As a natural born entrepreneur and a person who thoroughly examines the risks before leaping in, Keith Nuss had developed a keen sense of caution and a long list of questions about the purchase of an existing drive-through coffee operation in Fairbanks that he and his wife Svetlana were considering. He was confident that with good management and consistency, the business could succeed.
So Keith sought advice from the Great North office of the Alaska SBDC hosted by UAF and located downtown at the Tanana Valley Campus. Business Advisor Heather Heineken provided free and confidential counseling that included business planning, financial statements, changing the business name, food safety standards, avoiding the assumption of any existing debt associated with the operation, and more.
“Heather is a fantastic business resource for the community and I encourage others to find out for themselves”, says Keith. He officially opened Cuppachena in the spring of 2008, already has three locations operating in the borough, and has a fourth one in the works pending a suitable location. Along with their assortment of hot and cold drinks, they offer a unique combination of homemade treats with top quality customer service to set them apart from the competition.
Last modified: October 31, 2011
