Practical template
Coffee Shop Due Diligence Checklist Template
This coffee shop checklist template helps buyers test whether a cafe business is worth buying before they rely on seller claims or pay a deposit.
Use it as a printable due diligence checklist with Yes / No verification, source evidence, and a 0-100 risk score. Missing records, owner dependency, weak morning traffic, high rent, and uncertain staff transfer should increase the score.
Printable checklist format
- Financial records: POS exports, bank deposits, tax filings, delivery payouts, payroll, and supplier invoices.
- Location evidence: weekday morning count, weekend traffic, parking, visibility, nearby offices, and competitor density.
- Staff transfer: barista tenure, recipe documentation, opening procedures, schedule coverage, and owner labor replacement.
- Equipment review: espresso machine, grinders, refrigeration, HVAC, water filtration, ovens, POS, and maintenance logs.
- Lease risk: rent per sqft, assignment approval, renewal options, rent increases, permitted use, and repair duties.
Yes / No decision structure
- Mark Yes only when a claim is supported by source documents or direct observation.
- Mark No when the seller cannot provide records, the evidence conflicts, or the risk depends on verbal reassurance.
- Record the evidence file, owner explanation, required follow-up, and estimated cost impact for every No item.
Risk scoring system
- 0-40: Lower risk. Records, lease, staff, equipment, and repeat demand are mostly verified.
- 41-70: Medium risk. Renegotiate price, require seller transition support, or delay closing until evidence is stronger.
- 71-100: High risk. Do not buy unless the price, lease, liabilities, and transfer risk are materially restructured.
Download full checklist template
CTA: Download checklist PDF. Use the template with the Coffee Shop Buying Checklist before making a final acquisition decision.