Notes from behind the bar.

How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan: Marketing and Sales Strategy

A real, tactic-by-tactic pre-launch and post-launch marketing plan for a coffee shop, plus the honest, counterintuitive truth about why your location matters more than your marketing budget.

How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan: Your Operations Plan

Real lessons on hours of operation and service model from two Stay Golden locations — how to build the Operations Plan section of a coffee shop business plan around actual volume, not assumptions.

How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan: Getting Your Legal Structure Right

Entity structure, operating agreements, and a real cautionary tale about signing a bad partnership deal — what you need to know before you form your coffee shop's legal structure.

How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan: Building Your Brand

How to build a real coffee shop brand identity — treating your brand as a person, not a persona — and turn it into the Company Description section of your business plan.

How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan: Know Your Competition

A real, six-step competitive analysis process for a coffee shop business plan — with live findings from Jamie's own recent analysis of Stay Golden's market.

How to Write a Coffee Shop Business Plan: Start Here

The first post in a series on writing a real coffee shop business plan. Start with your menu and market research — the foundation every other section of the plan depends on.

The Hidden Cost of Barista Training: A Coffee Shop Case Study

A real coffee shop case study: how a $30,000-a-year dedicated trainer, a scheduling nightmare, and a month-long onboarding process got fixed with a video-based training system.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Coffee Shop? The Complete Guide

A complete guide to the real cost of opening a coffee shop, from equipment to the cash reserve you need to survive year one. Real numbers from shops built for $150K and $1.2M.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Coffee Shop? Part 4: How Much Do Coffee Shop Owners Actually Make?

How much do coffee shop owners actually make? A real breakdown of coffee shop expenses, profit margin, owner pay, and the cash reserve you need before you open.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Coffee Shop? Part 3: How Much Will Your Shop Make?

How much can a coffee shop actually make? A real method for estimating daily revenue, product mix, and average ticket for your specific location.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Coffee Shop? Part 2: Startup Costs & Funding

The real startup costs of opening a coffee shop. Plus the four ways owners actually fund it.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Coffee Shop? The Truth No One's Telling You.

The real cost to open a coffee shop depends on one decision: first-gen or second-gen space. Real numbers from shops built for $150K and $1.2M.

Barista Training Cost Calculator: What Your Training Really Costs

See what your barista training is quietly costing you every year — and what it would mean to keep that money.

Every Barista Training Method, Ranked from Worst to Best (2026)

A certified coffee educator and veteran shop owner ranks all 6 barista training methods from worst to best — by cost, consistency, and what grows your business.

The Barista Training System That Actually Works (Built by a Shop Owner)

Here's what actually works: a proven barista training system built by a coffee shop owner, for coffee shop owners. Here's why it works.

What $10K in Barista Certification Actually Taught Me (And Why I Don't Send My Team)

A Level 2-certified barista breaks down whether SCA trade school certification is worth $10,000 for your coffee shop — and what actually trains your team.

Why "Building Your Own" Barista Training System Costs $30,852 a Year

Building your own barista training system costs ~$30,852 a year — and still leaves you dependent on one person who can walk out the door. Here's the math.

Why "Free" Roaster Training Costs You $4,000 a Year (And Keeps You Trapped)

"Free" roaster barista training isn't free. It costs about $396 per hire and keeps you dependent on someone else's schedule. Here's what it really costs.

The "I Show, You Do" Barista Training Method Is Costing You $8,000 a Year

The "I Show, You Do" barista training method feels free — but it quietly costs coffee shops $8,000+ a year in waste and turnover. Here's the real math.

Mastering Barista Training: Building a Skilled Team

Custom Consulting: Tailoring Success to Your Coffee Shop

Optimizing Resources: Saving Time and Money in Your Coffee Shop

Enhancing Customer Experience: Building Loyalty in Your Coffee Shop

Strategic Menu Planning: Maximizing Profits with Every Cup

Why "Internet Hodge Podge" Barista Training System Wrecks Your Shop

Cobbling together YouTube videos and Facebook group advice to train baristas feels free and resourceful — but here's why the "hodge podge" method fails.