Is opening up a restaurant on your to-do list for 2019?
While owning a business is incredibly rewarding, remember it’s not easy. A business’s success depends on how much work the owner puts into running the company. This means it is your responsibility to make smart decisions ahead of time in order to thrive in the future.
Here is a quick summary on what you should know before opening your new hot spot. From choosing and maintaining equipment, functional designing, to creating an influential atmosphere that is ready to adapt to its new community of customers, it’s important to consider everything!
Operational Maintenance
It’s hard to manage a restaurant when you’re busy carrying trays of food and talking up the town. If this is going to be the case, make sure you’re still giving your kitchen the behind-the-scenes attention it deserves.
As every six months roll by, inspectors will come through to make sure you’re following all of the rules. Knowing you’ve never done this before, they will be looking for certain types of big violations that absolutely cannot be overlooked. Staying on top of kitchen cleaning with restaurant exhaust hoods is a main priority for code and safety inspections, especially for a newcomer.
With all of your fancy new equipment, finding a reliable and accredited cleaner is what you want as an owner. In the long run, proper maintenance of your materials will save you a lot of money and will build a strong rep with inspection agencies whose top priority is customer AND worker safety.
Designing Accordingly
With your kitchen and restaurant there must be a flow for how things will be working. When designing the kitchen, keep in mind the space you will need for your workers to run around and still stay organized. An unorganized space is prone to disaster and poor management. This will also affect employee morale.
With seating, make sure you think about how customers will be sitting in relation to one another and how their servers will be presented. Allowing for space and privacy is important, as each meal someone has will be remembered from the first to the last seating position.
An Advertiser’s Advantage
Over time, the ‘newness’ of your restaurant will dwindle and all it will have to rely on for a steady and new customer base is advertising.
Especially in growing communities, there are so many places opening up right in front of people’s faces that they forget those that are not immediately on their mind.
With your restaurant marketing, it’s important to keep a fresh image by providing them with something new to look forward to every once in a while. This can be dishes, entertainment, or even highlighted cocktails.
Try to stay away from special deals and coupons, as this gives off a weakened vibe. You want to be the place that has an agenda and has something great to offer with any visit, not just because it’s on sale.
Staying Relevant
The initial start up of your restaurant will cater to a specific type of food, probably something that is on the list of things people like to eat currently.
But just as trends shift through time, the flavors and cuisines on people’s palates are also prone to change.
From your initial items, you may want to keep in mind ways that you can mix certain dishes up. Adding seasonal touches is a great way to encourage sustainable food management and shift the menu with the time of year.
Creating a Strong Team
Work environment is one of the most important aspects of any business. The service that your workers provide to customers gives you a representation that can make or break your name.
Make sure your workers are proud of where they work, and whom they work for. Show them your positivity and commitment to the business, connect with them, and make your local business a place that everyone can enjoy together.
