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Original poster

Leaving a good paying job for opening a coffee shop

153 replies

Goingindrain · 21/10/2025 11:53

There's a shop which is empty at my local high street and there are 3 restaurants and shops like Greggs, cake shop and dominos but no coffee shop where people can have a sit down grab a coffee and cake.
I am a working mum of 2 little kids - 1 and 4 years old. I earn more than 70k and have a good pension. I have been working for over 15 years and have opportunities to go up in the career ladder.
I feel like my priorities have changed so much after having kids.
Problem is I am not a baker myself so I will have to employ people. My work gives me flexibility but I want to run a business. I am into Tech so no experience of this.
Should I still consider it or scrap?

OP posts:
pinkdelight · 21/10/2025 12:00

Seems like a mad move to make with such little DC. If you're working for an employer, you'll presumably get the security and benefits of that and can get flexibility to be off if the kids are ill etc. If you work for yourself, no one covers you and you have to put your all into the business especially at the beginning. Unless you have a stack off cash as a buffer to get things up and running, I wouldn't make this change now - or any big change with a 1yo tbh. I'd wait until your life is on a more even keel and you're feeling yourself again - that feeling you have when they're babies doesn't last forever. But the main thing is it's not clear how running a coffee shop would give you a better family life than you have now.

Hoppinggreen · 21/10/2025 11:58

Good way to lose all your money and get into debt I would say.
Write a detailed Business Plan and see what you would need to take in to at least pay yourself Minimum wage within certain time frame and then see how you could do that while also juggling small children
Employing people is a whole other thing too - your staff call in sick and you have no childcare for example
Nice ideea but I doubt its practical unfortunately

osamu · 21/10/2025 11:57

maybe open it up slowly while still working? It would be a terrible idea to go heads first without having a backup…
advertise the shop and ask around to see if anyone’s interested or would spend money in the shop.

it might be slow but if you’re making it while working, it will be easy for renovations, pay etc while your starting up! Regardless, when your the boss, your usually not required to be in the shop 24/7 so you could go to work then and only come in for emergencies etc..

hire a sitter for the kids, but on off days try and spend as much time with them..

it will be hard work but if it pays off, then great!