Last year, UK restaurants raked in a combined £40 billion – and that figure is set to grow year on year as consumers spend more on eating out. In fact, restaurant turnover outside of the capital is growing at a faster rate than ever before, and so setting up your own restaurant makes sense – especially if you’ve got experience in the sector and want to bring something new to the table. But running your own restaurant can be hard work – trust us, we’d know!
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the things you need to take into consideration before you open up your own restaurant. Bear these in mind and you’ll be on your way to success.
Finding staff
Perhaps one of the most important things you need to consider when starting your own restaurant is hiring staff that you can depend on and trust. Indeed, it’s all well and good promising to do everything on your own or relying on friends and family, but you’ll soon need to hire a professional pair of hands. We recommend working with a chef recruitment agency who can find the most suitable candidates for your restaurant, and offer the expertise and professionalism needed to succeed. Sure, it costs a little more than doing it on your own, but you’ll be sure that you’re presented with top talent that can spearhead your firm to success.
Marketing
When it comes to opening a new restaurant, you need to stand out from the crowd, and offer something truly unique that sets you apart from other businesses. With so much competition on the market, how are you going to differentiate yourself and add value, at a reasonable price? Through branding and marketing, of course! Start promoting your restaurant as soon as you’ve signed the papers – showing off behind the scenes and coming soon images of your decor and menu will build hype and excitement and ensure you’re fully booked when opening day arrives. And the more you spend on marketing, the more successful you’ll be.
Your menu
On the topic of differentiating, what are you planning to serve in your new restaurant? As soon as you can, start experimenting with potential dishes and put your own spin on the usual classics. Consider your target market and price range, and be sensible with what you add to your menu – it’s all well and good going down the fancy and contemporary route, but will your average punter be interested in something exotic, or would they prefer a traditional meal that delivers on flavour and price? Research is key – if you’ve not considered who you are trying to target, then you’re going to struggle to build a menu that ticks all of the boxes.
Your name
Finally, don’t forget your name. Branding is everything, and coming up with a unique name that tells the story of your business is critical. Do some local and regional research to ensure nobody else has a similar name (you don’t want to get confused with another restaurant and end up with their bad reviews on your TripAdvisor page) and consider how you’re going to brand your restaurant. You’ll want uniforms with your logo, as well as napkins, dishes, and accessories. Go all out – if your name is plastered everywhere, people will remember you!
There’s no getting away from the fact that opening your own restaurant is hard work, but if you are patient and have the right idea, you’ll soon find success. Whether you’re starting your very first venture or you’ve been in the industry for years, we wish you the best of luck.
