What Are Some Restaurant Startup Costs?

What are Some of the Startup Costs for a Restaurant?

Many people dream of owning their own restaurant. However, the business costs of starting a new restaurant often discourage them from moving forward with their vision. Business startup costs are always the first hurdle you have to jump when considering opening a restaurant.

So what are the costs incurred in starting your own restaurant? Well, that depends on what type of restaurant you plan on opening. Virtual restaurants have a lot less business startup costs than the brick-and-mortar variety.

If you're going the classic brick-and-mortar route, there are a lot of startup expenses to consider. If you're literally starting from scratch, you may have real estate and construction costs to consider. If not, you'll have to think about the costs of renting or leasing the space you need.

There are other expenses to consider as well. Your new restaurant will need to have the proper business and health permits. You'll have to have insurance as well.

A restaurant needs cooking equipment. It needs tables, chairs, and silverware. The business expenses keep piling up - and you haven't even hired any employees yet!

Virtual restaurants have start costs as well. Kitchen space needs to be rented and inventory such as food and serving containers needs to be bought. While not as expensive as a brick-and-mortar, starting a virtual restaurant brand can still be an expensive undertaking.

Things to Consider About Restaurant Startup Costs: Startup costs are necessary to get a new restaurant off the ground.
An effective business plan can help control startup costs.
A small business can have big startup costs.
You need to consider startup costs before you start business.

What You Need To Know- Brick and Mortar Restaurant Startup Costs

There are countless business costs to consider when opening a new restaurant. Every one of them will affect the cost of getting your eating establishment up and running. It's important to identify these costs before your business begins.

Before we get into the details, let's start with some of the basics. These are the factors new business owners must consider. They include-

• Your business plan. A clear business plan will provide you with the focus and direction you need to make effective financial decisions.

• Your restaurant's location. Where you're located will have a big impact on your startup costs. It will also affect your operating costs.

• Your financial resources. How are you going to pay your startup costs? There are many ways to finance a restaurant, including personal savings, business loans to putting it on a credit card.

• Marketing your new business. Your business plan should include your target market, the people most likely to want to visit your restaurant. You'll need the marketing resources to effectively reach your target audience.

You'll probably want to hire an accountant as well. It's important to know what business expenses count as taxable income and which do not. In some instances, business costs and organizational costs can be deducted from your income tax.

All new businesses face the same basic challenges. You need to reckon with these challenges long before you open your doors. Knowing what startup expenses to expect can help you avoid making mistakes that could blow your budget.

Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant Startup Costs- A Checklist

We've examined some of the business expenses connected with starting a restaurant. Now let's take a look at the detailed costs of starting a restaurant. This will give you a better idea of what your startup costs will be.

• Your restaurant's space. The real estate your restaurant will occupy could end up being one of your biggest start-up expenses. Expenses will vary depending on if you purchase the land, pay monthly rent, or sign a long-term lease.

• Your restaurant's interior design. Interior decor costs vary greatly depending on the concept. You may also have interior renovation costs to consider as well.

• Your kitchen equipment. These business costs include kitchen appliances (pots, pans), cooking equipment (ovens, fryers), workspaces (prep tables), and service equipment (plates, utensils). You'll need bar equipment as well if you plan on serving drinks.

• Your restaurant's technology. Point of sale systems and kitchen display systems are some of the software needed to run a successful restaurant. Hardware technology includes payment terminals, cash drawers, and receipt printers.

• The licenses and permits you'll need to operate your business. In order to legally operate a restaurant, business owners need to obtain the required licenses and permits. You may have to spend extra money to bring your restaurant up to code standards.

These are just a few of a restaurant's startup costs. You'll also need to take into account your ongoing costs as well. After you get your restaurant up and running you'll have to worry about payroll, marketing, and other expenses.

Restaurant Startup Costs- A Review

• Plan organizational costs
• Save on income tax
• Open up cash flow
• Identify long-term business expenses