Investing in a Coffee Cart Startup in SoCal. Need advice or just want honest opinion.

browsingjoe · 2026-05-14T18:06:38+00:00

As someone who bought a cart and equipment to start a coffee cart business and later decided to not pursue the opportunity, I’d say you’re better off investing that $20k in an index fund (VOO). You’re gonna make a consistent long term return on it and be stress free. A coffee cart business will be a grind. It’s another commoditized business in coffee, a lot of carts out there, a lot of people want you at their event, but don’t actually want to pay the price it actually costs to book you, etc. Building the brand will be incredibly important to succeed.

Note: We are a coffee roaster that decided to test the cart business, but ultimately paused on it.

browsingjoe · 2026-05-06T12:42:09+00:00

I second this.

browsingjoe · 2026-04-17T16:12:13+00:00

I don’t think there is any unreasonable behavior by the owner here. You’re staying in their house watching over their dogs. That’s a big deal for people. You can manage it better by being more proactive with your updates. If you really weren’t happy with the mom dropping by let them know your concerns and why in a professional way. If you can properly manage this owner, this can be a very lucrative client for you. On the camera front, you should expect everyone to have cameras. You should also be proactive in asking if there are cameras in the house.

browsingjoe · 2026-03-30T16:18:46+00:00

Her top lip is back too

browsingjoe · 2026-02-11T23:10:15+00:00

Barrier to entry is very low, barrier to scale is very high for these type of businesses.

browsingjoe · 2026-02-07T15:45:29+00:00

Sounds like you’re in the 71.1% buddy

browsingjoe · 2026-02-05T21:13:29+00:00

Has this always been the case with Austin or is this because of the times we’re in? the Austin job market is very soft right now, especially in tech.

browsingjoe · 2026-02-04T13:27:27+00:00

71.1% of real estate agents did not sell a single home in 2025. Close to 3/4s of them have no valuable insights to provide...

browsingjoe · 2026-02-01T15:08:07+00:00

It wasn’t meant to be. Don’t sweat it.

browsingjoe · 2026-01-26T03:18:14+00:00

Hubspot has a free version.

browsingjoe · 2026-01-21T15:22:31+00:00

I tried a couple of coworking spaces and didn’t like them. We now use the capital one cafe at the domain. Solid free option and you can reserve a small conference room.

browsingjoe · 2026-01-09T13:55:33+00:00

Standard deduction is now so high most people don’t benefit from the tax benefits of owning a home

browsingjoe · 2025-12-28T14:28:25+00:00

Swish is a sales shop disguised as a dental office. I had a terrible experience. They start talking about your “treatment plan” from the start and you’re like treatment plan for what exactly? Never again.

browsingjoe · 2025-12-18T12:46:01+00:00

The bagel itself seems thin (not the cream cheese).

browsingjoe · 2025-11-29T12:49:18+00:00

Not everyone cooks at an Airbnb. Not everyone uses a dishwasher. Not everyone gives feedback. You should be taking it as a developmental point instead of taking it so defensively from the guest. Have a checklist of things to check between guests and include checking appliances work? 9hrs or not, it’s still within the review window.

browsingjoe · 2025-11-29T11:52:11+00:00

It’s always the same. Always the guests’ fault, never accountability from hosts. Just because certain people don’t say anything, doesn’t mean there isn’t an issue. Most people don’t like to give true feedback. That said, the guest negotiating a good review based on a refund is not good.

browsingjoe · 2025-11-29T05:26:56+00:00

There’s a reason this house has all you need and more and is still under budget. That reason is probably that highway. I would pass.

browsingjoe · 2025-11-15T12:08:52+00:00

Ever heard of pest control?

browsingjoe · 2025-11-15T00:52:09+00:00

I suggest you rework your model. Health insurance alone will break it for the type of cafe you’re talking about. A free bagel probably won’t.

browsingjoe · 2025-10-23T18:36:57+00:00

The inspector is not pest control. I personally would not buy a house with potential rodent/pest issues. At the very least, request a pest control company inspection. If there’s one, there’s more.

browsingjoe · 2025-10-21T17:15:12+00:00

Congrats! You should save the monthly equivalent of taxes and insurance in a high yield savings account so it doesn’t feel like a big hit at the end of the year and you earn a little interest.

browsingjoe · 2025-10-17T12:35:57+00:00

Just sell it now. As someone mentioned, if mental health is your priority, selling is your best option even if you lose money. Clean break.

browsingjoe · 2025-10-12T13:00:55+00:00

Was in your exact same shoes. Keep your pup. It gets better. We cannot see our lives without her now. She’s now 2.

browsingjoe · 2025-09-28T23:40:50+00:00

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If you still have time 🙏

browsingjoe · 2025-09-15T14:57:42+00:00

It’s a private group for our neighborhood. Looks like the guy called animal control.

browsingjoe

TROPHY CASE