Nibletz Staff
Cost control is extremely important for any business. But it’s especially important in a restaurant. Profit margins aren’t always astonishing, so keeping track of your costs is essential. If you’re starting up a restaurant, you have to take money-saving action as soon as possible. Check out these vital tips.
Choose your location wisely
A lot of restaurant owners fall at the first hurdle by picking an inopportune business location. You want to find somewhere busy, urban, and not too far away from competition. But that doesn’t mean you should pay extortionate fees to get the space. It also doesn’t mean you should just grab whatever is available.
Many have made the mistake of taking a retail space and converting it into a restaurant. This is an extremely expensive job. Put your focus on space that is ready for restaurant work! Don’t take this to mean that you should find an available restaurant that you have to do minimal work on. Be willing to buy such a space and make renovations that can save you money later.
Going green
Going green can save you lots of money in pretty much every industry you can name. The restaurant industry is no different. There are loads of things you can do that will help the environment and save you loads of money.
Using energy-efficient cooking technology is a good step, of course. Running the dishwasher only when it’s full – and with dishes that have been soaked first! – is also essential. Keeping an eye on the thermostat can help you save money on heating or air conditioning. (Plus, it will help you keep your customers comfortable!)
New supplies strategies
Getting supplies eats up a massive portion of your budget. You may not think there would be anything you can do about this, but there are plenty of changes you could make! A lot of business owners tend to buy from several vendors. This can cost more money than you actually need to be spending. See if you can consolidate your purchases to one or two vendors. If you streamline this process, you can save a lot of delivery costs.
The same thinking should go into the amount that you’re buying. Yes, you should be careful not to buy too many supplies, especially when it comes to food. This can result in things going to waste. But don’t assume that it’s smarter to buy in small portions from several vendors! Make sure you’re working with wholesale meat suppliers who can meet your demands.
Track your inventory
Employee theft in the restaurant industry is more common than you might think. That’s not exactly the happiest of facts, but it’s the truth. The reason it can happen is because so many restaurant owners don’t do inventory properly. So it can be very difficult to find out if food and drink is going missing!
