An owner of a restaurant taking notes while on the phone

6 Key Tips for Restaurant Owners New to the Hospitality Industry

kase
Nov 15 2021

Starting a restaurant is a huge milestone. For some, it is a dream come true to have this special place where you can serve food and drinks while allowing your patrons to have a good time and unwind.

However, opening a restaurant comes with its own set of challenges. Many restaurant owners struggle during the first year to attract customers and make sure the place runs like clockwork. Believe it or not, things can be a lot easier and more stress-free – and this article shows you how. 

Read on to learn our tips for restaurant owners.

A new restaurant owner intently looking at his laptop

1. Start With a Strong Concept 

Your restaurant’s name and logo are more than catchy words and an attractive design. These elements will collectively stand for the experience that your restaurant offers. Having a strong concept helps to define this experience. 

To know if your restaurant has a strong concept or to when looking to come up with a concept, ask yourself the following questions: 

  • What is the overarching idea that defines your restaurant, cafe, or bar?
  • What kind of crowd are you appealing to? 
  • What do you want people to feel when they step foot in your venue? 

The concept of your restaurant will help to align your decor, the service style, the menu items, the special events that you will have in your restaurant, your marketing efforts, and so much more. A strong concept will ultimately empower you to serve up a memorable dining experience that is truly your own.

2. Be Properly Insured

As the owner of a new restaurant, you have a lot going on. You need to attract new customers, train your staff, see how the menu items are performing, make sure that inventory is properly stocked, and the list of responsibilities goes on. The last thing you need is financial loss from the following: 

  • Theft
  • Spoiled inventory 
  • Property destruction and consequent business interruption 
  • Lawsuits due to a customer injury or a case of food-borne disease 

Personalized restaurant insurance protects you from sudden financial loss when faced with incidents like the ones mentioned above. This way, you can ensure the success of your business and have peace of mind.

Does your restaurant need liquor liability insurance? Check out our article to ensure you’re fully protected against any uninsured liabilities.

3. Invest Your Capital Wisely

Make sure to invest in the right things as you start your restaurant business. Quality kitchenware, comfortable seats, memorable decor, and reliable staff are investments you won’t regret. 

Quality kitchenware will allow your staff to prepare food and drinks efficiently. Comfortable seats will ensure your customers are completely relaxed while in your establishment. Memorable decor can result in photo ops that will land on your customers’ social media. And of course, what is good food without good staff to match? You will need both if you want to keep your guests coming back for more.  

4. Be Present Online

An average person spends around three and a half hours on their phone every day. Therefore, one of the most important tips for restaurant owners is to have an up-to-date presence online. The digital space is truly the place to be, especially for budding new businesses. 

Every day, many are looking for a new experience, new food to try, a new hangout, a new place for client meetings, a new place for dates, and more. And sometimes, potential new customers just want to have good food delivered to their doorstep. And where do people go when they have the above needs? Online. 

For all of the above instances, you can meet the needs of your customer by having a good digital presence. Here are some tips:

  • Have a social media page that customers can tag you in or ask questions on.
  • Sign up for the most-used third-party food delivery platform(s) in your area.
  • Create a website for your restaurant that echoes the kind of experience your restaurant offers which potential customers can go to to view the menu, social media handles, etc.
  • Ensure your Google My Business account is up to date with your key information including address and business hours. 

5. Invest in Restaurant Automation

Harness the full power of technology by signing up for a seamless, cloud-based system that will allow you to manage orders, update inventory with each order, keep track of your accounting, and provide you with useful analytics. 

By automating the functions mentioned above, you will be able to get a glimpse of how your restaurant is doing at any given time. Furthermore, by automating certain functions, your staff will be free to do more hands-on tasks like building meaningful connections with clientele. When you have a happy and well-rested staff, the quality of service goes up and your customers will be sure to come back!  

A waitress working in a cafe with a tablet in hand

6. Have Regular Events or Promotions 

Give your customers a good reason to come back to your restaurant – whether you host regular steak nights, darts tournaments, open mics, or a Thursday lunch with 10% off. It really depends on your target customers and what you think will appeal to them the best.

Protect Your New Business With Personalized Restaurant Insurance 

KASE Insurance is an award-winning insurance brokerage firm based in Toronto. We offer fully personalized restaurant insurance plans that address the unique needs of your business. In addition, we have a dedicated team of experts who will always be available to assist you with your insurance needs – whether it’s regarding premium negotiations, following up on claims, and so on. 

Get ready for the most hassle-free and beneficial restaurant insurance yet. Contact us today or get started with a quick quote!

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