Coffee Shop Consultant Steve Bayless Helps Open over 140 Coffee Businesses

Dreaming about opening a coffee shop? Then consider calling in Steve Bayless and the rest of our 7 Steps to Success consulting team.

“Starting a coffee business is equal parts exciting and terrifying,” Steve said.

“Having us there to provide guidance and reassurance eases the minds of new owners and managers.”

Proven Experience in Every Type of Coffee Business

As a coffee shop startup consultant, Steve has trained owners, managers and baristas at over 215 coffee businesses across the U.S. and internationally. Over the past decade, he’s helped open 140 new independent shops.

A certified station instructor through the Specialty Coffee Association, he spends about 20 weeks each year on the road, teaching owners and staff of new coffee houses everything they need to run a flourishing business.

He has helped businesses thrive in spaces ranging from 92 to over 2,000 square feet, in small towns of 5,000 and major cities such as Boston and Detroit.

He’s also set up coffee operations in existing restaurants, bakeries, donut shops and colleges and universities.

The 7 Steps Program: A Road Map for Coffee Shop Success

Owners and managers of these diverse enterprises learned how to open a shop coffee through our 7 Steps to Success program.

The program grew out of Seven Steps to Success: a Commonsense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee, written by Founder and President Greg Ubert.

“The 7 Steps provide everything a new coffee shop owner needs to set up a thriving business,” Greg said. “We offer all the benefits of a coffee shop franchise – and more – without expensive franchise fees or royalties.

“7 Steps consultants support owners at every step – from scouting a profitable location and writing a coffee shop business plan to planning a menu, choosing equipment, hiring staff and providing comprehensive training.”

At Your Side From Coffee Shop Layout to Opening Day

Steve’s role begins with setting up each coffee shop with the right layout and equipment.

As the shop nears completion, he arrives on site to show owners and staff how to prepare drinks and run the business.

After several days of training, he stays on to ensure opening day goes smoothly.

Six to eight weeks later, a 7 Steps Customer Growth Rep returns for the grand opening to ensure the business is off to a profitable start.

As long as a coffee house remains a Crimson Cup customer, Steve and the rest of the 7 Steps team remain just a phone call away to answer questions and help resolve any issues.

“Having a great team at Crimson Cup with a diverse background of knowledge and 30 years of experience can really help a new store owner avoid mistakes and be successful from day one,” Steve said. “That’s our goal!”

Guiding Multi-location Coffee Shops

He has helped open three locations for Coffee Jerks, a growing group of coffee shops in Oklahoma City, Edmond and Yukon, Oklahoma. The newest, Coffee Jerks Yukon, opened in July.

“Crimson Cup has given us the confidence to grow knowing we have our coffee supplies consistent and taken care of,” said Partner Preston Moon.

As a one-stop shop for independent coffee shops, Crimson Cup supplies award-winning coffee, coffee business expertise and industry leading coffee shop supplies.

“They offer an excellent product, training support and access to continuing education,” Moon said.

“We wouldn’t be in the position of growth or operate three locations without Crimson Cup in our corner.”

Now is a Great Time to Get into the Coffee Business

Ten new independent coffee houses opened through the 7 Steps program in the first half of 2021. At least eight more plan to open later this year.

“We think now is a perfect time to open an independent coffee shop,” Greg said.

“Coffee demand continues to grow, lots of prime real estate is available and interest rates remain near historic lows.”