business plan help

[Sarlon]

I have the best idea fora business based here in my college town. I saw it while driving in Nags head, where I was recently on vacation.

its a building about the size of a car wash, only a couple of parking slots for employees and delivery drivers. Its called "Brew Throu". you drive through the opening on one end, and people bring you beer, ice, snacks, and if my state allows it, booze.

Of course I would check my state laws, to see what all can be sold in a single building. its like a convience store, but you don't have to get out of your car.

so i need help writing up a business plan upto and including costs of building (would likely have to build it myself, rather then a prefab building), payroll, stocking, licenses, training, etc.

[Seanette]

I'm skeptical that the beer part would be legal, but check on that. You'd also, to avoid liability if not to be a responsible citizen, need to make sure your servers are trained on alcohol law, including NOT selling to someone underage or already intoxicated.

Making it so much more convenient to drink while driving doesn't strike me as a good thing.

[Kittish]

I've actually seen this done, in a couple of states. Seanette is right, you'd need to check with local laws to see if this sort of 'drive-thru' would be legal where you are, and what you'd be allowed to sell.

[mjr]

Check local laws, of course, but I know some places have places similar to this, but WRT the alcohol, you couldn't just hand a guy a bottle of beer. You'd have to put it in the trunk of his car, I believe.

At least that's the understanding I have of the law here in Texas where I live.

[BearLeeBadenaugh]

It really depends on the state laws. I know that the drive thru convenience store is common in Ohio, but not sure where else.

You're SOL if you're in one of the 18 ABC states. State run stores and licensing, very little if any private stores. There's another 5 states that only allow supermarkets and convenience stores to sell only low-point beer, so SOL there without a full liquor license.

One thing I've noticed in regards to the drive through liquor store, there is some confusion to the name because people are so used to the typical fast food drive through. You're not buying a beverage to drink on the spot, you're still buying packaged goods to be consumed at a later time. Not "thanks for the beer. Sluuuuuurp" One of the stores in my wife's hometown in Ohio insists on placing your alcohol in the trunk or in the back out of reach of the driver.


Another thing that I've only seen in Texas and Louisiana are drive-throughs that sell frozen drinks like daquiris and margaritas. They aren't considered an open container by the law unless you open/remove the lid(the one time I bought one, it came with the lid taped on), place in a straw, or remove some of the contents.

Here's a link with a couple different brew-thrus to check out. Give you some ideas. http://www.thrillist.com/travel/nati...-liquor-stores

[Ophbalance]

PA has these as well. My wife's cousin owned one in the past. But PA has really odd liquor laws.

[Javarod]

I knew of a drive through liquor store down in Ocean County, NJ, but they were uncommon in Jersey. Definitely find out what your local laws are regarding liquor stores, from there its just a matter of location and building. Weigh the pros and cos of existing vs prefab vs custom. Be flexible, one drive through liquor store i saw in Philly was a building with front and rear roll up doors. You drove in the front, and out the back. Other options might be to pick up a vacant fast food building if one is available in your area, here in STL those things are a dime a dozen.

[Mytical]

I know somebody who had to write a business plan for a class they took. I will see if they have any advice.

[mjr]

FedEx started out as a paper that Fred W. Smith wrote in an economics class...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_W._Smith