This article is reproduced by kind permission of Business Franchise. It appeared in Vol 02 Issue 06 September/October 2008.

Getting a rush from coffee

Chris Cummins gets a rush from owning a Cafe2U business. It's not just the great coffee that gets his adrenaline pumping but how quickly his business has taken off.

In only 12 months, this Queenslander has gone from owning one Cafe2U franchise to becoming a multiple franchisee with three vans on the road and employing five staff.
"Early on I realised how lucrative the business was," says Chris. "In my first weeks I had built up a strong customer base and within the first month had worked at two events that boosted my earnings.
"I was making a good income from the franchise that I thought I could duplicate it. So I bought another territory and the business keeps growing with expanding customer base and event work such as concerts, community and sporting events.
"I'm looking to further expand my business with more territories and vans. Also I'm in the process of developing another Cafe2U venture."
Chris attributes his business success not only to hard work but owning the best mobile coffee franchise in the market.
"Cafe2U is the best of the best. It's just not a mobile coffee business. It's a complete food and beverage business that uses the latest technology, equipment and the best vans on the road," says Chris.
Chris also says the Cafe2U franchise team have been very supportive and helpful in achieving his business growth.
Chris is part of a 110 strong network of Cafe2U franchises that operate in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Canberra, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
General Manager, Alan Biddle, says Cafe2U is the largest mobile coffee franchise in the world and is constantly working with franchisees to grow the business.
"We work in partnership with our franchisees every step of the way. From day one we're in the driver's seat with the franchisee providing them with the training and assistance to get their mobile coffee business on the road.
"Support is crucial during those first weeks and so each new franchisee has a Franchise Support Officer (FSO) who provides one-on-one assistance about approaching new business within their exclusive territory.
"The FSO helps the franchisee to gradually build up business. Care is taken not to overburden the franchisee. You want to avoid the risk of getting too many customers too quickly and then having to disappoint," says Biddle.
For the more entrepreneurial franchise owners, Cafe2U management has helped in looking at the options to take their business to the next level - multiple franchises.
Cafe2U has seen the growth of multiple franchise owners in Australia start in the last six months. In Australia there are currently three multiple franchise owners, owning seven franchises between them.
"Franchisees looking to grow their existing business have several paths they can go down including purchasing a new or existing territory or even split their existing territory," says Biddle.
"Our franchise team will sit down together with the franchisee to discuss all the available options and find the best solution that will allow the franchisee to achieve their business goals."
Cafe2U is ready to help other people like Chris to make their franchise a success.
For more information about Cafe2U franchise opportunities call 1300 223 328 or visit www.cafe2u.com.au .