It’s great to learn from your mistakes. It’s even better to learn from the mistakes of others.

If you’re aspiring to open a small business, a great first step is to find others who have been there, done that, and sold the T-Shirt. One great resource to find that information is question-and-answer site, Quora. This site helps people get answers from real, experienced people. We’ve curated five threads that we think provide some food for thought for the new small business owner.

1. What things do you need to consider when opening up a tea/coffee lounge?

Read Roger Abramson‘s answer to What things do you need to consider when opening up a tea/coffee lounge? on Quora

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2. What are the best names for a coffee shop?

Read Kim Raymoure‘s answer to What are the best names for a coffee shop? on Quora

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3. How do you keep a coffee shop from failing?

What are the most common pitfalls café startups run into?
Why is it that they seem to have to work such long hours and cut corners just to stay ahead?
Why does this seem like such a competitive and impossible to succeed in the coffee industry?
How can these problems be avoided or dealt with?

Read Peter Baskerville‘s answer to Why do most café startups fail? on Quora

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4. What is the most challenging part of running the operations of a coffee shop?

Read Peter Baskerville‘s answer to What is the most challenging part of running the operations of a coffee shop? on Quora

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5. What resources are available to help people open a small coffee shop?

Read Peter Baskerville‘s answer to What resources are available to help people open a small coffee shop? on Quora

Starting and running a successful coffee shop business is no easy feat. If you’re thinking of taking the entrepreneurial plunge, Quora, the popular Q&A service can help you maximize your potential for long-term success.

Paul Nugent

Paul Nugent

Paul Nugent is a small business advocate who uses his background in the startup space, along with his POS system expertise, to allow small business owners to make informed decisions within their specific budgets.