How to Open a Sushi Bar

A visit to the local sushi bar provides a fun change of pace for diners used to hamburgers, Mexican food and spaghetti. If you like Japanese food and have an entrepreneurial streak, opening a sushi bar may be a good way to invest your money.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Study successful sushi bars. Visit restaurants that do good business and have satisfied, repeat customers. Read articles about thriving restaurant owners and follow their advice about starting and running money-making eateries.
2. Write up a business plan. If you don't know how to pen a business plan yourself, hire a writer or business consultant. Take into account rent, equipment, staff, furniture, utilities, permits and all the other start-up expenses incurred in opening a sushi bar.
3. Secure financing before you open for business. Savvy businesspeople know where and how to find venture capitalists. There are even websites to put you in touch with financiers. Other options include using your own line of credit under your business name or looking into franchise opportunities for Japanese restaurants.
4. Scout locations. Look into the high-traffic, trendy areas of your town or city to see where you'd like to open your sushi bar. These locales attract people who love to eat out and spend money.
5. Hire your initial crew. Place ads in Craigslist and your local paper for wait staff, cashiers and food preparers. Contact cooking schools or restaurant recruitment agencies for restaurant managers and chefs, or place ads in restaurant industry magazines.
6. Get together a list of your favorite sushi, sashimi and teriyaki and put a menu together before you open. Be creative with the preparation and presentation of sushi bar delicacies and other Japanese foods, and your sushi bar will attract plenty of customers.