So you want to open a restaurant. You have the drive and passion, and you’re ready to put in the hard work to make your dream a reality. But before you can start serving up piping hot meals to customers, there’s one very important thing you need to do first: prepping your space.
Find the Right Location
One of the most important steps in prepping your space is finding the right location. The perfect spot for your restaurant will depend on several factors, such as your budget, the type of cuisine you’re serving, and your target market. Once you’ve taken all of these things into consideration, you can start looking at properties that meet your criteria.
Get the Proper Permits and Licenses
Before you can start renovating your new space, you’ll need to get all the necessary permits and licenses from your city or town. Without these in hand, you won’t be able to legally start construction. The specific permits and licenses you’ll need will vary depending on your location and type of business, so be sure to do your research before starting any work.
Create a Floor Plan
Now it’s time to start thinking about how you want to lay out your restaurant. This step is crucial, as it will determine everything from the flow of traffic to where your kitchen equipment will be placed. Once you have a general idea of how you want things to look, it’s time to start mapping everything out in more detail. You’ll also want to consider what security features you’ll need to add to your space. Make sure there are spots for security cameras and locks. A company like Door Resources can help you with this step.
Choose a Theme and Décor
Your restaurant’s theme and décor should reflect the type of cuisine you’re serving as well as your unique brand identity. If you’re having trouble settling on a specific style, take some time to browse through photos of different restaurants for inspiration.
Find Reliable Suppliers
From fresh produce to paper towels, there are lots of supplies that restaurants need on a daily basis. Before you can open for business, you’ll need to find suppliers that can provide everything on your list at a fair price. Once again, this is something that will take some research on your part. You may even want to reach out to other restaurateurs in your area for recommendations.
With careful planning and plenty of hard work, it is possible to turn your dream of opening a restaurant into reality. The first step is prepping your space so that it’s ready for customers. Keep these tips in mind as you begin the process, and soon enough you’ll be ready to serve up delicious dishes for all to enjoy!
Emma is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2
