These days, every restaurant owner seems to be asking that question. With the economy in a downward spiral and no sign of recovery in sight, more restaurant owners are looking to the Internet to either save their businesses or help them grow into something better. This is understandable. After all, who doesn’t want to expand their business with some additional computer power?
One of the first things you must do when deciding to open up a new restaurant is consider whether it will be better to open it on the East Coast or the West Coast. The East Coast has much more to offer a restaurant lover than the West Coast. It offers much more local flavor, which as been said, is what we are really after in food. In addition to this, there are many more diners to be had at the restaurants of the East Coast, and this means each business can have a more personal atmosphere. The customers are more likely to feel that they truly are in a family-owned restaurant rather than somewhere that someone’s mother worked at for decades.
The West Coast, on the other hand, offers more choices for diners. However, this does not mean the prices are any lower. As stated earlier, there are more diners to be had on the West Coast, so each business can charge whatever they want to in order to attract customers. This results in higher prices than restaurants can typically afford to charge in their hometowns.
Should I start a digital or physical restaurant? If you have a passion for cooking, owning your own restaurant sounds like a great idea. Just make sure you have the right business plan in place first. Some entrepreneurs believe starting a restaurant that will eventually morph into a virtual one is a good idea. If this is the case, then the first step is to buy a real restaurant equipment package for your “virtual restaurant”.
You can get these packages at wholesale rates, sometimes even for free with a minimum order. These packages are designed specifically for new restaurant owners, but some people use them when opening a traditional restaurant. You will need a restaurant license, which costs around $1,000 for a small to medium size restaurant. Then, you will need food processing and warehousing licenses that cost additional fees. If you’re planning on stocking the restaurant with non-perishables, you’ll also have to pay for these as well.
Once you have these licenses you can move onto the exciting part of starting a restaurant – choosing locations. You may decide to open up in an area already popular with other restaurants. Or you may want to start a restaurant that doesn’t exist yet in the neighborhood. Either way, you need to think about traffic.
In order to run a successful business, you have to make sure your customers will find your restaurant. If you plan on opening up in an existing neighborhood, you want to make sure there is a good amount of foot traffic in the area, otherwise your food sales will suffer. If you choose to open a digital or physical restaurant in an untapped area, you should consult with the city to see how the zoning rules and regulations impact your business.
Once you know where you want to open up your restaurant, it’s time to set up the equipment and fixtures. This may include high quality tables and chairs, dishes, refrigerators, microwaves and more. If you’re not sure where to get these, ask others in the industry who may be able to offer advice. Once everything is set up and ready to go, you’re ready to start marketing and advertising. The key to a successful restaurant startup is proper planning, so don’t rush into things if you’re unsure.