But the devil is in the details. When that stress response is turned on 24/7âthe way it is for a lot of usânothing good happens. Itâs like speeding down the 405 freeway in first gear. That first gear can be a lifesaver if youâre trying to get up a steep hill, but itâs death to your transmission if youâre driving 75.
You will generally find that the total cost per square foot of your restaurant will run about $150-$200, excluding land costs. This means that if you plan on opening a restaurant with a square footage of 3,000, your total costs will be approximately $450,000-$600,000. Keep in mind that this is a general range only.
These are the typical restaurant startup costs that can be adjusted when needed to keep the restaurant within budget. These are also the costs that can cause undercapitalization quickly. Small operations can get by with minimal material and equipment and can start with $55,000.