There a few things, as others have pointed out, that you’ll need to consider and do before you actually start running a shipping container cafe.
The first thing you should decide on is the type of cafe you want to run.
Will it be a small drive-thru/walk-up type, similar to a Dutch Bros? Or will be like a sit-down cafe, similar to Starbucks?
Will it be one floor or two?
Will you be serving more than coffee and breakfast, such as lunch and dinner?
The reason these questions are important is that they will not only determine the type of shipping container that you’ll need, but they will also help to decide how much land you will need.
Once you’ve decided on type and layout, you’ll next want to contact your local city office to ask about permits. Permits may be a requirement before building, however, this all depends on your area and building requirements.
Keep in mind that a building with a shipping container may have different permits than a traditional building. Again, this will depend on your location.
The layout of your cafe will, as mentioned, determine the type of shipping container you’ll need and the size.
Standard sizes for containers are 10-feet, 20-feet, and 40-feet. However, depending on the supplier you rent or buy from, you may be able to customize or modify the container to the size you need.
Brianna Copley believes:
Whenever someone is starting any kind of business, it’s imperative that you do plenty of research early on and never rush into it. Not only are you going to need a space to actually do your business, but you’ll need financing, business plans, dozens of products, tools, and a shipping container cafe. As long as you’re serious about opening up a new cafe and are ready to work hard and serve customers coffee with a smile, you’re definitely taking a step in the right direction.