[c0rey254]

I am starting up a late night custom cookie shop that delivers in Columbia, Missouri. Items that I will be selling include: many different types of cookies, bottled drinks(milk, soda, water), milkshakes, and smoothies.

We will be open from 5 PM - 3 AM. Customers can come in the store and order or have it delivered. I have a great location picked out, which is in downtown Columbia, next to many of the bars and restaurants. It is 700 square feet(is this big enough for a cookie shop?) and rent is $1500/month.

I have been meeting with many entrepreneur advisers at SCORE and the SBDC. My main problem is projecting sales for the first three years.

If anyone has any advice on how I should go about doing this or any other advice in general, I would greatly appreciate it.

Also if anyone knows of resources to contact that help with starting up bakeries or know of all the equipment that is needed in a bakery, let me know.

[FutureCEO]

I think you should emphasise the drink side of the business and market the cookies through sighns when customers come in if it is going to be a late night type business

[Edman32]

Trying to copy those young college students that started this idea a few years ago? They have been very successfully with it and I wish you the best. Competition wise its between you and them that I know of. You need to locate near colleges though. College students are up and craving this type of food at anytime of the day if you locate it anywhere else I don't see sales being as high.

[Ahern & Brucker]

You don't need to tel me the secret recipt for your cookies, but if it's what I think it is, you should do just fine... especially in these times... people are becoming more intollerant of the helplessness they are feeling as the strings are tightning more and more around them as they are watching the their world crumble..

you could even call your shop... "as the world (or cookie) crumbles"

[CIsaac]

Do a feasibility study--you can do it yourself or get a firm to do it. Basically it's research to find out what other simoilar companies have charged and what they have made in the 3 years and base your numbers accordingly. That will also help you to figure out if the rent is right (I'm assuming your utilities are included in that rent?).

And also go back to your business plan and do a break-even analysis (meaning with your rent and expenses and salary vs. your projected sales, when will you be able to break-even) because that will show you how you will be able to afford everything.

______________
IBS - Isaac Business Services

[jasaunders]

This is a very tough business to be in, margins are extremely small, many similiar businesses have failed.
You need to have market research done. You need to know the size of your market as well as comps to project your financials. Make sure you are prepared before you launch. And when you think you are prepared, research some more, because you probably aren't.

Good luck with the business. Cookie delivery is tough.

[Vanguard]

I would focus on advertising, through the product that is. If you can afford to make a batch or two of cookies and hand them out for free at some event one per person you could probably pull alot of repeat customers. Assuming the cookies are good.

[squatrani]

someone mentioned it above but insomnia cookies is what their talking about. to be honest I can't see how this idea would work anywhere else but around a college i know many people who order from there but only late night. Make sure you are around a college and get on the forms of electronic ordering such as campusfoods.com i'm sure insomniacookies(which i believe is a franchise) get 90% of their orders from that. and well for your target market...insomniacookie's busiest day was 8 days ago..hint:think about the date;-)

[warrensway]

how will you rival companies like tiger take out etc in como... i lived their for a period of time last year. I think you need more to offer.