85. The Art and Science Behind Staffing New Coffee Locations

SUMMARY: In this lively episode of The Coffee Experts Club Podcast, Aaron and Ben dive into the art of staffing for new coffee shop locations, sharing hard-earned lessons from opening dozens of stores.   With spring bringing a wave of grand openings for their clients, the duo explores how to build a winning team for a new location. They discuss the importance of balancing veteran and new baristas (aiming for at least a 50/50 split), assessing a location's traffic potential, and avoiding the costly mistake of gutting profitable stores to staff new ones. From crafting ascension plans for assistant managers to ensuring high-volume shops have seasoned leaders, Aaron and Ben offer practical strategies to set up new locations for success while protecting existing cash cows.   Packed with actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for coffee entrepreneurs planning new openings or refining their staffing strategy. Visit myfirstdrivethru.coffee for a free masterclass on launching new locations, and connect with Aaron and Ben on social media for tailored insights to fuel your coffee business growth. Tune in for a blend of humor, wisdom, and operational expertise!     Minute by Minute: 0:00 Introduction 3:08 Not everything has to fall on you 5:16 Let's think differently about starting a new location 7:03 The magic behind a good location hiring 12:00 Veteran to brand new barista ratio 16:47 Having a training system for assistant managers