How to Operate a Pizza Shop

Operating a pizza shop can be a lucrative business in the right locations (such as in college towns and towns with a young demographic and a growing population). While it makes a nice career, it is very difficult. You need to accurately plan your finances, secure equipment and hire reliable employees. On top of this, you need to keep up with inventory and decide whether you will offer delivery service. If you carefully plan your business, running it will be smooth.

Things You'll Need

• Business plan
• Sufficient capital secured by personal savings or loans
• Pizza equipment (ovens, kitchen supplies and ingredients)
• Cash equipment (cash registers and credit card machines)

Instructions

1. Write a business plan for your pizza shop. Before opening the shop, you should sit down and carefully map out every aspect of your business (from financing the business to hiring employees to how you will advertise). Write each aspect in a document called a business plan. Write professionally and clearly; you will show this document to potential lenders and investors.

2. Secure financing. Starting any kind of business is expensive. You need money for a location, equipment, employee wages and advertising (just to name a few). Expect to need anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 depending on your business location and your credit score.

3. Hire a certified public accountant (CPA). A good CPA is integral to any small business. Your CPA will help you budget your business, help you set up payroll and help you safely manage your money.

4. Find a location. Location is critical. Try to find a location around local businesses on a main stretch of the community. This will ensure exposure and will increase the potential for foot traffic to enter your business.

5. Buy or rent equipment. Once you have a location, you need to equip it with the proper equipment. You can find the equipment at various local dealers, or you can use the Internet. One site, kitchenrestaurantsupply.com, offers all the equipment you need. Expect to buy at least one oven, a freezer for your ingredients, preparation tables and preparation equipment (knives, cutting boards, slicers, etc).

6. Hire a produce and meat supplier. Your pizza business needs fresh produce and meat to make tasty pies. Find a local supplier in your area by calling local suppliers and finding the best rate and the best quality. Order enough produce to get you through the first couple of weeks.

7. Hire employees. Once you have the location, the equipment and the ingredients, it is time to hire employees. Look for reliable employees who are excited to work for your business.

8. Advertise. At this point, you can open up shop and start making pizzas. It will help if you advertise, however, because advertising will get your name out in the public and create a buzz for your business. Use fliers, commercials and coupons to get people interested in your pizza place.

References

• Pizza Businesses
• Kitchen Supplies
• Starting Your Own Pizza Business

Resources

• Small Business Administration