How 92 Co-Owners Made a Crowdfunded Coffee Shop Work

Last June, two young entrepreneurs in Dalian put out a public call: they wanted to open a coffee shop, but not alone. They were looking for people who shared their vision to become co-owners through crowdfunding. Hundreds responded. By December 24, their idea became reality — a café with 92 official co-owners, turning what seemed impossible into a functioning business.

Yes, it can work. Six months in, the shop broke even: revenue matched expenses, with 111 owners, zero closures, and just one shareholder leaving — by transferring, not selling, their stake.

What Happened When 92 People Crowdfunded a Café

It began as a bold social experiment. Wang Lianjun and Sun Xiaolong, both based in Dalian, aimed to raise 500 shares (equivalent to about 1.5 million RMB) to open a collectively owned coffee shop. By the December 2023 opening, they’d raised just over 130 shares — roughly 400,000 RMB — but found an affordable location and went ahead anyway.

The café launched in trial operation mode. Monthly fixed costs stacked up: around 10,000 RMB for staff salaries, another 10,000 RMB for rent, 7,000–8,000 RMB on food ingredients, and additional overhead bringing total monthly expenditure to approximately 30,000 RMB. With average customer spend around 20 RMB and daily foot traffic of about 60 people, income roughly balanced expenses.

Growing Pains: Governance with 111 Stakeholders

Managing a café with nearly 100 co-owners brings unique challenges. In the lead-up to opening, the core team — sometimes 40 people in a room — held near-weekly meetings to vote on everything from location and name to pricing and staffing. At its peak, decision-making was intense and hands-on.

But post-launch, the “general meeting” frequency dropped sharply. Since opening, there have only been two full shareholder meetings — one with around 10–15 attendees, another with 20–25. Most operational decisions are now made by a rotating group of around 20 core, actively involved shareholders. “You can’t run a business waiting for 100+ people to vote on every mop purchase,” said Wang.

The 15% Price Hike: A Necessary Move?

Despite breaking even, the café hasn’t turned a profit. Initial capital raised — around 500,000 RMB — was quickly spent on renovations, advance rent, and equipment. An additional 300,000 RMB was borrowed. Marketing efforts like WeChat or Weibo promotions were limited due to budget constraints.

To address cash flow and fund future investments, the management recently decided — without a full shareholder vote — to raise prices across the board by 15%. The logic? Customer traffic is stable enough that even with higher prices, volume won’t drop noticeably. “This wasn’t about greed,” Wang clarified. “It’s about following sound business strategy while staying true to our founding purpose.”

What Happens After Two Years?

The original business plan set a two-year cycle. At the end of that period, the co-owners will decide: either distribute profits or dissolve the business. With one and a half years to go, the team remains optimistic. Despite not yet being profitable, the café enjoys decent foot traffic for Dalian standards, and most shareholders remain engaged — even if only helping out occasionally or attending to small maintenance tasks.

“Some owners are super active, others are just observing,” Wang admitted. “But most still believe in the original dream — a place built on passion for coffee and the thrill of starting something together. Even if we don’t make money, the experience is worth it.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How many owners does the Dalian crowdfunded café have?

The café began with 92 co-owners and has since grown to 111. Only one person has left, and that was by transferring their share rather than withdrawing from the project entirely.

Is the coffee shop making a profit?

Not yet. The business is currently breaking even, with monthly income roughly matching expenses of around 30,000 RMB. The café covers rent, staff, ingredients, and overhead but hasn’t generated significant surplus.

Why did the owners decide to raise prices by 15%?

To improve cash flow and fund future needs, the management opted to increase prices across all products by 15%. This decision was based on stable customer numbers and the belief that demand wouldn’t drop significantly with the price adjustment.

How are decisions made with so many co-owners?

Early on, major decisions involved frequent meetings with dozens of attendees. Now, a core group of around 20 actively involved shareholders handles most operational calls. Full shareholder meetings are rare, occurring only twice since launch.

What happens to the café after two years?

The original plan includes a two-year review period. At that time, owners will decide whether to distribute any accumulated profits or close the business. That decision point arrives in about 18 months.

Does the café do any marketing?

Limited marketing has been done through social media channels, but large-scale campaigns haven’t been possible due to tight finances. Word-of-mouth and local presence largely drive customer traffic.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffees for Community Cafés

For a crowdfunded café like Dalian’s Many Owners Coffee, FrontStreet’s Ethiopia Humbera offers bright, juicy notes of citrus and blueberry — perfect for attracting coffee enthusiasts. The Guatemala Antigua SHB adds chocolatey richness and a heavier body, ideal for espresso-based drinks. For a crowd-pleasing single origin, try Yirgacheffe Konga with its floral and lemony tones. All three showcase quality without compromising approachability, aligning with a mission-driven café’s values. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.