Are you passionate about cooking?
Do you believe you can offer dishes that are meant to be tasted and savored by foodies out there?
Maybe you know how to satisfy people’s taste buds.
And, by chance, you also have entrepreneurial skills?
Then starting a food business might just be for you.
The food industry offers a great opportunity because aside from people need to eat to live, most of us eat because we just like it.
There is a wide and no specific target market unless of course, you offer cultural or specialized recipes intended for a particular class.
But a food business can be a risky venture.
What do you need to know when starting a food business?
What are the challenges food entrepreneurs face and how to overcome them?
Competition
Restaurants and even food trucks are almost everywhere.
Know what makes you unique and why your customers should go to you.
Before entering the industry, it’s important to conceptualize. The most important thing to consider is your menu. Serve something new. If you will offer a traditional dish, add some spice to it. Pun intended.
Also, offer something different through superb customer service. Or, create a unique eating atmosphere related to your brand.
People will be curious, so keep those innovative ideas coming. Establish your own brand. Let your presence be felt despite huge competition.
Budgeting
Ingredients, employee salaries, equipment, rentals, and utilities are just some of the expenses found in the book of food entrepreneurs.
Make a budget. Make sure you save money as much as possible by being mindful of your costs but still maintaining quality.
How much is the cost of each menu item? Are they economic and profitable? If not, is it ok to take it off the menu?
Have a sales target and assess your sales if you meet your target. If not, what could be done to achieve it?
To avoid food spoilage, you have to manage your inventory. Plan in advance how much ingredients you should prepare. Should the food be readily available upon order? This is challenging because you have to balance your stocks and the lead time between the ordering and serving of the meal.
Monitor and review the daily operations and sales of your business to develop a strategy that would work best for you.
Do proper accounting and look for ways on how can you save without compromising food quality.
Staffing
Recruiting and training of new staff can be demanding. Make sure they are equipped with training that are according to your standards. Give them proper remuneration so they would stay loyal to the business. Let them feel valued. Fast employee turnover rate can cause slow down of operations and losses.
Your employees represent your business. They are your front liners. They should be able to provide good customer service. The first impression is important. If your guests are happy and satisfied, they will surely come back. They might recommend you to their friends too.
To save on cost without hurting your operation, study the business trend. What time of the day is the busiest? How about the influx of people during workdays, weekends and holidays? Can I consider a part-timer? Should I schedule employee shifts? Assess your manpower needs.
Marketing
Marketing need not be expensive. Whatever budget fits as long as you are creative.
Learn digital marketing. Use social media to reach your target audiences. Have a credible website. Showcase your products and services by posting enticing photos that tasting it first hand would be irresistible. Hire a copywriter to craft a captivating tagline and compelling menu for you.
Invite food bloggers or influencers to review your dish, and encourage customers to drop their ratings and insights online.
Offer customers loyalty programs so they will have more reason to return.
Word of mouth is free and will always work to your advantage. Make sure you welcome people warmly when they dine.
Logistics
As restaurateurs, you need to have an interrupted supply of raw materials. Make sure you have dependable suppliers that would ensure that delivery will be timely. Food is perishable so quality should be preserved. Meat or dairy products should be put into a temperature controlled facility while in transit to avoid the risk of contamination.
Keep in mind that many restaurants fail because of poor management. One must be a good leader and a wise decision maker to withstand every problem that may arise.
Make sure that your vision and corporate values are in place. Like any other business, there may be inevitable market changes. Take on the challenge and embrace the responsibilities.
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