8 Mobile Coffee Shop Business Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Start A Mobile Coffee Shop Business

A mobile coffee shop is a business that brings the convenience of a coffee shop directly to customers through a mobile vehicle, such as a food truck or trailer. The mobile coffee shop can travel to various locations, including events, festivals, construction sites, and office parks, offering a variety of coffee drinks, pastries, and snacks.

To run a successful mobile coffee shop, it is essential to have a reliable vehicle equipped with a coffee machine, refrigeration, and storage for all necessary equipment and supplies. It is also essential to have a well-trained staff who can efficiently prepare and serve coffee drinks and handle cash and customer interactions.

Marketing and promotion are also key to the success of a mobile coffee shop. Utilizing social media, email lists, and word-of-mouth referrals can help spread the word about the business and attract new customers. Having a consistent schedule and location is also helpful so customers know when and where to find the mobile coffee shop.

Another tip for running a successful mobile coffee shop is to have a diverse menu that caters to various customer tastes and dietary restrictions. Offering options such as dairy-free and plant-based milk and a selection of teas, smoothies, and other beverages can help attract a larger customer base.

Overall, a mobile coffee shop can be a rewarding and lucrative business opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to enter the food and beverage industry. With careful planning and attention to customer satisfaction, a mobile coffee shop can become a popular and successful business in any community.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a mobile coffee shop business:

1. Camper Cafe ($180K/year)

Beth Baxter co-founded Camper Cafe, a mobile coffee van business, when her partner decided to convert his vintage VW campervan into a trailer for his motorcycles. Baxter suggested putting a coffee machine in the trailer instead, and the idea took off. Now, 11 years later, Camper Cafe is on its sixth mobile coffee unit and supplies major sporting events and works with international brands, generating around £150k in revenue from only 70 days of work per year.

How much they make: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 2

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We Built A Coffee Shop In A Van That Makes $180K/Year

This case study follows the co-founder of Camper Cafe, a mobile coffee van business which started as a hobby and now has 6 units that supply the UK's biggest sporting events, commercial and film shoots, generating around £150k from working only 70 days of the year.

About
Beth started Camper Cafe almost 13 years ago
Revenue
Beth grew the business to $15K/month
Costs
It cost Beth $5000 to start the business
Read by 5,701 founders

2. Onit Coffee ($630K/year)

How much they make: $630K/year
How much did it cost to start: $120K
Current team size:

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From $50 to $1,750 a Day with a Food Truck Business

Onit Coffee is a Sacramento-based coffee food truck that offers vegan and planet-based drinks while donating a portion of their profits to neighborhood organizations.

About
They started Onit Coffee about 4 years ago
Revenue
They grew the business to $52.5K/month
Costs
It cost $120000 to start the business
Read by 879 founders

So... can you actually make money with a mobile coffee shop business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

5. Vancouver Restaurant Broker

With Vancouver Restaurant Broker, it’s easy to discover your next restaurant! Search for commercial & restaurant's for sale in Vancouver and Burnaby.Contact Frank Pupo, your trusted real estate agent with 20+ years experience.Specializing in the Sale and purchase of Restaurants

Where they're located: Vancouver, Washington, USA

article

So... can you actually make money with a mobile coffee shop business?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

7. Coffee-Bike

Coffee-Bike - Worldwide franchise community and mobile coffee catering: In 2010 two students had an idea and developed a sucessful franchise system

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8. How To Start A Coffee Business Without Franchising Or High Risk

The Smart Money Is Getting Ready For The Inevitable Coffee Shop Business Bounce Back. It's A Buyers Market For Cafe and Coffee Shop For Sale Opportunities.  We Show You How.

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