While many dream of being their own boss and running a cute coffee shop, the reality of being a business owner is tough.

And, with the cost of living crisis still hitting the public hard, it’s currently harder than ever. Keely Greenwood spoke to one business owner whose vision has become a nightmare…

Sally Paton thought she’d be rich within six months when she decided to quit her job in London and open Sally Sue’s Sandwich Bar in St Vincent’s Road, Dartford.

She did it on a whim after moving to the town and getting sick of the commute to her job in London.

“I’d always wanted to run my own shop,” the 61-year-old said.

“I saw this empty one on the way to work one day and thought I’d just go for it.

“I didn’t know even know what I’d sell.”

Without even telling her husband, Sally spoke to the landlord and bought the premises.

Having worked for a wholesaler in London’s Covent Garden for the previous 25 years, Sally admits she had no idea what she was doing.

“I thought I’d be rich within six months,” she said. “I had all these plans about what I would do with the money. I was going to buy a new car.

But getting started proved more expensive than Sally thought.

“I was just going to get a kettle and do everything myself,” she remembered.

But Sally was soon advised she would need a fridge, which set her back £700 and a coffee machine, which came to a staggering £6,000. Not to mention essential items such as cups and cup holders.

‘ was just going to get a kettle and do everything myself’

Before she had even welcomed her first customer Sally was struggling.

“I needed £5,000 to get up and running,” she said.

“One morning I was coming into the shop, I dropped my coffee all over me, I fell over and I just sat on the floor and cried.”

She said her daughter went into work that morning and told a friend about the state her mum was in. It was the friend who offered to loan Sally the money.

It was the stroke of luck she needed and Sally was in business.

But she said her lack of experience went against her as she attempted to do everything herself and only made £23 on her first day.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” she said.

“As it got busier friends would come in and end up staying to make sandwiches and help me out.

“I was working sixteen-hour days,” she said. “I lost two stone in three months.”

Sally roped in her husband who would help her boil eggs and prepare sandwiches for the next day.

Eventually, she got wise and started sourcing out her fillings and finding suppliers.

She began getting orders for corporate events, had a steady stream of customers and business was booming.

In the last 11 years, she has increased her staff to eight, including her daughter Sasha, and said she absolutely loves her job.

“I love everything about it,” she said. “I love the customers. They’ve become friends. I love the staff. We have such a laugh.”

But now, her beloved shop is teetering on the brink of closure as owner Sally Paton says takings are down 50%, while the cost of supplies has doubled.

Even Covid wasn’t an issue, as Sally says the pandemic was one of her busiest times as she was given money by the government and made a profit with deliveries to furloughed customers and those working from home.

But as people return to work and the cost of living has tightened people’s purse strings, Sally says she has seen the number of customers cut by half, while the cost of supplies has doubled.

She has had to lay off half her staff, but is reluctant to put up her prices.

“If I do that, people won’t come,” she said.

“I understand that. We are all in the same boat.

“People haven’t got the money but I just ask people to come in and buy a packet of crisps, just to keep us going.”

Fighting back tears, Sue added: “I have been here 11 years and I don’t want to close. It’s like giving away a baby.

“If I have to lose this, that’s exactly how it would feel.

“I don’t want to be rich anymore. I just want to stay open.”