Tips in Expanding Your Restaurant Business

If you are someone that is a restaurant owner and you are in the lucky position that you need to grow due to the success you are having, then you are in the minority of restaurant owners so c'mon - pat yourself on the back. The restaurant business is very challenging, and it can be daunting to expand. If you are in this position, here are some tips:

Look at your Current Layout

When you initially designed your restaurant, you may not have utilised your current floor space as efficiently as you might. Trying to get the balance correct between having enough seating for your customers and still enough room to be comfortable can be a delicate balance. Ultimately, restaurant owners want to get as many tables and seats in the area they have as possible; however, if they overcrowd then customer satisfaction will be low, and they may not come back. Commercial restaurant chairs may be an option to help with minimizing the waste of space, and maybe some different table styles could be considered.

New Premises

If you are looking to buy other premises and clone the restaurant type in another building, then this is a massive project that could go either way. Although your current business may seem to be working well, you will need to take into account the factors why. The reasons may be several; the location, the staff, the interior or the demand for your type of business in that particular area. As such, just occupying a new building may not be the answer and it could mean that it is not as successful. In addition to this, the new venture will require a lot of initial funding that includes furniture, decor and any refurb that may be required.

Consider Your Staff

Although most businesses put their customer at the heart of their operations, don’t forget your hard working staff members. These loyal employees dedicate a lot of time and effort into your operation therefore if you are considering expanding to a new premise or extension then make sure you keep these people informed. An expansion could include these people getting further development opportunities as your business grow or even relocation to the new premises (you never know it could be a lot easier for them to commute to). Don’t forget to keep them engaged throughout the process.

Marketing

If no-one knows about your business, then you won’t have any customers. If you think of how business is marketed nowadays, there are many different approaches – they can use the internet, leaflets, TV, social media or radio to name a few. One of the most effective ways to market a business is via word of mouth. If people are coming to your business and they like it, they will tell others. Regarding expansion, this will also work. If you are expanding to a local area, then be sure to inform your current customers either in person or via social media etc. so they can help you in spreading the word.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes