How to Open a Cafe in Amsterdam
Amsterdam in the Netherlands is a mecca for not only liberalism, but beautiful artwork, delicious cuisine, architecture and freshly roasted coffee and pastries. In the city of Amsterdam, a coffee shop has many ideal locations whether it is on the waterfront or in or a busy plaza populated by tourists. In order to start a cafe in Amsterdam, it is important to follow a set of legal rules to obtain licenses and a location, along with creating a business plan and hiring staff.
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Things You'll Need
- Business plan
- Bank account in Amsterdam
- Money for investing
- Specific legal papers
- Supplies
- Paper and pen
- Advertising plan
Instructions
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Write out a business plan for your cafe. It will serve as a map for you to keep your business on track and also to document growth, as well as come up with plans for new growth. A number of free business plan templates are available online (see References below). Writing out a business plan will ensure that you have your goals and potential problems written out ahead of time.
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Open a bank account in Amsterdam and talk with a banker to understand exactly what you must do financially for your cafe business. In most countries, you don't open a business account until after the business had been registered and set up. In the Netherlands, the opposite is true. You must set an account up in Amsterdam beforehand. Even if you don't have a business name yet, you can open a bank account with your photo ID and proof of residence.
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Decide on a name for your cafe, then check on the availability of that name in Amsterdam. This search is done through the local Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam, who can let you know if the name is taken or not via mail.
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Obtain the approval of the Ministry of Justice, as no business can be formed in Amsterdam without this. Basically you must supply company information, as well as identify company managers and/or directors, particularly if they are foreign citizens. After being approved you will receive a Declaration of No Objection. This process usually takes no longer than three days.
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Pick an ideal location for your business. Location is key, as with all business locations that rely on constant customer traffic. Look for an area high in foot traffic, in a touristy area, or somewhere else where people gather.
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Gather together and prepare the Deed of Incorporation, generally known outside the Netherlands as the Articles of Incorporation. This helps define the structure, ownership and management roles of the cafe. Completed by a civil law notary, you must draft and sign the deed. This is usually the most expensive regulatory part of starting a business in Amsterdam.
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Register your deed with the local Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce and obtain your registration number, either in person or via mail. The cost varies depending on the size of your cafe and number of employees.
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Register with the tax authorities in order to be registered for income taxes, social security taxes and local sales tax. After this is completed, you will be able to obtain your employee identification number.
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Map out a menu for the cafe, depending on what you want to sell. This can range from basic coffee, tea and pastries to full meal service Determine your target audience. In a business area your menu would be considerably different than in a tourist area. Do you want to appeal to young diners, people in the neighborhood or perhaps trendy gourmets?
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Obtain all of the supplies you need to open your cafe, such as furniture, cash registers, credit card machines, espresso machines and coolers. You will also need tables, chairs, cups, utensils, cooking equipment, decorative items, condiments and any number of other items. Make a list of what you need and want and then narrow it down according to your budget.
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Unless you're working with family or partners, hire local employees and train them. It can be tempting to do all the work yourself as the owner of a small cafe but this is nearly impossible. In order to be successful, you must hire help that you trust and can rely on. Provide them with employee manuals or copies of the business plan.
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Open your cafe. Set a grand opening date if you desire, and make sure to advertise your cafe in the newspaper and pass out fliers to local businesses and people walking by. Try to put together an advertising plan that fits your budget; working with a publicist can help increase your chances of effective advertising.
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References
- Photo Credit sign. sign of cafe. open. access to cafe image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
