Posts Tagged ‘expenses’

Start Up Costs For Starting A Restaurant

November 2nd, 2010

The restaurant business can be very lucrative and lots of entrepreneurs dream of starting their own place. In this report we outline some restaurant business set up costs and we offer suggestions on budgeting and cost planning.

A lot of restaurant owners run out of cash during the first year of their restaurants life and are forced to close down due to the fact that they did not reach profitability as quickly as they had imagined. Keeping enough capital in reserve to prepare for this situation is wise.

To begin with you should not let anyone talk you into the most modern equipment or furnishings. Buy just what you need and get more as you slowly grow. Shop around for deals online or at auctions.

Location costs are the main start up costs to consider. Whether you buy your own place and pay off a mortgage or you lease a space and pay rent you will have significant obligations every month. You will also have interior and exterior refurbishing costs along with ongoing expenses such as utility bills and taxes.

Restaurant location is one of the most important points contributing towards success so you might want to do some thorough investigation, or hire somebody to do it to make certain that you get the right spot and the best concept for that area.

Make yourself aware of how to comply with local regulations and what they will cost.

You will also need several insurance policies, health and safety gear and you may need the services of a number of professionals and consultants for advice.

The list of kitchen requirements will be extensive and you will require a stove with sufficient electric elements, cooking systems such as ovens, ventilation systems, steamers, a microwave and adequate refrigeration just to name a few of the major things

Outside of the kitchen area you will need to set up a full dining room with tables, table cloths, plates and cutlery just to name a few things.

Many restaurant owners notice inventory constantly being taken so you need to consider implementing systems to track and watch over inventory. Systems for taking customer orders and conveying them to the kitchen and systems for processing payments are also all part of the restaurant game these days.

You need to create a brand and work this in with your theme, on exterior signs and on your menus and on business cards and other materials. Advertising is also essential and you need to allocate a substantial budget for this to build up some good exposure.

Eat at a few restaurants and make some notes about all the little things that you see that you may have overlooked.

From toilet paper to employee uniforms, your list of anticipated restaurant startup costs will depend on the size of your operation, your theme, seating capacity and the market niche that you are targeting.

Calculating startup costs is one thing but you should also think about the ongoing fixed costs which involve purchases of food and supplies, rent payments, payroll and advertising expenses . These costs will have to be paid whether your restaurant is full or not so you must have capital set aside to cover them if revenue is worse than expected.

Stick with safer financing options at first such as loans from family members or banks. Leave higher risk options like credit cards debt as a last resort.

Start your restaurant off the right way be ensuring that you completely understand the startup and administration costs that you can expect. Don’t go too far into debt too soon as you may need lines of credit while you get through the first difficult year of business. Entrepreneurs that understand costs and budget accordingly have the best prospect of emerging with a profitable restaurant.

For guidance on how to write a restaurant business plan and to compare some of the top startup kits that can ensure that you get off to the best possible start visit – Start a Restaurant

How much does it Cost to Set up a New Restaurant

September 30th, 2009

It is important that you have a clear idea of restaurant start up costs before you dive in and put your seed capital on the line. You really should have access to more than $100,000 in funding to start up in the restaurant business and maybe more than this depending on what you have in mind.

One of the major reasons for new restaurant failure is lack of money 6 months into the restaurants life. The fact is that for many restaurants income growth will be slower than expected so you must keep cash available to support your restaurant until you are able to become established.

Do not be tempted to over spend when obtaining equipment and furnishings for your restaurant. Look at used options, look for sales by other businesses that are closing down and purchase only what you need.

The important cost associated with starting a restaurant is your location. You will either have to lease a place or pay a mortgage on a building that you own. Decorating expenses for a restaurant can be considerable and you will also have ongoing expenses related to your building such as utilities.

Location is one of the most important factors contributing towards success so you may want to do some thorough research, or hire somebody to do it to be sure that you get the right spot and the right concept for that area.

Your state will have business, health and zoning regulations and you have to have an accurate idea of what these involve so that you can allocate cash for permits and other paperwork.

You might need to hire consultants to advise you during the startup phase and beyond and their substantial charges may be able to be offset by the help and guidance that they can offer.

The list of equipment requirements for a restaurant is extensive and can range from industrial cooking and ventilation equipment, freezers, coolers, refrigerators and other kitchen supplies.

Your kitchen will also need to buy everything that is needed to run a complete dining room, from chairs and table decorations to salt and pepper shakers.

A lot of restaurant owners notice inventory constantly being taken so you must think about implementing systems to track and protect stock. Systems for taking customer orders and passing them on to the kitchen and systems for processing payments are also all part of the restaurant game these days.

You will need to have a brand designed for use on signage and menus. Promotion costs can also quickly add up as you need to begin advertising well in advance of opening day and pretty much continue to testing new approaches until you find a way to bring patrons in on a regular basis and have established your reputation.

Eat at a variety of restaurants and make some observations about all the little things that you see that you may have overlooked.

From toilet paper to staff uniforms, your list of anticipated restaurant startup costs will depend on the extent of your business, your theme, number of tables and your target market.

Calculating set up costs is one thing but you should also think about the monthly operating costs which involve purchases of food and supplies, rent payments, payroll and advertising expenses . These costs will be incurred whether your tables are full or not so you need to have funds set aside to cover them if revenue is worse than anticipated.

Stick with safer funding options at first like loans from relatives or banks. Leave higher interest options like credit cards cash advances as a last resort.

Budget carefully so that you make the best possible use out of every dollar of your startup funds. Those people who fully understand restaurant start up costs and operating expenses will stand the best possibility of reaching their goals.