Hi, im looking to start a f&b beverage kiosk selling smtg like pancake which i think might attract ppl (like auntie anne or wraps type but dif)

how should i start from here? I have capital 20-30k is that enough to sustain me 6 month rent? Im looking for a semi hotspot anyone knws the price?

i have already found the machines to cook, what more do i need? Anyone with similar experience mind sharing? Criticism welcome.

This post has been edited by ADjohn90: Aug 26 2009, 11:37 PM

ADjohn90,

Here's a constructive criticism for your consideration. RM20k - RM30k for 6 months of rental is definitely NOT enough for shopping complexes. The rental for shops are at least RM8k - RM25k, depending on location and size, and usually you will have to pay 2+1 upfront upon signing of tenancy agreement. You will have to fork out additional funds for shop renovation as well.

You could consider renting pushcart areas within these shopping complexes though, ranging from RM1,500 - RM6k.

Thx Jordy, i think ill go for the pushcart areas since i don't have to prepare space for my customers to eat. Since its a pushcart, is the cart prepared? or do i have to purchase it? Any more suggestion from others?

Plan to do it full time ?

Yeah ! ... I am planning to open it like 'Daily Fresh' and '1901 Hotdog' concept .... any ideas ?

In that case, you will need your own pushcart because that's more towards franchising. Unless you want to do it yourself, then most of the shopping complexes have standard pushcarts for you to rent. If you're really interested, do contact the management and submit your applications to a few of them. You can reject the rest if you are accepted by one of them. If you're lucky, the waiting list is short.

Good luck.

Thx alot =) really appreciate your help Jordy. Btw do you or anyone know how to automate the business without my supervision? How auntie anne or other franchise does it?

ADjohn90,

Are you running the business or am I running it? There is NO shortcuts in learning, I believe you're on your own with this.

A company software system will do. All the transaction will be done by system such as sales, inventory management and so on.

i suggest you can go to the 1901 or daily fresh to question as much as you can.
you dun need to get their franchise, but they can provide you some thought and idea how to start it.... just call and make an appointment wid them to get "free" briefing.

believe you have to start counting your material cost, and find the suitable supplier if you havent got any.

20 -30k won't do you good

Unless the business took off the very first day you open up, you gonna need at least the operating cost (rental, workers, utilities, and the material costs) x 12 months to survive until you are profitable

You will run out of capital and the pressure will comes in and this is the time when you will make wrong decision due to lack of capital

This is' out of the book' material plus experience speaking, my own experience

I suggest that you save up a lot more 1st and start to plan what to do if the business should fail and how to prevent it

It may seems trivial and easy but belive me it is 9 times harder than earning aliving as a salarymen.

why not start your biz online bro.. if u wanna sell something like pancake, i think u'll might consider burger stall or guava stall.. with capital 20-30k u have might have 10stall of them..

OR

u might be interest in "ice cream" biz http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/714847 http://mingomingo.com.my/

OR

u might be interested to be a Gold bar Business.. u know gold biz is very onto the future kind of business..
check out http://www.publicgold.com.my/

Hi,

I think I know what you are up to. A side business that can fully work on its own without your daily involvement. Chances are it will work in short-term but not long term.

I started my bubble tea stall in Wisma Cosway four months back while being fully employed in Singapore, though earning a marginal profit but running it is not easy, reason being that I am not there.

Secondly, finding a reliable partner/staff. Someone that can oversee and do up your material purchasing schedule, monthly promotion, accounts, staff payroll and etc.

As my budget was limited, I have to all my planning myself. Plus my partner was not really helpful and was at loggerhead with the landlord. There were some dispute between him and the landlord and now I am forced to move out by end of the month.

I may not intent to continue since I not in KL to oversee it, ownership is very important and I failed to 'own' my business resulting in early closure. But if you are nearby, chances are it will survive.

Rental and staff cost will be your main concern, and opening it at shopping mall with traffic flow round the clock, you would have to hire at more staff and to work on shift, which would also add to your operating cost.

RM30k will be ideal for pushcart, test the market first, start small. When you have the confidence, then move up to stalls and shops.

Finally, good luck.

Wow, chess_gal, your very own bubble tea business. I am duly impressed! Shame I did not have a chance to sample the product and support you before your current decision to "close shop". It was a very courageous attempt at business and you have my respect for that. Good job regardless.

Host, did you talked to Sunway Pyramid Leasing Department? Surely they have their rules and regulations for you to obey. You have to be aware about it. Getting the right place is the first most important thing you gonna settled now.

In fact, I am doing similar thing in KLCC. But having a lot of problems in there.

All the best.

have u done ur homework.. like market research etc?? i think u r not so ready yet.. no offense

Haha, you can come over to SUnway Lagoon Club this SUnday. We will be going into events like Flea Market, Bazaar and even night market in future. For this round, I will be there, cant guarantee how long can this event thing last since my job responsibility is getting heaview day by day. But I have booked the space for 6 months (every first Sunday of the month), so come over if you still want to try .

I mean full time business is quit your job and concentrate 100% on the business. This is the key point of success for all business starters. Easy money does not exist.

Excellent info, thx chess_gal, i've read ur bubble tea post b4 i wanted to start doing this. I was thinking f&b business could generate me a steady (more like passive) income, hmmm seems like i need more research b4 starting this.


Yeah, talked to them, they quoted me the price, after some calculation (estimating per day sale) i arrived to a very small profit figure, im thinking of places which i can reduce rent and material cost. Btw care to tell me the prob u experienced when starting this??


Yeah, its true i am not ready =) but the ideas you guys contributed are gold to me, i will start small and even before that do a good research. Im trying to start it as a small family business.

First thing is Halal issue. The head of Leasing mentioned that I should know that all the shareholders inside KLCC are Muslims and although my food is purely chicken, tuna, and veggie but still cannot guarantee all of them are Halal. She said I have to come out with Halal Cert. I have no idea how to apply this Halal Cert. Finding outsourcer who has Halal Cert now. (Muslim brother, is it difficult to apply for this HALAL cert? what's the criteria?)

2nd is, I need "HACCP" cert. She said all of their F&B stalls having this cert. Without this cert, they can simply reject ya proposal.

3rd is, "Your stall image doesn't suit our KLCC style". This is what she replied. I even set up logo, website for brand image but due to the selling way is low cost way, that's why they don't like it. (!@#$%^&* )

I get humiliated there and people there very LCLY.

But what to do? gotta move on.

(By the way, I still havent give up yet due to the flow in KLCC really superb. But I am working on it alone and I really need capable partners too! Anyone who has high motivation and risk taker may PM me for more details.)