I would like to open up a restaurant - would like your opinion and help?

Question

I would like to open up a restaurant in the next year and I have the money and support as well as knowledge of the industry but would like you ideas and help on the best style, where to order the best products and equipment, good web sites to get information. The location would be down town of the town I live in – population over 9000 and growing with surrounding population of about 12000. I want if to be semi formal, quiet, and a bit romantic. There is nothing like it here and couples need a nice place to go to relax and enjoy their evening.

Answer 1

Starting a small business takes a lot of courage. But, as they say, courage does not pay the bills. To be successful – to stay in business – you need more than courage. You need a combination of hard work, skill, perseverance, and lots of luck.

Here are six steps to launch a new business successfully:

1. Provide a benefit.
2. Determine the fit with your market.
3. Right timing is everything
4. Be ready to support your business
5. Develop a blueprint for success
6. Market, market, market

It is always best to start your business by putting together all your questions and finding answers to them. You can do that with a business plan (and if you plan to look for investors or apply for a loan, you need to present your business plan). Here are some sample business plans that you can use

Sample Restaurant Business Plan (steakhouse) http://www.bplans.com/spv/3228/2.cfm
Sample Restaurant Business Plan (organic restaurant) http://www.bplans.com/spv/3259/index.cfm?affiliate=pas

Below are free information and resources that I've found on how to start a restaurant business:

National Restaurant Association http://www.restaurant.org/
Entrepreneur.com Marketing and Promotions of a Restaurant http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,317716-8,00.html
Starting a Restaurant Business http://www.awib.org/content_frames/articles/restaurant.html
RestaurantOwner.com http://www.restaurantowner.com/
AllFoodBusiness.com How to Start a Restaurant http://www.allfoodbusiness.com/starting_your_own_business.php
6 Ways to Attract New Customers to Your Restaurant http://www.homebusinesscenter.com/how_to_start/restaurant.html
Canada Business Starting a restaurant http://www.cbsc.org/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=CBSC_FE%

You may consider the following resources (not free):

Palo Alto's Restaurant Business Plans http://www.bplans.com/st/restaurant.cfm
FabJob.com's Starting a Restaurant Business http://www.fabjob.com/restaurantowner.asp
Entrepreneur.com http://www.smallbizbooks.com/cgi-bin/SmallBizBooks/00047.html

Associations are great resources as well

National Restaurant Association http://www.restaurant.org/
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (they have excellent training courses for restaurant owners) http://www.nraef.org/
Your state restaurant association (e.g. http://www.ohiorestaurant.org/ , http://www.azrestaurant.org/ , http://www.parestaurant.org/ , http://www.nmrestaurants.org/

If you want in-depth information, I suggest you check out the following books:

The Restaurant Business Start-up Guide (Real-World Business) by Paul Daniels http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1582911037/ref=nosim/powerhomebizguid
Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan and Feasibility Study by Sharon Fullen http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0910627363/ref=nosim/powerhomebizguid
Start Your Own Restaurant (and Five Other Food Businesses) (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Ups) by Entrepreneur Press and Jacquelyn Lynn http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891984268/ref=nosim/powerhomebizguid
Start Your own Restaurant and Five Other Food Businesses (Startup) by Jacquelyn Lynn http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1599180200/ref=nosim/powerhomebizguid

Answer 2

The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* The Restaurant Business Start-up Guide by Paul Daniels
* Restaurants That Work: Case Studies of the Best in the Industry by Martin E. Dorf
* Restaurant Financial Basics by Raymond S. Schmidgall
* Opening a Restaurant or Other Food Business Starter Kit: How to Prepare a Restaurant Business Plan and Feasibility Study by Sharon Fullen
* Upstart Guide Owning & Managing a Restaurant by Roy S. Alonzo
* The Restaurant Managers Handbook: How to Set Up, Operate, and Manage a Financially Successful Food Service Operation by Douglas Robert Brown

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

The number one tip I can give you is DON'T. If you really got your mind set to this, be sure to hire good managers right from the start. If you don't, you will worry about the business and feel the need to be there all the time. It will start owning you instead of you owning it. Make sure that you have good suppliers that can offer you a wide selection of everything that you need. The best supplier I've seen in the business is Hardin's-Sysco, based out of Memphis, TN, followed closely by PFG, based out of Little Rock, AR. If you're going for the romantic setting, I would hire a lighting specialist and an interior designer. You especially need the lighting specialist. The direction of the lighting and the dimness of the lighting sets the whole mood. If you don't have this perfected, the mood won't be perfected. Make sure you hire good waitresses and motivate them to serve their customers superbly with something such as a bonus. Also, remind them that the nicer they are and the more they check on the customer, the better their tips going to be. Also, spare no expense creating the dining room and keeping it clean. Cleanliness is the most important thing in owning a restaurant.

Well, I wish you good luck.

Answer 4

You say you have the money... :) Typically, new restaurants make no profit for the first twelve to eighteen months. You need more than just start up funds. You need a large bank account to live off for a year and a half. If you are determined to proceed, talk with the local restaurateurs in your area. Purchasing products from the same vendors may create discounts for you and them, and if you can purchase fresh local produce, maybe you'll get a discount if you agree to promote this via your menu. Although you mentioned population, you didn't mention much else. Demographics should help you decide what your area will respond to most favorably. Good Luck.

Answer 5

I wish you good luck. I had a resturant for over 12 years. If you get a good location then you got off to a good start. Look in the telephone book under Rest. Equipment . Or look on the web. You have to make sure you get everything stanless steal.. etc. Chek also with the county and see if there are restrictions etc, Different areas have different codes, You have to stay with in them. There are some used Rest, Equptmt . places that sell used but nice things from your chairs and tabes to freezers. At a good price and reliable, But if I was you i would start with used things, then gradualy go to new when needed. If you have good food and good help, keep it nice and clean . Your customers will come back. I do not really rember the name but think one New Equipmt place was called Rapid. Ck on line. Use to get things from them. Your idea sound good, but this is a childs world hard not to include them. People love Seafood , Chinesse etc . Don't know where you live but use to get used thing s in Pikeville NC. Lg place there. Good Luck. Pem

Answer 6

Before you even dive in head first I would do some surveying of your townspeople to see if there would be enough support for something like this. Alot of new restaurants are busy at opening and then business dies when people have tried them. maybe contact a local newspaper for some support.

Answer 7

I have the same dream and a "theme" restaurant will surely gain attention. I have some great ideas if you would like to talk. I'd like to know what state you are in and a little about the area you plan to do this in.