For most people interested in the F&B industry, the restaurant business is the go-to plan. And why not? It is one of the most stylish and fulfilling businesses, but making your venture profitable requires meticulous planning for bar or restaurant interiors.

Apart from location, licenses, concept and menu, various important elements need to be thought through.

Here’s a list of 10 things you should take into account before taking a plunge into the restaurant business:

• Understand your target customer.
• Hire a specialized restaurant interior designer.
• Ensure an optimized kitchen design
• Plan & source kitchen equipment.
• Deploy a secure supply chain
• Craft a marketing strategy
• Invest in a good point-of-sale system.
• Know your competition.
• Hire the right people.
• Plan your budget.
• Understand your target customer.

Understand your target customer.

Before starting the restaurant, it is important to figure out who you want to serve. The demands of your target customer and current market trends are the driving factors in the planning of your restaurant. Be it the menu or the design of your restaurant, customer’s tastes and needs should be prioritized over your own choices. Understanding your customers, building healthy relationships with them, and providing what they are looking for are the tricks that are sure to win you the trust of your clientele and help you flourish your restaurant business.
 

Hire a specialized restaurant interior designer

One of the most crucial factors in the success of your business is the interior design of your restaurant. Good interior design is a sure-shot way to attract customers and improve business revenues. It is important to understand that there is much more to interior design than what meets the eye. Interior design includes a detailed site study, solves for structural challenges and functionality, and takes multiple considerations, all while also creating an aesthetic and classy look for your restaurant.

So we’d totally recommend you to hire interior designers who specialise in restaurant interior design to make your restaurant dream come to life.

Ensure an optimised kitchen design.

When you plan on opening a brand new restaurant, planning a well-functioning commercial kitchen is the most tedious task. An optimised kitchen will not only increase the efficiency but also help in reducing costs and increasing revenue. It is a good idea to focus on an optimised layout, light and ventilation for better functionality, time management as well as easy maintenance of your kitchen. The design of a commercial kitchen should be planned taking safety norms into consideration. We recommend you hire a designer who specialises in commercial kitchen design.

Plan and source kitchen equipments.

It is important to understand that buying all kitchen equipment will have a drastic effect on costs as well as electricity consumption. So it is better to first decide on the menu so that you are very clear about the equipment you require. Once that is decided, involve a vendor or supplier to provide you with the equipment to start off. Also, safety measures in the kitchen should be a priority. Therefore, the equipment should be chosen and placed according to their usability and safety regulations.
 

Secure supply chain

You should always acknowledge the value of trusted contacts and communication. Give your local businesses a chance to collaborate with you. Make a supply chain that can be relied upon all the time under any circumstances. Hassle-free quality supplies are an added bonus. Build long term relationships with other businesses that include farmers, dairy suppliers, etc. Helping others grow with you is always a healthy practice.
 

Craft a marketing strategy

As a new business, you will have to put a lot of thought into planning a successful marketing strategy. You should create a value proposition and utilise social media as much as possible in your favour to attract clients. Get your restaurant listed on google my business  for better discoverability. You need a marketing plan that includes building your website, local SEO, social media, email marketing, blog writing, video production, menu design, business cards, and any other print collateral you might need.

You can also hire marketing and social media strategists to do the job for you so that you can concentrate on running your business. With the current widespread digitalisation, it is quite easy to create a buzz and generate clientele with the correct strategy. You should focus more on your target customers and current market trends to make more profit.
 

Invest in a good Point Of Sale system

In fast paced times like today, everything needs to be done quickly and efficiently. The best way to make your restaurant highly functional and efficient is switching to a POS system which reduces manual labour and simplifies operations. Insist on technology with features that will help you maintain transactional transparency, manage inventory, control costs, reduce the incidence of kitchen errors, prevent theft, track the popularity of dishes, reconcile tips, keep your books accurate, keep employees in line, and much more. Clonet POS, Slick POS, POSist, Torqus, etc. are some of the most efficient POS systems available in the market.
 

Know your competition

Competition in a relentless business like restaurant is inevitable. So, if you are starting your own restaurant, don’t forget to consider the power of your competitors. Even a small steak shop in one corner of your neighbourhood can dwindle your business. So you need to offer something that sets you apart from other restaurants in your region. Take a stroll around the neighbourhood or see online what other restaurants are doing to attract clients. You would require a detailed analysis of the product, price, place and promotion of your competitors. Of course, you don’t have to copy them, but you can still imbibe a few ideas and add your own twist to it. You would need to keep a keen eye on market trends and use them to amplify your business.
 

Hire the right people

Having a good supporting staff ensures a unique selling point as well as a healthy atmosphere of the restaurant. The duty of the staff also includes maintaining a genuine and helpful attitude towards customers. The staff should be familiar with all the items in the menu. The staff may include Head Chef, Chef de Partie, Su-chefs, helpers, waiters, bartenders, bouncers, and accountants. The staff needs to be trained so as to meet the requirements of the restaurant, to up-sell and also to tackle negative reviews.
 

Moreover, it is also important to keep the staff happy. Changing the employees every now and then will be expensive in terms of money as well as time, as you will need to train the newcomers all the time. It is a good idea to keep trusted employees for longer durations while also giving a chance to freshers who are starting out their careers and grooming them for the better.

Plan your budget

Restaurant businesses need adequate funding to run smoothly. It includes factors like rent, investments in furniture, appliances, aesthetics, food and beverages, maintenance, and salaries of employees. Although it’s always a good decision to rely on yourself for the business, but with a strong business plan and a clear vision, it is easy to find investors to finance the business as well.

Your profits, losses, investments, turnovers, everything needs to be analyzed for the business to be financially sound. Budget also affects the kind of interiors that you wish to have for your restaurant. It is best to approach restaurant interior designers in Mumbai to work out a plan for you that fulfills your requirements as well as fits your budget.

Conclusion

Opening and managing a restaurant is not an easy task, but with passion, patience, dedication, and perseverance to sort the difficulties that may emerge, it will bring you great benefits, economically and socially.

Sprinteriors, one of the hospitality interior design firms in India, led by Sona Mantri, specializes in restaurant and restaurant kitchen interior design. It is a one-stop shop that helps you in the design, branding, execution and supervision of your project. Additionally, you can shop for products for your restaurant from our array of 1500+ products, ranging from furniture, kitchen equipment, light fixtures and everything else you need to launch your restaurant business.

All you need now is a will to take the plunge and trust Sprinteriors to help you achieve your goal in the best possible way.