10 Tips To Open A Restaurant Successfully
1. A Concrete Business Plan To Attract Investors
In order to be able to open your restaurant, it is essential to have a business plan . In it, will appear your detailed project and the planned expenses , in short, everything that concerns your business. The idea is to be able to rest on a stable basis and thus convince investors of the viability of the concept to gain their confidence. You should also use a dashboard from the start to better manage your ratios. The business plan makes it possible to convince the partners to follow you on your adventure.
2. A Safe Place That Does Not Risk Anything In The Years To Come
Check that the area in which you want to set up your business is not exposed to flooding or the construction of a building that would block the view, for example. It is preferable to be vigilant and to seek the opinion of an expert on the commercial lease which defines the operating conditions so as not to have any bad surprises . We must also be attentive to the condition of the premises in relation to standards as well as to occupancy costs. Pay particular attention to the catchment area
In addition, the location should be easily accessible for customers, located in a developing area if possible. Ensure the flow of passengers in the neighbourhood in order to have a potential passing clientage.
3. A Strong Position Vis-À-Vis The Competition
Why you rather than another restaurant? Do not hesitate to mark your difference and your signature with a strong visual identity . Customers like to go to a place that lives up to its hallmark. Be original, be unique, be you, and you will build customer loyalty . Whether through decoration , communication, everything is possible to make you stand out. The location already makes your establishment a unique place, play on this argument!
4. An Establishment Suitable For Catering
Think practical, think ergonomic! Many restaurateurs take over an old inn or a former restaurant. However if this is not the case, plan ahead and take into account all the parameters of the catering: the passage in the kitchen, the service, the space for the kitchen, the seating plan, the ventilation, the optimization space for service , etc. Check that the place will adapt well to the standards so as not to be stuck during a check on access for people with reduced mobility, for example.
5. Plan An Online Reservation And Customer Reviews Software
Become a restaurateur 2.0 by adopting an online reservation platform in order to be able to respond to the trend which is leading more and more customers to reserve online. You will also need a system for collecting customer reviews and a POS systems USA to accept payment from customers and track sales. To guarantee the good reputation of your establishment, it is better then to be able to count on opinions emitted by real customers rather than by any ordinary person (who would never have come to eat in your restaurant) on public platforms.
6. Keep Healthy Accounts
Whether you are mainly financed by the bank, by crowdfunding or by your own savings, remain lucid and reasonable. You can have a crazy but financially feasible project! Don’t get into a risky bet.
7. Efficiency Above All Else!
Good organisation is quickly felt in a restaurant, and customers will appreciate well-timed and planned service . It is important that the division of tasks is clear and relevant within the brigade and that you manage the personnel well . Before moving on to the hiring phase, you must try to define your working hours needs according to your forecast activity, by identifying peaks of activity and conversely, periods of low activity.
8. Bet On Product Quality
Keep in mind that restaurants are no longer just a place to eat, but customers want a real experience . To do this, put the odds on your side by favouring good products, as fresh as possible, in order to have positive and rewarding opinions . There must be a real relationship of trust with your suppliers. “Choosing a supplier just for a price can be a mistake. Above all, we must take into consideration the quality and service side. You should rather favour a supplier who delivers to you in small quantities regularly because this facilitates the rotation of stocks and is therefore a guarantee of freshness,” according to Forbes’ Restaurant Industry Outlook article.
9. Communicate To Stay In Touch With Your Customers
Do not hesitate to post on social networks so that your customers learn about the existence of your restaurant, the project in the making , then subsequently so that they keep your restaurant in mind . You can also send a newsletter regularly . During the inauguration, contact the local press or bloggers so that they relay the information of the opening of your restaurant.
10. Be Up To Standards
Also in the same vein, consider all the administrative and legal procedures before knocking down a wall or buying an oven . Regulations are often the thorn in the side of restaurateurs, so it’s best to take the lead in all of those hygiene standards , licence safety and the like.
