Four Tips to Opening a Successful Restaurant

April 12, 2019

Have you been dreaming about bringing your food expertise to the forefront of you life?

Many people have thought about opening their own restaurant. Folks don’t follow through for a variety of reasons – money, fear, or simple inertia.

You can be different, though. You can make a plan and make your restaurant dream happen – with the restaurant supplies, funding, and grit, you can be successful.

It takes a lot to open a successful restaurant. Here are four tips to help you start out on the right foot.

 

Know the Big Three

There are three things you absolutely need if your restaurant is going to succeed. You have to have a great chef, an amazing location, and a great concept.

Make sure they make sense together. A straight-laced conservative part of town isn’t the best place for a hippie vibe, and your chef has to be fully bought into your concept. If you have mismatches, you’ll have a lot of headaches and drama you don’t need.

Don’t discount any of these three. If you’re hoping two will cover for a missing third piece, you’re in for a lot of hardship.

 

Have Too Much Money

“There’s no such thing as too much money,” especially when you’re starting a new business. Figure out how much money you think you’ll need and then save a LOT more than that.

It’s helpful to have six to nine months of operating expenses in the bank up front. Sound like “more than you need?” Exactly. You’ll be amazed how much will get eaten up, even if you buy sensible high-quality used restaurant supplies and make otherwise choices.

Remember that there may be an initial excitement about your new restaurant that brings in a lot of revenue at the beginning, but that a downswing is inevitable. No honeymoon lasts forever. Be prepared!

 

Create the Right Systems and Organization

Getting high-quality staff is a challenge, but you can get a lot further with average folks if you have excellent systems and organization in place. From the way scheduling is done to the way you organize restaurant supplies like walk-in refrigerators, you can create a process for everything.

Just because you have systems doesn’t mean you’re a corporate chain. What it does mean is that everything about your restaurant will flow more smoothly and your guests will have a much better experience.

With proper organization, you’ll be able to be far more creative, not less.

 

Focus on the Guest Experience

To be successful as a restaurant means having an incredible guest experience from start to finish. What that looks like will vary depending on the type of restaurant you have.

For a high-end establishment, it means that every aspect of the dining experience is luxurious, from the napkins to the flatwear. For a quick-service restaurant, it means that all restaurant supplies are conveniently easy to access and that patrons can get in and out quickly with excellent food for a reasonable price.

Consider your concept and what excellence would look like in that framework. Then do everything you can to create that consistently day after day.

 

Get The Restaurant Supplies You Need Today!

Opening a new restaurant is a challenge, and it’s sometimes easy to put off handling “small details” like your restaurant supplies. However, making sure you have the right cookware, dishes, and smallware is essential to the success of your new restaurant.

Looking for help sourcing the equipment you need? Contact us today – we’re here to help!

Choosing the Right Sink for Your Restaurant

Choosing the Right Sink for Your Restaurant

There are many, many pieces of kitchen equipment that are vital but often taken for granted. The kitchen sink is one of them. This workhorse of the back of the house handles a lot of jobs. Sinks give you running water as well as a place to wash either food or dishes....

read more
Restaurant Supplies You Need to Add Delivery

Restaurant Supplies You Need to Add Delivery

Delivery services are becoming more and more popular, and that’s generally good news for restaurants. The ability to order online and receive food in the comfort of home drives up sales and that’s good for revenue. And when these sales don’t require additional tables,...

read more
Should You Add a Salad Bar to Your Restaurant?

Should You Add a Salad Bar to Your Restaurant?

New Year’s is a prime time for resolutions – and one of the most common is to eat healthier and lose weight. In fact, for 2018 45% of Americans said they wanted to lose weight or get in shape for the new year. The new year might have you eyeing new options for your...

read more
How to Overcome the Seasonal Rollercoaster

How to Overcome the Seasonal Rollercoaster

Are you tired of having huge swings in your business throughout the year? Do you wish you could just have consistent, easy-to-predict income? If so, it’s time for you to get off of the seasonal rollercoaster. You might think there’s nothing you can do to overcome the...

read more
The Restaurant Supplies and Strategies You Need in 2019

The Restaurant Supplies and Strategies You Need in 2019

Are you ready for the new year? If you’re like many restaurant owners, you’re thinking about how to get through the holiday rush – both in your restaurant and in your own life. However, you can’t overlook planning for the future. It’s vital to make sure you have the...

read more
2018 Cooking Equipment Holiday Gift Guide

2018 Cooking Equipment Holiday Gift Guide

Do you know someone who loves to cook? Or are you looking for a new, special piece of cooking equipment for yourself? Whether you’re interested in home cooking or you run a restaurant, you can benefit from these gift ideas. These great cooking items will thrill...

read more
Accommodating the Keto Diet at Your Restaurant

Accommodating the Keto Diet at Your Restaurant

The keto diet – a low-carb, high-fat combination – has been gaining a lot of traction in the last couple of years. As a restaurant, it’s vital that you are able to accommodate your diners’ needs. More than that, having popular options on the menu can help bring people...

read more
Restaurant Supplies You Need to Prepare for a Power Outage

Restaurant Supplies You Need to Prepare for a Power Outage

It happens to all of us. You’re going on, doing just fine, and suddenly…Dark. The power is out. And of course, you have no idea how long it will last. Fortunately, you have the restaurant supplies and process in place to weather the storm without losing your...

read more
Considerations when Converting a Food Truck to a Restaurant

Considerations when Converting a Food Truck to a Restaurant

Your food truck has been successful, and you have a loyal following. So loyal, in fact, that you struggle to serve them all each day. Customers have started to ask you when you’re going to open a restaurant. It started as a teasing suggestion, but it’s become more...

read more
Tips for Great Plating & Why it Matters

Tips for Great Plating & Why it Matters

You may have heard that we “eat with our eyes” before we physically eat food. That’s why pictures are so important – on menus, in cookbooks, online, and more. It isn’t just a gimmick – the truth is that the way food looks and smells actually changes our experience of...

read more
Be Proactive: Assess and Address Risks in Your Restaurant

Be Proactive: Assess and Address Risks in Your Restaurant

As a restaurant owner or manager, you have a lot on your mind. You want employees to show up on time and ready to give great service. You want your food to be well-stocked, high quality, and ready to use. You need cooks to be attentive and customers to be clear in...

read more
How to Reduce Noise From Restaurant Equipment and More

How to Reduce Noise From Restaurant Equipment and More

Having a popular restaurant is wonderful. You have a lot of guests, tables turn over quickly, and you and your employees make a lot of good money every night.   However, sometimes popular spots can get low ratings for a simple reason – they’re too loud! It’s not an...

read more
Foodservice Equipment Gone Wrong: When the POS Crashes

Foodservice Equipment Gone Wrong: When the POS Crashes

The point of sale (POS) system that you have helps you keep your restaurant running smoothly. It helps you track inventory, sales, and revenue. It allows your staff to create checks, swipe cards, and keep tables turning. The POS is a lifesaver – until it isn’t. Maybe...

read more
Preventing Dine and Dash in Your Little Rock Restaurant

Preventing Dine and Dash in Your Little Rock Restaurant

There’s nothing more frustrating to a server – and a manager – than realizing that a table has left without paying for their meal. It costs everyone money, and it can be insulting as well. Sometimes dine and dashers are young people who think it’s a funny prank. Other...

read more