Nibletz Staff
If you have ever dreamed about setting up your own business, chances are that at some point you have thought about going into the hospitality industry. Most likely while sitting in a restaurant while frustratedly waiting for your meal to arrive or in a bar after a beer or two too many! For most people it remains a pipe dream, but some actually take the plunge and start a very rewarding business.
Obviously all startups need a great deal of hard work and determination, but the food and drink industry is particularly tough to break into. If you are looking to enter this world but don’t really know where to begin, here are a few things you need to think about before starting a hospitality business.
Make Sure the Products are First Class
People go to particular restaurant or bar because they know what they are getting there is special – whether this is a delicious menu cooked by a master chef or an extensive range of hand-crafted cocktails. Before you think about investing in premises, make sure you know what products you will be serving and how you will differentiate yourself from the competition. Also, do some taste testing before so that other people can confirm or deny your thoughts about how good your products actually are!
Find the Right Premises
You may find that your business is suited to a busy high street where there is a particularly high footfall. You may want to be based in a more exclusive location in which case you will need to work harder with the marketing and actually getting your name out there. When you find a place, make sure to scout out the competition so you know exactly who you are competing against.
Think About the Decor
Obviously the food and drink itself will play a central role in the business, but so will the actual layout and decor of the place. Many food and drink establishments follow a certain theme. Often this theme is dictated by the type of clientele you will welcome, so try to profile exactly what type of person you expect to attract. Once you have worked out your target audience, you will be better able to cater to them.
Day to Day Running
The food, drink, decor and location are all the bigger picture things you will need to consider, but you should also think about what you will need to actually run the place on a daily basis. You will certainly need some specific equipment, so check butlerequipment.com.au for some different options. You will also need a strong team, so consider how many staff members you will need initially as well as the training programme and company structure.
Brand the Business
Branding plays a central role in every business so make sure your company name is strong, as well as the logo and colour scheme. You will also likely have all sorts of branded items such as uniforms and menus so take the time to get these exactly as you would like them.
