Once you’ve done your research, listen to your gut when making business decisions. Don’t worry about what is “trendy” or the latest “must-have.” Focus on the important things, such as good quality food or coffee, excellent service, and a solid location. Don’t let other people push you around with their own ideas. Remember that what works for one business may not work for another. Just make sure that you’re basing your decisions on research. You don’t have to spend a fortune to establish a small restaurant or coffee shop, especially if you shop smart. Repurpose whatever you can. Buy wholesale from restaurant supply shops. See if contractors and other service providers will work for barter.  If you need to establish branding for your business, consider contacting a local design school or university with an advertising department. Often, students will be glad to develop excellent low-cost work for you in exchange for getting to use it in their portfolios. Leasing big-ticket items such as refrigerators and espresso machines, at least at first, can help cut down on start-up costs. This means you will be able to keep lower prices, which will mean happy customers.  You may also be able to find equipment offered on sites like craigslist. Just make sure that it is in good working order. The dining area of your restaurant or coffee shop is the place where your customers will spend their time. It communicates your restaurant’s identity and is crucial to customers’ impressions of your business. Usually, between 45-65% of your floor space will be devoted to the dining area.  Visit other restaurants or coffee shops in your area. Observe how customers interact with the space. Does it seem comfortable? Efficient? Inviting? Make sure you have flexible seating. Booths for larger groups should be placed along the walls. Remember that 40-50% of customers arrive in pairs. 30% come alone or as a party of 3. Just 20% of guests come as groups of 4 or more. Use primarily tables for two that you can push together when necessary.  For coffee shops, make sure that you have a comfy seating area that’s conducive to working and socializing. A mix of chairs and couches with 2-person tables will create an inviting environment in which customers will want to stay for awhile. Don’t overhire at first. Be willing to fill in gaps yourself until your business is profitable enough for you to hire more personnel. You can advertise online, in classifieds, and through word-of-mouth.  Create a training guide so that your employees know what is expected of them. Setting clear roles and expectations will help things run smoothly.  For coffee shops, hire well-trained baristas. Coffee quality is the live-or-die element of coffee shops. Even if you buy the best espresso in the world, if your baristas don’t know how to prepare it, your coffee won’t draw customers. Be aware of turnover. Food service is very prone to employee turnover, where employees join and leave a company within a short amount of time. Make sure you have ways to quickly hire new people when you need to. Make sure you’re aware of and comply with your local Department of Labor regulations.  Even if you hire family, make sure that each person has a clear understanding of their duties. All laws and regulations apply to family-member hires, too. Before you choose a supplier, you have to know every single product that your business will need. This ranges from obvious items like “eggs” and “tables” to tiny details, like “napkin holders” and “toilet paper.” Make a comprehensive list so that you know exactly what your business will need each week. Categories to think about include equipment (stoves, refrigerators), furnishings (lighting, tables, chairs), dinnerware (glasses, plates, silverware), and miscellaneous details (cocktail stirrers, toothpicks). You will want to provide your customers with the best-quality products for their money. There is a wide variety of suppliers out there, from those who specialize only in seafood to those who will do everything from toilet paper to T-bones. If you talked with other restaurant and coffee shop owners, you may be able to get recommendations from them. Make sure you balance between cost and quality.  Start with a list provided by your local branch of the National Restaurant Association. Check out any potential supplier with your local Better Business Bureau. If a business has a history of complaints, steer clear.  Comparison shop. Ask for price quotes on everything you’re likely to need and compare between suppliers. Consider your staff’s talents. It may be more cost-effective for your staff to clean its own seafood, but if you don’t have anyone who knows how to do that, it won’t actually save you any money. If your staff has skills like bread-baking, though, make use of them. Make sure the company you choose is responsive. If they can’t get something to you in time, will they let you know? Are they conscientious about delivery schedules? Do they reply to inquiries in a timely manner? Even the best menus need fine-tuning at times. Host a small party for people whose opinions you trust and prepare your menu offerings for them. Ask for their feedback, and make changes as necessary. Tell people what the price will be at the restaurant and ask them how they think about it. You may need to bring your prices down, or you could be pleasantly surprised to learn you can charge more while still offering value.
اتبع غرائزك. ابحث عن الصفقات الرابحة. صمم مساحتك باهتمام. وظف طاقم موظفين. ضع قائمةً بكل ما تحتاجه. اتفق مع مورد المواد الغذائية. اختبر قائمتك قبل الافتتاح.