For some reason the restaurant business is a very enticing prospect when considering whether or not to set up a new business . It’s well known that most food and restaurant businesses go under in the first couple of years, and it’s puzzling to consider that someone in their right minds would want to start from scratch in the food business when the odds seem to be so heavily stacked against them. But people do , in their thousands , and the pull of a food based business always seems to outweigh the downsides .
I surmise that we all think we know food. In fact it’s true, we all know a lot about it as it’s the great essential for life. There’s food and there’s food, though and through the media everyone is beginning to know the difference between good and bad, tasty and downright awful , and visually pleasing and a dogs dinner on a plate ! Masterchef, Britain’s favourite dish, Come dine with me etc have made a huge impact on our lives and the days of just eating to stay alive are well and truly over.
It appears such a good idea and such a nice one to start up a business selling quality meals to hungry customers at a profit but the competition is huge and setting up on your own can mean that you get squeezed out before you in fact get going. Look up the statistics on the Internet for food businesses that go under in their first few months and you will not be blissfully surprised.
Opening a town centre restaurant has its own issues . You have to be sure that your restaurant or fast food establishment is in an area with a high enough foot fall to guarantee a minimum number of customers. If you have selected your premises and you know which type of customer your business will appeal to then it’s up to you to find the time of day that your expected customers is going to turn up and then sit outside the premises and simply count the number of potential clients that are passing by. Also note the type of people that are passing your prospective premise and ask the obvious questions. Are they going to have time to spend in your establishment? Are they going to afford your cooking ? All very important stuff before you enter into the commitment of a lease.
If you have the finance then turning to one of the many Franchise For Sale food based Franchises out there may be the way forward. It’s well known that Franchises are much more likely to succeed than non-Franchises, and if you want to make an investment that follows a specific format with a limit on the risk then one of the Franchise For Sale businesses may be for you.
Investment levels vary quite a lot in the food based industries. A fully fledged Dominos Pizza franchise will start at a whopping £280,000! A Home Based Franchise such as My Chocolate Explosion will start at around £7000. Obviously these are just examples but it seems a Home Based Franchise will save you money over running a full restaurant operation.
Say you have decided that you are running a little bit scared of opening up a full restaurant, or maybe your finances just don’t run to it. Well mobile catering may be the way forward for you. Obviously there will still be an investment but a well run mobile operation will never be short of business and the quantities of money that can be made at shows and festivals is truly startling . A good start here is to look at the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS). They used to be the Mobile and Outside Caterers Association but their new website is at www.ncass.org.uk . It’s by far the best place to start if you are considering a mobile catering operation and has everything from a list of suppliers of equipment to information on the latest HACCP regulations and the necessary training. There are some free training videos on the website for you to watch and decide if this form of catering is for you. All in all a good alternative to the expense and risk of opening up a premises based restaurant.
- Read Important Tips about starting your own catering business and Cost of Food What is food cost and how does it effect your...
- Setting Up A Fast Food Business! Eating On The Go Has Rarely Been As Popular And It Can Be A Rewarding Vocation . It’s interesting to look at the French attitude towards food...
- Is Franchising Right For Your Business? Franchising a business is a great way to expand and...
- Get Important Info About Starting catering business Starting a catering business can be an overwhelming duty. One...
- Discover Useful Advice About Starting your own catering business and event planning Starting your own catering business is a life-changing occurrence. If...
