Jessngraham
New member
- Jan 3, 2026
- 1
- 0
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for timeline advice and any other words of wisdom. I’m planning to retire early (10-15 years out tentatively) from my sales career and I’d like to have a coffee shop as a business/ passion project/ to serve my immediate neighborhood. I aim to profit and run it like a business, but I would not be going into it with the expectation that it would be my sole source of income. Really, I wish I could open something now because my neighborhood is missing a “third place” that’s convenient and family friendly. I simply can’t add a new business to my plate right now but I certainly can plan and learn!
Besides lack of coffee industry knowledge, my concern is that my ideal property- a quaint cottage along the main road- will be too expensive or occupied by the time I’m ready to make a move. So, I’m considering making a buy when the opportunity presents itself, renting it out as a residence, and then petitioning for a zoning variance when I retire.
The potential properties I’m considering wouldn’t be the best residential rental investment. The incentive would be buying early before other people realize how much there is a need for food, coffee, and meet up places in my neighborhood.
I have a side business with a few rental properties that I self manage so I’m knowledgeable on the landlording aspect. I would have no guarantee that a zoning permit would be allowed when the time comes, but it’s promising that the area I’m interested in is already mixed use.
If you were in my shoes what would you do?
I’m looking for timeline advice and any other words of wisdom. I’m planning to retire early (10-15 years out tentatively) from my sales career and I’d like to have a coffee shop as a business/ passion project/ to serve my immediate neighborhood. I aim to profit and run it like a business, but I would not be going into it with the expectation that it would be my sole source of income. Really, I wish I could open something now because my neighborhood is missing a “third place” that’s convenient and family friendly. I simply can’t add a new business to my plate right now but I certainly can plan and learn!
Besides lack of coffee industry knowledge, my concern is that my ideal property- a quaint cottage along the main road- will be too expensive or occupied by the time I’m ready to make a move. So, I’m considering making a buy when the opportunity presents itself, renting it out as a residence, and then petitioning for a zoning variance when I retire.
The potential properties I’m considering wouldn’t be the best residential rental investment. The incentive would be buying early before other people realize how much there is a need for food, coffee, and meet up places in my neighborhood.
I have a side business with a few rental properties that I self manage so I’m knowledgeable on the landlording aspect. I would have no guarantee that a zoning permit would be allowed when the time comes, but it’s promising that the area I’m interested in is already mixed use.
If you were in my shoes what would you do?
