Customer Story

Brian Sung: Tailored Coffee Roasters

Background

Tailored Coffee Roasters is a coffee roasting business and café located in Eugene, Oregon, founded by Brian Sung in April 2020. Brian, who comes from a family of restaurateurs, developed a passion for coffee while running a spin-off business of his family's popular local diner. Tailored Coffee focuses on Scandinavian-style light roasts that bring out the unique flavors of high-quality beans. The business combines a roasting operation with a café, where customers can watch their coffee being roasted and enjoy it in various drinks, including unique creations like the Café Tonic.

"Trying to open a new business is very time-consuming, and since I was running another business while I was trying to set up Tailored, I didn't have a lot of time."

Brian Sung

Owner, Tailored Coffee Roasters

Problem

Brian faced several challenges in turning his coffee roasting hobby into a full-fledged business. He needed to find a suitable location that could accommodate both a café and roasting equipment, differentiate his offering in a city known for excellent small-batch coffee roasters, and secure funding for the venture. Additionally, as he was already running his family business , Brian struggled to find the time to create the comprehensive business plan he knew he would need to secure a small business loan.

Solution

On a friend's recommendation, Brian turned to LivePlan to help him create his business plan. The software's user-friendly interface and guided process allowed Brian to quickly input the necessary information and financial projections, saving him valuable time. LivePlan helped Brian price out the costs of purchasing roasting equipment, remodeling the coffee shop, and other expenses associated with opening Tailored Coffee. This comprehensive plan not only helped Brian organize his thoughts and strategy but also proved crucial in securing a bank loan.

Outcome

Using LivePlan, Brian successfully created a business plan that helped him secure initial funding for Tailored Coffee. When remodeling costs exceeded the initial budget, the solid foundation provided by his LivePlan-created business plan allowed him to pivot quickly, launching a successful Kickstarter campaign that not only covered the additional expenses but also served as effective marketing for the new business. Tailored Coffee has since become a successful operation, offering in-store sales, a unique café experience, and a growing wholesale business. The company now supplies coffee to various local businesses, including Brian's family's diner. Brian credits LivePlan with saving him significant time and effort in the planning process, allowing him to focus on bringing his vision for Tailored Coffee to life while still managing his other business responsibilities.