How this buyer switched gears with a mobile coffee van

If you’re wondering how people feel when they take the leap of faith and buy a business, John Prasad is a great success story. After almost three decades in the same company, he decided it was time for a change. He bought his own business, and hasn’t looked back.

John shares his story of how he got to where he is, the hurdles he faced along the way, what a regular work-day now looks like, and his tips for others looking to follow in his business ownership footsteps.

Why did you decide to buy a business?

“I was tired of the industry I was in,” John shares. “I’d been there for 29 years, it felt very corporate. I wanted to do something for myself.”

That’s when he looked in a franchise magazine. The article John saw talked about coffee, and featured stories from mobile van owners. When John wondered what it might be like to own one, he realised that, “I’d never made a coffee or a donut in my life.”

He’d never owned a business, either, though his wife had. But he’d been weighing up a change for a while. And a mobile coffee van looked like an interesting idea.

How did you decide which mobile van business to buy?

“I talked to four different franchisors, and weighed up the pros and cons,” says John.

After doing plenty of research, and crunching the numbers, he decided to buy a Cafe2U mobile coffee van.

There was due diligence to do, training to undertake, and a code of conduct to understand and sign. But he didn’t dilly-dally. Six months after he’d stumbled across the article, John fired up the van engine for the first time. He was off and brewing.

Was it hard getting started?

“I went in boots and all,” says John. “It was a bit of a shock initially.”

Having had precisely zero experience running a café or food business before, John had to figure it out quickly. “There were a lot of firsts,” he says.

While John doesn’t consider himself a whizz with numbers and backroom tasks, he’s learned to keep up with the admin. “There’s simple stuff like bookkeeping, adhering to business practices, ordering stock…you don’t have to be an accountant.”

“My initial expectation of the job was nothing like actually doing it. It took me six months before I felt comfortable.”

In time, though, John got a handle on running the business and settled into a good routine.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

“Half an hour before I leave for a van run, I pack the van, get organised, and warm up the coffee machine,” he says.

“The business goes to about thirty regular stops a day. Many are the same every day. I honk my horn, and people come outside to get their coffee and food. Sometimes there are extra bookings. I roughly work in the van from 6am to 12:30pm.”

Have you achieved your goals?

“I wasn’t craving a specific lifestyle, I just wanted to be in charge, and take ownership of my life.”

John’s business has worked well for him with older children, and he’s now been working with coffee van franchises for 12 years. He’s bought two more in addition to his first. His son has worked for him since he left school, and he has another employee as well. “I’m very lucky to have them,” he says.

Was buying a business the right decision?

“Absolutely. It’s an excellent opportunity to work for yourself and control your own destiny,” he shares.

He relishes the fact that he’s responsible for his own success. “The buck stops with me. Yes, there’s ongoing support with a franchise. But you have to MAKE it work…or it doesn’t,” he says.

Would you recommend buying a mobile van franchise?

“I’d definitely buy a franchise again – it’s the only thing I’ve ever known. It’s great to have support, especially if you’re new to the industry. It’s the way to go.”

However, John says a mobile business might not work for those with younger kids. “There are early starts and you may have to work weekends. But if you build up a solid Monday to Friday, you’ll have from 2pm onwards to spend however you like.”

What’s your advice for other business buyers?

• “Go out and see what’s happening in the business in real life. I did ride-alongs so I knew what I was getting myself into.”
• “Do your due diligence. Ask lots of questions…don’t just hand over your money. Do as much research as possible.”
• “Do some budgeting, and set realistic expectations before you get carried away.”
• “It has to be the right fit for you and your family, and you need to have a really clear financial goal or model in mind. If you’re used to a certain lifestyle, you need to find something that can support it. Find out what the business’s earning capacity is, and ask yourself if you have what it takes to get there.”

For John, coffee and food van franchises have worked a treat. He’s gone from an unfulfilling corporate job, to a proud business owner. He goes to work every day for himself, and he wouldn’t change a thing.

“At the end of the day, it’s up to you…you’re the master of your own destiny.”

Ready to see what businesses are out there for you? Search for business opportunities now!