Dreaming of opening your own coffee shop?
We’ve trained thousands of baristas and café owners—now it’s your turn. Whether you’re starting from scratch or taking the next step in your hospitality journey, our Start Your Own Coffee Shop course gives you everything you need to launch, run, and grow a successful, profitable café.
Financial Management for Coffee Shops
Master Your Numbers, Maximize Your Profits
4.9/5 Star Google Reviews
Course Objective
To equip coffee shop owners and managers with the tools, systems, and confidence to take control of their financials, improve profitability, and make smarter business decisions—without needing a financial background. Made by the industry for the industry.
Course Modules Include
Financial Foundations for Coffee Shop Owners
- Understanding your financial role as an owner.
- Key financial principles: profit vs cash, gross vs net, variable vs fixed costs.
- Overview of financial documents: Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement.
- Setting financial goals: revenue targets, margin expectations, personal income.
- Outcome: Understand the financial building blocks of a healthy café business.
🛠 Tools: Financial Literacy Cheatsheet, Financial Goal Setting Template.
Café Cost Structure
- Creating/cleaning up your Chart of Accounts (COA) specific to cafés.
- Breaking down COGS: Coffee, milk, pastries, packaging, etc.
- Fixed vs variable costs in a café model.
- Understanding margin structures for food & beverage.
- Supplier Review Systems: How to track supplier price changes and renegotiate.
- Outcome: Clarity on cost structure and actionable tracking.
🛠 Tools: COA Template, COGS Tracker, Supplier Price Audit Sheet.
Weekly & Monthly Financial Reporting
- Weekly flash report: sales, labour %, COGS %, gross profit.
- Monthly P&L review process.
- Templates for tracking revenue, costs, and performance KPIs.
- Line-by-line P&L review checklist.
- Monthly COA audit protocol.
- Outcome: Identify financial trends and issues quickly.
🛠 Tools: P&L Template, Weekly Flash Report Template, Monthly KPI Dashboard.
Managing Labour and Productivity
- Labour as a % of sales: benchmarking.
- Rota efficiency: sales per labour hour.
- ROI on training vs turnover.
- Managing downturns: shift optimization and cross-training.
- Outcome: Strategic control of labour costs.
🛠 Tools: Labour Cost Tracker, Sales per Hour Calculator, Staff Planning Template.
Cash Flow Mastery & Forecasting
- Common pitfalls that kill cash flow.
- 13-week rolling forecast.
- Model income and outgoings.
- Plan for VAT, PAYE, rent, and seasonality.
- Outcome: Control over working capital.
🛠 Tools: Cash Flow Forecast Template, Seasonal Planning Guide,
Tax Planning & Financial Compliance
- VAT & Corporation Tax essentials.
- Monthly compliance calendar: P30, VAT, PAYE.
- Working with accountants/bookkeepers.
- Using Xero, Dext, Receipt Bank for automation.
- Outcome: Stress-free compliance.
🛠 Tools: Financial Compliance Calendar, Xero/Dext Setup Guide, Accountant Handoff Checklist.
Financial Strategy, Growth & Exit Planning
- Multi-location financial planning.
- Breakeven analysis and funding readiness.
- Exit strategies and investment basics.
- Knowing what you must understand even with an accountant.
- Outcome: Positioning for sustainable growth.
🛠 Tools: Breakeven Calculator, Multi-site Setup Workbook.
Internal Financial Systems & Controls
- Stock control systems and audits.
- Staff hierarchy and responsibilities.
- Daily cash handling & reconciliation.
- Banking: POS reconciliation, Revolut, sub-accounts.
- Filing systems for finance (digital and paper).
- Outcome: Operational financial discipline.
🛠 Tools: Stock Audit Template, POS Reconciliation Sheet, Revolut Cashflow System.
Perfect for:
- Future café owners who want to get it right the first time
- Baristas looking to turn skills into a business
- Hospitality professionals ready to go out on their own
- Side-hustlers or career changers with a passion for coffee
Bonus Resources:
- Café Budget Template – plug in your numbers and build your financial model
- Staff Handbook Starter Pack – get a head start on onboarding
- One-to-One Consultation with our café success team (optional upgrade)
- Certificate of Completion from Dublin Barista School
In-person Courses
Whether you’re starting from scratch or taking the next step in your hospitality journey, our Start Your Own Coffee Shop course gives you everything you need to launch, run, and grow a successful, profitable café.
Online Courses
Master the numbers behind your brews with our Financial Management Course tailored for coffee business owners. Learn how to budget, forecast, manage costs, and maximize profit—whether you’re running a cozy café or scaling a coffee cart. Ideal for baristas-turned-entrepreneurs and café managers who want to brew success with smart financial strategies.
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Est. 2011. Ireland’s #1 Barista Training School
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