Before You Open a Café
Deciding if Owning a Restaurant is Right for You
Restauranting is hard work. It may seem glamourous and fun, but it all boils down to hard work. Ask anyone in the food business, and they will tell you about long hours they put into it. It’s important to understand all the various jobs that are involved in running a café/restaurant. From bookkeeping, to cooking to PR, as the owner you are responsible for it all.
- Is Owning a Café/Restaurant Right for You?
- Five Café Myths
- What it's Really Like Being a Café Owner
Deciding on a Café Concept
Deciding what type of café/restaurant you want to open will depend of a variety of things. Often times people who want to open their own café/restaurant want to serve food they like to cook, in an atmosphere they feel comfortable in. Other people are interested in Franchising. Café franchises offer a number of benefits, including instant name recognition and built-in marketing. However, many café franchises don't come cheap and owners must be willing to follow a stringent set of rules.
- Franchise vs. Independent Cafés
- How to Become a Franchisee
- Types of Cafés/Restaurants
Choosing a Location for Your Café
Location is vital to the success of any café. There are several factors to consider when searching for that perfect café location, including population base, local employment figures and accessibility. Once you find that perfect location, you will need to make sure you negotiate the best lease possible for your café.
- Finding the Perfect Location
- How to Determine Population Base
- How to Negotiate a Lease
To prepare for your interview with the bank, you need to do your homework. Creating a business plan that outlines your café/restaurant and how you plan to make it profitable, will show the loan officer you mean business. Also make sure you arrive at the bank with all the necessary paperwork, including personal income statements, tax returns and anything else the banker ask you for.
- Why You Need a Business Plan
- Writing a Café Business Plan
- Get Ready For Your Bank Interview
Finding the Perfect Café/Restaurant Name
Café/Restaurant names may reflect a theme (Mexican, Chinese, Continental), a location, or simply be a play on words. The important thing to consider is the impression it will leave on customers. Select a name that will be easy to customers to remember and spell. Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to find a café/restaurant online or in the Yellow Pages because you aren't spelling it correctly.
- Choosing a Café/Restaurant Name
- Café Names That Inspire
Writing the Menu
Your menu is a huge part of your café. After all, it is essentially why your customers keep coming back. They love the food. The layout and design is just as important as what’s listed on the menu. Avoid amateur looking menu designs, such as clip art or photocopied handwriting. Finally, knowing how to price the menu will help increase your profit margins, giving you more money to invest into your café/restaurant.
- How to Price Your Menu
- Menu Design
- Tips for Writing a Café/Restaurant Menu
Staffing Your Café
Hiring the right staff is crucial to any new café. Good food loses much of its appeal if it accompanied by bad service. Knowing the basic employee roles of the back of the house and the front of the house will help you select the best candidate for the job. Experience counts for important positions, such as head cook, dining room manager and bartender.
- Hiring for Front of the House
- Back of the House Positions
- Five Rules Every Café/Restaurant Owner Should Know
Equipping Your Café
Outfitting your café/restaurant kitchen, dining room and bar is the largest part of your start up budget. Shop around for bargain deals of used equipment and leased equipment. Also understanding needs vs. wants is important in avoiding the pitfalls of buying unnecessary furniture and equipment, which can set you way over budget. Begin with the basics, and once you have those you can pick up a few extras.
- Five Tips for Stocking Your Café
- Why You Need a POS System
- Benefits of Leased Equipment
