A lot of budding entrepreneurs are drawn to opening a new café-bar or restaurant, and it is easy to see why. Not only can these make for successful business ventures, but there is something attractive about the idea of bringing the community together over great food and delicious drinks. Mealtimes are the perfect opportunity for friends, families, and even business associates to get together and catch up, no one having to worry about doing the dishes afterward, or taking the time to cook. However, while a restaurant or café can have a good chance of success, it is not a given. A lot of hard work and clever business management will need to go into it if you do not want to lose your investment, and here are a few of the key things you need to think about.
Table of Contents
Location
You must pick the right location for your eatery, as foot traffic will be a big part of drawing in new customers. As a start-up company, you might not be able to afford prime locations that are in the heart of the town or city center, as the leases on these units can be very high. However, consider looking just outside of these areas, so you are still close enough to the hustle and bustle, but not bankrupting yourself on rent alone. It is also worth considering which customers you are planning to cater to when choosing your location. For example, if you are planning to open a trendy bar/restaurant, a part of town where young professionals like to hang out after work and on the weekends is ideal.
Liquor License and Other Certifications
Café-bars and restaurants make most of their money from liquor sales, and even if you are not a drinker, a lot of your customers will enjoy a glass of wine with their dinner. However, you cannot serve alcohol on your premises without an official license to do so. You must make sure you have obtained this license from your local authority before you open, otherwise, a lot of customers will be disappointed that they cannot enjoy a cold beer or a cocktail. You will also need to make sure your restaurant adheres to health and safety regulations and that it passes its inspection with flying colors every time.
The Menu
There are many great places to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat in the world, so making sure that your restaurant or café stands out in the crowd is key. Consider what other eateries are open in the area where you would like to open yours – how can you be different? Are there already a lot of Italian-inspired places? Burger joints? East Asian cuisine? Curry houses? All of these are very popular with crowds, but if there are already a lot of successful places offering the same thing as you, it will be hard to get people to take a chance on the new kid on the block. Try to offer diners something new – and make sure that what you do serve up is impeccable.
The Décor
Your menu might be impressive, but do not underestimate how much the décor of your restaurant or café can enhance your customer’s experiences. Furthermore, if passers-by have never before tried your food, it will be how your place looks that will draw them in. Creating the right atmosphere for your diners is key, and a restaurant with chic style and excellent service is what will encourage people to keep on coming back for more.
Equipment and Furnishings
As well as getting the lighting and color scheme right, your customers should be offered comfortable seating. Other things like quality cookers, blenders, slow-cookers, must remember to purchase before you open. If you are going to offer customers a takeout service or allow your customers to take food back with them if they cannot quite finish what is on the plate, you will need the right packaging for this, too. Be environmentally responsible and invest in compostable food packaging rather than plastic boxes.
Produce
Finally, even if your menu sounds fantastic, if your meals are made with subpar ingredients your customers will leave less than impressed. Make sure you are using quality produce, preferably sourced from local suppliers. This will ensure that your food tastes as good as the menu makes it sound, and you will also be managing your carbon footprint and supporting other local businesses, which customers love to hear.
You must think about all of the above so you can incorporate them into your business plan and market research. Opening a new restaurant or café can be very challenging, which is why you need to make sure you get these points right if you want to give yourself the best chance of success and see your business grow.
