Should I invest In a Mobile Coffee Van, Cost £14,000

by Carl

I am interested in starting a mobile coffee (proper coffee done the traditional way) with a purpose built mobile coffee van that will cost me £14,000. I hope to secure a weekly booking with a big car boot sale and wondered if this sounds promising business?

Long term I would like to build a reliable brand an reputation for serving great coffee at outdoor events. Over time to add more vans and employ good staff to run them.

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Should I invest In a Mobile Coffee Van, Cost £14,000

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coffee van
by: Anonymous

You could pick up a very reasonable second hand van and it would cost no more than an average family car only difference is it will cover its own cost eg insurance fuel etc that you would have to pay out for but other than a means to get to work it wont make you money and its something given the right pitch could make you a reasonable living , don't expect to be a millionaire in a few years as it wont happen !. don't give in with your local council over the rejection on the pitch you really want as they will just keep fobbing you off to get rid of you , try your local counsellor to help move things forward ! If you have a passion for making good coffee and making people smile as they taste it and give you great feed back then its a very rewarding job although the often long hours can ruin social events and family life !

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Telling it like it is
by: Anonymous

The fact that you're asking questions like this should provide you with the 'answer' !

Sorry, but you already knew this didn't you ?

And yes, I have run my own coffee van business for over 3 years now.

If in doubt, don't, simple as that.

If you still REALLY know you can make a go of it then BUILD your own van, don't spend unecessary tens of thousands on a trendy thing, you don't need one, especially to start with.You will, however, need all the CASH you can lay your hands on when starting out.Spend as LITTLE as possible - it's not hard to build a van,it might take a bit longer but there are plenty of people to ask for help if you really look, and you will know more about the business because of it.

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Mobile Coffee
by: Anonymous

Have done it and stopped doing it, but may come back to it? As people say you need right pitch, also make sure you can physically work outdoors all year round. It is Ok in the summer but challenging in the winter.

Top tip! When finding a pitch make sure you are not too far from toilets and warmth.

Good Luck

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A good pitch
by: Anonymous

You can Make lots of money if you have the right pitch.
cost of a cuppa is 15p Lots of profit
Go For It

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leave it where it is
by: Anonymous

Hi, I bough a coffee van had got myself a permanent pitch at a busy train station and at a large castle. I had to do long hours , getting up at 4.30 am to get everything organised to open at 6 am for commuters, I then moved to the Castle at 2 pm , I got home at 6 pm and it took an hour or so to reload and wash down etc. I finished at 7 pm, just in time to go to bed again to get up at 4.30 am. I made good money about £20,000 a year - but it came at a price !! you want make much money at a car boot sale - people are already there trying to get something for nothing !!

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No
by: Ross

I invested over £50000 in a franchise and have had my fingers burnt badly. I went office to office & it was just not wanted. Markets are hopeless, too expensive & other events are hard to come by. Keep your money.

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Go for it, nothing ventured nothing gained
by: Anonymous

given the cost of a van at around £17000 and the equipment and fitting of it, some companies are charging 7-10k.
easily make a living from it, go for it, at 33p per drink all in, you will be clearing £1;30 per drink, as long as the coffee is good and you know what you are doing.
Iam doing exactly that, but i am doing it all myself, new van the works
good luck

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Coffee Van
by: Anonymous

Hi, can I ask you where you are based mate?

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thik carfully
by: Anonymous

costs 14000 pound, how bad do you want this business.
long term could be a good gold mine short term dont waste your money.

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go for it dude!
by: Anonymous

what other business can you buy for £14000 that will earn you a couple of hundred quid per day? I say go for it.

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Too much to Spend on Coffee Business
by: Anonymous

Hi David,

Many thanks for your good advice and thoughts. I will continue the research as you suggest.

I am concerned about the price too, I was hoping to spend no more than £10,000 on something like this.

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Small Business Options
by: Anonymous

Hi Carl,

I think that £14.000 is a hell of a lot of money to spend on a trailer a lone.You will have to sell a lot of coffee to make your money back.

Have you tried to secure a permanent pitch with a trailer, rather than just a trailer at least this will justify the cost.

Do visit some car boots and see what they charge for a coffee, even stay there a few hours and see how busy they get. From this you can see how much business you may get.

I think the idea is great, but do reconsider the amount of money you are going to spend.

Regards
David