THE ACCELERATION PROJECT
Become a Consultant Apply for Services DONATE
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • MISSION & HISTORY
    • MANAGEMENT TEAM
    • LEADERSHIP BOARDS
    • CONSULTANTS
    • 2025 SPRING FOR SMALL BUSINESS BENEFIT
    • CAREERS AT TAP
  • SMALL BUSINESSES
    • OUR CLIENTS
    • Small Business Owner of the Year
    • APPLY TO BE A CLIENT
  • PARTNERS
    • WHY PARTNER WITH TAP
    • PARTNER OF THE YEAR
  • NEWS & BLOG
    • SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES
    • MEDIA
    • TAP BLOG
  • 2024 YEAR IN REVIEW
  • SERVICIOS EN ESPAÑOL
    • CONVIÉRTETE EN CLIENTE
  • 2025 SPRING FOR SMALL BUSINESS BENEFIT

Cafe Zoe and Women's Small Business Month

10/25/2023

0 Comments

 
To mark National Women's Small Business Month we're bringing you the story of Kathleen Daly, former owner of Cafe Zoe in California.

CAFE ZOE'S STORY

Kathleen Daly opened Cafe Zoe, a community coffee shop in the heart of Silicon Valley, in 2008. Kathleen had no prior experience running a small business, but for fifteen years she focused on the joy of community-building. She and her daughter Zoe created a beloved neighborhood establishment where all were welcome. Cafe Zoe hosted live music on the weekends and local art covered its walls.
BUSINESS CHALLENGE
Kathleen loved creating community and serving her customers, but she had not adequately focused on the financials of Cafe Zoe. She was thinking about selling the business and needed help improving operations and planning for the future. 
WHAT DID TAP DO?
​TAP’s partnership with San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA), an economic development agency focused on sustaining local economies, led to the work with Cafe Zoe. TAP consultants gave Kathleen the space and opportunity to think about the future of Cafe Zoe and consider different strategic options. They analyzed the cafe’s monthly cash flows to help Kathleen improve its finances. They also presented a source of comparable sale multiples to help Kathleen value the business.
"They showed me that I could increase the value of my business by managing it a lot better. I wasn’t focused on making money[,] … just community building,”  says Kathleen. “The work the consultants did was such a gift to me." ​
TAP DELIVERABLES 
  • Monthly cash flow analysis 
  • List of additional potential cash flow opportunities
  • Opportunity to consider and evaluate various strategic options for the business
  • Valuation scenarios model
BUSINESS RESULTS
Kathleen and Zoe decided they were ready for new challenges and sold Cafe Zoe in June 2023. Prior to her work with TAP, a business broker had recommended that Kathleen sell Cafe Zoe at a lower valuation. Kathleen knew her business was worth more. With TAP’s help, she and Zoe were able to increase sales and profitability, which led to a higher valuation and sale price. Kathleen is confident that Cafe Zoe’s new owner will sustain the culture of community-building that she and Zoe created.  Today, she remains an active community volunteer, working hard to support those who work and live in her neighborhood. 
“It was so fulfilling to work with Kathleen," says TAP consultant Tom Bochenek. "It’s great that she was able to sell the business she had built. The café will remain such an important part of the community under new ownership.”  


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About this blog

    This blog features some of our client engagements.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    AAPI
    Annual Benefit
    Beauty
    Black Business Owners
    Clients
    Consultants
    Consulting
    Fall For Small Business
    Food
    Hiring
    Hispanic Business Owners
    Ice Cream
    Intern
    Job
    Jobs
    LGBTQ+
    Meet TAP Clients
    Meet The TAP Team
    National Ice Cream Day
    Retail
    Skilled Trades
    Sports
    Transportation
    Video
    Women Business Owners
    Womens Small Business Month

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    May 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    April 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All
    AAPI
    Annual Benefit
    Beauty
    Black Business Owners
    Clients
    Consultants
    Consulting
    Fall For Small Business
    Food
    Hiring
    Hispanic Business Owners
    Ice Cream
    Intern
    Job
    Jobs
    LGBTQ+
    Meet TAP Clients
    Meet The TAP Team
    National Ice Cream Day
    Retail
    Skilled Trades
    Sports
    Transportation
    Video
    Women Business Owners
    Womens Small Business Month


    Become a Consultant

    Become a Client

PROUD MEMBERS OF

Picture
Picture
About Us | Donate | Terms of Use​ | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
© 2024 The Acceleration Project, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • MISSION & HISTORY
    • MANAGEMENT TEAM
    • LEADERSHIP BOARDS
    • CONSULTANTS
    • 2025 SPRING FOR SMALL BUSINESS BENEFIT
    • CAREERS AT TAP
  • SMALL BUSINESSES
    • OUR CLIENTS
    • Small Business Owner of the Year
    • APPLY TO BE A CLIENT
  • PARTNERS
    • WHY PARTNER WITH TAP
    • PARTNER OF THE YEAR
  • NEWS & BLOG
    • SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES
    • MEDIA
    • TAP BLOG
  • 2024 YEAR IN REVIEW
  • SERVICIOS EN ESPAÑOL
    • CONVIÉRTETE EN CLIENTE
  • 2025 SPRING FOR SMALL BUSINESS BENEFIT