensive menu of favorite meals, snacks and desserts for any diner to utilize. Their full-service approach includes a comprehensive menu and seating options to suit each family, including small children.

  Countryside Cafe will be able to serve over fifty people at one time. The team of owners and staff members are highly qualified and experienced in preparing, making and serving favorite family meals and snacks. Countryside Cafe removes all headaches and issues of finding easy, friendly and moderately-priced meals in Tulsa and ensures all appetites are satisfied while delivering the best customer service.

Countryside Cafe Management History

The Countryside Cafe consists of two experienced restaurateurs with distinctive areas of expertise: Cheryl Nelson and Tammy Overton have over twenty years of experience together in managing and operating a regional cafe and they are highly skilled in the creation of menu items customers love, exemplary service to customers, and in their honed expertise in running efficient and profitable organizations.

Cheryl Nelson is the former manager of a family-owned restaurant, where she had oversight of the employees, ordering, systems and financial record-keeping for the restaurant. Tammy was the head staff person of a chain restaurant who managed the scheduling, training and day-to-day operations of the restaurant. Together, they have decided to bring a family friendly environment and honest, favorite foods to Tulsa.

Since incorporation, Countryside Cafe has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Countryside Cafe, LLC to transact business in the state of Oklahoma.
• Have a contract in place for a 20,000 square foot restaurant space in a family-friendly retail area
• Reached out to numerous contacts to visit the Countryside Cafe upon launch and regularly after the launch.
• Began recruiting a staff of eight servers and four office personnel to work at the Countryside Cafe.

Countryside Cafe Services

The following will be the services Countryside Cafe will provide:

Industry Analysis

The cafe and small restaurant industry is expected to grow over the next five years to almost $500 million. The growth will be driven by consumers who seek favorite foods they’ve always enjoyed. Consumers also want to be served in small, more intimate settings which are relaxing and comfortable. Customers with children will help grow the cafe industry because, as families, they are more relaxed in the informal “down home” comfort of a small cafe versus a large, more formal restaurant.

Costs will likely be reduced as cafes continue to expand and modify their menus to seek out the best, most desirable menu items for consumers rather than spending widely on menu choices that may not be well-received. Costs will also continue to go down due to lower prices on produce and beef within the Oklahoma area. As fresh fruit is more in demand, juices and smoothies will cost less to produce than in the past, as well.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Customer Segmentation

Countryside Cafe will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Individuals and families within the region
• Small business owners and employees within the region
• City officials and those who work in the business of Tulsa
• Farmers and ranchers in the greater Tulsa regions

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Countryside Cafe will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Mama’s Kitchen

Mama’s Kitchen was started in 1998 by Candy and Jamie Swanson. Originally intended as a truck stop, Mama’s Kitchen grew to include a larger restaurant area in 2005 and has served breakfast and lunch to travelers from that time to the present. Located on the main highway through the city of Tulsa, the restaurant receives many travelers who opt to stop for a meal.

Mama’s Kitchen is twenty-three miles away from the Countryside Cafe. There are a few similarities to the menus served by both restaurants, as homestyle fare is offered. The differences between the two restaurant businesses is found in the family-friendly dining-booth atmosphere of the Countryside Cafe, while Mama’s Kitchen has countertops and bar stools throughout. This makes seating for a family difficult and children are not able to reach the countertops on stools at Mama’s Kitchen, which creates discomfort for children.

Buddy’s Bar & Grill

Owned by Robert “Buddy” Gorman, Buddy’s Bar & Grill is a full-service bar with a small dining room attached. The restaurant is located six miles from the Countryside Cafe. Meals are served at Buddy’s Bar & Grill during lunch and dinner; however, the restaurant is not open for breakfast. Meals are geared toward grilled hamburgers, steaks and fried fish, while the bar menu is laden with appetizer choices served during happy hour each Tuesday afternoon. Robert Gorman is assisted by his sister, Babs, who acts as the lone server in the grill and is known for her fast service and quick wit, which customers find charming. Children are not allowed in the bar, but they can be served in the grill side of the restaurant. The children’s menu is limited to hamburgers or cheese sandwiches served with fries.

Howard’s Family Restaurant

Howard’s Family Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a small dining room attached to the golf country club on the outskirts of Tulsa. It is located ten miles from the Countryside Cafe. Most patrons of Howard’s Family Restaurant are golfers who want to enjoy a meal before or after playing golf. The restaurant is one of a chain of restaurants and, while the prices are higher than those of the other cafes and small restaurants in Tulsa, the restaurant is known by the national marketing of the parent company. Children are served a special kids’ play and dine menu and families are highlighted as the primary target of the chain.

Competitive Advantage

Countryside Cafe will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team of the Countryside Cafe.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Countryside Cafe will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Highly-qualified team of skilled employees who are able to provide a delicious meal in a pleasant surrounding for the entire family.
• Countryside Cafe will offer special discounted pricing for first-responders in Tulsa, including police, fire and hospital staff. Doctors and nurses are also included.
• First-time visitors to the Countryside Cafe will receive a free dessert of their choice, which helps guests feel welcome and comfortable.
• Unbeatable pricing to its clients; they will offer the lowest pricing in the city.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Countryside Cafe is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Countryside Cafe has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional service and expertise to their clients, including guests of all ages. The personal contacts and business associates will follow the new owners to the new cafe and help spread the word of Countryside Cafe.

Professional Associations and Networking

The new owners of the Countryside Cafe, Cheryl and Tammy, will join the civic organizations and trade networks to help build their cafe to its potential. They will become active in the committees for city celebrations, as well, to help build visibility of their cafe and raise awareness of their specialty menu items.

Print Advertising

The Countryside Cafe will send a direct mail flyer to each home and business in Tulsa in the two weeks prior to the launch of the restaurant. The flyer will invite everyone to participate in special discounted offers during the first month of business and offer a free dessert for each person who stops by to check out the area’s newest cafe.

Countryside Cafe will fully utilize their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Countryside Cafe provides. The website will also list their contact information and list their menu and pricing, along with delivery options. The website will engage in SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “homestyle cafe” or “cafe near me,” Countryside Cafe will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Countryside Cafe will be moderate and below or on par with competitors so customers feel they receive excellent value when purchasing their products and services. Certain items, such as the childrens’ menu items, will be priced at a reduced profit margin in order to facilitate larger families that want to visit and can afford to do so with the reduced prices.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Countryside Cafe. Operation Functions:

• Cheryl Nelson will be the co-owner and president of the company. She will oversee all business development and manage client relations.
• Tammy Overton will be the co-owner and vice president of the company. She will manage the operations and oversee all staff members.
• Tyler Grant will be the Office Manager who will manage the office administration, client files, and accounts payable.
• Tommy Tucker will be the maintenance employee who will provide all maintenance and repairs at the property.

Milestones:

Countryside Cafe will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease restaurant space
• 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the Countryside Cafe
• 6/1/202X – Finalize contracts for Countryside Cafe vendors and wholesale accounts
• 6/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events
• 6/22/202X – Begin moving into Countryside Cafe restaurant
• 7/1/202X – Countryside Cafe opens its doors for business

The Countryside Cafe will be owned by Cheryl Nelson and Tammy Overton. Together they have over twenty years of experience in managing and operating a regional cafe and they are highly skilled in the creation of menu items customers love, exemplary service to customers, and in their honed expertise in running efficient and profitable organizations.

Cheryl Nelson is the former manager of a family-owned restaurant and Tammy was the head staff person of a chain restaurant.Together, they have decided to bring a family friendly environment and homestyle, fresh foods to Tulsa. The menu will include breakfast, lunch and dinner meals, as well as popular favorites such as ice cream sundaes and homemade pies any time of day.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Countryside Cafe are the fees they will charge to customers for their products and services.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff Countryside Cafe. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, inventory, office supplies, and marketing materials.

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of restaurant customers per Month: 1,000
• Average revenue per Month: $25,000
• Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Cafe Business Plan FAQs

What is a cafe business plan.

A cafe business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your cafe business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Cafe business plan using our Cafe Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Cafe? 

There are a number of different kinds of cafe businesses , some examples include: Take-Out Cafe, Restaurant Cafe, Casual cafe, and Coffee Shop.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Cafe Business Plan?

Cafe businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Cafe Business?

Starting a cafe business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

• Develop A Cafe Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed cafe business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  
• Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your cafe business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your cafe business is in compliance with local laws.
• Register Your Cafe Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your cafe business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 
• Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your cafe business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 
• Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 
• Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 
• Acquire Necessary Cafe Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your cafe business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 
• Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your cafe business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful cafe business:

• How to Start a Cafe

Cafe Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Cafe Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their cafes. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a cafe business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Cafe Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your cafe as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Cafe

If you’re looking to start a cafe or grow your existing cafe you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your cafe in order to improve your chances of success. Your cafe business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your cafe grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Cafes

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a cafe are bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable. But they will want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business.

The second most common form of funding for a cafe is angel investors. Angel investors are wealthy individuals who will write you a check. They will either take equity in return for their funding, or, like a bank, they will give you a loan.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

Your cafe business plan should include 10 sections as follows:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of cafe business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a cafe that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of cafes.

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the cafe industry. Discuss the type of cafe you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target market. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of cafe you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types:

• Take-Out Cafe: this type of cafe doesn’t have seating (or has limited seating) and is mostly visited by customers looking to grab a coffee and/or bakery item on their way to work or elsewhere.
• Restaurant Cafe: this type of cafe is most similar to a restaurant and offers a full, sit-down menu in a nice atmosphere with a full wait staff.
• Casual cafe: also known as a corporate, student or co-working cafe, this type of cafe typically offers food and drinks from a counter with no waiters or waitresses. Patrons purchase items and consume them in the cafe, often while performing work on their laptops or conversing with friends or colleagues.
• Coffee Shop: This is a popular type of cafe. Coffee shops usually offer a selection of tea, coffee, pastries and other drinks

  In addition to explaining the type of cafe you operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business? What is your business concept? What is your unique selling proposition?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include sales goals you’ve reached, new store openings, etc.
• Your business structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the cafe business.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the cafe industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy particularly if your research identifies market trends. For example, if there was a trend towards cafes with ultra high speed internet connections, it would be helpful to ensure your location could offer such a service.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your cafe business plan:

• How big is the cafe business (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key local suppliers in your market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your cafe. You can extrapolate such as figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The market analysis section of your cafe business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: local office workers, college students, sports enthusiasts, soccer moms, techies, teens, baby boomers, etc.

As you can imagine, the target audience you choose will have a great impact on the type of cafe you operate. Clearly baby boomers would want a different atmosphere, pricing and product options, and would respond to different marketing promotions than teens.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most cafes primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other cafes (and restaurants and/or bakeries depending on the type of cafe you operate).

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from you that aren’t direct competitors. This includes restaurants, supermarkets and customers making coffee and bakery items themselves at home. You need to mention such competition to show you understand that not everyone in your target market will visit a cafe each day.

With regards to direct competition, you want to detail the other cafes or coffee shops with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be cafes located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What products do they offer?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

  With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to stand outside your competitors’ locations and ask customers as they leave what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide superior cafe products?
• Will you provide cafe products that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you make it easier or faster for customers to acquire your products?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a cafe business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : in the product section you should reiterate the type of cafe that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, will you offer pastries, soups, items such as café latte, cappuccino, espresso or macchiato?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the menu items you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your cafe. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your cafe located next to a heavily populated office building, or gym, etc. Discuss how your location might provide a steady stream of customers.

Promotions : the final part of your cafe marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Making your cafe’s front store extra appealing to attract passing customers
• Distributing samples outside the cafe
• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local bloggers and websites
• Partnerships with local organizations (e.g., gym members get a free cup of cafe with each pastry they purchase)
• Local radio advertising
• Banner ads at local venues

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your cafe such as serving customers, procuring supplies, keeping the cafe clean, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to serve your 10,000th customer, or when you hope to reach $X in sales. It could also be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or launch a new location.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your cafe’s ability to succeed as a business, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in the cafe, coffee shop and/or restaurant business. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in cafes and/or successfully running retail and small businesses.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you serve 100 customers per day or 200? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. For instance, if you spend $100,000 on building out your cafe, that will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $100.000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. For example, let’s say a company approached you with a massive $100,000 catering contract, that would cost you $50,000 to fulfill. Well, in most cases, you would have to pay that $50,000 now for supplies, equipment rentals, employee salaries, etc. But let’s say the company didn’t pay you for 180 days. During that 180 day period, you could run out of money.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a cafe:

• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• Cost of fixtures like chairs, tables, signage and cafe decor
• Cost of equipment like grinders, espresso machines, blenders, refrigerators
• Cost of ingredients and maintaining an adequate amount of supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your store design blueprint or location lease.

Summary Putting together a business plan for your cafe is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, you will be able to prepare a winning cafe business plan or a coffee shop business plan. You will really understand cafe business planning, business operations, your competition and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful cafe.

  OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how our professional business plan writers can create your business plan for you. Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

How to Write a Cafe Business Plan

Cafes are gathering grounds for people from all walks of life – plan your next cafe with this business plan template.

Tyler Martinez Author

Tyler Martinez

Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

Use this free coffee shop business plan template to easily create a great business plan that organizes your vision and helps you start, grow, or raise funding for your coffee shop.

Business Plan for Cafes Guide

Great cafes are a combination of particularly good coffee, an inviting space to linger, and delicious treats to snack on while hanging out. Falling somewhere between a coffee stand, a sandwich shop, and a bistro, cafes occupy a  unique and vital place in the restaurant economy. But it is the space that they provide for people to meet, gather, share food, work, or just be in public that is distinct about a cafe.

The cafe is a lower-stakes business model that requires lower start-up costs and overhead than larger restaurants, but carving a space for your cafe in the market and charting a path to success are important considerations of opening any new cafe business. There's likely another cafe nearby, so how will you make sure to stand out?

Why You Need a Cafe Business Plan

Finding an open spot in the market for a cafe, and setting yourself apart from the local competition, will be necessary for the success of your business.

Building a business plan gets you to start making concrete decisions about your cafe, the space you will create, the types of food and beverages you’ll serve, and the kind of customer experience you imagine creating.

Curating a space where people gather to meet, conduct business, read, study, and eat takes detailed and nuanced decision making about the intricate overlapping details of your business model – details that you can begin to map out with this business plan. It takes a lot of work to open a cafe, and there's dozens of things to cross off a list, so business plans help keep you on track. They're also extremely useful when you're seeking out funding for your new business: business plans help show you're thinking about building a sustainable cafe that's set to be open (and successful!) for years to come.

How to Write a Cafe Business Plan (Description, Examples, Proposals)

Starting a writing project is often the most difficult part, contending with the unlimited possibility of a blank page. So don’t start with a blank page. Use this fully customizable cafe business plan template to start envisioning your next cafe, and read on to learn what to add in each section.

Related Restaurant Resources

• Cafe Business Plan Executive Summary
• Cafe Financial Plan
• Cafe Operations Plan
• Cafe Industry Market Analysis
• Cafe Management Team

Cafe and Bakery POS Comparison Tool

A free, customizable Cafe and Bakery POS Comparison Tool to research and compare point of sale systems in one Excel spreadsheet or editable PDF.

Elements of a Cafe Business Plan

Executive summary.

The first section of your business plan is your primary opportunity to catch the attention of potential investors and partners. Keep your audience in mind while providing a concise summary of your vision and motivations for opening a cafe.

Describe key elements of your business plan, such as the business’s mission and core values, an overview of the budget, and a coherent vision for your brand in vivid detail that provides information and gets potential partners excited about the opportunity to invest.

Paint a picture of the space you’ll be creating, who will use that space, and how it will become and stay a successful business model. Answer questions like what type of experience will you be providing and why customers will want to return.

Company Overview

This section is a comprehensive summary of your business plan and focuses on the detail that the executive summary replaced with persuasive tactics. The company overview is more practical than attention-grabbing. It works as a glossary and guide for the rest of your cafe’s business plan.

Start with a definition of your cafe. Is it espresso-focused, a tea house, a cozy stop for breakfast sandwiches and drip coffee, or a grab-and-go commuter cafe? Also introduce information about the ownership structure, financial projections, market analysis, publicity strategy, and the roles you’ll need to find talent to fill.

The company overview also gives you a chance to introduce branding, graphics, any charity work your business will engage in, and all the more conceptual visions of your brand. Between the executive summary and company overview, your audience should know about your business plan and where to look in the document for information about key elements.

Team and Management

The staffing needs of your cafe should be outlined in detail in this section. First, define your role in the cafe. Are you the research and development team, general manager, a hands-off owner who deals with timesheets, or some combination of those roles?

Use this section to plan the people structure of your business model. Give investors a picture of who is going to manage your cafe, build schedules, make the drinks and food, develop recipes, do marketing and publicity, and how they will work together to curate the customer experience of your cafe.

Make a timeline for hiring and training new staff and what you expect from each role. Staffing needs are a major factor in planning for your cafe’s budget and financial projections, so it’s crucial that you are detailed in this section to inform accurate financial estimates.

Sample Menu

Cafe menus are best when a little bit predictable and a little bit fun, and the sample menu is the heart of a good business plan. It communicates the types of food and beverages that you plan to serve, the equipment needed to serve those items, and the supply chains you’ll be entering to keep those stocked in your store(s).

If espresso drinks are on your menu, provide information in this section or elsewhere about the kind of espresso machine you’ll purchase, which can be a major investment depending on quality. Make the same kinds of decisions about grills, blenders, ovens, and the other cooking and kitchen equipment that you’ll need for your cafe. 

Those things will factor into your budget so it’s important to outline those decisions here. Design sample menus that let investors feel your passion for the food, drinks, and the experience you plan to create for customers.

Restaurant Menu Templates

Use these menu templates as a starting point for your menu design or to give your menus a refresh.

Market Analysis

The market analysis provides a detailed look at the location of your cafe, the customers that location gives you access to, how you’ll expand your reach with online ordering or delivery, and the competition you’ll encounter in that area. Use this section to impress upon your potential investors that you’ve charted a path to success  for your cafe before spending any of your (or their) investment. 

This section might include information about your motivations for opening a cafe and why you think it’s the right time for you, specifically, to enter this market. It’s a great opportunity to calm potential investors’ anxieties about partnering with your cafe. 

Marketing and Publicity

Once you’ve pinpointed the kind of customer you’re planning to serve, make a plan to grab and keep their attention. A grand opening might not be the right fit for a cafe so you might consider a soft opening instead to generate some mystique and word-of-mouth publicity for your brand.

A solid marketing and publicity strategy lets your investors know that you’re not just business savvy, but that you can convince customers to buy what you offer, which will help to impress them into investing or partnering in your cafe. Many coffee shops go all-in on digital marketing, staying active on social media and ensuring they have a robust web presence with a great website.  

Restaurant Marketing Plan

Create a marketing plan that'll drive repeat business with this customizable marketing playbook template and interactive calendar.

Branded Graphics

Because there is so much competition in the coffee market, a clear, cohesive brand is crucial to helping you attract customers — then, your consistent, quality coffee and service will create regular customers once they're in the door.

Creating graphics for your new cafe that capture the ethos of your brand and communicate it to customers in a memorable way is one of the most fun parts of planning a new business. Work with a designer or use the software available to you to create typography and logos that work coherently with your vision for your brand.

Graphics will be present in your cafe, on the packaging, on your websites, and will stick in your customers’ minds for brand recognition. Plan carefully how you want to brand your cafe because rebranding can be risky and costly.

Emissary , a cafe in Washington DC, uses a minimal style and simple typographic logo to foreground their commitment to a fresh menu and quality espresso beverages. Think about how you might capture your cafe’s style and mission with graphics like Emissary has.

Business Operations

The business operations section is where you plan for how your business will run from the micro-level of each customer transaction to the macro-level of quarterly and yearly profit and loss statements. If sample menus are the heart of the business plan, the business operations section is the brain, responsible for storing, sorting, and applying the information in the rest of the plan.

Map the network of operations that keep your business running smoothly. Include information about seasonal recipes, special drinks, or annual promotions that will make up for losses taking in slower parts of the year. The details of loyalty programs and how all the operations work together to create a customer experience worth returning for would also be at home in the business operations section.

Sales Forecasts and Operating Expenses

Use this section to carefully combine the details from across your cafe’s business plan and make a budget of your operating expenses. These include the costs of running your cafe, including training, equipment, maintenance, labor, supplies, rent, loan payments, etc. 

Business plans commonly include a “break-even analysis” which compares the sales required to break even with the cost of expenses each month. Investors will be interested in the potential for profit and loss to assess the risk of contributing to your business, but a profit and loss statement for a business that isn’t open yet requires some educated projections.

A cash flow analysis shows investors that the company can support itself without additional investments by detailing planned spending on labor, supplies, and operations.  Be sure to consider how the costs unique to your brewery, such as cleaning supplies or seasonal labor costs, balance at the end of each quarter.

Financing and Loans

The startup costs for a cafe will depend on a number of factors, such as the quality of equipment, coffee, teas, and foods you plan to serve. Use this section of your business plan to prepare to purchase equipment, pay to hire and train staff, purchase licenses, rent or lease a space, and market your cafe’s opening.

Consider all your financing options when planning to open a cafe – including lines of credit, small business administration (SBA) loans, merchant cash advances, crowdfunding, commercial real estate loans, equipment financing, purchase order financing, and bank or alternative loans.

How to Present a Cafe Business Plan

There are a few ways to prepare to communicate with investors about your business plan and get them interested. It can be helpful to build out a full-length presentation that you'll share at formal investor meetings, and then distill the main takeaways down to a short pitch of a few minutes for when you're trying to secure that meeting. Then, going even more condensed, a well-crafted 30-second elevator pitch can help you entice lots of potential investors in a wide variety of situations: from parties to networking events. Be sure to include something exciting or make an opportunity for questions to keep people talking.

It’s good to anticipate potential questions and prepare answers for questions you encounter for the first time. When networking, be honest and genuine, even if you don’t have a ready answer for each question that comes your way – just let your listeners know that you'll get an answer to them at a later date, and then follow up as soon as possible. 

Send your business plan to investors and banks far and wide – put your concept and plan in the hands and minds of as many people as possible. You can’t hear no (or yes!) unless you ask.

Related Cafe Resources

• Cost to Open a Cafe
• Cafe Business Plan Template
• Cafe Equipment List
• Best Cafe Websites
• Cafe Marketing Ideas
• How to Do Cafe Branding
• Cafe Ideas and Concepts
• Cafe Menu Ideas
• Cafe Name Ideas
• Cafe Floor Plans
• Cafe POS Comparison Tool

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DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general informational purposes only, and publication does not constitute an endorsement. Toast does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this content. Toast does not guarantee you will achieve any specific results if you follow any advice herein. It may be advisable for you to consult with a professional such as a lawyer, accountant, or business advisor for advice specific to your situation.

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Tips and trending topics for the teacher who's always learning

Learning Spaces School Specialty • May 1, 2023 • Last Modified: May 25, 2023

5 Cool School Cafeteria Considerations

Designing a cafeteria students love.

When the bell rings for lunch or the end of the day, students file out and find friends en route to their spot . Where is this spot? That depends heavily on the location of your school. What we do know is it’s very often not the school cafeteria. So how do you create a cafeteria space where students want to congregate?

Our experts have done the research and our designers have developed the plans. The Schoolyard has compiled five of the coolest ideas to consider to provide an engaging, stimulating cafeteria space that your students will love.

1. Copy the Competition

Consider where students are hanging out during breaks and after school. It may be a café, a coffee shop, or a mall food court. It could even be a local park. With this in mind, think about why they choose these places. Are they simply seeking a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere? How important is it to have food and drink available? What do these places provide that allows students to extend conversations and time with their friends.

Recreating this vibe can be anything from a full-scale remodel to a few simple changes. You can even utilize outdoor spaces to mirror the feel of parks and other open-air hangouts young people enjoy. The key is to design a space where students feel safe and welcome while providing amenities that make it their new favorite spot.

2. Power Up!

Speaking of amenities, making students feel welcome means being able to deliver power options and wifi access. This may surprise you, but kids are on their phones a lot! Even the most relaxing atmosphere will quickly empty if they can’t power devices or have access to the internet.

For this reason, consider embedding power options into tables and countertops or providing power towers . This ensures students hanging out in your school cafeteria can keep their devices charged instead of searching for wall outlets. Don’t forget the WiFi !

3. Flexible, Versatile Seating

Creating a welcoming space often hinges on the array of options presented to students. Seating options provide an opportunity to differentiate your cafeteria space. Students may use the standard long rows of identical tables for eating lunch, but they’ll quickly find more stimulating places to hang out with friends. However, a unique space with a variety of zones and seating options encourages them to stick around and make use of the relaxing atmosphere.

Read: Designing Non-Instructional Spaces That Support Learning

The figures below show one example of how a cafeteria can be arranged through a creative design process.

With so many possible combinations, the design possibilities are endlessly customizable. To see more options, check out our Inspiration Gallery , which includes images of food court-style cafeteria designs and a shopping list of everything you see!

4. Stimulating Decor

Perhaps the quickest and most affordable way to update your school cafeteria space is through decor decisions. Rethinking bland furniture colors and empty wall space provides an opportunity to inspire creativity through… well, creativity! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Employ bold colors and designs with your furniture layout. NeoLink Curved Storage furniture adds a refreshing look while providing functional and mobile storage for books and magazines.
• Encourage talented student artists by commissioning pieces to be displayed in your cafeteria design. They could even submit it to us for a chance to win our monthly Student Art Contest !
• Adding interactive displays not only modernizes the look of the space but also provides valuable technology that increases the versatility of the cafeteria.

5. Alright Buddy, Take It Outside

Sometimes after a long day of classes, kids just want to get out and enjoy the fresh air. They may even be already using an outdoor space around the school building. So why not furnish the area and create a safe and accessible outdoor courtyard?

Read: Designing School Cafeterias That Engage and Inspire

Outdoor seating and tables that withstand the occasional elements can make any open-air space feel like a comfortable, welcoming hangout spot.

In Summary, We Love Designing School Cafeterias!

School Specialty has more than just the furniture to redesign your school cafeteria into a cool hangout for kids. We also have in-house designers and learning environment specialists ready to guide you in creating inspiring school spaces. Contact our Projects by Design ® team to learn more!

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Building Blueprints (Facilites in Focus)

School Cafeterias 2.0

• By Jeffrey K. Elliott, Deborah Marai
• May 1st, 2014

In contrast, today’s school cafeterias must be capable of preparing and serving food to appeal to students who frequent the latest restaurants and coffeehouses and whose culinary sophistication and tastes can rival those of world travelers. Parents, policy makers and communities demand that school cafeterias include healthy food options, thus expanding the types of foods that must be prepared and served. And most importantly for school administrators, today’s cafeterias must be able to function as technologically advanced, multi-purpose spaces to meet the rapidly changing needs of 21st-century education.

In Norton, Mass., the team of JCJ Architecture, project designer, Pinck & Co., project manager, and W.T. Rich, construction manager, worked with school administrators to design and complete a renovation and addition to the town’s high school, including a cafeteria that would meet all of the community’s expectations for decades to come.

The cafeteria in the existing building occupied an interior space in the middle of the school. One of the key elements that appealed to town voters was a plan that would move the cafeteria to a new addition with extensive natural light, new state-of-the-art food service preparation facilities and the ability to provide much needed flexibility for the school and the community.

On the menu: A new community hub

Administrators and educators often view a cafeteria as the school’s center — a place where a variety of student and school activities and meetings can occur, and it is often busy from before school until well after the school day ends.

But it is not just a school-only hub. The external community also demands shared use of public school buildings. Taxpayers footing the bill for school construction assume that in order to maximize their investment, they will have access to school facilities for community meetings and events.

The cafeteria must now function not only as the school’s hub, but also as the larger community’s meeting place. As a result, cafeterias like the one at Norton High School must be designed, built and equipped to serve as high traffic, heavy use, multi-functional community centers that meet the needs of both school and community members.

Smart planning is also key. In Norton, the project included renovation of the existing building and relocation of the main entrance, school administration, cafeteria and science classrooms to the new addition. Sensitivity to adjacent area increased the spaces’ effectiveness and function. By locating the cafeteria next to the gymnasium and overlooking the school’s track and fields, the cafeteria functions as a lobby for the sports facilities and sporting events.

Its proximity to the building entrance allows the cafeteria to be accessible while the rest of the building is completely secure. This enables the facility to be used for community meetings or functions without disruption to school activities or safety concerns. The design permits unobstructed sightlines of cafeteria entrances from the main office — an added safety feature providing an additional level of security.

On the menu: Retail appeal, eco-friendly environment and advanced technology

The demand for healthier options such as fresh fruits and vegetables requires more display areas, salad bars, fruit stations, etc. In Norton, a serving area between the kitchen and the dining areas was designed to display fresh food in an appealing manner. Built in the 1970s, the high school had offered hot service lines, but now also needed to incorporate cold service lines and expanded salad bar facilities.

Eco-friendly environment. The Norton project was designed to qualify for LEED Silver certification. The decision was made to eliminate disposable trays — so a dishwashing area was designed to accommodate re-usable trays. A recycling center for plastics was also incorporated in the new cafeteria.

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This article originally appeared in the May 2014 issue of School Planning & Management.

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School Lunch Catering in 5 Steps: The Ultimate Guide for Restaurants

Offering school lunch catering services is perhaps one of the best ideas you could ever have as a restaurant owner. Although it might seem daunting at first glance, it is a highly dependable way to generate consistent revenue for your business. However, working with school lunch programs comes with a unique set of challenges, and it often differs vastly from your typical take-out or delivery services.

To succeed in this venture, you must be prepared to price boxed lunches, create menus that are appealing to kids of all ages, and prepare complete meals for 100 students or more every day. Additionally, you must maintain high participation among students and their parents. 

If you are interested in catering for schools and do not know where to start, we've got you covered. Below, you will find an infallible five-step guide with easy-to-follow instructions that will help you connect with educational institutions near your restaurant and provide them with a daily school lunch program.

Step 1: Connecting With Schools in Your Delivery Area

Figuring out which schools to target may be a tad intimidating when starting your school lunch catering business. But it is not an impossible task. You could start by compiling a list of potential customers and looking up how many students are currently enrolled in each school. This will help you estimate the number of lunches you need to prepare every day. 

If you are not quite sure which educational institutions in your service area require school lunch delivery, you could find out by following these simple steps:

• Use https://www.privateschoolreview.com/find-schools to discover potential clients.
• Type in your zip code and select the miles you can cover — keeping customers within a 20-minute drive will help you ensure you always deliver on time. 
• Visit each school's website to find information on their current lunch program.
• Contact each school for additional information on who their lunch program provider is.
• Decide how many restaurants you are interested in collaborating with — a good rule of thumb is to work with three different suppliers, one of whom should be a pizza vendor.

Doing your due diligence will allow you to build a feasible strategy to succeed in your school lunch business. It will also help you figure out who your competitors are so that you can outperform them. 

Step 2: Plan a Limited but Diverse Menu Option for Each Day

Schools have a responsibility to keep the meals they offer their students as healthy as possible. Lunches should typically be low in fat, calories, and sodium and contain a balanced mix of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. 

Still, the need to keep things nutritionally valuable does not mean the school lunches your restaurant offers have to be bland. Au contraire, creating diverse yet nutritious menus can help increase lunch program adoption and earn you higher profits.

Depending on your restaurant's capacity and the number of schools you cater to, offering four to eight options is a good benchmark. If you plan to use multiple vendors, limit yourself to one per day. Keep in mind that pizza is the number one selling food item nationwide, so including this option in your meal rotation at least once every week is always a great idea.

Step 3: Setting Prices 

If this is your first time catering school lunches through your restaurant, you may be having trouble defining how much to charge per meal. A good rule of thumb is to keep your prices between $4.00 and $5.00. Make sure you consult with each school first so that you can get an estimate of what the average student's budget is. 

If you want to help a particular school fundraise, you could increase your fares by 25 cents (or more, depending on the goal). Don't forget to automatically add all applicable credit card and transaction fees to the total retail cost of your meals to bundle prices and avoid hidden charges.

Step 4: Keep Ordering Deadlines Flexible

Flexibility is a terrific quality in the business world. Putting customers' needs first will help you offer them a more pleasant experience and encourage them to keep buying from you. For example, when catering to schools, you may come across parents that plan and order ahead of time. 

However, it's not uncommon to also find working parents with a lot on their plates who need to order at the very last minute. Offering them a little extra flexibility is a nice gesture that could benefit your business more than you know. It will let you accommodate busy parents while enabling your kitchen to grab those last-minute orders and potentially make more money. It's a win-win situation all around.

Step 5: Plan Your Deliveries 

Lastly, once you have closed the deal with your desired schools and have all the information you need to work on your orders, it's time to craft your delivery plan. If you're catering to several schools simultaneously, you will need to guarantee your delivery schedules won't overlap. Delayed deliveries could lead to unsatisfied customers who will not hesitate to walk out of a deal. After all, school directives must ensure kids get fed at the right time, and you need to help make that possible. 

Make sure you stay compliant with state and local laws regarding the transport and packaging of food. Use containers that allow you to keep the cold foods cold and the hot foods hot and ready to eat while still helping to reduce the waste challenges faced by educational institutions. For example, you could install a container collection program or offer recyclable and compostable packaging with your boxed lunches.  

The Takeaway 

Starting a school lunch catering business through your restaurant could help you increase your income. However, there are certain steps you need to follow to increase your chances of success. The above guide offers helpful pointers to get you started with your school lunch delivery duties. If you need more help with meal order management, payment processing, and more for your school lunch program, reach out to Boonli today. 

Cafe Business Plan

Coffee ranks second in the most sought commodities worldwide, the first is crude oil, according to a Business Insider report. That doesn’t come as a surprise. We’re all aware that most of us love drinking coffee. For some, coffee is their morning kick-starter and their fuel to start their long, busy day. Others drink several cups of coffee throughout their daily schedule , especially those who have desk jobs. But simply put, people are fond of coffee in general, which could also mean they’re fond of visiting cafes. So if you’ve been considering opening a cafe business lately, now is the time to go for it. It’ll certainly catch the attention of coffee lovers. But first, you need to plan your business right for that to happen. So, here we invite you to have a look at our Cafe Business Plan Examples !

11+ Cafe Business Plan Examples

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What Is a Cafe Business Plan?

A cafe business plan outlines the profile, products, services, operations, and strategies of a cafe business. It’s simply another form of a business plan that focuses on a cafe business’s overview. You can also call it a coffee shop business plan . This is the document you need to prepare to start making your cafe plan a reality. You should put everything that you’re envisioning for your cafe business on it.

You might be asking why you need a cafe business plan. We have a good explanation for you. Without a business plan, you wouldn’t have a clear vision or goal of establishing your cafe. And you won’t have any form of a solid action plan to achieve your business expectations. Along the way, you’ll face challenges in preparing your business. But you won’t know what to do to overcome them. With a written business plan , you’ll have a clear roadmap of how to arrive from point A to B and so on until you accomplish your business goals. And lastly, the government will look into your cafe business plan proposal before granting you a permit to open your cafe.

What Type of Business Is a Cafe?

Cafes primarily serve coffee to their customers. Therefore, they’re a food and beverage type of business. Historically, cafes were once called as coffeehouses, and they only served coffee. Today, cafes not only serve coffee. They now also serve entree, main course, and dessert dishes, but on a limited menu . Their primary products are still their  coffee menu  and also  tea menu .

How to Write a Cafe Business Plan

Among the first steps in conceptualizing a business is writing a business plan. It’s the first stage in your journey to becoming a cafe business owner. So to help you get started, we’ll give you a few tips in formulating your sample business plan for a cafe.

1. Establish Your Cafe’s Identity

In the first three sections of your business plan, you should establish your cafe’s identity right away. On the title page, you should state your cafe’s official name and display its business logo . On the executive summary , discuss its general overview. And after that, show its business profile.

2. Showcase Your Menu

If you’ve already prepared your cafe menu , showcase it in your business plan. This makes your business plan more appealing and convincing. It implies that you have a clear idea of what you want for your business, even if it’s not final yet. Make sure to provide descriptions of your products, such as their ingredients and possible prices.

3. Outline Your Strategies and Standard Operations

In launching a business, you’ll be doing a feasibility study and a market analysis . Based on their results, you need to come up with your marketing strategies and production plan . Those two should explain how you’re going to promote your cafe and how you’re going to conduct services, respectively.

4. Explain Your Startup Budget Calculation

Probably the most crucial section of a business plan is the budget plan . Financial aspects are never out of the equation in operating a business, especially starting one. So in your business plan, make sure to explain how your budget will cover for every needed expense for your cafe. You should also show an estimate of how it can generate revenue and profit.

What industry does a cafe business belong to?

A cafe business belongs to the food and beverage industry. But because it primarily serves coffee products, it also belongs to a specific section in the food and beverage industry, which is the coffee industry.

What makes cafes popular?

Coffee isn’t the only element that makes cafes popular in every locality. Another element is their overall ambiance. That includes the type of furniture used, the interior design, and the location. The atmosphere that cafes have are simply relaxing. They’re a good place to do work, meet up with friends, read a book, or spend some alone time.

What makes a topnotch cafe business?

The two things that make a topnotch cafe is producing high-quality coffee products and providing excellent customer service. Those two should work hand in hand.

Things could go south immediately if you mismanage your cafe. Plus, many cafes have established trust among customers, and they’re your competitors. With those said, running your cafe won’t be easy. But whoever said owning a business is easy? No one, of course. So start planning your cafe with the help of our business plan examples now! You may also refer to our small restaurant business plan examples .

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Meet the Companies Changing the Way Kids Eat Lunch

A new wave of startups is revolutionizing what ends up on your kids' plate..

When the business-advisement startup she worked for folded suddenly in 2013, Bri James found herself jobless. But the Duke Law School graduate wasn't scared away from the startup world. On the contrary: She had startup fever.

"It was an awesome experience," she says. "I thought, ' I should try to do something like this myself'."

James, who loved cooking for family and friends in her spare time, experimented with several different types of food delivery services, including meal kits for adults who were dieting and food geared toward the elderly. But she didn't get much traction.

Then, in 2015, her mother retired after a 30-year career as a pediatrician. "We'd always talked about doing something together," James says. Schery Mitchell-James told her daughter she would join her venture, but she had two stipulations: Its product had to be for kids, and it had to be healthy . "That's when it all clicked," James says.

James pivoted the startup, which she'd named Scrumpt, to focus on lunches for school kids, and her mother joined as co-founder. Today, the Oakland-based company delivers five fresh, balanced meals per week to people's homes. Each meal contains a main item, fruit, vegetables, a side, and a treat. They're often presented in fun ways--like turkey and cheese on pretzel sliders or mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on skewers--that James thinks will make kids more likely to eat them. A meal might also include a berry salad or cucumber slices with dipping sauce. "We want to expose kids to new things," James says, "but also warm them up with ingredients that they're already familiar with."

After a six-month beta test earlier this year, the startup has begun delivering meals on a subscription basis throughout the Bay Area--just in time for the school year. Five days' worth of lunches costs $36 with weekly delivery included. Each pre-portioned box, which can be refrigerated for five days, requires one minute of prep or less--and that prep is as simple as slapping meat onto bread or sliding tidbits onto skewers. "If you have young kids, it can be hard to juggle everything," James says. "The whole idea was, how can we get kids to eat better and not have it be a huge hassle for parents?"

So far, it looks like the mother-daughter duo are on to something: To start this school year, Scrumpt is delivering about 1,000 meals per week. Based on their early numbers, the company hopes to be delivering 4,000 per week by the end of 2017.

The startup is also putting its good-for-kids mentality into practice with its partnerships. Scrumpt teamed up with Town Kitchen, a local catering company that puts an emphasis on employing low-income youth, for production and delivery. While the partnership helps Scrumpt--which still only has six full-time employees--achieve wider scale, the startup will likely have to look elsewhere to expand beyond the Bay Area. "We definitely hope within the next year to spread to other cities on the West Coast, and other cities nationwide," James says. "We want to change the way kids eat in America."

Rebuilding lunch programs.

Scrumpt is the latest startup with that mission statement. Companies like Wise Apple and Nurture Life, both based in Chicago, also deliver cold meals directly to parents in their local areas, as does New York-based TuckrBox. All were founded within the past two years.

James points to Michelle Obama's emphasis on the way kids eat for helping to bring about a new wave of interest in the issue. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 championed by the First Lady wasn't without controversy, but it did help bring the conversation about what kids eat at school to the forefront. "She helped create this really strong narrative around revamping school lunches," James says. "That's kind of how our company was born."

Some entrepreneurs in the space also point to Ann Cooper, the former school chef and author who refers to herself as the Renegade Lunch Lady, for helping to usher in the rebellion against frozen pizzas, hot dogs, and other highly processed foods that have little to no nutritional value. "We're all standing on her shoulders," says Greg Christian, founder and CEO of Chicago-based Beyond Green, a company that helps schools rebuild their lunch programs.

Christian, who had young children in the city's schools, was the caterer for Chicago's City Hall under mayor Richard Daley. He convinced the politician to let him try to revamp several of the city's school lunch programs to include healthier options with fresher, better ingredients--at the same cost.

That project was a success, and Christian decided to launch his own company. A decade later, Beyond Green has rebuilt lunch programs for clients ranging from a single school in Buffalo to the entire Hawaii Department of Education.

The company charges a fee, usually between $60,000 and $350,000 depending on the size of the project, and then Christian and some staff members spend several months on-site with the client. He'll help them order the right equipment to redesign the kitchen, reshape their menu and train the cafeteria cooks on how to make simple, healthier meals. In many cases, they'll plant a vegetable garden on school grounds.

Perhaps most important for cost-conscious school districts, Beyond Green helps the schools address their inefficiencies, which allows them to save money. Those funds can be used to buy better ingredients. Early on, Christian will measure how much food a cafeteria throws out each week and find ways to correct it--like changing the amount of each ingredient that gets ordered per week, or letting kids choose the food they want instead of having the same items placed on each tray. Minor changes can go a long way, like replacing the standard gray garbage cans and black liners with clear containers to help make people aware of how much food they're wasting.

At one school, Christian says, the cafeteria was dumping $25,000 worth of milk per year--money that could be used to buy better ingredients.

The savings result in a menu that uses as many local ingredients as possible--the goal is generally 40 percent--and emphasizes freshness, flavor, healthiness, and variety. Even if a school continues serving chicken fingers and pizza, they now come from homemade breadcrumbs and dough that's kneaded by hand right in the school kitchen.

But there's one thing you won't find on the menu. "No hot dogs, ever," Christian says.

Parents know best.

Sometimes the best way to earn traction for your school lunch startup is to get parents to rally behind you. That's the strategy that helped Belinda DiGiambattista, co-founder of Queens, N.Y.-based Butter Beans, achieve fast growth.

Having just sent her oldest child to daycare in 2008, DiGiambattista wasn't impressed with what he was being served. "It was mac and cheese on Monday, chicken nuggets on Tuesday," she says. "There was really nothing wrong with the food, but it was the same thing all the time."

DiGiambattista, who grew up on a farm in North Carolina, thought the kids deserved better. She developed a blueprint for a food startup that would serve nutritious, balanced meals with more variety to children in school. She invested $50,000 of her own money and brought on a business partner (who is no longer with the company). Together, they entered NYU's New Venture Competition. Their business plan won a $50,000 prize, beating out what is now Pinterest.

In September 2008, the co-founders started reaching out to private school administrators, asking if they'd put them in touch with students' parents to see if they'd be interested in having an outside company provide lunch. A few schools agreed to do so. About 20 students signed up at the start.

"It wasn't exactly a break-even year," DiGiambattista says with a laugh. "But it was a great start." By January 2009, Butter Beans had enough business that it had to bring on a full-time chef and two servers. That spring, one of the clients, an elementary school in Brooklyn, offered the company a contract to cater for all its students the following school year.

Butter Beans is now 100 employees strong, and it pulled in $3.9 million in revenue in 2016. While the customer base has grown--it now has contracts with a dozen schools throughout the five boroughs and New Jersey, along with two corporate clients--the offering has remained largely the same. The company provides two buffet-style hot meal options (one meat-based, one vegetarian) each day, plus soups, vegetables, and a salad bar that includes cold sandwiches. Students can choose items like chicken Marbella, turkey tacos, and sweet potato gnocchi. There are also staples like hamburgers and, yes, mac and cheese--with cauliflower added for more nutrition.

At many of the schools, students and teachers alike lunch on Butter Beans' fare. To DiGiambattista, that validates an idea that serves as a driving force behind the company.

"Back home, we always grew our own food, and everyone ate the same things," she says. "I learned here after having a child that other people feed their children something different than what they eat, which surprised me. I don't think that needs to be the case."

That said, the goal isn't to force kids to eat things they don't want, which is why the company keeps its offerings wide-ranging and diverse. "Our mission is to meet families and children where they are," she says. "We want everyone, whether they're picky or adventurous, to find something on our menu that they like."

DiGiambattista sees her startup as playing a bigger role. "When our kids eat, they're nurturing the body that has to get them through this life," she says. "We have a long way to go until people really take ownership over what we feed our children, but there are a few people like myself who have decided to do something about it. We are trying."

A refreshed look at leadership from the desk of CEO and chief content officer Stephanie Mehta

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Are you interested to open a dining restaurant but you don’t have enough resources to create a swanky dining area, employing a big number of waiting and cooking staff, and coming up with unique and delectable and unique menus to serve? A cafeteria is your best option to open an affordable dining area. You don’t need a lot of staff to keep the dining area organized, you can serve basic meals, and you can save yourself from some competition if you open your business in a school or office building. To help you get started on creating and opening your cafeteria, you’re going to prepare a business proposal first, especially if you’re looking for investors to fund your business, or you plan to open your business in institutions. Read the article to know how to make a cafeteria business proposal.

Cafeteria Business Proposal

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A cafeteria is a self-service dining area where you can purchase meals by serving yourself with available cooked food placed on self-service counters. Cafeterias are usually popular in schools, work areas, hospitals, and other institutions.

A business proposal is a formal written offer from a seller to a prospective client. Business proposals are often used for sales processes and obtaining investments.

The first page of the business plan is the cover page. Put the name of your cafeteria’s name, address, owners’ names, contact numbers, and email addresses. Include a table of contents after the cover page. The table of contents is used to point out the different parts included in your proposal.

The executive summary serves as a synopsis of your business plan. It should summarize what the whole proposal is all about. Don’t forget to highlight in this section your business goals over the next three to five years. The summary must not be more than a page long.

This section is where you describe your company a little more in-depth. Here are some details that you can include in your company description:

• The food menu you provide to customers
• Your uniqueness or niche from other cafeterias
• Purpose of establishing a cafeteria
• Business location and its parking situation, and traffic details surrounding the area
• Your target audience
• Your projected vision of your business in the next three to five years
• Your mission statement

This section is your management plan . You need to identify your organizational chart, your inventory details, your merchandising and customer service procedure, your management, and your staffing strategies here.

Your market analysis must include the following information below:

• Your knowledge and observation in the restaurant and food industry (must be backed up with verified sources)
• Your market competitors and their business current operations
• Market demographics for potential clients

This section should sample outline how your cafeteria will be positioned in the market. Identify how your cafeteria will appeal to your customers. Figure out how you can market your cafeteria through promotion and advertising through traditional ways or through online.

The financial plan sample  is the more technical aspect of your proposal. Identify how much capital you have to invest in the business. List all of your lease, permits, renovation, equipment, furniture, materials, ingredients, and food supply expenses you paid to open your business. Include other important information such as your current budget, profit, and loss statement, breakeven analysis, projected cash flow, projected balance sheet, and a business ratio. Make sure all the data you input here are factual.

A cafe is a place that offers coffee, tea, pastries, and other hot and cold beverages whereas a cafeteria is a self-service dining place that serves food on counters. They are usually found in schools, colleges, office buildings, and hospitals.

The common types of menus are a la carte menus, static menus, du jour menus, cycle menus, and fixed menus.

Writing a business proposal sample isn’t a task that can be done in just an hour or two. You need to commit some time to brainstorm, plan, draft, and revise your proposal. Even though the whole process can be time-consuming, don’t pressure yourself to finish it right away, take your time so that your proposal is clear, concise, and free from error. Ask for help from a colleague to help you review your proposal.  To help you get started on making a cafeteria business proposal, download our free sample templates provided above!

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Project 2025’s Plan to Eliminate Public Schools Has Already Started

P roject 2025, the policy agenda for Former President Trump’s potential first year back in the White House published by the far right conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, has been making waves recently. Some of the many destructive proposals within the agenda include the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education —along with federal education funding and any civil rights protections—and the diversion of public money to private school voucher programs instead.

Make no mistake: The goal is to end public education. But dismantling our public schools isn’t just the plan if Trump is reelected—it is already happening.

We are on the brink of a new wave of public school closures , another step in the decades-long project to divest and dismantle the institution of public school. Disguised as “school choice,” federal, state, local, and private actors have prioritized paying for  private and charter schools, hoarding educational resources for the haves and depleting resources for the have-nots.

The policies that Project 2025 plans to prioritize—government payments to families sending their children to private school and creation of new charter schools that are run like businesses—have expanded in the last few years, starving public school districts that serve all students of already insufficient resources. In the 2023-24 school year, at least 70 school districts, including in San Antonio, Texas , Jackson, Mississippi , and Wichita, Kansas , announced permanent closures of public schools, impacting millions of students. These districts are resorting to the harmful, discriminatory, and ineffective so-called ‘solution’ of closing schools in Black and Latine communities, stripping those communities of their local public schools.

Read More: Everything Biden and Trump Have Said About the Controversial Project 2025

Here’s how it works: Concerned about shrinking enrollments and budget crises, district leaders conclude that they must close schools, often without any evidence or analysis that it would save money—and, indeed, it hasn’t been shown to save money unless coupled with mass layoffs. They hire consultants who come up with “utilization” rates and then recommend closing schools with the lowest rates to “rightsize” the district—their euphemism for their misguided belief that school facility usage should be guided by arbitrary numbers instead of meeting communities where they are.

The problem is that “utilization”—a school’s enrollment over its supposed capacity—is stacked against schools that have experienced historic underfunding and disinvestment in facilities repairs, curricula, extracurricular opportunities, and staff. These same schools disproportionately serve Black and Latine students, English Learner students, students with disabilities, and students living in poverty.

Closing schools is demonstrably harmful—and has real-life impact. Research on the mass urban school closures from 2012 to 2014 overwhelmingly found that academic outcomes suffered , particularly for low-performing students. A May 2024 study from Brown University linked the experience of a school closure to “decreases in post-secondary education attainment, employment, and earnings at ages 25–27.” Additionally, closures force families to travel farther to get to schools that are not in their communities, making it harder to form relationships with staff, join extracurriculars, or get involved in parent organizations.

These communities are also often the first to lose access to the benefits of neighborhood public schools, which act as essential gathering places for social services and community resources like adult education, polling locations, a place to hold community meetings, and access to democratic community control through school board elections.

There are more equitable and educationally sound approaches than the lazy, unjust, self-sabotaging—and all too common—approach of spending money on consultants to tell districts what they have already decided to do: close the schools they value least, relying on metrics that target symptoms of their systemic neglect, and playing into the conservative agenda to make public schools obsolete.

Districts have better options to address budget woes. They can start a community-driven process to reshape the budget, wherein multiple stakeholders—rather than a selected few—play an active role in setting district budget priorities. Districts can also employ community-led assessments of how they use buildings, allowing school communities, particularly those historically marginalized, to request the resources, support, and spaces they need.

At the very least, districts should integrate equity requirements into school closure proposals, for instance, by incorporating community-based equity audits into decision-making. States can also follow California’s lead by requiring and robustly enforcing equity safeguards for any decisions to close schools.

Young people and their communities deserve better than districts repeatedly making the same mistakes. District leaders must stop listening to expensive consultants and closing much-loved and needed schools, and instead, must listen to the communities they serve and focus on solutions that put students first. Local, state and federal governments must fully and equitably fund public schools—schools obligated to take and educate everyone—and stop diverting money to a system of charter and private schools where students and families are forced to compete for a limited pool of high quality resources for a select few.

Project 2025 is not an inevitability—it is a call to action for anyone who cares about public education in this country. Our public school system requires more resources to create better school environments for everyone. We need investment in our public schools—not closures.

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