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When you have your own little coffee shop business, you may want to find ways to improve sales, gain a better reputation, and even make the administrative side a little bit easier.
In doing so, you might find that you, and any employees you have, feel less stressed when working and serving orders. This could also allow you to stay on top of continual jobs during the working day, such as taking note of stock, and even ensuring that cleanliness is kept to a high standard.
Some café owners may find that, with a constant influx of customers, it can be hard to keep on top of orders and avoid mistakes. Having a point of sale system can help with rectifying this. Certain systems allow for a second screen that faces the customer themselves, allowing them to quickly spot any errors before their order has been created. They can also allow for fast payment, either by credit card with pin entry, contactless card payments, and even cellular device payments.
During particularly busy times, a POS system may also be able to assist you with reservations and waitlists, which can allow you to manage customers more easily and keep track of each party’s place in the queue.
Keeping on top of the cleanliness of your establishment can also be incredibly important. For businesses that offer drinks and light snacks, you may want to make sure that tables and chairs are sanitized, including counters in the kitchen area, and that the floor is swept regularly.
Establishments that offer food, particularly fried foods, may notice a higher level of residue on walls, counters, and floors, which should be dealt with promptly. Regardless of the type of café you run, it’s a good practice to mop several times a day, to really get rid of grime. Always make sure the water is hot enough, changed if necessary, and that the mop head is clean.
Sticking to the times you publicize when you’ll be open is also important. Failing to open and close your business on time can lead to disgruntled customers, especially if they have to wait outside or made a reservation. In general, punctuality is seen as a form of politeness and respect.
This can also help remove some of the pressure from other colleagues. If you need to arrive later in the event of an emergency, it can help to have a secondary key holder who can open up. This person should also inform the staff who will be working that day so they can adequately prepare to cover your tasks.
Running a café can allow you to spend a lot of time engaging with people and, hopefully, making them smile. Whether your café is independent or part of a franchise, you may want to adopt some good working practices to make your life a little bit easier.
