The Ultimate Mobile Coffee Business Plan: On a Budget

An in-depth guide to setting up a mobile coffee business

Have you ever thought about starting your own mobile coffee business?
Are you interested in being your own boss and have a passion for working with the public?

Our downloadable guide will help you understand how to operate a mobile coffee business from the ground up, including everything from buying initial stock to accruing repeat business. Each section is split into manageable chunks, so you can tick off each step as you go, or come back to it later on.

Running your own mobile coffee business, of course, has its perks; the combination of low-cost stock and minimal overheads makes it extremely cost-effective. Plus, you won't be sat behind a desk all day.

Don't worry if you are yet to decide on a coffee van business plan; this guide provides plenty of guidance on getting started, courtesy of Premierline.

Download the guide

How to Start a Mobile Coffee Business Plan on a Budget

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The business guide covers:

Business Status

One common question asked by prospective coffee cart owners.

Deciding how to trade

Licences

Obtaining the correct licence(s) for your mobile coffee business will depend on where you want to trade, and what you want to sell.

How to obtain a licence to trade

Trading in public places
Trading on private land
Obtaining a licence from an agency

Buying stock

To operate a successful mobile coffee business, you will need to consistently source stock and sell it for a profit.

Sourcing stock from wholesalers

How much stock to buy

Equipment

While high-end coffee machines can run into the tens of thousands, it is possible to bag a bargain.

Things to consider:

How to power your equipment: An inverter generator or a leisure battery
Coffee machine hire
Van, bike or coffee cart hire

Taking payments

As a mobile coffee business, you need to make sure your customers can pay for your service quickly and securely.

Considering card payments

Marketing

Tips for marketing your mobile coffee business on a shoestring budget.

Generate word-of-mouth
Social media

Getting a website

Most small businesses require a professional-looking website, as this is a shop window into what you can offer the customer.

A virtual shop window

Insurance

Taking out the right insurance for your mobile coffee business is crucial.

Protect your business against the unexpected

Covers to consider

Industry guide

Keeping your food business pest-free

Pests in your restaurant aren’t just a danger to the health and safety of your customers; they can also damage your business’ reputation or even lead to business closure.

Starting Up

The costs of starting up a mobile catering business

Thinking of starting a mobile catering business? With a bit of investment, you could take your business mobile and reach new customers at food festivals and events.

Business insurance with Premierline

It is important to make sure that you have the right insurance in place to protect the business that you have built. Every business is different and has its own business insurance needs, which is why we work with some of the UK’s most well-known insurers to ensure that you are getting the right insurance cover for your business.

Get quotes today

The information and tools contained in this guide are of a general informational nature and should not be relied upon as being suitable for any specific set of circumstances. We have used reasonable endeavours to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the contents but the information and tools do not constitute professional advice and must not be relied upon as such. To the extent permitted by law, we do not accept responsibility for any loss which may arise from reliance on the information or tools in our Insight Hub.