That is interesting ... I'd assumed they were franchises as the cost of fitting out the premises must be huge and in the two examples I have quoted, there isn't enough business to support the number of outlets they are running

One way of having a succesful business is you can take something people are already doing and doing it better. In fact, do it really, really well.

Let us take something as simple as fish and chips.. yeah.. yawn, they are all over the place. But, what if instead of buying a batter mix, you experimented and came up with a really good batter. And instead of serving frozen chips out of a bag, you hand cut the potatoes and made them fresh every day. And you made your tartar sauce and a knock out mushy peas. Try it. You are guaranteed to have line ups every day. Even in this recession and doom and gloom.

I don`t think many Spanish would go into a Starbucks when they can get great coffee in any bar for a €.

That's right, to a point. (and in fact Starbucks are now closing 100s of their outlets worldwide). However what you have to remember that Starbucks aren't really selling coffee. They're selling an image, an experience, a (non-smoking) place where trendy people can spend 80 minutes drinking a skinny flappy crapuccino. Which is part of the reason their prices have to be so high. They did seem to be successful in Madrid when I lived there (quite often filled with Sandinavian cabin crew for some reason).

That was probably the mile high club in the kitchen attracting them. ;-))

Couldn't agree more .. the ones in Sevilla are very close to the University, Giralda and Cathedral and seem to mainly attract foreign students and foreign tourists ... the Spanish chain Cafe des Indias (one of which is close to Starbucks on Avenida de Constitution) sells highly superior coffee and cakes at a very competitive price ... that is where those in the know, and also a lot of Spaniards, go

Last year I read an article about coffee shops. Apparently the only key to success (presuming the staff aren't psychopaths and systematically poison the customers) is the location: putting them close to the paths people take from A to B. It may be that Starbucks have so many outlets close to each other is simply to prevent competitors using those sites.

Starbucks is not competing directly with the local Spanish chains. People go to Starbucks because they know that Latte they order in Sevilla will taste similar to the one they ordered in New York. In a new city, there is a comfort factor to that. And the locals who go to Starbucks do so because it is American. Many people are enamored by America and dream of living in the US. At Starbucks they can partake in that American lifestyle.

As for Cafe de Indias, they do actually offer franchises.

You would be amazed,especially with the younger people. The thing is they have so many different varieties of coffee,cappuchinos,frappuchinos etc etc.
The one I went to in Barcelona was always full. I agree you do pay more than your standard coffee but you also pay for the fact you can sit and enjoy it sitting on one of their nice sofas with a piece of their really nice cake and enjoy their wi-fi spot.
Totally different to your spanish cafeteria.

Buy a ice cream van & go along the beachs selling 99s you would make a fortune i think

Interesting fact in the paper the other day. there are around 67,000 varieties of coffee combinations that can be ordered in Starbucks.

Ok, so maybe not that interesting :-)

you news bussiness how and dos off it

1 Financing A New Business , how much you going to lay out for your frist year
2 Can be online for you house are you need to rent shop
3 Advertising , to hom from loacl paper , radio , tv and online
4 listen to you loacl heads and find out what there giving out about , could you improve it and make a living
5 Paper work is 90 % off you new company
6 Pay you taxes
7 Staff , you cant be there 24/7 , you need holidays and days off

there my tips

I think you have had some really helpful and thoughtful replies to your original question but they have really only addressed the question of what might be a good market. This is obviously a key question (probably the most important one anyway). But it seems to me it's only one side of the equation. The other side is "what do you have a genuine enthusiasm for?" I've done a lot of different things during my business life, and some of them have made me a good income but the ones I feel have been a total success are the ones I have enjoyed and had a natural aptitude for. So, where do your skills and personal interests lie?

Why the F**k do you want to associate with Ars**** yanks Italians make much better everything than the Yanks especially coffee and ice cream dont market anything American everyone hates them .