Skybank Business Loans, a small-business funding service in Wausau, Wisconsin, explains cafe business loans for Marathon County coffee shops, juice bars and bakery cafes: espresso and bakery equipment, counter build-outs, working capital and buying an existing cafe. The county had 30 snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars with employees in 2023 (CBP).
At a glance
- Coffee shops and snack bars with employees, Marathon County, WI
30 (CBP 2023, NAICS 722515)
- With fewer than five employees
18 (CBP 2023)
- Annual payroll
$5.1 million (CBP 2023)
Coffee shops and snack bars in Marathon County, WI
Cafe business loans here serve a trade of small counters. Marathon County had 30 snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars with employees in 2023, the Census category that holds coffee shops, juice bars and similar counters (CBP, NAICS 722515). 18 of them, 60.0%, had fewer than five employees, and 11 had an address in ZIP 54403 (ZBP 2023).
They paid $5.1 million in annual payroll (CBP 2023). Bakeries that sell mainly from their own counter can fall under other codes, so the count describes coffee and beverage counters rather than every cafe.
A cafe business loan for a Wausau, WI coffee shop
A cafe business loan is read on deposits, which for a coffee shop arrive in many small card transactions every day. That pattern shows clearly in the bank statements. The purpose decides the shape: equipment financing for machines, working capital for stock and wages, a term loan for a build-out or purchase.
Coffee shop loans: questions Wausau, WI owners ask
- Espresso machine, grinders and water filtration
- Bakery ovens, proofers and display cases
- Counter and seating build-out in a leased space
- Opening stock of beans, milk, cups and baked goods
- A second location or a drive-through window
- Buying an established cafe from its owner
Coffee shop business loan: a Marathon County, WI overview
A commercial espresso machine is a durable, resaleable asset, so it suits equipment financing with the machine as security. Grinders, brewers and filtration can go on the same quote. Ask whether the dealer includes installation and a service plan, and whether those costs can be financed with the machine.
Illustration only, invented figures: an $18,000 espresso setup financed over 36 months at an assumed annual rate of 12% runs about $598 a month. In this invented example, at a margin of $2.50 a drink, the payment equals about 239 drinks a month, which the owner checks against current sales.
Coffee shop small business loan: questions Wausau, WI owners ask
A small business loan for a coffee shop works the same way as for a larger restaurant, with smaller numbers. A partner reads three to six months of bank statements, the latest tax return, a profit and loss statement and the lease. For a counter build-out, add contractor bids. The cash advance page shows how to price an advance against a loan.
Working capital for a Wausau, WI coffee counter
Coffee, dairy and baked goods are bought days ahead and sold within the week, so a cafe's stock cycle is short. A short working capital loan or a small line of credit can cover a gap, such as stocking up for a catering contract or carrying wages while a new location builds its sales. Size the request to the gap, not to the limit a partner might allow.
Loan to buy a cafe: a Marathon County, WI overview
Buying an existing cafe means getting the seller's sales by month, cost of goods, labor costs, lease terms and equipment list. Partners may ask for a down payment and for the buyer's experience. Check the espresso machine's age and service history; replacing it soon after purchase changes the math.
A business loan to buy a cafe in Wausau, WI
A business loan to buy a cafe is a term loan sized to the price minus the down payment. The partner tests whether the cafe's past cash flow covers the payment plus the new owner's pay. Ask whether the price includes the equipment, the stock on hand and the name, and whether the lease can be assigned for at least the loan's term.
A second Marathon County, WI location or a drive-through window
Growth for a cafe can mean a second counter, a drive-through lane, or a wholesale line supplying beans or baked goods to other businesses. Each one adds a build-out, equipment and a period before the new sales arrive. A partner will ask how the first location performs on its own, what the expansion costs in total, and how long the existing cash flow can carry the new payment before the second site pays its way. Bring the lease or site plan, contractor bids and the equipment quote together.
An expansion request is clearer when the original cafe's statements cover a year or more of steady deposits.
Records for a coffee shop request
- Bank and card processing statements
- Latest filed tax return
- Profit and loss statement with cost of goods
- The lease
- Equipment quote or seller's equipment list
For neighboring trades, see restaurant loans, bar business loans, the industries list and the Marathon County data page.
By Skybank Business Loans · Updated
