How to Open a Restaurant in 8 Steps

Have you always dreamt of opening a restaurant? You’re not alone. According to a study by the Small Business Administration, the hospitality industry is the second most popular sector for small businesses. While opening a new restaurant business isn’t easy, it comes with many rewards like being your own boss and making a difference in your community through food. This article about how to open a restaurant will help you join the ranks of other successful restaurant owners. Follow these eight steps to open a restaurant that will thrive:

You need to create a business plan for your restaurant before you do anything else. Putting together your business plan will help inform your own restaurant’s concept. First, do your market research. What kinds of restaurants already exist in your area? What kinds of restaurants do well? Is there a concept that hasn’t been tried yet in your area? Avoid oversaturation; if there are already a dozen diners in your area, your chances of opening one that will be better than the rest will be slim. After you’ve nailed down your concept, figure out your restaurant’s operations and finances. How much will it cost to create your own restaurant? How much will kitchen equipment cost? Where will you get the money? How many employees do you need to hire? Thinking about these important questions will ensure you’re building a business with a strong foundation. When looking into how to open a restaurant, don’t overlook the importance of having a business plan.

After you’ve chosen your concept, create a menu around it. If you’re a chef, you can start developing recipes immediately. If you don’t have a culinary background, you can come up with several ideas for dishes and develop the recipes later with a chef. Make sure to digitize your menu in the form of a QR code to display at your restaurant and online! QR code menus help guests safely scan, view, order and pay for items on your menu – creating a touch-free, hygienic alternative to a physical menu.

On average, opening a restaurant costs between $175,000 and $750,000. This figure incorporates rent, renovations, furniture, kitchen equipment, technology, licenses, and marketing costs. The most significant cost variances are in location and space size. Opening a new restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic is tricky. Funds are tight for everyone, which means it may be challenging to get a loan or investors. However, now is also an exciting time to understand how to open a restaurant. So, where can you get the money to open a restaurant? There are popular funding options:

Your restaurant’s location can make or break the business. The better the location, the more expensive your rent will be. Less popular locations are more affordable, but you may have to spend more on marketing a new restaurant. However, because of the pandemic, what was once considered a prime location may not be as coveted now. Sahil Rahman, co-owner of RASA in DC, predicts that restaurants may no longer vie for expensive downtown spaces since so many people will continue working from home for the foreseeable future. Before you begin your real estate hunt, have a budget in mind and create a list of must-have features.

You’ll have to get a number of permits and licenses before you can do most things in your restaurant. Check your local laws to see how to obtain the following permits:

Many first-time restaurateurs overlook the importance of staffing when researching how to open a restaurant. However, the restaurant business’ annual staff turnover rate stands at a shocking 73% and can cost businesses $5,864 per employee. You must hire employees for your front of house and kitchen who share your values to avoid costly turnover. When employees share your values, they’re more likely to be engaged at work and create happy diners. Offer benefits to take care of your team so that they’ll do a great job.

You can’t run a modern restaurant without technology. Tech automates many monotonous tasks and empowers smart business decisions. Your restaurant’s basic tech stack should consist of a POS system, restaurant reservations system, and an online ordering platform. With online ordering predicted to grow 20% by 2030, ignoring this lucrative revenue stream is unwise. It’s also crucial to choose technology partners that let you own guest data. When you select direct tech partners, you’ll be able to serve guests a customized experience both through service (on- and off-premise) and your marketing efforts, so they’ll keep coming back. Diner loyalty, after all, is the key to restaurant longevity. In fact, a 5% increase in loyalty can increase revenue by up to 95%.

Create fanfare for your new business by throwing a restaurant grand opening event. Invite press, influencers, friends, family, and community members to your opening day to create buzz. You’ll also need to continue marketing your business beyond its restaurant grand opening event to ensure a steady stream of business. Here are a few methods to try:

As with starting any new small business or startup, opening a restaurant is an exciting yet challenging venture. When you follow the seven steps to open a restaurant we laid out above, you’ll be well on your way to creating a thriving business. Best of luck, new restaurant owners! Learn how SevenRooms can help your restaurant grow. Book a demo today.