Moving to Alaska can be exciting, and it can be really rewarding to start a business when you get there. Just like in other states, coffee shops perform very well in Alaska, and this might be the right kind of business to help you to get settled in your new life in this state. You will want to be sure that you know what the process of opening a coffee shop in Alaska is so that you are not shocked when you start work on your business.
All businesses are required to meet certain requirements for maintaining their business as well as for starting it, so you should be aware of these requirements as well. Food handling licenses and permits are also required for the business and for the people who work there.
What Are the State Requirements for Starting a Coffee Shop Business in Alaska?
State requirements can vary in Alaska based on when you open a brick-and-mortar store or a mobile unit. Pushcarts might have different requirements than mobile units in vehicles as well. You will need to have excess supplies for all of these mobile unit styles, and you will need to get a permit to operate in a location that might vary. Each location will require a permit for you to serve customers.
All of the state requirements for cleanliness and food safety must be followed by all coffee shops, regardless of whether they are mobile or not. The basic state-level requirements for coffee shops of all types are:
· A plan review application for your business submitted 30 days before the construction of the establishment or the start of business operations.
· Payment of the fees associated with your application
· Plot plan
· Floor plan
· Plumbing and waste disposal plan
· Established business entity
· Copies of all related use permits for location and shop space
· A food establishment application must be submitted, and fees for this process paid
Types of Licenses You Need to Get Before Opening a Coffee Shop in Alaska
Alaska Business License
You will need to establish an Alaska business entity and pay all fees associated with its creation. You will also need your business to be registered and to maintain its registration while your coffee shop is open and operating.
Alaska Food Service License
The business and all food handlers will need to have food service licensing in place when the shop is operational. There might be added licenses that you need to acquire if your shop is going to serve meat products.
There are various kinds of food service licenses that you might need. You would need to have food permits, a DEC permit, a temporary food permit, and a cottage food license. Make sure that you look into all of these different terms to find out if they apply to your business. This can be an area where getting help from an expert at the Alaska State Business Bureau can be very useful. They do actually offer guidance for your business formation so that you do not miss any steps or do anything wrong that might impact your business operation.
Additional Things You Need to Have to Be in the Coffee Shop Business in Alaska
Your Alaskan coffee shop will be subject to inspection by state examiners once a year at least and if there are issues that are found with your business you could be fined or shut down. Safe food handling needs to be maintained even if food is not served in your shop. This applies to all kinds of coffee businesses, and carts and mobile units are not exempt.
Workers will need to be protected with insurance and worker’s compensation depending upon their status as full-time or part-time workers. You will need to be sure that you are aware of the various requirements for employment as well so that you are hiring people who are licensed and certified to be handling food in the state of Alaska.
Things You Need to do to Stay in the Coffee Shop Business in Alaska
You will have room to expand your shops in many cities and regions of Alaska, but you will need to be sure that you have the infrastructure in place to manage more than just a single shop before you grow your business. Always being sure that you have the money on hand to keep the lights on and replace machinery and other devices is critical so that your business does not have to be closed for a time while these issues are resolved.
The most important thing that you can do to stay in the coffee shop business is to be sure that you are fully licensed and permitted to operate. You will also want to be certain that your shop is operating within the confines of the law and that safe food handling is being done by all staff that works for you. You cannot cut corners with these details without causing issues that could cause your shop to be closed down.
Evaluate the Market Before You Decide to Open a Coffee Shop in the State of Alaska
No matter where you think you want to open a coffee shop business in Alaska, you need to be sure that you evaluate the area first. Some areas might have too many different coffee shops already operating in them for your business to get a foothold. You need to be able to have room to operate and grow your business or you might not be able to get a coffee shop off the ground. While Alaska is a market where there are not too many coffee shops operating, you can still make a bad decision about the location of your first store.
Always make sure that you check the area and the statistics about sales for coffee before you determine where you want to open your shop. This is the best way to make sure that you have a sound business plan in place for success.
