Starting a Cafe.

[asidie]

Hello everyone,

I have planning for the cafe for a while
And have been sourcing around for possible places.
Have been struck currently as I do not have enough funding as I currently only have a partner who also intend to be a pure sleeping partner.

Im writing this in source for any possible partners in this forum?
Really preferably with F&B experiences.
Not only to boost my confident in setting up
But also one who know the correct ways of doing thing rather then myself doing trial and error.

At the same time, Im skeptical as I'm afraid that businessmen with lots of dough will steal my ideas.

Can anyone share abit on what are the other possibilities of getting funding?

My email is raytwm@gmail.com
Feel free to drop my a mail.

[ksl]

Buzzgeek,

Thanks for the advice, I guess self registration will be the way to go.

By the way, as mention before.
Does anyone have an answer on the question below?

And also i have seen a retail stores selling books, toys and camera with 3 coffee table for consumer to relax and enjoy a cup of drinks. Do you need license for that? Since the customer is buying food in the premise. ?

Cheers

Anything to do with F&B you need licences or permits, food preparation, hygiene certification couple of days courses they inspect the premises too. I know several suppliers 140 kinds of whisky,wines and beers, but need to keep it low profile

There are several ways to raise funding or resources and one or two locals on here that have been in the business I believe.

Try doing a google search on raising funds or other resources, if you are cheeky enough you could approach some manufacturers of beers for help, not cash help, but supplies for decorations and consignment, the main thing is to get stuck in and do plenty of research. Most of the links are on SMS website for government bodies.

[JR8]

Want to start a cafe, but haven't the money or experience, and hoping for strangers to buy into an idea that you won't tell them?

You're kidding?

[ecureilx]

if you are cheeky enough you could approach some manufacturers of beers for help, not cash help, but supplies for decorations and consignment, the main thing is to get stuck in and do plenty of research. Most of the links are on SMS website for government bodies.

The smaller the bar, the lesser people like APB and Asia Breweries even smile at you ...

Ran a bar for 3 months plus plus - learnt a lot, and the lesson is - if you owe the bank a hundred thou, it is your problem, if you owe the bank a 100 million, it is the banks problem, or something to that effect

Larger guys get greased with more credit and everything, whereas small ones mostly end up 'cash and carry'

PS: while I was writing this, I got another email from an acquaintance, who has similar ideas, and he is being generous: he is offering 49% shares, for the investor to put up 100% of the capital, and then within 2 years, the investor will be fully paid back and the shares purchased back at nominal rates.

[ecureilx]

Want to start a cafe, but haven't the money or experience, and hoping for strangers to buy into an idea that you won't tell them?

You're kidding?

Ambition, and conviction: I crossed path with a guy, who wanted an investor, and all the investor will get in return is 90% shares, and then once the guy makes money, he will buy back the shares from the investor .. too bad, i was close to telling him to dream on, as I couldn't still understand his business model other than to hear him say "lot of potential no .. " and "I have confidence we can break even .. in one year" etc. etc.

Well, remember the dot com days ? When anybody with a 2 cents idea could find angel investors ? Seems those days are back, or some people believe so .. ...

[Strong Eagle]

PS: while I was writing this, I got another email from an acquaintance, who has similar ideas, and he is being generous: he is offering 49% shares, for the investor to put up 100% of the capital, and then within 2 years, the investor will be fully paid back and the shares purchased back at nominal rates.

That makes absolutely no sense at all. Where is the upside for the investor for taking on ALL the financial risk. Great... he gets paid back... but where does he make his high return for taking on a high risk venture? Something is seriously disconnected from reality. I sure as hell wouldn't sell my shares back... I'd expect all the dividends paid to me until I reached a 50 to 100 percent return on my money.

[JR8]

Want to start a cafe, but haven't the money or experience, and hoping for strangers to buy into an idea that you won't tell them?

You're kidding?

Ambition, and conviction: I crossed path with a guy, who wanted an investor, and all the investor will get in return is 90% shares, and then once the guy makes money, he will buy back the shares from the investor .. too bad, i was close to telling him to dream on, as I couldn't still understand his business model other than to hear him say "lot of potential no .. " and "I have confidence we can break even .. in one year" etc. etc.

Well, remember the dot com days ? When anybody with a 2 cents idea could find angel investors ? Seems those days are back, or some people believe so .. ...

Hi Ecu, well I don't seem to understand this business model either. 90% of the companies shares, so the founder only keeps 10%? That sounds suicidal for all concerned!

The point I was making and I'm sure you read it, is that running a F&B operation is risky and damned hard work. You better expect to get the 3rd degree before you even finalise your business plan, as it sure as heck isn't going to be any easier after you start in business!

[ecureilx]

The point I was making and I'm sure you read it, is that running a F&B operation is risky and damned hard work. You better expect to get the 3rd degree before you even finalise your business plan, as it sure as heck isn't going to be any easier after you start in business!

It's called confidence

the guy was probably on some strong stuff, he kept insisting that once he starts his operation, people will be lining up to buy his business, and he will have a tough time chasing the prospective investors away ..

And - well, I also know another guy who apparently has a secret technology that, once commercialised, will make him so rich, and will make Bill Gates look like a poor african ..

[asidie]

Thanks for being honest guys.

I guess i have alot to think about and work on

Really thanks for the inputs

[ecureilx]

Thanks for being honest guys.

I guess i have alot to think about and work on

Really thanks for the inputs

Dunno about others, but I was honest enough, until you cracked me up telling me that you expect somebody to put up the capital, and get less than half the share ..

Get real, oh - that's my own opinion.

From what I know, and have seen, no investor will put up 100% capital, and get 49% shares, unless you can tell me you found somebody ..

Cheers

[JR8]

The point I was making and I'm sure you read it, is that running a F&B operation is risky and damned hard work. You better expect to get the 3rd degree before you even finalise your business plan, as it sure as heck isn't going to be any easier after you start in business!

It's called confidence

the guy was probably on some strong stuff, he kept insisting that once he starts his operation, people will be lining up to buy his business, and he will have a tough time chasing the prospective investors away ..

And - well, I also know another guy who apparently has a secret technology that, once commercialised, will make him so rich, and will make Bill Gates look like a poor african ..

Sounds like bull to me, people trying to con other's into funding their unrealistic dreams. How can a 'founder' (can't call him anything like the owner!) of a start-up with just a 10% stake, and 10% share in post-tax profit or loss realistically expect to ever buy out the other 90%? Most start-ups take some years to break even, and during this time the founder has all his living costs as well. That was why I said that it sounded suicidal to me.

No amount of confidence is going to compensate for a dud business-plan. The other chap floating the idea of sub 50% of the shares for 100% capital appears to be equally as deluded.

[ecureilx]

No amount of confidence is going to compensate for a dud business-plan. The other chap floating the idea of sub 50% of the shares for 100% capital appears to be equally as deluded.

So you say, so you say ...

Ask the guy who started this thread and you may have some revelation ..

[JR8]

No amount of confidence is going to compensate for a dud business-plan. The other chap floating the idea of sub 50% of the shares for 100% capital appears to be equally as deluded.

So you say, so you say ...

Ask the guy who started this thread and you may have some revelation ..

I'm too busy running my own business

[heylou]

there are suppliers like Highlander Coffee at Kampong Bahru who help with supplying of coffee beans and machines, they do advice on starting your own cafes.

also, design companies like wunderkammer(http://www.wunderkammer.sg) help with developing your own brand and marketing it.

[JR8]

there are suppliers like Highlander Coffee at Kampong Bahru who help with supplying of coffee beans and machines, they do advice on starting your own cafes.

also, design companies like wunderkammer(http://www.wunderkammer.sg) help with developing your own brand and marketing it.

Hoping to pick up some more design work for Wunderkammer Mr. Lam?

Seeming to promote self-interests on a first post is a no-no. Better be careful...