How to test a coffee shop location by buying window
Startup Costs | Blank working worksheet | September 6, 2026
https://startup-costs.com/guides/coffee-location/

Result to produce: A buying-window transaction test and an evidence record for comparing candidate locations.

Business and format:
Address or service area:
Prepared by:
Date:

BEFORE YOU START
Record the exact frontage, observation dates, window duration, direction of travel, access and trading conditions. Keep customer counts and transactions distinct: one transaction may serve more than one person.

CALCULATION INPUTS
Relevant passers-by observed in the window (count):
Assumed share who buy (%):
Length of the buying window (minutes):
Independent service lanes at the bottleneck (count):
Bottleneck lane-minutes per transaction (minutes):
Average transaction value (USD):
Variable cost per transaction (USD):

Use the guide calculator for formulas and results. Enter your own values and retain the evidence for each assumption.

DECISION RECORD
1. Observation window
Address, date, start, end, weather and unusual conditions
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

2. Relevant movement
Count, direction, access and counting method
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

3. Purchase evidence
Offer, actual paid test, price, sample and transfer limits
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

4. Service test
Bottleneck, lanes, timing, queue and lost orders
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

5. Unit economics
Ticket, variable cost and contribution per window
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

6. Site comparison
Comparable windows, total occupancy cost and unresolved facts
Finding or value:
Evidence, scope and date:
Status (Unverified / Assumed / Supported / Needs review):
Next action, person and date:

DECISION RULES
If: The case depends on an untested purchase percentage
Action: Collect a comparable paid test before treating the forecast as supported demand.

If: Peak demand exceeds measured service capacity
Action: Test a feasible service change and its costs before assuming extra transactions.

If: A site works only in an exceptional observation window
Action: Repeat ordinary trading periods and rebuild the daily case.

YOUR DECISION
Next commitment:
Conditions still to resolve:
Decision and reason:
Next review date:

Sources and background:
SBA: planning a business: https://www.sba.gov/counseling/plan-your-business/

This is a blank personal planning worksheet. Its completion is not an approval, a market estimate or a completed state research record.
The examples and calculator defaults on the guide are authored illustrations. Keep your own evidence and limitations with any result.
Financial information supports planning and education and is not personalized financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Results do not guarantee costs, revenue, profit or financing.