10 restaurant tips

The restaurant industry is one of the toughest around. Competition is fierce, margins are small, and the industry never quits. However, a successful restaurant brings the community together while allowing you and your employees to feel fulfilled and make ends meet. Successful restaurants hinge on many things, but the most important aspect of owning a successful restaurant is understanding what you’re getting into before the doors open.

1. Have a Specialty

You can’t do it all and you also can’t please everyone, so don’t even try. One of the biggest mistakes new restaurant owners make is to try to be the best at everything and please everyone. Instead of casting a wide net, do a few things exceptionally well. Be the go-to pasta spot or have the city’s juiciest burger. But don’t try to sell both.

2. Location, Location, Location

Many restaurants fail because they don’t have the proper location. Think about the neighborhood you’re in, as most of your customers are going to come from just a few blocks (or miles away). Select a neighborhood that matches your restaurant’s vision. Go for a spot that can be seen from the street and is able to accommodate your needs.

3. Know Your Customer

Marketing 101 demands that you know your customers better than yourself. Above all else, your customer base reigns supreme. This often means putting your ego aside in order to respond to their wants and needs. After all, they are the ones paying your bills! Ask for feedback, pay attention to reviews, and fix recurring issues quickly.

4. Offer up Something Different

Don’t be that person who chooses to open a pizza joint next to four other pizza parlors. Instead, set yourself apart. Find a location where pizza options are limited, or do something incomparable with your restaurant idea, such as your staff wearing unique custom company uniforms or a fun logo. The key to keeping up with today’s bustling restaurant biz is to stay ahead of the curve with unique concepts and ideas.

5. Have the Right Ambiance

More and more people are ordering in, so if you plan to have an established restaurant site, make the ambiance worth coming in for. Create fun and innovative work uniforms that spark conversation. Design a custom uniform work shirt that is not only unique but fits the vision of your dining establishment, too. Set the mood by utilizing unique interior décor. The point is to create an experience that people want to share. This increases brand awareness and marketing. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and create an environment that people want to be in.

6. Hire Passionate Employees

You won’t be successful without the right team. First, find a head chef and crew that fit your restaurant’s vision. Select someone who is passionate about what they do. Having the right personalities in the right places can make or break a restaurant. Be sure to properly train all front-of-house employees to fit the personality of your establishment. Lastly, treat your team with respect. Show you care with the occasional gifts for employees or pitching in on a tough task in a pinch. Yes, be stern, but you don’t need to rule with an iron fist all the time. Celebrate milestones by giving praise to your employees.

7. Understanding Today’s Marketing

Marketing today is all about having a strong brand identity and an online presence. Things should flow fluently between the digital and real-world realms. Heavy social media and digital marketing are key for proper promotion. Run promotional giveaways with branded products, such as custom company hats, T-shirts, stickers, and more. People love free swag, and it’s a great way to get your name out there. Be targeted with your audience to ensure you’re reaching the correct demographic.

8. Keep Cash Reserves

The restaurant industry is notoriously volatile. There may be unforeseen staffing issues, slow times, and periods of adjustment. With a large cash reserve, you can keep the business moving without letting outsiders see a problem. This is helpful to handle any emergency that comes your way. Always have enough to float yourself a few months of bills, too.

9. Care for Your Guests

One of the best parts about dining in a restaurant is feeling like you’re cared for. Your guests are your number one priority. Spend time getting to know them, ask them questions. Reviews fuel a lot of people’s decisions these days, so make sure you leave a lasting impression for rave reviews.

10. Stay Organized

A business won’t run without being organized, and restaurants are no exception. Be meticulous about bookkeeping and have the right, modern-day tools to run your restaurant fast and efficiently. It’s easy to lose sight of cash flow in a restaurant, so be sure you’re on top of books, schedules, feedback, marketing, and more.

As a restaurant owner, you’ll wear lots of hats. In order to be successful, you’ve got to take your endeavor seriously, have the right team, and use the correct branding to create a standout restaurant that will last a lifetime.