ideas ideas ideas

I think we need to develop our concept more, in addition to researching the legalities of running a business. maybe we should consider a simple theoretical business concept first... like a coffee shop that sells just coffee and scones, for a start, or a bookstore that only sells rare editions of classics, or a tutoring center for art or voice lessons.... and try to visualize what each would involve.

Right now we're trying to put everything into one business, and it just isn't realistic. Undine, you want to teach voice, in addition to running a cafe, and making the pastries yourself. That's 3 full-time jobs right there, y'know, plus the triple ownership of the business will require some time. On the other hand, it could be arranged for me to be the business owner and manager (I don't know if I'd like that... maybe Daniel can take over for me) ...Owner and manager can also be separate. Daniel can be owner and I can be manager, and you can be baker and cafe server... d'you see? I think we are all interested in the domestic arts, and not at all ready for the business side of things.

I have also thought of creating a partnership with the Art House. I don't know how it would work, exactly, but I'm thinking that something like a cafe/gallery right near the art house would be good for both businesses... just food for thought. Parents of the kids who go to the art house and the dancespot could stop in for an hour to enjoy a cup of coffee, and view the artwork on the walls, or read a book. Maybe this isn't the clientelle that you have been imagining, but I think it would be a good strategy, because the clientelle is already there. It could become a small, independent cultural center. This idea, I just realized, is just like the way bergamot station is run. It has a museum and independent galleries, and a cafe. There isn't any centralized organization.

Okay... let's make the above our theoretical business concept. What would it take to get started with that? We would need to rent a space in the same location, perhaps to begin with we could buy the coffee and bagels from costco, and purchase the essential equipment to make and serve the coffee. we would need some construction work done. We need a back office, and a counter to separate the work space. And room for storage. We need furniture, and somekind of sound system for music.

This is just a step up from a corner lemonade stand, except for the fact that if we consider ourselves a business, the legalities would include a licence to serve food... there would have to be an official inspection to get it. We probably wouldn't pass the first time, and we'd have to get a bunch of things done to make them happy. We would need to keep perfect records of expenses and profit. We would need a computer and a bookeeping program for that. We need to get a business licence. I'm figuring that part out right now. There are lots of different business structures that we would have to choose from.

We would also need to advertise. We couldn't make ends meet if our only clients are parents of art house kids, especially when a drive-thru starbucks is just down the road. (and there's a jack-in-the-box just yards away) We would need something unique about our business to get people to come. Our initial clientelle would be mostly middle-aged asian folk. Sorry, but the gypsy-look may not work for them. What could we provide that these customers would want? We can't expect people to come just for the atmosphere.