Restaurants were one of the hardest hit businesses in the peak of the global pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of establishments had to close their doors to customers, and many suffered so much they were unable to reopen them. Even now, when things have returned to some semblance of normality, they are suffering the consequences. But the future is looking bright, and if you have harboured dreams of running your own restaurant, now might be the time to start turning your vision into reality.
But building a restaurant business from the ground up is not an easy feat. It takes a great deal of time, money, and hard work to see it through. Many businesses fail in the first year, so if you want to avoid becoming just another statistic you will need to make good decisions. To help you rise above your competition and get those customers through the door, here are five steps to starting your own restaurant business.
Make a plan
Like all big life decisions, you can’t just rush in without a plan. You need to know exactly what you are doing before you break ground. You’ll need to come up with a name for your restaurant, a business plan, do your market research, and crunch the numbers to make sure it is a good idea. You’ll have to choose a concept too. Will it be a Mexican restaurant, a family-friendly diner, or a fine dining bistro? The choice is yours, just be clear on your identity and don’t stray from it.
Find your premises
Now that you have a plan, you need to find a suitable location. There are plenty of commercial premises you can rent or buy, but you need to ensure that they are within your budget and that the location is suitable. Will there be enough pedestrian or vehicle traffic to draw in the customers you need? If it is out of town, is it easily accessible by car or public transport?
Pick your suppliers
A restaurant is not a restaurant if there isn’t any food so once you have your location sorted you’ll need to work on finding your suppliers. As well as providing all the ingredients for your dishes, you’ll also need all kinds of equipment from cutlery and crockery to furniture and cooking appliances. Blenders and processors are essential in any kitchen, and you can click here for pricing and to get an idea of the types of products that are available on the market. Food will need to be of the best quality while also providing you the best value for your money. There are suppliers that offer online ordering for restaurants which can make the process more efficient.
Get licensed
Depending on where your restaurant is based, you will need to have the right licenses as well as conforming to industry hygiene standards. Do your research and work out what paperwork you’ll need to obtain before you can open your restaurant to the public.
Spread the word
Once your restaurant is ready to go, you just need to get feet through the door. Create a website and social media accounts for your business and launch a promotional campaign in advance of your opening. You could offer a free drink or discount card for diners who visit you on your first day, or run a competition to give a lucky winner a meal on the house.