Getting Into The Restaurant Business? This Guide Can Help

Restaurant Business-Chispa MagazineIt can be the dream above all dreams for some to open up their very own restaurant. Usually, these people are completely passionate and obsessed by food. They might develop their own recipes, or simple love a particular cuisine of food. They might even want to share old family recipes or values in a restaurant environment. But for some people, this just remains a dream.

However, it doesn’t need to be this way. It’s now easier than ever to open up your own restaurant and create something you have envisioned for some time. Something to be proud of. It is actually one of the most thriving businesses out there, and make a few right decisions along the way, could see you creating your very own goldmine. Now is the time to take a leap of faith and head into a business sector that you are passionate about. Here is a quick and easy guide to hopefully help you get started.

Decide on your restaurant concept and a name. One of the first, and possibly one of the biggest, steps you take towards opening a restaurant is deciding on the concept and the name of your restaurant. Do you want to open a high-end dining establishment? Do you want to appeal to families? Will you be thinking about locally sourced ingredients or offering some of the world’s best? Think about the cuisine you wish to cook and take things from there. Deciding on a name might be one of the easiest or hardest decisions you make. This will be your brand, this is what people will know you for, so it has to be the right name for your restaurant, for you, and for the business. Often personal names tend to give off a good vibe, but it would all depend on the concept you are going for.

Consider the location. The location is another important decision for your restaurant business. It could make or break your business. Do your homework and try and pick a spot that attracts footfall or is on a road where passers by can see you. This will help generate interest as you get closer to opening the doors. You also need to consider things like parking as well as easy access.

Write a business plan for your restaurant. There are many reasons why a business plan is important, especially for a restaurant business, but the two many reasons are that it helps you iron out any future problems you could encounter, and it also helps you to gain investment or finances. A business plan outlines your plans for the business side of things. Potential profits to be made as well as business growth.

Figure out how to fund your project. The financing side of things is often the stumbling block for many. Obtaining investment, if you haven’t already got your own financial backing of savings, can be hard. Which is why it is so important for you to have a decent business plan in place to ensure that you and anyone considering investment knows where their money is going. Many people consider investment firms and their banks as two of the first places to look for financing options. Other people consider going into business with family or friends, although this can make relationships tricky so ensure it is the right decision before doing anything. It can often help you avoid hefty interest charges though, so might be worth thinking about.

Speak to local representatives about permits and licenses. A lot of licenses and permits can take weeks to be approved, so do this at your earliest convenience. Speak to local representatives about what you might need and get those applications in as soon as possible to void any delays on opening. You also won’t want any fines, so this can be an important part of any opening process.

Write a restaurant menu and try out the dishes. Now starts to come some of the fun parts of this process and that is writing a restaurant menu and trying out the dishes. Not just on yourself, but on focus groups, friends, and family. Try and avoid some of the mistakes people make with their menus, for example, having too many dishes. Specialize in a few and work from there. This can help cement your reputation moving forward.

Hire staff. Now is the time to get some staff in place ready for your launch night. You may have gruelling designed a menu, worked on the dishes, chosen tiles for restrooms and decided on the final layout, but the staff ultimately, will be a make or break for you. You want to ensure that you hire decent people that have a smile on their face. People that want to work there and evidently share the same passion as you for the food in which you provide. Take your time when hiring staff, you want to make the right decision the first time.

Create a schedule that is easy to work with. A work schedule for your restaurant could end up with being the easiest way you manage the staff and also shift start and end times. Thankfully, there are plenty of restaurant scheduling tips online to help you out. It’s important that a restaurant runs smoothly without any hiccups and delays in service. So scheduling things right can help.

Get the word out and develop a social media strategy. Finally, now is the time to get the word out for your restaurant and what better way to do that than to utilize the online social media world. One of the fastest ways you can promote your new restaurant is to set up a digital marketing strategy. Use platforms like Facebook and Instagram to showcase your offers and the menu you have in place. Advertise as often as you can by writing engaging content that is likely to be shared. Also, don’t forget your location. Use the outside space to advertise your opening times to passers by.

We hope this guide helps you realize your dream of opening a restaurant.

Photo by Neven Krcmarek

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Mia Guerra

Mia Guerra

Executive Editor at Chispa Magazine
Executive Editor at Chispa Magazine, Mia Guerra is a writer at heart. Regardless the topic, she loves to investigate, encourage, and ruminate on topics that can make us better people. Aiming to live a Proverbs 31 life, Mia is ecstatic to be following her calling with Chispa. At home she is her husband's sidekick and together they are raising a God-fearing family in Atlanta.

Mia Guerra

Executive Editor at Chispa Magazine, Mia Guerra is a writer at heart. Regardless the topic, she loves to investigate, encourage, and ruminate on topics that can make us better people. Aiming to live a Proverbs 31 life, Mia is ecstatic to be following her calling with Chispa. At home she is her husband's sidekick and together they are raising a God-fearing family in Atlanta.