How to Open a Restaurant

First, acknowledge the grim statistics:

17% of ventures in the new restaurant business fail during their first year of operation. This stat doesn’t include a food truck business – only brick and mortar businesses.

The median lifespan for new restaurants is 4.5 years. Yet, new restaurants open all the time. You can flip that first statistic and say that 83% of new restaurants succeed.

And if 17% of restaurants fail and the median lifespan is 4.5 years, that means many restaurants remain in operation for many more years.

Here’s everything you need to know before you open your doors.

Why You Should Open Your Own Restaurant

Here are the top 5 reasons to open a new restaurant:

You love restaurants.

You’re one of the small business owners who want to create a cornerstone for a community.

You want a business that manifests your personality, where you’re your own boss.

You love the daily social scene of making and meeting friends.

You love a business that is different every day.

The Restaurant Industry in the United States

Restaurant businesses were one of the small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic.

In 2020, there were more than one million restaurants in the US. Those restaurants employed 9.9 million workers.

In 2021, that number of restaurants had dropped to about 625,000, with a staff of about 16 for each. The average gross sales for restaurants in 2021 was $1.2 million.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Restaurant?

The major cost for a future restaurant is the purchase or lease of a facility. Whether you purchase or lease, you can expect to spend from $250,000 to $2 million annually for the space.

Even if you buy an existing restaurant, you can expect to spend from $10,000 to $1 million on renovations.

Finding the best facility for your restaurant concept is the most important part of your research for the new business. Make a mistake there, and you’ll negatively impact your restaurant’s success. So, what is the cost to start a restaurant? The answer is it will vary greatly, and the final cost is going to depend on your operations.

17 Simple Steps to Open a Small Restaurant

Every business owner takes steps to open, and restaurant owners are no different. However, there are many steps that are unique and important to follow so you can create that dream restaurant:

1. Decide on a Niche

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Service style? Specializing in cuisine, such as Italian, Greek, Vietnamese? Family-friendly atmosphere or fine dining restaurant?

Quick service restaurants, competing with fast-food restaurants or full-service restaurants? Which of those restaurant concepts fits your goals and your target market in the foodservice industry? With your niche in hand, your next step is looking into how to come up with a restaurant name that best describes the place.

2. Pick a Location

Remember, whether you purchase or lease, the facility is the largest part of restaurant costs. And a facility that is exactly what you want inside might not thrive because it is not the right location. Granted finding the best places to start a restaurant is important, but you’ve probably also seen a restaurant in the middle of nowhere. So, location is important, but good food will bring in customers no matter where it is.

For example, is it accessible to handle deliveries of food and supplies? Can prospective customers find it and is it near enough customers for both supporting your anticipated sales volume, and hiring employees?

3. Restaurant Business Plan

Before opening a restaurant, plan all the details. You’ll need an excellent written business plan, which will help you if you approach a financial institution for a loan.

Here are some key elements of a solid business plan:

Executive summary

Mission Statement

Business Description/company overview

Market Research/Market Group

Sample Menu

Detailed Financial Information for you and any partners

Marketing Plan

4. Create a Business Entity

The recommended setup in the food business is a limited liability company or LLC. The LLC will keep your business and personal assets separate, protecting your personal assets.

Before you firmly decide, seek legal advice.

5. Research Licenses and Permits

Here are the basics. You may need additional licenses and permits according to your state and local regulations.

Business license

Liquor license (if required)

Foodservice license

Permit to operate and other requirements of the local health department.

Food handlers permit (for restaurant workers involved in food preparation and serving (these permits are part of food safety regulations).

Permit to erect a business sign. Local laws vary on size and lighting.

EIN – Employer Identification Number

6. Get Your Taxes in Order

You’ll need your EIN to pay federal and state taxes on the payroll. You’ll also use your EIN to pay taxes on sales and on restaurant tips.

New for many states is an additional “health tax.” The health tax is assessed on the sale of food products deemed to be unhealthy, such as soda.

7. Open a Business Bank Account

The separate account makes it easier to keep track of financials. You’ll also need a business credit card.

8. Get Business Insurance

If you are buying or own your building, you’ll need commercial property insurance. You’ll also need general business insurance for the restaurant and its equipment and supplies.

If you plan to deliver food using employees, those vehicles will need commercial auto insurance.

If you have employees, you’ll need to pay workers comp insurance and unemployment insurance.

9. Look into Small Business Loans

One of the best financial resources for restaurant funding is the Small Business Administration. The Cadillac of the SBA loans is the SBA 7 (a) which provides a low-interest small business loan for businesses with fewer than 40 employees. For more information about SBA small business lending for restaurant loans, contact an SBA cooperating lender for a bank loan.

10. Sign the Lease

Have an attorney review the lease before you sign.

11. Design Your Restaurant Space

In the food prep area, a smooth workflow design is a necessity.

In the dining room, you can let your personality shine and use the decor to help attract your target customers. Whether it is a large or small restaurant design, make sure it complements your menu and your customers.

12. Create Your Menu

As you start out try to keep a limited menu. When you choose your menu items, make it a point to “cross utilize” food supplies. For example, that crab meat for today’s crab patties, if not sold, can be used for crab dip tomorrow.

13. Find a Food Supplier

Remember two things about food suppliers – they are also striving to make money and they are also supplying the local competition.

You can use the Better Business Bureau to get its ratings on available vendors.

14. Purchase Restaurant Equipment

Here are some of the main items: Ovens (pizza oven), ranges, exhaust equipment, griddles/grill, deep fryer, rotisserie oven, refrigeration and freezers, cash register/restaurant pos system, security system, tables and chairs, utensils, dishes, pots, and pans. And remember, you can always get used commercial kitchen equipment, which will save you a lot of money.

An important part of all restaurants is the ability to wash and rinse dishes in water that is heated to the required temperature.

15. Start a Marketing Campaign

As you raise money for your new venture, don’t forget to set a chunk aside for your restaurant marketing. Here are a few ways you can promote your restaurant:

Open House when you open.

Support the local community – sponsor a youth team, supply food for local events, etc.

Use your website and FB page to advertise specials and events at the restaurant.

Offer holiday specials for events such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and more.

16. Employ Staff

The main role is general manager, who is usually in charge of hiring and firing, purchasing, and marketing.

Other key roles include assistant manager, hostess, cashier, wait staff, line cook, and head chef. Be prepared to offer higher than minimum wage to attract and keep staff. How many employees you need depends on the scope of your operation.

17. Launch Your Business

Finally! Invite local media to the grand opening ribbon cutting. Offer food samples.

18. Grow Your Business

One way to increase engagement with the community is by partnering with other businesses. Partner for a special event. For example, for Mother’s Day partner with a florist and a spa, with all three businesses offering a package deal.

Successful restaurants with an in-town location increase foot traffic using message boards on the sidewalk. Add outdoor dining if your location is capable.

19. Be a Successful Restaurant Owner

Dance with the one that brung ya. In other words, if your Wing Night or Sushi night is incredibly popular, don’t change it. Add to it.

Always be on the lookout for food options that are trending, such as the popularity of the Keto Diet or Vegetarian offerings.

Is a restaurant profitable?

Here’s the key – sell more than you spend (food, labor, equipment, expenses, utilities). Know the details of your expenditures so you can keep them in line with earnings and you will have one of the most profitable restaurants around.

Can I open a restaurant with no experience?

Yes. In fact, many owners lend their business and marketing expertise to the venture and know little about the business.

Remember that the location is of the highest importance. After that, hire the best.

Image: Depositphotos

This article, "How to Open a Restaurant" was first published on Small Business Trends