How to Open a Successful Restaurant
When it comes to the restaurant business, the heat isn't present only in the kitchen. According to industry information site AllCulinarySchools, nearly 60 percent of new restaurants close within three years. For restaurateurs opening a new dining space, the difference between success and failure can depend on a variety of concerns, including the health of the restaurant's startup budget, the quality of the restaurant staff and, of course, how tasty the food is.
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Instructions
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Define your restaurant. Every restaurant needs a targeted concept that clearly defines the aesthetic of the restaurant and the type of food served. Defining your niche in this way helps with everything from determining the cost of your food to hiring the best chef.
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Compile your budget. Your opening budget is one of the most essential factors of success. According to industry information site AllCulinarySchools, underestimating your startup costs is one of the most common and disastrous mistakes made by restaurateurs. The site also warns that restaurateurs courting investors will also need to consider the business risks and returns of their restaurant concept to convince those with deep pockets to invest in the restaurant.
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Pick a location. Publication Seattle Weekly suggests that first-time restaurateurs look at up-and-coming neighborhoods in their area, as opposed to established hot spots. Popular locations come with higher rents and startup costs, and the discerning diners in these areas give new restaurants little leeway. Lower-cost neighborhoods, however, offer fewer expenses and more opportunity to establish your restaurant in a location before it grows into a hot spot.
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Hire quality staff. Aside from budget concerns, your staff is the most important determining factor in your restaurant's success. AllCulinarySchools suggests interviewing potential employees as much as six weeks before your restaurant even opens. Encourage a positive attitude and teamwork by rewarding good employees well. Qualified and courteous employees are the public face of your restaurant to each diner who walks in the door. Even if your food is out of this world, poor service will send diners elsewhere.
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Begin advertising before your restaurant opens. First impressions are important, so a strong opening can make or break your restaurant. Employ press releases, advertisements, media interviews and social media websites like Facebook to publicize your restaurant weeks before you open. Consider using discounts, promotions or events to generate buzz before and during your opening week.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to see the step by step process of opening a restaurant, visit Starting a Restaurant Blog for a daily journal of the start-up of a real restaurant from building to opening.
