A profitable business that “doesn’t really feel like work”
Introducing Really Awesome Coffee
Really Awesome Coffee serve gourmet coffee, hot drinks and food to people at workplaces and events nationwide. Since the first mobile café launched in Coventry in 2010, we have gone from strength to strength to become the largest mobile café network in the UK.The Concept – it’s simple; take advantage of the huge demand in the ever expanding UK coffee market but avoid competition on the high street by taking the "coffee shop" directly to customers in our unique mobile café vans.
What's Involved in Running a Mobile Cafe?
The business is built around a daily coffee round that we help you establish, with the mobile café visiting local businesses at agreed times each day to serve a full range of gourmet coffees, frappes & smoothies as well as hot and chilled food options – everything you would expect in a top quality high street café. There is usually a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere at the van, with your day being made up of other people’s breaks! Over time, it feels more like driving around making coffee for your mates than it feels like "work".A large portion of franchise partners also make significant additional income from optional weekend ‘events’ work.
What Makes Us Unique?
At Really Awesome Coffee we pride ourselves in the level of training and ongoing support we provide our franchisees, and we also like to be at the forefront of the industry in terms of technological developments and advances.There are lots of things that we believe make our business a unique prospect – here are a few:
The Mobile Café – developed and built by us, our coffee vans are uniquely capable, efficient, and environmentally friendly. We are very proud of the vans and provide a full tour on our Virtual Discovery Presentations.
The Really Awesome App – we like to make it as easy as possible for our customers to buy from us. Our bespoke app alerts customers when our franchisees’ vans are on their way and also allows them to pre-order their drinks so that they can avoid the queue.
RAPoS – our bespoke electronic-point-of-sale till system. As well as performing standard functions and linking with the customer app, it also syncs with online coffee route maps and generates a suite of detailed ‘coffee-stop specific’ reports that are vital in tracking performance and ensuring that optimal business development advice is provided.
Training & Support
We like our franchise partners to be able to concentrate on the most important things – providing great service and building lasting relationships with their customers.As franchisors it’s therefore our job to make the day-to-day operation of your business as simple and easy as possible. This starts with providing structured, comprehensive training, and continues with regular in-territory support from your Franchise Development Manager and remote support from our head office team.
Full details on our training and business launch program can be found on our website; however, here’s a quick breakdown for you:
Step 1: After an initial training day we carry out detailed business launch preparations with you.
Step 2: You spend 2 weeks with us at our training centre in Coalville.
Step 3: We spend 2 weeks with you in your territory to launch your business.
Step 4: We review your trading data and your Franchise Development Manager visits you regularly to maintain momentum and keep your business growing.
Investment & Returns
With our longstanding finance partners, the required initial investment is just £9,000. However, some franchise partners invest more up-front to reduce monthly finance repayments over the first few years.With turnovers exceeding £100,000p.a. and an average combined gross profit margin of over 60% (combined gourmet drinks & food sales), there is plenty of profit to be made for those willing to put in the work and commit to the tried-and-tested system.
Who Makes A Great Really Awesome Coffee Franchisee?
A lot of our franchise partners cite the fact that although they work hard, it “doesn’t really feel like work”.The honest answer to this question is it’s simply someone who will enjoy the social aspect of the role and who, with our assistance, is prepared to put in the short term hard work that is needed to grow any business.
If you think that you might enjoy running your own mobile café then I’d love to invite you to attend one of our online Virtual Discovery Presentations. Thank you for taking the time to read our profile and please feel free to request some more information or visit our website to find out more.
Help us celebrate 100 coffee vans!
Really Awesome Coffee Dunstable - A family business
Really Awesome Coffee Harrogate - David Wright
From Employee to Franchise Partner
Really Awesome Coffee Corby - A year on
Best Technology and Innovation – VFA 2021
2020 and beyond - a great start to 2021
Meet Sally Byrne: A Franchise Success Story with Really Awesome Coffee, Sourced Through Franchise Direct
- Franchisee Name: Sally Byrne
- Territory: Winsford, Cheshire
- Launch Date: August 2023
Please tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to becoming a Really Awesome Coffee Franchisee?
Before RAC I was working as a teaching assistant in Primary Schools. Although rewarding there were many frustrations and felt my hands were tied with the educational system. My husband is also in education and wanted to step back but as the breadwinner of the family, this was going to be difficult. The decision was made to find something that would make me happy but ultimately be able to support our family and give my husband the space to also find a path that makes him happy.
Why did you decide to run a business, and why Really Awesome Coffee specifically?
I had often commented that I would like to work in a coffee shop but quickly realised I wouldn't be happy with the hours, uncertain that they would fit with my family's needs. I then dreamt of a mobile unit but was then uncertain of running a business and having no knowledge at all and the risk was too high. I happened upon RAC in my search. Between the security of a franchise and the amazing van, my interest was piqued.
Tell us a bit about your training at Head Office and your business launch.
I really enjoyed my training at HQ, everyone was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was a comfortable place to learn, make mistakes, and learn some more. The launch was daunting but Vik and Matt made the whole experience such a positive one, even if I was a little overwhelmed they would bring the energy up, keep me motivated, and managed not to mock my driving skills ... too much!
How have you found the ongoing training and support?
The ongoing training and support have been invaluable. It can be tough going sometimes, especially at the beginning when everything still feels like a learning curve. I am congratulated when it's deserved and given productive advice when it is needed to push me forward and make the best of my business, I'm honestly uncertain I could have done this at all without the brilliant support given.
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to invest in their first franchise?
Look for something that genuinely interests you because it will become your life (in a good way). Be prepared for hard work but great rewards and don't be too hard on yourself, you're probably doing a great job.
