Sometimes it seems as if everyone wants to have their own restaurant. It’s so easy to dine out and look at everything that’s wrong with a venue, but the realities of the business are somewhat more stressful. There are a lot of areas to get right when it comes to launching your first restaurant, but the rewards can make it very worthwhile.
It’s not the easiest job in the world, but when everything is going right, it’s one of the most satisfying industries to work in. If you’ve been thinking of launching your own dining venue, there are three key areas that you need to get right straight from the word ‘go.’ If you can get these three factors right, then they will act as the foundation of your restaurant that you can then work to build on.
A business plan
You may think it’s obvious that you’re going to need a business plan, but it’s essential for more reasons than you may suspect. You are going to need a business plan if you’re hoping to generate funds via bank loans, but a restaurant business plan is about a lot more than that. A good business plan will let you know about the viability of your restaurant, and it is going to necessitate a lot of research.
Location is going to be the key, but you also need to look at the surrounding area, the competition, and the potential customer base. Destination restaurants are a great venture, but they can be challenging to get off the ground, so always make sure that you have a steady supply of local customers. Use your business plan to ground your ideas, and if your research shows a lack of potential, then look elsewhere.
Kitchen necessities
It might seem obvious, but you’re going to need to make sure that the kitchen of your premises is fully equipped. It is not going to be the same as your kitchen at home, and if you’re harboring fantasies that you’re going to get to spend plenty of time preparing each dish, then it’s time for a wake-up call. Restaurant kitchens are frantic and stressful, and you’re going to need quality commercial food servery equipment if you want success.
Much of what you need is going to come down to your menu, which will make all the difference regarding the kitchen tools that you need and the storage space that you’re going to require. Always design your menu based on your market research, and make your kitchen the number one priority when it comes to refurbishments or decorating.
The right staff
There are many moving parts to a functioning restaurant, and no matter how much you’d like to do everything yourself, it just isn’t possible. That’s why hiring the right employees is so essential. You may have decided on your role in the business, which should always be either at the front of house or leading the kitchen. Those are going to be your two most important and wage-heavy roles to hire, so taking on one of them yourself will minimize the expense.
Your wage bill is going to be a consistent issue, so keep your wages down and ensure that you take the right amount of time to find staff that is going to be positive in their positions. That means everyone from pot washers to bar staff because those staff are going to represent your business.
Hiring weak team members could bring your restaurant dreams crashing down around you.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of having a full restaurant and the orders coming in and out of the kitchen smoothly. Although running your restaurant can equal a lot of stress and pressure, it can also be one of the most satisfying and financially rewarding sectors to work in.