Very common question I’m being asked is what is the difference between juicing and blending. For most of the people, they’re the same. But for professionals, it’s like from Earth to Mars. The most simple explanation is that while juicing machines extract only the juice and leaves out the pulp, the blenders just chop the fruits and vegetables into tiny pieces to make a smoothie and there is no pulp left behind.
The infographic below explains perfectly, in more details what are the differences between juicing and blending. Ever since I started considering the idea of having a juice bar, I've had a plan in my head. Where will be the best location? How many people will I need to hire? What is going to be the monthly costs to run the business and how much time I can afford to run the business at a loss? How am I going to reach and attract my customers? All these and many more questions have been buzzing around in my head. And I had them structured for myself but not for the others. I came upon this video on YouTube that explains it very clearly what you need in order to get started. It's a great resource if you're considering to start juice bar business. I've talked this through with a lot of people and what most of them ask me "How much money will it cost you to start?". That made me thinking what I actually need and for how long I can afford to run it without profit. For sure I need a space with really good location. There should be lots of traffic on that location. I think that close to business buildings, big boulevards and walking areas are good locations. But one thing is for sure: location is the most important thing I need to have. And the better location, the higher the costs are. Another significant expense is the equipment. I’m gonna need the following equipment: Ice machines Most of the smoothie and juice recipes are with ice and there’s no way I can produce so much ice without an ice machine. So this one is a must. Juicers I’m going to need all types of juicers because they are good for different foods. I have already chosen to buy the best masticating juicer since I’m going after quality here. However, I still need to decide what kind of centrifugal and citrus juicers to buy. The centrifugal will be Breville for sure since hey have very good reviews but haven’t decided on the model yet. Blenders They’re essential for the smoothies, I’m about to offer. I’m going to need sound enclosures as well for those since they’re very noisy because of the high-speed motors. I want them to be quiet and to not disturbing the customers. Sinks/Dishwashers I plan to offer the juice in disposable cups but even in this case I’ll need a sink. First of all, I work with food and if I get checked, I can get a fine. But it’s not just that. I’m going to need it to clean my working space, equipment, juicers, blenders, etc. Preparation Equipment Imagine I get 10-15 customers in the queue. I cannot afford to spend time preparing the food. Therefore, some equipment will be needed in order to do the preparation in advance. That’ll be cutting boards, cutlery, peelers, measuring cups, and some other small stuff. Refrigeration The bar will have a huge amount of fruits and vegetables that are perishable so the frozen area is a must. There must be FOH and BOH areas to ensure the perishable products are at the right temperature. That’s with the equipment. But I’ll have a lot more expenses than just location and equipment. I’ll need to hire at least two people to help me run the juice bar. So there are salaries and bonuses for them. Of course bringing customers in the bar will be my main concern. Therefore, the monthly marketing budget is a must. Since I’m not very good with that, I will hire some freelancers to do this job for me.
Welcome to my blog!
In this first post, I'd like to explain briefly what it is about. I will publish mainly information about my new business. My experience can be valuable for others who are just starting and want to learn from my successes and failures. I'll share specific information about the juice bar like juicer recommendations, design, market trends and everything else related to juicing. But I will also share more general business content. You will get the chance to get into my way of management, business operations and how I manage to sustain my business. I guess that explains briefly what my idea is so stay tuned for the upcoming posts. |
AuthorI'm Jennifer, 28 years old living in Washington, and am currently living my dream to have my own business. Archives |