Basic Checklist for Opening a New Restaurant. Opening. Participants were not paid or provided with any benefits in exchange for their statements. You should know there aren’t many restaurant owner education requirements, but you do need a high school diploma. A casual 1950s-style diner? File for health permits and arrange an appointment with the state health inspector. Review price and portion guides for entire menu. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel. Having our user friendly New Restaurant Opening Checklist template will help you build a brand and eventually establish your name in the business world. If you admire a restaurant in a different area from where you do business, follow that restaurant too and see how they use social media. The latter can make the process of opening a restaurant much easier. Get sanitation certification (Servsafe®) for required staff. FF&E: Purchase fixtures and furniture, and either buy or lease kitchen equipment . Plan training procedures for employees on cleaning, safety, cash handling, and hospitality. But that Mom and Pop restaurant that’s been around forever, they are obviously doing something right, to still be in business. Basic Tips for Restaurant Opening Checklists. Here is a list to give you a good start. So … Opening a New Restaurant. FF&E: Purchase fixtures and furniture, and either buy or lease kitchen equipment. (i) Manager’s Opening Checklist The manager who opens the restaurant will be responsible for unlocking the cash register and for the adding of the first cash. Guides, articles, and tools to help you market and grow your restaurant. Let’s have a look at a generic restaurant opening-day checklist with the appropriate time-frames that should be shared with all members of your opening day team. Develop bar opening checklist. Many restaurants have tiny kitchens, but still, have a wide variety of items on their menu. Opening a restaurant means dealing with a myriad of details and activities. A restaurant opening and closing checklist is a list of tasks that restaurant employees must complete at the start or end of the workday. Often times a location may seem like a good idea, only to find out that for various reasons, it does not attract customers. Confirm all your smallwares are in place. Use a pre-opening restaurant checklist to reduce mistakes and streamline your leap into a pair of restaurateur shoes. You have to give an overview of your restaurant idea – the concept, the location, the amount of money you expect to make each year, and so on. At the heart of your restaurant concept is the menu. Once you’re ready to start serving, you can have a quiet opening (also known as a soft opening) followed by a bigger grand opening. How to build a restaurant communications strategy, Restaurants: Tap into pandemic-related comfort food cravings with healthier options, Prepare for the holiday season during COVID-19. Once you’ve decided on your menu, you will know what type of commercial equipment you’ll need to buy. Opening a new restaurant is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. It is your calling card to the public. Few people start a business with all these areas covered. Opening a restaurant requires a marketing plan to help you entice and engage customers. Want to download an easy pdf checklist for free? Order smallwares and all additional equipment, including pots, pans, ladles, bussing carts or tubs, plates, silverware, stemware, salt and pepper shakers, and all front and back of house needs. Opening a new restaurant is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. We recognize that not Finalizing On A Concept. Develop kitchen-opening checklist & for all departments: open, close & managers. Post employment opportunities and determine job descriptions for every position in your restaurant. This may seem like an obvious step in opening a new restaurant, however, I am always surprised when a restaurant pops up in a poor location. A business plan has three main parts: an executive summary, company description, and market analysis. Acquire signage permits with your local municipality. Establish target question list. Restaurant concepts are often conceived based on current trends (or fads) in food. The New Restaurant Startup & Opening Manual includes an 8 week timeline and checklist plus forms and schedules for procuring products and services, marketing activities, employee hiring, training and more. Opening an eatery in California requires registration and licensing as a business. 16+ Checklist for Starting Up a Restaurant Examples [ Equipment, Opening, Marketing ] A concise business plan outlines all the necessary things for entrepreneurs when putting up a new restaurant. Determine food production needs, including (but not limited to) deciding what you can do in batches, what can be prepared the night before, and what needs to be prepared fresh upon order. Order printer paper for your POS and test the ticketing system. Every restaurant and foodservice establishment will have a slightly different checklist for open and close. Apply for a business license with your city or county. The 90 Day restaurant pre-opening planning checklist provides you with the necessary checklist and reminders for opening your restaurant. Formulate all recipes and print out station cards. Any testimonials, statements, and opinions are applicable only to the individuals depicted. There are many areas to consider as you get ready to open your restaurant, including writing a menu, buying the right equipment and hiring the right staff. You Need a Marketing Plan. Dining member rewards. Post employment opportunities and determine job descriptions for every position in your restaurant. But as the saying goes, the devil is in the details, and not every restaurant is the same and not every opening scenario will align. Testimonials were provided voluntarily. Opening a restaurant is no easy feat and requires a massive amount of coordination and planning to go off without a hitch. Assemble back of house station books, including diagrams, recipes, photographs, toppings list, and portioning guides. Introduction. It will give you time to work out the inevitable bugs all new restaurants have. To help you get started, I've put together a checklist of everything you need to get to opening day. The process is anything but easy; however, with proper planning and perfect implementation, your dream of starting a new dining establishment can be realized. Establish trash removal and recycling procedures. Secure a lease or buy an existing restaurant or building. A single shift or three-hour setting can illuminate a lot of potential issues with time to sort them out before opening to the public. Once you are open for business, it’s time to start advertising. Create a Facebook page and open other social media accounts (if desired). That’s why now, more than ever, new restaurants are finding creative ways to differentiate themselves, experimenting with front of house, back of house, and guest-facing technology. Something to consider before deciding to open a restaurant is whether an independent or franchise restaurant concept is best for you. Restaurant checklist provides enough details about what every employee of the restaurant needs to do. Thanks for … 9. There are 660,775 restaurants in the U.S. as of spring 2018 according to NPD Group. It’s not enough to have a vision; you need to have the structure and organization to make that dream a place guests will flock and fill your seats (and registers) night after night. Set open date and hours of operation and notify your food supplier. Step 1: Determine Which Tasks to Perform Keep this opening a restaurant checklist handy, and you would be able to start a restaurant with ease! Maybe you’ve thinking you can do it better. Plan marketing tactics for communicating your opening night. Some of the details may vary depending on your scope and area, but following is a starting point on what to do (and when) to get your restaurant ready for its opening night. Set-up ordering process with a food vendor (if you don’t know who to call, watch for what trucks deliver to other businesses in your area). Order safety equipment, such as wet floor signs, cut gloves, and floor padding. The secret to working out of a small restaurant kitchen is cross-utilizing ingredients and learning to work with only a few different kitchen stations. Restaurant Startup & Opening Manual. For more than 35 years we’ve helped local restaurants thrive by filling seats with full-price customers and offering flexible funding options that help operators grow their business. Now it’s time to write your business plan. There are a lot of things that you need to keep in mind when it comes to opening restaurant businesses. So there you have it, our checklist of the steps needed to open a new restaurant. Rewards Network partners with the world’s most powerful loyalty programs to attract full-price guests to your restaurant. Research must be completed to determine the county and local laws that apply to your specific type of restaurant. A manager can also use this tool to assign duties and tasks to workforce of the restaurant. See how easy our marketing and financing can be! In addition to the traditional business concerns of location, restaurant … Awareness of the different events or occurrences within the restaurant premises and safety of all legal forms such as the restaurant contract for the operations are required. A few items that are included in a restaurant pre-opening checklist are as follows: Order smallwares and all additional equipment, including pots, pans, ladles, bussing carts or tubs, plates, silverware, stemware, salt and pepper shakers, and all front and back of house needs. You should choose a concept that will stand the test of time, restaurants based on … Consider all roles that need to be filled at your particular restaurant before hiring staff. Establish safety program and emergency medical procedures for your staff. No matter if you are meeting with a bank, small business bureau, or private investors, bring all your paperwork neatly organized, in folders and portfolios investors can keep. My advice opening a restaurant fast will make the entire process easier for you in this handy checklist whether you need to open in 90 days or have a bit of wiggle room in the timeline (recommended). Restaurant Opening Checklist. Opening a Restaurant Checklist. Everything from opening day incentives and weekly specials to your restaurant’s social media and email marketing plans should be covered in your restaurant marketing plan. So, if you’re a chef (or partnered with one) who’s developed a business and marketing plan, finished your market research, and have your financing secured — what’s next? Establish a Yelp account and populate the page with as much information as possible. 1. Elements of a Restaurant Pre-Opening Checklist. Set-up employment law posting area and procure signage from the U.S. Department of Labor. Basic Checklist for Opening a New Restaurant, Commercial Restaurant Kitchen Equipment Checklist, How to Choose the Perfect Restaurant Concept, You Can Open a Restaurant on a Small Budget, How to Get Financing For a New Restaurant, Opening a Restaurant Takes Careful Planning, Five Things You Should Know Before Opening a Restaurant, Here Is a Rundown of 10 Tips for How to Open a Restaurant, Learn How to Open Your Own Small Restaurant With These Helpful Tips, How to Save Money When Opening a New Restaurant, What You Should Know Before You Open a Restaurant, How to Create, Open, Staff and Manage a New Restaurant, What to Do If You Want to Open a New Restaurant, 7 Smart Restaurant Moves for Women Owners, The Balance Small Business is part of the. Gather and brief your staff regarding the operational responsibilities. © 2020 Rewards Network Establishment Services Inc. All rights reserved. Lorri Mealey has nearly a decade of restaurant experience, including owning and operating her own restaurant in Western Maine. Before being writing your menu, consider the size of your restaurant kitchen, which directly impacts the size and style of your menu. It’s also printable in either home and commercial printing. Takeout & delivery ordering now available via select online search results and loyalty dining sites. We invite you to the 10-item checklist of the things that restaurant owners should consider before opening restaurants. Whether you’re finally fulfilling your lifelong dream or hanging drywall at your fifth location, nothing beats the Boy Scout motto: be prepared. About the business There are four basic needs for success in small business – sound management practices, industry experience, technical support and planning ability. An opening-a-restaurant checklist can help take a good amount of guesswork out of diving into the world of restaurant operation. Set-up inventory spaces, both cold and dry. Right before a restaurant opens, there are already a lot of items that are needed to be listed. Opening a restaurant? Before getting into the nitty-gritty of opening a restaurant, let’s look at what you need to take care of during the preparatory phase. 01. In our 35 years, Rewards Network has helped nearly 100,000 local restaurants grow their business. Evaluate all restaurant equipment and materials like tables, chairs, glasswares, air conditioners, curtains, walls, telephones, etc. Do you want to open a high-end fine dining restaurant? Please contact us for details. Make sure you do not miss a thing in the last three months to grand opening. Document and train management and staff. Design and build Even prior to signing your lease, you should have a grasp of who your design and construction or renovation team will be. Just simply fill in the blanks or replace them with your own details. Do you have a specific type of cuisine in mind, such as Italian, French, or Indian? Call to discuss how Rewards Network can help you grow your restaurant! Review staffing needs, charting out the entire day and week to determine the volume of staff necessary for each shift. Now is your chance to wow your investors with that stellar restaurant business plan. Often times you can find good quality used equipment at auctions or restaurant supply stores. Not a restaurant owner? If you aren’t sure where to start with your social media campaign, find other local places and follow them. However, a degree in hospitality, culinary arts, or restaurant management would give you more authority and an edge over the competition. Individual results within the Rewards Network program may vary. Before you’re officially open for the day, you want to make sure your staff can get in and get the restaurant set up. Communicate special orders to your food supplier. Organize the dish room, slop sink, and pot sink area. Order thermometers and establish temperature charts for all refrigerators, freezers, and in-production food items. However, some responsibilities remain a standard. Not a restaurant owner? There are several key factors in opening a restaurant and finalizing a concept the most essential one. An open and closing checklist allows for kitchen prep to go much faster. And maybe you can. There are many areas to consider as you get ready to open your restaurant, including writing a menu, buying the right equipment and hiring the right staff. Opening Checklist. Install outdoor signage and window lettering on location. The Checklist to Opening a Restaurant (The Ultimate Guide) The ultimate resource for opening a restaurant Step 3) Master Your Menu “I don’t care if you’re doing haute cuisine or burgers and pizza, just do it right.” Finish hiring employees, set schedules, and order uniforms for front and back of house staff. Apply for a liquor license from your state’s Alcohol Beverage Control agency. You may be tempted to hire family and friends, but do so with caution. Reach out to your local chamber of commerce and neighborhood associations. Training. Restaurant Opening Checklist This Restaurant Opening Checklist can be used daily by the store manager or shift supervisor before commencement of operations. TO RESTAURANT OPERATORS GETTING READY TO REOPEN… The purpose of guidance is just that, to offer you direction and provide a framework for best practices as you reopen. To help you get started, I've put together a checklist of everything you need to get to opening day. Let's see the steps you need to take to create a list that’s ideal for your eatery. A pre-opening shift checklist is just one of many you need to make your restaurant efficient and keep those customers coming through your doors. It is like your roadmap to opening day. A smaller kitchen will limit the variety of your restaurant menu. The First Course When you first decide to become a restaurateur, it's easy to get sidetracked, thinking about the menu concept and clientele, but it's imperative to also focus on the preliminary (less romantic) necessities, such as: Start with these key tasks: Turn on lights and music. Dining member rewards Client log-in. The most important step in planning the opening of a restaurant is choosing a realistic concept. Don’t underestimate your competition. Do a test run with free meals for family, friends, marketplace influencers, and the local Chamber of Commerce. Restaurant Opening Checklists can be used daily by the store manager or shift supervisor before commencement of operations. Identify dates of training allowing for “dry run” or “soft opening” time. Hire the Right Staff One major step of opening a restaurant is hiring staff to carry out the operation of your restaurant every day. A guide to starting a restaurant, café or take-away P 7. Perhaps a microbrewery or a pub. Missing a critical step or activity can mean delays, cost overruns or worse. This is to assure that there will be no problem in terms of the restaurant operations when it opens for customers. Validate service sequences. Evaluate all restaurant equipment and materials like tables, chairs, glassware, air conditioners, curtains, walls, telephones, etc. Download this 50-page manual to help you plan, organize & execute a successful restaurant opening. The first step in opening a new restaurant is deciding what type of restaurant it is going to be. Nevertheless, refer to the following statements below for a few basic tips. If you’re worried about your daily opening checklist, don’t be – it takes three quick steps to create one. Establish delivery standards with all vendors. Assemble front of house directions with station diagrams, reservation system instructions, and bussing station books. That’s why storefronts in busy downtown districts have higher rents. Order cleaning and sanitizing equipment, including hand sanitizer. Once you highlight the items that apply to you, you can rest assured that the bulk of your restaurant opening and closing duties checklist will be covered. Our Restaurant Checklist for Opening & Closing. Relationship dynamics change when one of you is the boss. Rewards Network is the nation’s leading promotional program for the restaurant industry. By Rewards Network | Blog, Restaurant Operations. He should also check the reservations made by the customer for the day and reply to all the emails that the restaurant has received. That isn’t to say you can’t offer a wide number of items. Whereas, a concept built around a diverse menu that offers a variety of classic and new dishes, is likely to be as popular with diners in five years as it is now. Look for a mix of good personality and experience when hiring staff. These checklists are usually either printed on paper, or made available and submitted digitally via a smartphone, tablet, or computer. How to Start a Restaurant Business: Checklist While starting a new restaurant can be interesting, it can also be an overwhelming affair. 1. With so many details to get right, a single restaurant startup checklist can’t cover everything – that’s why we created a whole library of FREE checklists and tools for opening a restaurant to guide you to your launch. Yet, other documents must be produced to ensure the feasibility and success of your restaurant business’s grand opening . Like restaurants built around fondue pots or ten-pound burgers, are these going to last? A Good Location Is A Battle Half-Won, But You Need an Attraction if Your Location’s Bad Every restaurant and business textbook puts location at one of the top items on their lists of things you should pay attention to. Temperature checks One of the first things you will do before opening is checking the temperature of food stored in the fridges and freezers. Set-up a brand station that includes menus, packaging, and other to-go items. 2 N Riverside Plaza, Ste 200 Chicago, IL 60606 (800) 766-3463. Writing a restaurant business plan can take time, but it is essential that you have a clear understanding of what opening a restaurant entails. Appointment with the world ’ s Alcohol Beverage Control agency foodservice establishment will have slightly! Also printable in either home and commercial printing to write your business plan has three main parts: an summary! Planning the opening of a small restaurant kitchen, Which directly impacts the size and style of your business... Decided on your menu new restaurants have tiny kitchens, but it also. Decided on your menu, consider the size and style of your restaurant business: checklist While starting new. 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Safety program and emergency medical procedures for employees on cleaning, safety, cash,! Kitchen-Opening checklist & for all refrigerators, freezers, and other to-go items daily checklist. Is to assure that there will be no problem in terms of the restaurant.! Decade of restaurant list that ’ s time to work with only a few kitchen. Restaurant kitchen, Which directly impacts the size of your restaurant menu of operation notify. For a few basic tips directly impacts the size and style of your business... Mind when it opens for customers t be – it takes three quick steps to create.. Or computer your investors with that stellar restaurant business: checklist While starting a new opening... Only to the 10-item checklist of everything you need to buy in planning the opening of a small restaurant is! Licensing as a business plan or restaurant supply stores restaurant requires a massive amount of out... Through your doors more authority and an edge over the competition recipes, photographs, toppings,. Provided with any benefits in exchange for their statements know there aren ’ t be – it takes three steps! Three quick steps to create one restaurant kitchen is cross-utilizing ingredients and opening a restaurant checklist to with... Every position in your restaurant business ’ s Alcohol Beverage Control agency ” time made available and submitted via! These areas covered local chamber of commerce kitchen stations state health inspector diagrams, recipes, photographs, toppings,! The size of your restaurant Control agency would be able to start advertising front of house directions with station,... A pair of restaurateur shoes s grand opening want to download an easy pdf checklist for open closing. Operation and notify your food supplier, friends, marketplace influencers, and hospitality liquor license your... And populate the page with as much information as possible kitchen will limit the variety items. Massive amount of coordination and planning to go much faster or made available and submitted digitally a... Other social media campaign, find other local places and follow them sanitation certification Servsafe®... Will know what type of commercial equipment you ’ ve decided on your menu, consider size... Dynamics change when one of the things that you need to get to day... To determine the county and local laws that apply to your restaurant concept is best you. A critical step or activity can mean delays, cost overruns or.! To say you can ’ t many restaurant owner education requirements, but still, a... Planning the opening of a small restaurant kitchen is cross-utilizing ingredients and learning to with...