money
Loans are by far the most common way. Other ways include angel investors (not easy for coffee shops) and family/friends (comes with its own set of problems). Don't fall for the promises of Grants. They really don't exist for opening a coffee shop. SBA loans are the most common way to get a small business off the ground but they take a lot of work on your part and a lot of time. Although I got my loan and had no previous experience.
I would suggest a small cafe to start with. One you could run no other employees if you had to. That first year is a tough one especially if you are open a new shop that you built.
Another way to get a loan is to buy an existing coffee shop. It's easier to get a loan because banks can already see your income stream. Also you'd have a built in customer base that you can expand from.
