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How much does it cost to start a Bagel business?

This depends on the square footage of your location, what type of operation it will be - sit down or take out, and what type of work is needed to finish your decor and what cosmetic improvements the location needs and if you pay for the cosmetic expenses or if the landlord does. Here are some estimates. Equipment costs for new = $110,000.00 to $200,000.00. Obviously a sit down operation is the most expensive. The same for used would be about $45,000.00 to $85,000.00. Decor and improvements to the location can cost between $25,000.00 to as much as $200,000.00 and more. When I refer to cosmetic costs I am including electrical, plumbing, ventilation, demolition, counter work, and all other expenses that are required to complete a bagel store other than equipment costs. Other fees to consider are architectural, signage, deposits, legal, professional, etc.

What about training?. I have no idea how to make bagel nor how to cook. I have no food experience. Can I really make bagels even with no experience at all?

Yes! Of course if you learn from a pro! Naturally your own bagel expertise will come in time. In other words, I can teach you how to make bagels and how to run a bagel store but your ability to master it will come in time. Usually after 6 months you will be able to handle anything the bagel "monsters" can give you. No matter how much you learn you will encounter a problem once opened that you will not know what to do. So you will need someone to call and not just anyone. Someone who has had the experience you are going through and can give you the answer to it in seconds. That me :)

What kind of square footage does a typical bagel store need?

I have built bagel stores in as little as 700 sq. feet. Very small though and hard to work with but the location was just too good to pass up. It was a take out store of course. The best size store would be 1,200 to 1,500 sq. feet for a take out operation and 1,800 to 2,500 sq. feet for a sit down operation. The cost of rent may dictate the size you choose. In other words some stores that are full sit down operations and have sales of 25K a week are stores as large as 2,500 sq feet with very high rent will not make as much profit as a store that's 1,500.00 sq. feet and does 10K a week in sales. Simply because of the size of the operation and the overhead expense to keep it going. A major franchise company I know has stores that do 25K a week in sales and make very little money because the operation and it's expenses are just too costly.

What does the average bagels store gross a week?

Take out - $6,000.00 to $10,000.00 - Profit $1,000.00 to $3,000.00

Sit down - $8,000 to $16,000.00 - Profit $2,000.00 to $5,000.00

Is the bagel business seasonal?

Not really unless your store is in a seasonal area, such as a vacation or tourist area. The only time the bagel business slows is usually in the first week in January and the first week in February. Snowfall usually produces a slow day but rain for some reason produces a busy day! Let it rain!

Do you have references? How can I trust you know all you say you know?

Yes! If you need them I have them. My life's experience with references is that most are made up or are from friends and family. I love the ones who say "We sell to "Marriot Hotels" or we built "The Taj Mahal" only to discover they sold a door lock to one hotel owned by Marriot. Or they sold a staircase to a construction company who once worked on the Taj Mahal. Even doctor's are getting into this over exaggerated reference game. I have back problems and have seen many doctors about it. Did you know there are over 12 doctors who treated Gloria Estefan when she was in that bad bus accident that nearly paralyzed her? Yes, there was 12 or so doctors around but only 2 really treated her. She gave all these doctors a signed autograph and now they brag that they were her doctor. Let's put it this way. If you hire me to consult you and after a half hour if you truly believe I do not know what I say I know or that I have no relevant information than just say "Howie I really am not getting anything from this consult" and you will pay nothing. Everyone I have ever consulted has had very good questions and after 15 or 30 minutes of conversation everyone has realized they are in fact taking the Bagel Guru. No one has ever cancelled a consult.

It's very rare, if not impossible to find someone with as much experience as myself. I say this because yes you can find someone who has been in the business longer than I, but they have no experience pertaining to the installation and/or design of bagel equipment, or they just owned one store and never negotiated multiple leases nor made bagels in different parts of the country let alone the world. I could go on and on but in reality there is no one person with as much diversified bagel experience. If you find them let me know, please. They say everyone has a twin but I have yet to find mine.

What are the risks? A bagel store cannot fail.

Everything has risks. I believe and Insist that a bagel store cannot fail. Here's why: In a bagel operation you are a manufacturer. If retail business is slow all you have to do is obtain wholesale sales to compensate. Wholesale is selling to supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, schools, etc. So if your operation is lets say a $1,000.00 short of making a profit, than simply and I mean simply get wholesale accounts. To make up for your shortfall it would require selling about 500 dz. bagels wholesale. That's about 75 dz. a day. Most supermarkets sell 25 to 50 dz. a day so even one supermarket could make your store profitable. I can even show you how to get any wholesale account and I mean any. I even obtained accounts from a supermarket who had a bagel supplier for 9 years without a problem and they switched to my store and for more money per dozen. It's not hard.

Another way to compensate for a shortfall is to offer catering. The potential for catering from your store is endless. The average bagel store sees about 200 to 500 customers a day. That's per day. Don't you think some of these people have an affair or party 2 or 5 times a year? You bet they do! I know bagel store owners who do more in catering sales than they do in retail sales. There are about another dozen or so ways to make more money from your store or to compensate for either weak retail or for the slower months.

Obviously there are so many questions to answer that I could go on and on. Even so without answering every question. Above are the most common questions one would have. I will be adding more to this page so check back often. For now should you have more questions, you can hire me to consult you and I would be able to answer all your questions and concerns. Consults can be done over the telephone, or in person. Plus I will give you trade secrets you will not get anywhere else. Not anywhere else for any price! Click here to see my Bio. At a $100.00 an hour for consulting - It's a bargain!

Ps. There are so many commonly asked questions that I literally could write a book about it. By the way I did. Not a book exactly but a manual. A very complete manual. Plus, if I answered every question here - no one would hire me for consultation. I have to keep the best for the paying customers.

Here's my best advise. If you are interested in going into the bagel business then get a full or part time job at a bagel store near you. Buy my mini bagel manual and then when your "ready to go" get my complete manual and then hire me to consult you. You may say well if I get your manual then why would I need to consult with you? Each situation is different and although my manual is very complete, your particular concept, location, business plan, etc. will be unique and that's where I come in. If you buy my mini manual and then decide to purchase my full manual you will receive a full credit towards the purchase of my complete manual.

If your looking to buy an existing bagel store you need me to consult you on this. My experience in selling bagel stores is vast. More importantly than consulting with your accountant and/or lawyer you need someone who has been on the other side like someone who has sold dozens of stores. That's me again! :) I know what to look for and I know what it's all about when purchasing a bagel business. I will save you thousands and help make your decision a good one. More importantly a profitable one!