Advice: New coffee bars are risky business

Dear Karen: To cover startup costs for a new coffee bar, should I apply for a small-business loan or get a home equity loan?

Answer: These days, no entrepreneur can get a small-business loan without substantial collateral and a personal guarantee. So you’ll probably have to put up your home equity in either case.

However, a coffee shop is an extremely risky venture because of well-heeled competition from chains such as Starbucks and Seattle’s Best, said Jeff Williams, chief executive at Bizstarters.com.

Before you risk your home, do a detailed business plan with solid financial projections. Williams’ company now has a Southern California outlet that can help; for more information, visit www.bizstartandgrow.com/.

Author wants a fair cut

Dear Karen: I’m a syndicated puzzle creator pitching a book of cryptograms. Is it reasonable to ask for 20% of gross sales?

Answer: A 20% royalty off the gross is very high, said Colleen Dunn Bates, publisher at Prospect Park Books in Pasadena. The standard for authors is 5% to 7% of gross or 10% of net proceeds, she said.

“If you expect the publisher to cover design, production, printing, distribution, sales and marketing, and pay you 20% of gross, there simply won’t be enough revenue to produce the book,” she said. “If it’s a paperback, 7% to 8% of gross royalty would be as high as you should expect.”

Send a formal book proposal that does not mention money. If the publisher responds favorably, get an experienced agent or attorney to negotiate terms for you.

Small-business questions? E-mail Karen at smallbiz@latimes.com.