Coffee Shop Owner
Food ServiceYou 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
Payroll & accounting software
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
Related Shifts
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