My fiance is in Culinary School in Houston and we would like to open a restaurant in the future. I just graduated from college and am working for now but we would like to know how much it would take to open a restaurant. He will probably get some experience as a chef in a restaurant before we make the leap but we would like to know what we can look into now. If you wanted to have an upperscale...say steakhouse...would you have to sell part of the business at the beginning to even afford it?
2007-09-30 12:41:06 · 5 answers · asked by nisseee 1 in Dining Out ➔ United States ➔ Houston
First of all, find someone experienced in restaurant management (preferably with a degree in it from U of H).
Second, you'll need financing. Unless the restaurant fairy waves her magic wand and gives you a fully equipped and furnished place, you'll need money for building, renovation, kitchen equipment, tables, linens, chairs, et cetera. For a steak house, think between 250K and 500K. You have to think big for a steakhouse. It isn't an intimate bistro.
Third, you can go for a steakhouse that doesn't serve beer, wine, or liquor, but odds are good it won't last. So, get that liquor license. There are agencies that can perform the process for you. I believe a mixed drink license is about $4000 (in Texas).
Fourth, you'll need time. Once you have everything planned, and everything built, and everything stocked, you'll find yourselves on your feet for 14 hours a day, prepping for lunch and dinner business, doing inventory, dealing with suppliers, and last, but not least, he'll be cooking (it will be impossible for him to do ALL of it and for you to have any kind of volume of business). This will be your life, seven days a week, for the first year (until you're established).
You'll have to deal with the health department, customer complaints, learning a new language (your line cooks and the like will probably be illegal aliens), employee theft, and a whole raft of issues.
Lots of people have the idea of opening a restaurant where they'll be at the front door greeting people in a tuxedo, saying "Buona sera" to all those entering. It isn't that way at all. Having a restaurant is WORK. You'll likely lose money the first year. Do NOT try to open a restaurant "on the cheap." It rarely works. Half of new restaurants fail in six months. Three quarters in a year, seven-eighths in two years, 15/16ths in four years. After five years, maybe one non-chain restaurant in 20 is still open
If you're still up for it, best of luck
2007-10-02 08:43:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have worked for people since i was 17. Keep track of your cost, keep track of your labor, and maike it the best damn place your customers have ever been. The key point is having GREATSERVICE, not good , but great. Plus, the food's gotta rock. Seriously. Get a bartender from a local strip club that knows EVERYBODY. Get some staff will wait hand and foot on everyone. Get a signature dish AND drink. Make it THE PLACE TO BE. If i didi't hve 2 babaies at home I would be doing this.
2007-10-01 00:09:50 · answer #2 · answered by barkingfrog girl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a license
a scence of business
a good location for the type of resturant you are going to have
good management someonr that would want to go into business with you..am I on a roll
2007-10-01 17:38:48 · answer #3 · answered by ღOMGღ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The biggest expence will be the liquor license, last I checked it was about $300,000 and sometimes over half a million good luck.
here is a website that might help
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/61298.html
2007-10-01 13:05:38 · answer #4 · answered by n v 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no
2007-09-30 20:59:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋