Starting a coffee shop can feel overwhelming, especially when you're just beginning. But what if you could learn from someone who launched their café with limited resources, smart tools, and a clear focus on affordability and customer experience? In this interview, discover practical advice and real experiences about choosing the right system, attracting young customers, and managing sales efficiently—all while keeping costs low.

Why, how, and when did you start the business?

We started the business last year, on June 10th, so tomorrow will be our anniversary. I was about to leave the company I was working for, and I wanted to have free time and be a business owner on my own schedule. Also, I wanted a system that allowed smooth transactions so that even if I wasn’t in the café, my employees could easily manage sales, take orders, and issue receipts transparently to our customers.

How did you find Loyverse?

I bought a cashier system with a tablet, cash drawer, receipt printer, and all that. I’m really happy it’s free, so I don’t have to pay a monthly subscription fee. As a new business owner, I was worried the business might not work, and having another monthly expense would be hard. We tried another app with a yellow logo that requires a subscription, but I chose Loyverse to save money. It really helps our business a lot.

What makes you unique compared to other coffee shops?

I would say our biggest difference is that we are very affordable. In our town, coffee usually costs at least $2, around 100 pesos. But we sell coffee and milk tea as low as 27 pesos, less than $1. There are many young people here who love coffee and milk tea, but they rely on their allowances, so they can enjoy coffee without breaking their pockets. We also have a “buy one, take one” promo, so with just one receipt, you can get two milk teas or coffees for only $2. That’s why students and young people love coming here — they can study while enjoying coffee without spending too much.

What are the best features of Loyverse that you use?

The feature we love the most is the sales report at the end of the day. We don’t need to count everything manually. We just tally the cash in the drawer, and it should match the sales report. As a business owner, it really helps me track sales and keep proper documentation immediately.

What advice would you give to someone starting a business?

If you’re going to start a business, make sure you enjoy the business you’re putting up. You should know what your product is because if you don’t know your product, how can you sell it to others? How can you market it? But if you have a strong conviction that your product is good quality and affordable, it’s worth buying. Also, enjoying your business makes it not feel like a business at all — it feels like a passion and hobby.

Social Media profiles. Check them out and follow!

Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/witcherph/

MENU link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Hcy5hXQH/

Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/happysipcale/

Tiktok account: https://www.tiktok.com/@happysipcale