Stepping into the world of hospitality business seeks a little bit of experience in the field. Whether you worked as a manager, as a chef or you are just an aspiring entrepreneur who is in love with quality food and excellent music, you need to be extra prepared when entering such an industry. It all depends on the first impression, the whole concept and the longevity of the quality services you will be offering. But, let’s not get ahead so quickly. Let’s go over the steps of a successful launch of a restaurant and what to do to achieve your primary goals. 

1. Choosing a Brand

Of course, the main idea should be very clear in your head. What is going to be your restaurant concept and how will people recognize your brand. For that purpose, you need to think s about the service style of the restaurant, meaning what kind of food you will be serving and what ambiance will you offer to your visitors. Take a piece of paper and a pen and write down the mission, vision, identity, and personality of the project you are creating. This will be your concept and it is the starting point for everything else from here. 

2. Choosing the Menu

It is not just a matter of defining the main difference between you and the other restaurants locally, choosing the menu items is also a functional thing to do in terms of figuring out the equipment you are going to need and the kitchen staff you will hire. The menu will also appeal to a certain target audience, so you need to consider who will you be cooking for – will it be vegans, vegetarians, meat lovers, pasta lovers, traditional dish lovers and so on. 

3. Writing a Business Plan

Once you set the basis of your restaurant concept, it is time to write a business plan about the whole concept in details. Usually, for this part, it is recommended to hire an expert offering hospitality business consulting services that will explore the market extensively and discover the feasibility of the restaurant’s details. 

A business plan includes an executive summary, an overview of the company and description,  a market analysis, management details, strategies for marketing and public relations, handling finances, and keeping up with the competition. 

4. Determining a Budget

Even though this part is already mentioned in the business plan, it is recommended to have it additionally analyzed, as it is the most important part that will keep the restaurant working. You need to determine the budget and predict how much money you will need at least to keep the restaurant working for a year ahead. 

You should also consider all the ways of getting new funding and consider applying for a loan if you determine that you will be not able to cover the restaurant costs. 

5. Choosing a Location

Next thing to do is choose your commercial space and apply for leasing. Again, doing this is not something to be done at the heat of the moment. It takes serious consideration and analysis of several factors. First, the location must be visible and accessible to all future guests. Parking space is always a plus and ease of access for everybody should be a priority. Second, the demographics. You need to make sure that both, the target market of your restaurant and the demographics of the area are matching. 

Third, think about labor costs and a minimum wage of the area – this way the employees will have an idea of what to expect based on the location. 

And last, but not least is the competition in the area. Are there any restaurants that are similar to you in the neighborhood and how will you stand out if there are. 

6. Acquiring Permits and Licences

The final step would be to get all the necessary permits and licenses to start. These include federal, state, and local permits and licenses. Without them, you might encounter legal difficulties which will pose a great threat to the proper functioning and finances of your business.