To start a successful business, you need to take some important details into account. We're going to give you 10 tips for opening a bar or restaurant on the right foot
To run a business and be a successful manager, it takes a lot of study and preparation. It doesn't happen overnight. Besides having the theoretical knowledge, it's also important to have lived this experience in practice. Combining theory and practice is the best recipe for anyone who wants to do well in any profession or venture. And it's no different when it comes to running a business in the bar, restaurant and entertainment sector.
In this post, you'll find 10 tips for opening a bar or restaurant and starting a thriving business that will become a benchmark in the field. Enjoy the read!
Also check out: How to open a restaurant: a step-by-step guide to starting from scratch
Understand clearly what “running your own business” really means
It's quite common to hear people, usually young ones, saying that their dream is to have their own business because they're not satisfied with being just an employee. The stereotype of a business owner, for those looking from the outside, is usually that the person doesn't work and makes easy money off the hard work of their employees. Big mistake!
Learn more: 5 secrets of successful restaurant owners
Running a business is far more demanding than you might imagine. The manager's job doesn't end after eight hours of work or when you close the doors at the end of the day and go home. The responsibilities and the headaches come with you, especially for those in the restaurant, bar or entertainment business. When most people are enjoying the weekend, the owner is working, because these are the days when traffic is heaviest.
You need to know all this before you start – and remember that without commitment and 24-hour dedication, your business will start off on the wrong foot and won't have a future or a prosperous run.
So the first tip is: get to know the line of business you want to invest in, understand the reality of the work and be aware that you need to dedicate yourself intensely or your investment will go down the drain.
But know as well that not everything about this flower is thorns: by doing serious, correct and intense work, over time and with good professionals on your side, you'll have a bit more peace of mind. Still, keeping your eyes wide open every day and staying on top of everything that happens in your business is very important for it to remain prosperous, because as the saying goes, “it's the owner's eye that fattens the ox”.
Leia também: How to manage a restaurant: 7 foolproof tips
Choose a good location
Once you know the line of business you're going to pursue, whether it's a bar, a restaurant or another type of segment, such as a gastrobar or a nightclub, the choice of location is what will make all the difference. Many people give up on going to certain venues, first because of the location.
The distance to your business is a problem in the case of restaurants or bars. Parking far away, or not even having anywhere to leave the car, creates a lot of discomfort.
But if it's a nightclub with music, live shows and a livelier lineup, a more secluded spot often pays off. In either situation, the place where you set up your business needs to have ample, secure parking.
Get to know and study your target audience's preferences
Which audience do you intend to reach? This definition should come at the very start of your business's feasibility study and it also affects the choice of location.
You need to understand what they want, what they think, how they behave, their average income, age and education level, what food and drinks they consume and which places they go to. Another important point is to have already defined whether your audience is younger, middle-aged people or families. With this data, you can plan a setup, service, location and products geared to this group of people.
Also check out: 5 restaurant ideas to boost your profitability
Who are your potential competitors?
Before starting any business, it's essential to study your potential competitors.
Only by knowing well who the businesses in the sector are will you be able to create a differentiator, be more competitive and get ahead.
To get to know them you need to visit, eat, drink, observe what's served, the menu, the service, the location and talk to the regulars. And of course, all very discreetly. Notice whether there's demand for what you're thinking of and proposing to do.
Look for the best suppliers
Knowing who will supply the products for your business is essential. Beyond looking for the best prices, the quality of the products supplied is fundamental. Find out who else buys from them, check their reputation and the punctuality of deliveries — after all, you need to trust that everything will be in inventory the moment you need it.
Be versatile with your menu
Every day more people are diagnosed with dietary restrictions, so it's important to create some dishes on your menu that cater to this audience. But all of this needs to be part of the research you did earlier. Understanding the demands and how you can offer the product, with quality and at compatible prices.
Another audience you can also serve and that is constantly growing is vegans and/or vegetarians. By creating dishes that cater to these preferences, you already gain points compared with the competition.
Invest in your staff and your service
Excellent service is the number one reason people come back to an establishment, regardless of the sector. Nobody returns to a place where they were poorly served. With that in mind, it's essential to have well-trained staff, trained from the moment of their hiring. Ainda é preciso que tenham conhecimento da cultura da empresa e abracem a causa do estabelecimento.
Don't give up on an efficient marketing plan
It's a cliché to say that advertising is the soul of the business, but even so the motto “out of sight, out of mind” has never been so relevant, precisely now with digital marketing, with social media and technology so present in people's lives.
Build a marketing plan that covers every channel for reaching your potential customers, from traditional ones to digital media, blogs, websites and social networks.
Make the most of special dates
Just as retail in general tends to take advantage of special occasions to put together offers and window displays that mark the occasion, businesses in the bar and dining sector should seek out these moments to boost their traffic.
In these situations, you can create combos, special decor and live music, depending on the occasion. Many restaurants put on special events for birthday guests, with a mini cake, a discount on the tab, complimentary items — in short, an endless range of possibilities.
Leia também: Is Paying a Cover Charge for Live Music Mandatory? Understanding the Law
Get a complete management system
As soon as you define your line of business, choose the operating location and sort out the bureaucratic side of contracts, legalization under the law and with the relevant agencies, taxation and staff hiring, it's time to get a Management system. Este será o grande gerente de todo o empreendimento, possibilitando a automation of inventory, the kitchen and service, all the way to customer payment. Being able to count on an efficient ERP means having a great tool that will take your business to another level, as well as improving revenue.
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