35 Tips to Open Busy/Friendly Village Eateries

When you’re writing a business plan you should include:

• A comprehensive description of your concept.
• A description of your target customers.
• An outline of your menu and potential pricing.
• As much financial information as possible. Include details on your start-up capital (how much money you have and where its coming from), as well an estimate of your long-term income and expenditure.
• Information on how you plan to market your restaurant.
• Details of your plan to hire and train employees, as well as an outline of any employee retention programs.
• You should also include a section which addresses how you plan to cope with the pressures and problems that you, as a restaurateur, will have to face on a daily basis. Working out a possible exit strategy in your business plan may also be helpful

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

6. Choose a location with proper zoning.

It is vital that you research local zoning ordinances and regulations before deciding on a location for your restaurant. Zoning ordinances deem that a commercial property, such as a restaurant, cannot be located in a residential zone. Therefore, you should contact the town manager to find out if your potential property is properly zoned for a restaurant, before contacting the landlord about lease options.

• Zoning laws also regulate how you intend to use the space within your property, along with any renovations or improvements you plan on making, so it is important to understand all of the ins-and-outs of the zoning laws regarding that specific property before you commit to a lease.
• If you intend on having a bar in your restaurant, be sure to ask about serving alcohol in that particular area as well. Some towns prohibit the sale of alcohol in certain zones.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

7. Clean the place up according to federal, state and local safety laws.

Once you’ve determined the location to be in the proper zone for a restaurant, you need to know how safe it is.

A local building inspector or code enforcement officer can walk you through all the safety requirements needed to pass a building inspection.

Along with a fire suppression system in the kitchen, the building may require an entire sprinkler system.

The code enforcement officer will also look at the general safety of building to decide if it is fit to operate as a restaurant.

See also: 22 Tips to Start High End International Interior Design Business in Nigeria

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

8. Register your business.

A business licence is required by all restaurants. It essentially grants you the permission to open your doors for business. Generally, business licences are issued by the city or local municipality.

• Go to the city or county office to apply for the business license. There you will be required to complete an application and pay a licensing fee.
• You should also contact your state’s department of revenue to determine if you are required to register your business with the state.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

9. Take care of any licences and permits.

You must obtain certain permits and licenses before opening the doors of your restaurant, including a health permit, a liquor licence and a music copyright licence.

• Most health permits will only be granted after the restaurant passes a health inspection. Therefore, it is important to understand the local requirements early in the process to ensure that any planned kitchen or dining room configuration will be in accordance with the local health department rules.
• If a restaurant plans to play live or recorded music (including music played on a iPod), it must obtain a copyright license from the appropriate music licensing agency. The two primary agencies are the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).
• Your local restaurant association can often provide information about required permits and licenses.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

10. Invite the health inspector over.

Before a new restaurant opens, it must pass an initial health inspection. To arrange a health inspections, contact your local health department at least 30 days prior to opening. During this visit, the health inspector will most likely focus on your equipment and food storage.

• The health inspector may check to make sure your walk-in cooler is reading the correct temperature and make sure your establishment has enough hand sinks located in the correct places.
• The health inspector will also check to make sure you have your food service operator’s license and any other documentation the health code requires.

View also: Top 50 Convenience Needlework Business in Nigeria

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

11. Look at your own resources.

Take a good look at the assets you have at your disposal, you probably have more than you realize. Consider your savings and retirement accounts, any equity you might have in real estate, valuable vehicles or other belongings, along with any other investments you’ve previously made. It may be possible to sell these assets, or you can use them as loan collateral. You should also have a discussion with your bank about your credit line – they may be able to offer you enough credit to get your restaurant up and running.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

12. Ask for business loans from the bank.

Commercial bank loans are the most common form of start-up funding for aspiring businesses.

However, securing a loan from a bank as a first-time eateries owner has its challenges:

13. Inherent risk factor.

Commercial banks typically find start-up restaurants extremely risky to finance, since more than 25% of new restaurants fail within the first year of opening. Bank loans are risky for restaurant owners as well. If the restaurant business does go under, the owner is still responsible for repaying the loan.

14. Bias against first-time owners.

Lenders examine restaurant loan applications closely, and first-time owners usually confront skeptical lenders when presenting their business plans. For subsequent openings, the process becomes much easier. Lending institutions prefer applicants who can submit evidence of successful past performance.

See also: 26 Tips to Open Canned Food Processing Business in Nigeria

15. Probability of rejection.

Many restaurant owners are rejected for loans the first time. Do not be afraid to try again at a different bank. With every attempt, refine your argument and perfect your business plan. It may take a while, but perseverance will usually reward you with the loan you need.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

16. Ask friends and family for help.

Once you have taken account of all of your personal resources, you can consider turning to supportive friends and family members for financial support. Just be wary that borrowing money from those closest to you can result in complicated situations. Make sure to treat this as a business arrangement and to set its terms out in writing. Confirm that your friend or relative is aware of the risks involved in investing in a start-up restaurant.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

17. Partner up.

Finding a business partner can be a great way to get the start-up capital you need, while also finding someone to share in the responsibilities involved in opening a restaurant. Alternatively, you may find someone who would like to invest in your business, but wants no involvement in the day-to-day running of a restaurant. Either way, you should make sure that you outline each partner’s individual roles and responsibilities in a written partnership agreement. That way everything should remain transparent and above board. Also be sure to choose your partners carefully–especially when it comes to family members.

Read on: 6 Tips to Linkup Kayak Customer Service in Nigeria

18. Take advantage of government programs.

There are numerous local, state and federal programs which exist solely to provide financial support for small businesses. Do your research and find out if your new business qualifies – you may be pleasantly surprised by the resources available to you. Check out the SBA, read the literature on small businesses at your local library and be sure to find out about special business incentives for veterans, and minorities.

19. Contact food service vendors.

Reliable food service distributors play an important role in the success of your business and you will want to choose a distributor who provides good quality products with prompt, consistent delivery.

• You can find food service vendors online, in the Yellow Pages or by attending restaurant conferences or trade shows.
• Ask other restaurants in your area who they get their products from. Ask which suppliers they like in particular and why.

20. Get in touch with local producers.

Eateries using high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients are becoming increasingly popular.

Approach local farmers and food manufacturers about buying food in bulk.

Farmers can supply your restaurant with produce by the bushel.

As well as fresh meat and dairy products.

A local manufacturer, such as a bakery, can supply large quantities of breads, rolls and other baked goods.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

21. Shop around.

Make sure to shop around before signing any agreements with food suppliers.

Getting a good deal does not necessarily mean choosing the supplier with the lowest price.

The quality of the food and service provided are just as important.

• Look for references and contact other restaurants the supplier has worked with.
• Negotiate the details of food specifications, delivery times and terms of payment.
• Choosing a vendor with whom you can forge a good working relationship will be helpful in the long run.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

22. Hire employees.

A well-trained and professional staff is essential to the success of any restaurant. Before hiring, decide how many employees you will need, what the job description for each position will be and what the pay scale will be. Take the time to thoroughly interview each applicant. You also need to ensure that they are aware of exactly what their role will be within the restaurant, and what you expect of them. You will need to hire:

• A manager. Choosing a manager for your restaurant is one of the most important decisions you will have to make. A good manager will have a wealth of experience (hopefully managing a similar type of restaurant), excellent leadership skills, and an in-depth knowledge of the ins and outs of running a successful business. They should also share a similar value system to you and be enthusiastic about embodying the style and character of your restaurant.
• Cooks. A restaurant is nothing without great food, so getting your hands on some excellent cooks should be a top priority. Local cooking schools can help point you in the right direction, and placing the ad in the paper can yield promising results. Depending on the size of your restaurant, you’ll probably need at least three cooks to begin with, one of whom will be part time. When hiring cooks, besides producing great-tasting food, you are looking for consistency and attention to detail.
• Servers. Servers will have the most interaction with your customers, so you will need to hire friendly, capable people who can multi-task and work well under pressure. You will need to train any new servers, whether they have experience or not, to reflect the serving style of your particular restaurant.
• To determine how many employees you will need, consider how many tables, seats and service stations you will have. Think about what your busiest hours will be and ensure they will be adequately staffed. You will also need to consider your budget, this will influence how many employees you can afford to hire and at what rate of pay.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

23. Know your target market.

Be aware that it is impossible to appeal to 100% of the market. You cannot satisfy everyone. With this in mind, focus on your target market. Identify what their needs are and do your best to meet those needs. Some examples of target markets are:

• Teens, students and young adults. This is a large and ethnically diverse market. Fast-food or quick-service eateries are popular with this market.
• Families with children. Good value and a child friendly atmosphere are important here. Menus should cater to both adults and children.
• Empty nesters. Empty nesters consist of people aged between 50 and 65 with grown children who no longer live at home. This group tends to have a higher income and typically visits upscale eateries. They are less concerned with price and are more focused on excellent service and outstanding food. Appeal to this group with elegant surroundings and a sophisticated ambiance.
• Vegetarians. Eateries catering specifically for vegetarian and vegan customers are becoming more and more popular.

24. Plan your grand opening.

A grand opening is the best time to get press for your restaurant. Although it can be costly, the money you spend on your grand opening will be worth it if your restaurant gets publicity. A successful grand opening takes time and planning, so choose the date well in advance and consider hiring a local publicist to help with the advertising. Here are some ideas to help make your grand opening a success:

• Hire photographers. Make sure there is someone there to photograph your grand opening. That way, there will be pictures ready for any journalists looking to cover it. Keep in mind that the press that comes after your grand opening is just as important as the press that informs the public of your opening. Do not let up on your public relations efforts just because your grand opening is over.
• Invite a reviewer. If you know that your food is top notch, you will want to invite a food critic or eateries reviewer to your grand opening. This is sure to get you some press, although there is a risk that the press might be negative.
• Invite a local celebrity. If you get a local politician, television host or any other local celebrity to come to your grand opening, you will be more likely to get some media coverage.
• Provide entertainment. By providing your customers with an enticing form of entertainment – such as a live band, DJ, dancing or contests – you will create a night that they will remember.

25. Place traditional ads.

Busy/Friendly Village Eateries:

26. Offer incentives using social media.