Josh Molina is the co‑founder and CEO of Makers & Finders, founder of Take It Easy Roasters, and a first‑generation Colombian‑American entrepreneur who’s generated over $30M in lifetime sales. With 100+ employees and multiple Las Vegas locations, Josh has built beloved food & coffee brands from scratch while also mentoring students and supporting community nonprofits.

Lessons & Practical Advice for Aspiring Café Owners:

Be endlessly curious. Call the planning, building, and fire departments before you sign anything — learn the build‑out hurdles and code requirements.

Mind the capital needs. A proper commercial kitchen hood and grease trap can run $80–100K alone. Save aggressively and protect your credit so you can bring capital to the table.

Right‑size your space. Start smaller than you think; lower costs and keep it feeling full.

Start small & build presence. Consider a coffee cart/truck or popup to prove your concept and audience before a full‑scale lease.

Adapt to your market. Each neighborhood has distinct customer behavior — don’t assume what works in one location will in another.

Top 3 Takeaways:

Niche + Experience = Differentiation: Pairing underrepresented cuisine with a service model Vegas didn’t have created a clear market position.

Location choice is strategy, not luck: Cheap rent in an up‑and‑coming area gave room to survive the early years and grow with the neighborhood.

Systems before scaling: You can add locations faster than you can add process — but you’ll regret it if you do.

Connect with Josh Molina:

Makers & Finders: makerslv.com

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