Hi everyone! Juan encouraged me to share my initial business plan with the community. This is still very much a work in progress, but after concentrating almost entirely on perfecting my sourdough breads, I'm beginning to look at the bigger picture and what it would actually take to turn my hobby into a viable business. I have run my own business before, which I closed after 12 years, so I'm not completely new to entrepreneurship. However, the food and hospitality industry is an entirely different field for me, and I realize there's a lot I still need to learn. THE CONCEPT My original idea was to open a small artisan sourdough bakery. However, while developing my breads and calculating what I could realistically charge for a loaf, I started thinking about using those same breads to create sandwiches instead. That gradually evolved into the idea of a small bakery café offering freshly prepared sourdough sandwiches, a daily hot meal, homemade cakes and pastries, and good barista coffee. I'm envisioning a cozy café with approximately 20–30 seats, around 6–8 tables, and possibly a small reading corner. The business would offer both dine-in and takeaway service. I'm considering two neighboring towns in Bavaria, Germany. One is smaller and more convenient for me, while the other appears to have better weekday foot traffic. I've already started researching local competition and customer habits, but I haven't found suitable premises yet. BREAD AND SANDWICHES – MY MAIN SELLING POINT The foundation of my sandwich menu would be my own artisan sourdough breads, made using traditional fermentation methods. At the moment, I'm narrowing my selection down to three types: 1. A 100% rye sourdough. 2. A traditional German Bauernbrot (farmhouse bread) made with 70% rye and 30% wheat, which still needs some refinement. 3. My signature wheat sourdough, which I want to develop into a Mediterranean loaf with inclusions such as olives, sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, and cheese.

I talk to a lot of people who want to open a cafe, and almost none of them have this done. No full business case. No complete list of variable costs. No complete list of fixed costs — the stuff you pay even on the days you're closed. No real number for total investment needed before you open the door. And here's the part that actually worries me: more than 60% of coffee shops fail in year one, and more than 80% don't make it past year five. I used to think that was because people didn't try hard enough. I don't think that anymore. I think it's because people assume it's simple. Pick a nice space, get a good machine, make good coffee, done. It's the opposite of simple. The owners who make it are the ones who sat down early and got honest about the numbers — before the lease, before the buildout, before any of it. You don't need my template for this. Use whatever system works for you. But please, please do not sign anything until you've built these three lists yourself: 1. Every variable cost — what changes with how busy you are 2. Every fixed cost — what you pay whether you're open or not 3. Your full investment number — everything it takes to actually get the doors open If you want the breakdown I use with people going through this, comment "Lists" and I'll send it your way. ☕ P.S. This is for anyone who's serious about opening, even if it's a year or two out. If you're just daydreaming about it, that's fine too — just know these three lists are where the daydream turns into a real plan.

just finished running the numbers for my coffee shop business case. The most realistic scenario shows strong daily customer traction and a solid profit margin. The numbers prove the business is highly profitable! I am ready to invest my own capital alongside external partners. Looking forward to the next steps!"

considering several business ideas, looking to explore the details about this option