I think it depends on the type of business you have and the client that you will be meeting. I am not sure that if you are trying to sell to an enterprise client that I would invite them to a Starbucks for a meeting! There are however many alternatives to coffee shops for meetings. Obviously you can use executive office suites like Regus or DC Executive Space(!) (where you can rent conference rooms by the hour) and I have held many important client meetings in nice hotel lobbies. For the really important meetings though you will find that most tech law firms will provide their conference roo ms gratis for their clients to hold meetings (certainly Cooley, Morrison & Foerster, and Womble Carlyle in Washington DC do provide that service as would most others). (more)

Great question, and very timely considering the number of telecommuters and home based businesses we have in the Metro area. I believe it's appropriate when you're meeting before going to a specified event together, and/or if you have an established professional relationship. The D.C. area, especially government oriented businesses and professional firms such as law offices, remain quite traditional in the way they view business practices and a number of them may be put off a bit by this informality. I suggest gauging each situation based on it's individual 'personality'. When in doubt, a g ood rule of thumb is to err on the side of more traditional rather than less. (more)

As long as they are both local and give each other at least one hour notice of cancellation, I think it should be ok. Other than that, it is very professional.

I believe the coffee shop is a good meeting place. We have met both clients and vendors at Starbucks. The place is popular and most people know where one is at. Plus coffee is a social drink. Whats the alternative - a diner? Not a cool place unless you are buying them lunch or dinner. Formal place would be your or their office-if you do not work out of your house