Starting a new restaurant business can be a considerable challenge. There’s so much for budding restaurant owners to think about; it can be hard to know where to start.
Before your grand opening, you’ll need to create a thorough plan of action to ensure your success as a restaurant business owner.
So, what do you need to open a restaurant? We’ve created a super-useful opening-a-restaurant checklist to give new business owners more information about starting their own restaurant.
All successful restaurants and eateries — and really all successful businesses — start with a detailed business plan. With that in mind, writing a thorough restaurant business plan should be the first item on your opening-a-restaurant checklist.
In fact, the business plan should be what informs the specifics of your checklist.
If you don’t know how to write a business plan, use an online template to help you get started, then pad it out with the details that apply to your plans.
Start by writing an executive summary. This is a simple overview of your business plan that sums up everything you want to say. Come back to this at the end of writing your business plan to ensure it still makes sense — it may need a few tweaks!
Next, think about the restaurant concept you want to create, including your restaurant name. These should be informed by research into your ideal demographics and your target market. It’s a good idea to carry out some market analysis to help you here — think about who’s going to be eating in your restaurant and how you’ll cater to them.
Another essential section of your business plan is to budget carefully. Think about all the restaurant startup costs you’ll have to pay, including kitchen equipment and food costs. Plan your initial costs, then project for weekly, monthly, and annual expenses to estimate your cash flow as accurately as possible.
Make sure you’re accounting for taxes. You must be aware of all taxes that businesses are required to pay. Also, while on the IRS website, apply for an employer identification number.
Finally, go into detail about your restaurant business and how it will operate. Don’t forget to consider which marketing strategies you’ll use to attract and retain customers.
Once you’ve written your business plan, you can use the details to create your checklist.
When you’re opening a new restaurant, there’s so much to do before the opening day. To stay organized, use this opening-a-restaurant checklist. You can tweak it and add to it based on your business plan.
These are the essential things you’ll need on your checklist.
Starting a business is impossible without funding, so start here.
You may be able to take out a business loan to pay your startup costs. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides business loan advice to help budding entrepreneurs take out the right loan for their needs.
Choosing the location for any small business is crucial, but this is especially true when opening a restaurant. It can be critical to a restaurant’s success.
What makes a restaurant’s location ideal depends on what type of restaurant you want to open. Fine-dining restaurants, for example, will have different needs from fast-casual or fast-food restaurants.
Consider areas with high foot traffic if you want lots of drop-in customers or opt for a more exclusive part of town to curate a luxurious space.
Remember to look at zoning permissions in your town or city before you commit to a space. This could impact what you’re allowed to use a retail unit for.
Equipping your restaurant is an integral part of the process. You’ll need kitchen equipment, but some of the specifics will depend on your menu items, so make sure you have a rough idea of what you plan to serve before you start purchasing.
The kitchen equipment you’ll need includes:
Ovens
Refrigerators
Dishwashers
Knives and chopping boards
Pots and pans
Plates, bowls, and cutlery
Other equipment can include fryers, grills, and food processors — but it all depends on your menu.
While researching equipment, think about your ideal kitchen layout, as this can make a big difference in efficiency. Ask your chef for their input.
You’ll also need to equip your restaurant’s dining area with tables, chairs, and other essentials. Don’t forget smaller items like napkins and takeout boxes.
Opt for high-quality equipment if you can afford to. It makes a massive difference to the overall dining experience and means you’re less likely to have to replace equipment later on.
All restaurant businesses need a food service license. You should also check with your local health department. Familiarize yourself with all your state’s food safety regulations and ensure you comply with everything.
The licenses you’ll need include:
A business license
A food handler’s permit
A liquor license (if you plan to serve alcoholic beverages)
A health permit
Licenses are an essential part of any opening-a-restaurant checklist. Without the proper licenses and permits, you’ll be in breach of business laws and could be liable to pay a hefty fine or even have your new business shut down.
Choosing a point-of-sale system (or POS system) should be another essential item on your opening-a-restaurant checklist.
A POS system is like a high-tech cash register that processes customer payments. The right restaurant POS can help you keep track of orders and cash flow automatically. Choosing a POS system that works for your business needs is key.
Additionally, you’ll need to establish a process for receiving customer orders. This might be a simple case of pen and paper, but many small businesses prefer to automate the process to keep a better eye on their inventory.
Self-service apps, like KioskBuddy, can be a good option if you want to prioritize quick service or you’re operating a counter-service restaurant. KioskBuddy lets you use a tablet and a Square Kiosk as a self-ordering kiosk that can accept and process credit card payments.
KioskBuddy also works in conjunction with the Square POS, so you’ll have everything you need to place and process orders in one place.
Hiring staff should be next on your opening-a-restaurant checklist. You’ll need kitchen staff (i.e., chefs, kitchen porters, and other back-of-house staff members) plus a front-of-house team, including wait staff, hosts, and bartenders.
Choosing the right staff can be tricky for first-time restaurateurs. It can help with staffing if you already have a network of people working in the industry. Look for people with experience, but remember you should also run training sessions to get new employees up to speed.
Marketing plans are often overlooked when entrepreneurs plan their restaurant opening. However, it’s an important step; good marketing can be the difference between a successful business and an unsuccessful one.
You’ll want to advertise the grand opening so that people know about your restaurant, but it’s also essential to continue your marketing efforts to ensure people come back for more.
Social media is free and can be a fantastic way to market a business if used strategically. You could also do a soft opening or run a pop-up if you want to spread the word before opening the main restaurant space.
A rewards program can also be a good way of ensuring repeat customers in your restaurant. Try a few systems and see what works for you.
No matter what type of restaurant you plan to open, the restaurant industry is a competitive space. You need to plan for and design your restaurant operations ahead of your opening day so your food startup can hit the ground running.
Write a thorough opening-a-restaurant checklist to ensure you know exactly how you will proceed.
As part of your plans, you can use KioskBuddy to set up an easy-to-use self-service kiosk in your new business. You can turn your tablet into a self-ordering device that seamlessly integrates with your POS system.
Sign up for KioskBuddy today and enjoy a 30-day free trial.