The essentials
- How consultants charge
- Hourly, per project, monthly or within a course
- Our packages
- 10, 15, or 32 hours
- Price
- $2,499 to $4,459 USD
- Per hour
- $139.34 USD to $249.90 USD
What does a coffee shop consultant do?
A coffee shop consultant helps turn the idea of a coffee business into concrete decisions: who you will sell to, which concept and menu make sense, what equipment to buy, how much you need to invest and how the day-to-day will run. A consultant does not open the café for you: the job is to help you decide with good judgment and in the right order, so you don't spend on what you don't need yet.
- Business model and concept, for example with a Business Model Canvas.
- A short, costed menu, and the choice of coffee, roaster and suppliers.
- Equipment and tools sized to the menu, the expected volume and the budget.
- An estimate of the total investment, with simple financial projections.
- An operations manual, bar training and the pre-opening.
How coffee shop consultants charge
There is no standard rate, and many consultants don't publish their prices. Most use one of these models:
| Model | How it works | Suits you if |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly or a block of hours | You buy a block of hours and decide how they are used. | You want to settle specific decisions and control the budget. |
| Per project | A fixed price for a defined scope, such as a business plan or a full opening. | The scope is already clear and you want one deliverable. |
| Monthly retainer | A fixed monthly fee for ongoing support. | The café is already open and you need regular follow-up. |
| Within a course | A few one-on-one sessions come with a group program. | You first need to understand the overall path. |
| Tied to a purchase | A coffee or equipment supplier advises you in exchange for your business. | You have already chosen the supplier and accept that dependence. |
What our consulting costs
We publish the full price because it is the first thing everyone asks. The three packages are hours of consulting, for clients outside Mexico, with no expiry date:
| Package | Hours | Price | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| A clear start (Essential) | 10 h | $2,499 USD | $249.90 USD |
| A deeper start (In depth) | 15 h | $3,269 USD | $217.93 USD |
| Close guidance (Full) | 32 h | $4,459 USD | $139.34 USD |
Prices for clients outside Mexico are in US dollars. Every package includes 2 months of access to El Café de los Sentidos Pro for your whole team (in Spanish) and unlimited access to the Coffee Bootcamp recordings. Payment is in advance, by card through Stripe, and the first session is scheduled within 72 hours. Not included: coffee, samples, equipment, packaging, shipping or travel expenses; payments to platforms, advertising, domains or outside suppliers; custom software development beyond the hours you hire.
How many hours do you need?
It depends on how clear the idea is and how much support you want. As a guide:
- 10 hours, A clear start. Ten hours to put the start in order: clarify where to begin, answer the most urgent questions and leave with concrete decisions and next steps. Ideal if your team wants clarity before buying equipment, signing a lease or committing money.
- 15 hours, A deeper start. The same foundations as the clear start, plus time to go deep on one or two topics that need it: menu and recipes, suppliers, operations or promotion, depending on your team's priorities. Ideal if, beyond putting the start in order, your team wants to nail down a topic before investing.
- 32 hours, Close guidance. Close guidance across several fronts all the way to opening: concept, menu, operations, training, brand or sales channels. Your team picks which; nothing is fixed in advance. Ideal if you and your team want guidance through the whole preparation and opening, not just at the start.
Hours never expire and you decide how they are used, so you don't need to plan everything up front. See examples of how to split them.
Consulting, a course, a platform or a franchise
Each path solves something different. This table helps you decide which one fits you now:
| Option | What you get | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly consulting | Work on your project: your numbers, your menu, your space and your decisions. | You have an idea and want to land it without costly mistakes. |
| A course on opening a coffee shop | The whole path, taught in a group with a fixed program. | You are still exploring and want the big picture before investing. |
| A platform with tools | Lessons and tools to learn and run numbers at your own pace. | You want to practice and calculate on your own. |
| A franchise | A brand, suppliers and processes already in place, for an upfront fee and royalties that vary by brand. | You would rather run a proven model than build your own. |
| On your own | Full control and the lowest spend on advice. | You already have experience running coffee shops. |
They are not mutually exclusive: many people start with a course and hire consulting hours when it is time to decide. We also run the course Cómo iniciar tu cafetería and the platform El Café de los Sentidos Pro, both in Spanish.
How to choose a coffee shop consultant
Before hiring anyone, us included, ask:
- Have they opened or run a coffee shop of their own?
- Do they publish their price and what each hour includes?
- Can they show real, verifiable clients or projects?
- Do they have coffee training, such as from the Specialty Coffee Association or the Q Arabica Grader certification?
- Do they sell equipment or coffee? If so, how do they keep advice separate from sales?
- Who sets the priorities: you, or a fixed syllabus?
- Can they work in your language?
We run our own specialty café in Coyoacán, Mexico City, we are members of the Specialty Coffee Association, our founder is a Q Arabica Grader, and since 2023 we have taught the official course on starting a coffee business at Expo Café. Sessions run in English or Spanish. See our track record and some clients, with sources.
When is a consultant worth it?
- Before you sign a lease or buy equipment: that is when a mistake costs the most.
- When you have several ideas and need to decide where to start.
- When you need an investment estimate to know whether the project is viable.
- When you are about to hire staff and need recipes, processes and training.
It may not be worth it if you only want to explore the idea without deciding yet. In that case a course or a platform is usually a better first step.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a coffee shop consultant charge per hour?
It depends on the model and the experience, and many don't publish a rate. Ours is between $139.34 USD and $249.90 USD an hour, depending on the package: the more hours you buy, the lower the hourly price.
Can I hire a coffee shop consultant online?
Yes. Our sessions can be online, in person or hybrid, in English or Spanish, so they work from any city or country. Travel and expenses are paid separately.
Do the consulting hours expire?
No. Hours never expire and are used as the project needs them; at the start we agree with your team how to use them, and the plan can change.
Can I pay from outside Mexico?
Yes. Clients outside Mexico pay in US dollars, by card through Stripe; clients in Mexico pay in pesos, through Mercado Pago or bank transfer (SPEI). Payment is in advance either way.