opening a restaurant

It would be far too easy to say my advice is to don't do it, so here goes. ..

Investors. Make sure that they understand that the failure rate in the industry hovers in the mid nineties and they will more than likely lose their money. Make them clear that just because they are investing they do not get to roam around like movie stars and pretend they own the world. They are money people and not chefs, GMs, etc... they need to know that they are investing in YOU and not a restaurant. If they do not have full and complete faith in you then you will all be unhappy very quickly.

The main problems that comes up in any start up food or otherwise is the time it takes to experience a return on investment. Investors get worked up when they find out the business is not a gold mine. Also, you are comfortable with getting a pay check... as an owner when the money is short you take the hit, not the employees and that can be tough. You and your investors are going to make yourselves critical to the lives of a number of people and that can be a **** of a burden.

First year the biggest thing that will come up is capitalization. You MUST... and I can not say this enough... have enough money to get through the year even if no one walks through the door. If you do make money, it is gravy. Assume you will not make a single dime in the first year.

Make absolutely sure that the staff, front and back, is prepared for opening day, opening week, opening month, and opening year. There is no time when you are better positioned to put your best foot forward than right from the start. Too many new places take the position of, "the public will understand that it is our first week and we are still working out the kinks." Let me tell you, they will not understand. They will lambaste you to everyone and anyone they can to make themselves feel better if you are not 100% right out of the box.

Do not comp anything to friends, and make sure your investors know they do not have that right either. This is one that people forget all the time and think , "oh one steak does not matter." It matters.

Here is one last thing, and it may sound lame, take incredibly good care of your customers. They will love you for it and make your place their new home, and that is what you want.

I could go on and on with wonderful advice, but I'll limit it to just a few key points:

1. Be ready to take on a new marriage.

2. Be ready for long hours, low pay, and hard work.

3. Be ready to compete.

4. Be ready to be a babysitter (being a boss).

5. Be ready for the unexpected.

I know this all sounds vague, but anyone who has 'been there, done that' will agree these five points are just a beginning.

Not trying to discourage you, just pointing out some simple facts ahead of time!

Eric
http://www.restaurantedge.com

Hello, Been there! Done that! (twice):lol:
I think I explained (unloaded) in the introduction area. I had a Catering co/Cafe' was great! Keep the Restaurant side small, this will allow your comfort zone (catering) to survive. I found the catering kept the restaurant alive in slow times, I got in over my head opening an additional very large (7000 sq ft) place (finer dining)which we remodeled at great expense I didn't have enough liquid assets to float long enough in a low economy (because too much was spent on decorating) so it took down my other place because I had to "go for it" to try to make the new place prosper. However I would do it all again, in fact I kept the catering co and will be opening another place not as large.:crazy:
The biggest problems? Payroll (large), Employees I should have been choosier, trained longer, and should have been more strict as to duties, and sending home at slow times etc..
I was running between 2 cities with 2 places and catering so I could not adequately supervise everything, I could have taken on a manager which would have eliminated a great deal of these issues, because I was back of house cooking on the line there was a lot I missed. I also had a full service martini bar and in hindsight believe there were a few employee losses there.
Bottom line the only regrets I have are the things I wanted to do but didn't.
The fact that you are looking 3 years down the road good for you! Save as much as you can to fall back on, and the biggest piece of advice I can offer: only take on a partner if you don't want to be "in charge" anymore, I am a control freak and I found that was the worst problem I had, I went from sole owner of a successful business (10yrs) to partner of a sinking ship where I was drowning in someone else's decisions (too many employees etc).
Hope that wasn't too depressing! The experience was still better than an office job any day!:lol:
YAY for you!!! and best of luck!!!!

Hi Brittany,
I just read your latest post and need to add I adore cooking!! that was the problem, I should have been supervising everything in addition to a general manager, but I couldn't be near the kitchen and not hog the whole thing, I love the full ticket wheel and thrive on the chaos! Which unfortunately created more chaos, I should have hired a great Chef to supervise the line and I could have cooked now and then on slow times.
I just never enjoyed foh because I alway wondered what was going on boh :lol:
I did pick up a pos register that would print tickets to boh and if I had time to have it programmed I think it would have helped a great deal, now it's in storage, also I was lucky in the respect that I bought a lot of equipment at auction and business closing and it saved me a huge amount, I still own 90% of the equipment(also in storage) and it is available for me at my new place and I will, and have sold some of what I don't need.
One other problem I can think of right away is that we remodeled a 112 year old historic building that had been a restaurant previously and did not realize that it was tapped out to it's highest capacity for it's electricity, which kept me from using some of my good equipment and shorted out the power on three different occasions, the first being lunch on opening day:eek:, we figured out we couldn't run both heat lamps at the same time or the toaster and the microwave at the same time I think it was an omen.:lol:

Tips

First of all congrats on deciding to go it alone.

My first restaurant went tits up because lack of capital. Let me explain. Found a wonderful place 13th century did it all up and took of to a roaring start, second year we won restaurant of the year (lake district UK) then foot and mouth disease hit the farming community. Overnight the tourist stopped coming, then the locals and local business buttoned down the hatches (mini recession).I did not have enough capital / cash flow to carry me for the following year of ****.

This was obviously not my fault, however having learnt from that, in my next venture (hotel) I had the cash flow to alwayse carry me for one year. This has stood me in good stead ever since.

This article may also be of interest ;
http://www.chefsworld.net/chefs_foru...=1&FTID=eVk%3D

all the best.

www.chefsworld.net

Take the next three years and use it for education. Get as many business courses as you can.
Develope a good relationship with a CPA that specializes in business developement.
Develope a good relationship with an Attorney.
Protect whatever you own now.
The main thing is not to let anyone or yourself talk you out of your dreams.
Business owners like to exaggerate! It can't be that bad if they are doing it.
ALWAYS build your business for acquisition!!!!
besides that, it's a no brainer. Don't listen to "The hard hours".. It's like any other business, you have to work at it. Hours don't count if you are doing something you like and your counting the till at the end of the day.
pan

I'll add to what Panini says by adding that there are many resources that ignored by small business people that include economic forecasting of the local area. Many universities and colleges have such business resources that can help you guage the near-term economic climate that you will have to either suffer or enjoy. Take a look at what the economy is doing and what you will have to weather. Develop a good relationship with an economist. :)

I have no restaurant experience except for waiting tables at a Friendly's in college, so I'll stick with what I know: banking.

I've seen many a financial situation go completely tits-up because a principal tried to do something themselves or cheap out. For example, do you own your share of the business jointly with your spouse, or not? Who will personally guarantee any loans? These aren't decisions to be made via an article in a magazine, yet business owners do it every day.

Interview your professional advisors like any other employee, and understand that no one of them knows everything- a CPA cannot advise on real estate purchases, just as your FOH staff can't advise on kitchen design.

Such good advice from so many people!

Congratulations on your decision to take the leap! There is no better feeling of accomplishment than planning and opening your own place. To be your own boss and celebrate your own victorys is a wonderful feeling. That being said, it is definately hard work - and lots of it.

A solid business plan is so important. The financials have to be well thought out. Once you have thought them out - subtract half the sales, and add on twice the expenses. If you can still make it add up, you're on the right track.

A big difference will be had depending on wether you buy an existing place, or start from scratch. There are certainly pluses and minuses to each way. If you are going to start from scratch and build out - do your homework! Codes and permits, restrictions and zoning issues should be well researched prior to choosing a location. If your buying an existing business, that legwork may already be started for you - but double check everything. Location, Location, Location - it's importance cant be stressed enough.

Make due on the bare minimum to start. Buy only what you absolutely need to get your business off the ground. Once your up and rolling, you can continue to invest in your business. So much of the opening expense can get tied up in what you "want" rather than what you "need".

Don't stretch yourself too thin. You can't do it all yourself - even if you are a control freak. You will burn out. It is so important to hire key staff that you can train and trust so that you can get away from the place once in a while. After two years, I can finally walk away for a weekend with confidence and know my staff has it handled. I probably could have, and should have done it sooner, but the control freak in me wouldn't let me. I definately have my hand on everything being done in my restaurant, but I also have key people in charge of both FOH and BOH. This is the only way you will have time to do the things an owner must do as well.

Hire a qualified Accountant. If cooking is your forte - not accounting, hire someone who knows the ropes. They can handle the taxes, payroll, monthly books or other things that they are trained to handle. Nothing is worse than getting a call from the IRS because you forgot to file some quarterly report. Most new business owners are not experts in this feild, so hire someone who is. THey can also help you get your Busines identity set up and make sure you are protected should the unexpected happen.

Have realistic expectations. So many others have commented on the financial expectation. They are right on. Staying in the black during your first year is very difficult to do. Many, Many unexpected things will come up, and you may find yourself without a paycheck. Be prepared for this, and have plenty of resources to cover yourself should this happen. Stressing about finances will take over your world if you let it.

Enjoy yourself. In everything you do, find joy. This will be the biggest rollercoaster ride you have ever taken! There will be days when your want to poke your eyes out, tear your hair out and hide in a closet and scream. There will be other days when you cant stop smiling about what you have accomplished, the rush you pulled off without a hitch and the adoration from your customers makes your head swell. Take the good days with the bad and know they will even themselves out in the end. Put the time into your decision to make sure your family can handle life without you. You will be married to your place for quite a while - and the honeymoon is several weeks of stress. Soon enough, the place will get on an even keel, and you might even start enjoying it.

Being an Owner, after so many years of working for someone else has been my greatest joy. It tears my heart out to be walking away from my business so early in the game, but health issues in our family make it impossible for me to do anything else. I envy your enthusiasm as you get started on your trek - there is truly no better feeling. Good luck to you!

Joanna

I don't know a friggin thing about running a restaraunt. Having been in venture capital for 4 years in the internet boom though I do know a thing or two about getting a business off the ground.

The only items that I think translate properly to a restaraunt would be;

a) Put your money into your product (food and people) and not your infrastructure (building, decoration, computer systems, etc, etc.). People will buy a great product, even if they have to sit at a table covered in paper and peeling paint on the wall. In my woefully under-informed opinion the low success rate for restaraunts is partially due to people wanting to walk into a business instead of building a business. There's a big difference. *Grow* your business, don't expect to step in day one with everything exactly like you dreamed. Business great? Expand. Getting even better? Raise prices and expand more. There's always this notion that you can only serve a certain type of food in a certain type of atmosphere, I don't buy it. I know far too many successful restaraunts (now) that started out as tiny, cramped, poorly decorated places....that served great food. They didn't have a big media splash when they launched, that's for sure...but they were also still in business a year later because the low overhead allowed it.

b) Be personally financially secure. I don't mean you can't take out loans,investors, etc. I mean regardless of the source of the money you should have enough *personally* that you can go at least a year without paying yourself. If you have a spouse or SO tell them to expect that. Lots of folks end up having to walk away from what will one day be successful simply because they can't personally afford to not have a paycheck, or because of the pressure from spouses, etc. when they weren't making any money. Where investors, employees, etc. are concerned the only way they are going to willingly take a financial hit and stand behind you is if they know you are taking a bigger one.

My .02 cents

Congrats Brittany

So I guess your trip inspired you a little? :smiles: I have only been a small partner in a restaurant as Exec Chef. I did very little when it came to deals with investors, choosing computer systems, ets. I did however particapate in all other opening and managing aspects. I learned so much doing this. The restaurant has since been sold, but most of the systems that our team set up are still in practice which makes me think we did something right.

As far as the other comments, you already know about the hours, hard work and all the other things that "normal" people don't understand haha. The one year capital, hiring front of house manager, and preparing yourself for possible failure are all things that you can read about in any small business owner book. It took me a few mistakes before I realized that no matter how good I am, how hard I work, I can't do it on my own. I need someone with as much experience (if not more) and most importantly as much passion as I have or it won't work. I am a perfectionist too but there are times when I have to step back and put faith in others. As a partner, I have to abdicate some control at times. The reason I have a partner is to HELP me, not to be my personal assistant. No matter what the outcome of your business is, it's all a learning experience. You can go to business school and h&r management but until you do it for yourself, you never really know.

I am glad to hear that you are doing this, it's been bouncing around in my head lately as well. I hope that you'll let me know when you open and I'll come to canada and have lunch or something :beer: . Let me know if you want to discuss further, I've bee brushing myself up lately on opening another, but this time as primary owner, with a FOH smaller partner.

Glad to see that it's the same everywhere in the world (specialy for point 2 and 4).


Greg
http://www.mondegourmet.com

couragous fellow are you?!!?!

READ THE BIBLE:bounce:

because you will need GOD on your side. Did you know that restaurant occupy the number one spot for bankrupcy in AMERICA!

50% of all restaurant will close doors within the first 3 years!


good luck!!

On the business side of things visit a local small business development center -asbdc-us.org or SCORE -score.org (sorry I cant post url's yet) to help with the business planning and mentoring. They are a free service to help start businesses.

Good Luck!