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.
The usual restaurant deal is composed of an operating chef or managing partner along with some investors that find a site, negotiate a lease and then spend anywhere from $750 to $1,000 a square foot to build out the restaurant itself. A restaurant designer that is going to cost you about $45K. 2  A public relations firm that is going to cost you $25K in the first year. 3  A lawyer to put together your partnership and operating agreements.