World of Coffee San Diego 2026

The Profitable Cafe: Financial Strategies for Sustainable Success ($) (Room 30B)

12 Apr 26
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Tracks: Workshop

Speaker(s): Erica Escalante
What does a healthy cafe budget look like? And how do you match that to the reality of operations? In the dynamic job of running a cafe, a solid grasp of budgeting is vital for sustainable success. This workshop is designed to empower cafe owners, managers, and aspiring entrepreneurs with the foundational tools to create, analyze, and optimize a budget that drives profitability. Attendees will dive into key areas of the P&L—like cost of goods (COGs), labor, and occupancy—to understand how each impacts the overall health of their business and how to control them ongoing via operational decisions. Using a fill-in-the-blank workbook, attendees actively engage in analyzing financial metrics, calculating ideal expense percentages, and learning actionable methods to control costs. This workshop transforms complex financial concepts into manageable, practical steps. Plus, we’ll explore real strategies for boosting cafe sales and inspiring cafe workers to engage better with the business. Attendees will leave feeling enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and equipped with practical budgeting insights to support their cafe's growth. This workshop would be perfect for people brand new to these concepts or even experienced cafe owners who are having a difficult time controlling expenses. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify and understand key budget components in a cafe business, how to analyze them in your own business, and how to strategically control them ongoing through operational leadership 2. Gain a clear understanding of how to build, read, and leverage a P&L statement specifically for the cafe business to assess the café’s financial health and make informed decisions. 3. Explore strategies to increase top-line revenue through effective upselling, product mix adjustments, and employee engagement 4. Walk away with a holistic budgeting approach that combines financial discipline with strategic decision-making, supporting sustainable growth