Cabin Coffee Co.: Brewing Community and Flavor with a Rustic Touch

Cabin Coffee Co. was established in December 2002 by Brad and Angie Barber in Clear Lake, Iowa. The company’s headquarters remain at Clear Lake, IA. Seeing an opportunity to expand, the brand launched its franchise program in 2007, opening its first franchised shop in St. Charles, Minnesota, that November.

Known for its commitment to fresh coffee, Cabin Coffee Co. roasts its beans in-house at every location, guaranteeing top-notch flavor and quality. The menu goes beyond coffee, featuring blended beverages, pastries, sandwiches, salads, and soups to satisfy a wide range of tastes.

What truly sets Cabin Coffee Co. apart is its charming Western and Northwoods-inspired design, creating a warm and welcoming space for guests. Combined with a strong emphasis on community involvement and standout customer service, Cabin Coffee Co. delivers an experience that distinguishes it in the competitive coffee market.

Training

Cabin Coffee Co. provides a thorough training program to help franchisees successfully operate their coffee shops and maintain the brand’s standards. Here’s an overview of the key training components they offer:

1. Initial Training Program
   Franchisees and up to four key staff members attend a six-week training program at Cabin Coffee Co.’s headquarters in Clear Lake, Iowa. This program covers essential areas like operations, management, customer service, food preparation, and equipment use.
2. On-Site Training
   Cabin Coffee Co. sends a dedicated training team to the franchisee’s location for 10 days around the store’s opening. This hands-on support helps staff apply what they’ve learned in real-time, ensuring smooth operations during the critical launch phase.
3. Operations Manual and Ongoing Support
   Franchisees receive a detailed operations manual that serves as a day-to-day reference guide. Cabin Coffee Co. also provides ongoing coaching and assistance, including periodic visits and phone consultations, to help with continuous improvement.
4. Marketing and Business Development Training
   Franchisees are trained in local marketing strategies, community engagement, and financial management to help drive growth and profitability over the long term.

Territory Protection

Cabin Coffee Co. offers territory protection to its franchisees, helping ensure that each location has a fair chance to succeed without facing competition from another Cabin Coffee Co. shop nearby. This protected territory is typically defined in the franchise agreement and is based on factors such as population density and geographic boundaries.

The goal is to give franchisees confidence that the brand will not place another unit too close to their location. While the size of the protected territory may vary depending on the market, Cabin Coffee Co. works closely with franchisees to determine reasonable and mutually beneficial boundaries.

Franchisees can rely on this protection as part of their investment security and long-term growth potential. However, it’s important for franchisees to understand that the territory protection generally applies only to traditional units and may not cover nontraditional locations like airports or universities.