← Back to all jobs

Coffee Shop Owner

Food Service

You followed your dream of owning a coffee shop, and now you're the person who worries about rent, payroll, bean sourcing, equipment repairs, and whether that new oat milk brand is worth the price increase. You're a barista, landlord negotiator, Instagram marketer, and small business accountant all in one body. The latte art better be perfect — your name's on the sign.

Salary Range

Low

$35k

Median

$62k

High

$120k

10-Year Growth

3%

US Workers

40K

Education

No formal education required (business experience essential)

Environment

indoor

Tools & Technical Skills

  • Business plan development & financial management
  • Coffee sourcing & roasting knowledge
  • Vendor & distributor negotiations
  • Payroll & accounting software
  • Lease negotiation & real estate basics
  • Social media marketing & branding
  • Health code compliance & permitting

People & Mindset Skills

  • Entrepreneurial mindset
  • Financial discipline
  • Leadership
  • Adaptability
  • Customer service
  • Stress tolerance
  • Networking

Learn the skills

Courses and certifications to get you job-ready

Business plan development & financial management

Social media marketing & branding

What you'll actually do

  • 01Check the bank account first thing and do the mental math on whether you can make payroll
  • 02Source and negotiate coffee bean contracts with roasters or importers
  • 03Manage social media because hiring a marketing person isn't in the budget yet
  • 04Cover shifts when someone calls out — because the owner is always the backup plan
  • 05Handle repairs, permits, and landlord conversations that drain your soul
  • 06Taste-test new menu items and pretend it's not the best part of your day
  • 07Stare at the P&L spreadsheet and wonder if 'passion' counts as revenue

Think this could be you?

Take the Career DNA Quiz to see if this role fits your personality.

Take the Quiz