Do you want to start a restaurant and you need to write a business plan? If YES, here is a sample restaurant business plan template & FREE feasibility report.
Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a restaurant business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample restaurant marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for restaurant businesses.
Starting a food business may sound easy, but the truth is that if you are looking to start a restaurant, such that you do not want to die a quick death, then you have got to do the needful to make sure that it does stand the test of time. There is quite a lot that is needed to be done in order to see that your restaurant business does take flight within the period that you have projected it to be.
Here is a guide on how to write your own business plan by fixing in the appropriate details of your business after you have gone through the sample restaurant business plan below;
A Sample Restaurant Business Plan Template
1. Industry Overview
Whether you are a foodie or not, truth is that as humans food is one essential thing that just must not be toiled with. It is no wonder that plenty die of starvation where there is nothing to eat to replenish lost strength. As such, the restaurant business all over the globe is one business that generates huge income annually and can comfortably stand the test of time if well managed.
Any business person who gets involved in the food industry is sure to get good returns on investment if the business is well positioned.
One good thing about the restaurant business is that an owner has the sole right to determine the price they want to sell their menu irrespective of what others around them might – especially if they are good with the delicacies they whip up.
There is no contesting the fact that food is one of the basic needs of people. It is for that reason that a myriad of people do all it takes to eat when they are hungry and Restaurants are such places that is designed to address such needs. There are various kinds of restaurants all over the world. Here are a few examples. We have:
- Fast food restaurants
- Intercontinental restaurants
- Local restaurants
- Family style cafeterias
- Casual dining restaurants
- Fast casual restaurants, amongst others.
These cafes are designed to meet various needs of different tribes, creeds and races. In most cases, it is the community where the restaurant is to be situated that certainly determines the style of restaurant service to be offered. For example; if one decides to start a restaurant business around a construction site; choosing an intercontinental style of restaurant or a family style restaurant might just be the best option.
Conversely, some might want to start a local restaurant, casual dining restaurant or even a fast food style restaurant irrespective of where they are located. However, if you choose to start a restaurant in a city that hosts thousands of international tourists and migrants, then starting an intercontinental restaurant will be your best options.
Over and above, it pays an individual to acquire culinary skills, as well as undertake a thorough and exhaustive feasibility studies before choosing the style of restaurant to start, the location to set up the business and the pricing system to adopt for the business.
2. Executive Summary
MunaChimso® Intercontinental restaurant is a 150 seat family style restaurant that is solely owned by Betty O’chucks and family.
The restaurant is to be located in the heart of Houston Texas and it is designed in such way to make people of different nationality and cultures feel at home, as well as connect with their heritage and culture despite being thousands of kilometers away from their home countries.
The restaurant will be a place where over a hundred intercontinental delicacies will be available per time prepared by some of the finest chefs in Texas. We choose to start the first outlet of our intercontinental restaurant in Houston, Texas because of the large percentage of migrants from Africa, Mexico and some part of Asia.
The fact that we have a bias for the African community makes Texas the most suitable destination to kick start our business project. As a result, we know that we just couldn’t go wrong if we started this business from here by all means. MunaChimso® Intercontinental restaurant is set to redefine the way cafeteria businesses operate in Texas.
Beyond opening our doors to customers to come in and have their meals in a cozy environment with tons of music that will remind them of their culture and heritage, we will also offer food delivery services to the chunk of our clients who place orders for any of our intercontinental meals; and this is irrespective of the part of Texas where they are resident.
We shall as well run a culinary school and also offer outdoor catering services base on demands. This is because we are aware of the fact that there are loads of Africans in this city who might be too overwhelmed with making out a living, so that they aren’t chanced to whip up some party meals when the need arises.
Our plan is to position the business to become the leading brand in restaurant business in Texas, and also to be amongst the top 20 restaurants in the united states of America within the first 10 years of operations.
This might look too tall a dream but we are optimistic that this will surely come to pass because we have done our research and feasibility studies and we are enthusiastic and confident that Texas is the right place to launch our intercontinental business before spreading to other parts of America.
Currently, we have been able to secure a location to set-up the first outlet of the restaurant in Texas and we are still working towards securing the necessary documentation and permits before swinging into full action to get the place ready for business.
Our ultimate goal is not to build a successful single unit, first class, intercontinental restaurant in the heart of Huston, Texas, but to open a minimum of one outlet of our intercontinental restaurant in major cities all across the United States.
We have perfected plans to attract traffic on a daily basis to our restaurant- people from various cultures, race and country et al. Much more than creating an ambiance where people can feel relaxed to enjoy our delicacies, we have also put plans in place that will ensure adequate security in and around our facility.
It is for that reason that we will install CCTV cameras at strategic places and our security personnel will be thoroughly trained to handle security issues in a proactive manner. Therefore, our clients can be rest assured of their safety when they visit our intercontinental restaurant.
Without mincing words, security is of top priority to us because we intend attracting celebrities and the crème de la crème in the society, in every of our outlets all over the country.
The set date for opening our doors for business is February 1st, 2016 and we are indeed working hard to make that date a reality. So far, we have been able to raise 60 percent of the startup capital required and we are in the process of securing the last 40 percent.
The total budget for setting up our intercontinental restaurant is about $200,000 and we can categorically say that we already have about $120,000. In addition, we are at the verge of receiving the last trench of $80,000 loan from our bank.
3. Our Products and Services
The fact that we are starting an intercontinental restaurant means that we must meet the needs of our clients especially migrants who truly want to reconnect via food with their culture and heritage.
We know that giving those who come to our restaurant a home away from home experience would go a long way in breeding repeat customers. In view of that, we have specifically listed at least 100 different intercontinental meals in our menu list. Here they are:
- We sell assorted alcoholic and non – alcoholic drinks and wines.
- We run a standard culinary training school.
- We offer home delivery services to our clients
- We provide outdoor catering services.
4. Our Mission and Vision Statement
- To be amongst the top 20 intercontinental restaurant brands in the United States of America within record time
- To build chains of standard intercontinental restaurants in major cities in the United States of America; a place where migrants, tourists and people of all walks of life can reconnect with their culture and heritage via their local delicacies, drinks and music.
Our Business Structure
These are the following roles and positions that will be duly occupied before opening our business doors to the public. They include:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chef
- Restaurant Manager
- Sales and Marketing Officer
- Waiter and Waitress
- Cashiers
- Dispatch Riders
- Security Officers
- Cleaners
5. Job Roles and Responsibilities
Chief Executive Officer – CEO-:
- Responsible for providing direction for the business
- Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
- Responsible for the day to day running of the business
- Responsible for handling high profile clients and deals
- Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
- Responsible for recruitment
- Responsible for payment of salaries
- Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
- Evaluates the success of the organization
- Reports to the board
Restaurant Manager-:
- Responsible for managing the daily activities in the restaurant
- Ensure that the restaurant facility is in tip top shape and conducive enough to welcome customers
- Interfaces with third – party providers (vendors)
- Reports to the Chief Executive Officer
- Attends to Customers complains and enquiries
- Prepares budget and reports for the organization
- Any other duty as assigned by the CEO
Chief Chef-:
- Responsible for preparing delicacies
- Make lists and budget for kitchen supplies
- Oversee the entire kitchen staff
- Responsible for training new cooks
- Makes sure that the meals being whipped up tastes really good
Sales and Marketing Officer-:
- Responsible for marketing the company’s products and services
- Responsible for promoting the company
- Responsible for creating marketing and sales strategies, etc.
- Represents the organization in some strategic business meetings
- Responsible for hiring and training of freelance sales reps
- Any other duty as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer / restaurant manager
Waiters / Waitress
- Promptly attends to customers in a friendly and professional manner
- Ensures that unoccupied tables are always set and ready for customers
- Pulls out chairs for customers as they arrive
- Any other duty as assigned by the Chief Operating officer / restaurant manager
Accountant / Cashier-:
- Receives payments on behalf of the restaurant
- Issues receipt to customers
- Prepare financial report at the end of every working week
- Handles all financial transaction on behalf of the restaurant
- Interfaces with our bankers
- Responsible for payment of tax, levies and utility bills
- Any other duty as assigned by the CEO / restaurant manager
Dispatch Rider-:
- Delivers customer’s orders promptly
- Deliver correspondence for the restaurant
- Runs errand for the organization
- Any other duty as assigned by the floor / line manager
Security Officers
- Ensure that the facility is secured at all time
- Control traffic and organize parking
- Give security tips to staff members from time to time
- Patrols around the building on a 24 hours basis
- Submit security reports weekly
- Any other duty as assigned by the restaurant manager
Cleaners-:
- Responsible for cleaning the restaurant facility at all times
- Ensure that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
- Cleans both the interior and exterior of the building
- Any other duty as assigned by the restaurant manager
6. SWOT Analysis
When it comes to starting a new business, one of the areas that will help entrepreneurs position their business in such a way that the trade will break even within the shortest time frame, is to critically conduct SWOT analysis before proceeding to launch the business.
With the help of competent business consultants, we have been able to carry out our own SWOT Analysis and here is what it looks like;
- Strength-:
Our strength is anchored on our ability to serve our customers through the options of having them either visit our restaurant to have their breakfast, lunch or dinner or by delivering their orders straight to their houses, offices, or any location of their choice.
The fact that we offer outdoor catering services and also culinary training counts to our advantage in the restaurant industry in the United States of America.
- Weakness-:
So far, we have been able to identify a few weakness on our part. The fact that we might possibly launch out big with a bang and start competing with major restaurant brand in the United States of America may likely count to our disadvantage, but we are perfecting plans on our own part to leverage on our moderate resources (finance and workforce) to maximize profits.
- Opportunities-:
Beyond every reasonable doubt, the opportunities within our disposal are unlimited. Restaurant business in Texas and even in the whole of the United States of America is indeed a profitable business venture. For instance; our CEO is an active member of the African community in North Africa and she is one of the highly recognized women leaders in Texas.
Another opportunity that we stand to explore is the point that our restaurant is located in a highbrow area in Huston Texas; a place with huge population of migrants from African descent Lastly, the fact that we offer outdoor catering services and culinary training gives us the privilege to market our intercontinental restaurant to our target market.
- Threat-:
The threat that is likely going to confront us is the fact that we are competing with already established restaurants that serve intercontinental meals, and also there are other entrepreneurs who are likely going to launch similar business within the location of our business. Of course, they will compete with us in winning over the available market.
Another threat that we are likely going to face is the area of government policies. This is especially when it comes to the importation of our raw ingredients that can’t be found / cultivated in the United States from Africa, Asia and South America.
We therefore fear that if the government of the United States of America places embargo on importation of our major food ingredients, it would definitely affect our business.
7. MARKET ANALYSIS
- Market Trends
The market trend when it comes to intercontinental restaurant / delicacies is that; most of the clients that patronize these restaurants are not necessarily from the country where these meals originate from. As such, they just want to have a feel of the meal perhaps out of curiosity.
For example; people that patronize Chinese restaurants are not necessarily Chinese folks. People from different country and culture just love Chinese meals and they are willing to pay a premium when compared to the prices of what normal menus – local meal goes for.
In essence, when you run an intercontinental restaurant, your target market should not be restricted to only migrants from the regions where the meals originates from, but everyone who is willing to explore when it comes to foods. With good publicity, the meal of a foreign country can become popular in the US just like Chinese delicacies, Mexican delicacies and what have you. Part of the marketing and sales strategies that we will adopt includes:
- Opening of our intercontinental restaurant with a big party ( This means that we plan to invite people from diplomatic communities, the corporate communities and people from and within the neighborhood where the business is located)
- Neighborhood, door to door and mouth to ear mode of adverts to introduce our business
- Engage in road shows ( make some open air noise) to introduce our business
- Send proposals to embassies and corporate organizations to handle their kitchen arm of business(especially for their employees)
- Start a TV show in line with our business goal and objectives
- Sponsor relevant events, such as cooking competitions, and cultural events, et al.
8. Our Target Market
We are quite aware that the target market for restaurant cum food business cuts across people of all walks of life, since everybody needs food to survive and we are prepared to meet the needs of as much people as we can, within the various locations our intercontinental restaurant will be located.
In order to stay focused on the kind of business brand we intend building, we have clearly defined certain groups of people as our main target. They are:
- Migrants
- International Tourists
- Top Executives
- Families
- Celebrities
- The Diplomatic Community
- Residence
- Corporate Organizations
Our Competitive Advantage
From our research and feasibility studies, we were able to discover loads of restaurants with a couple of them serving intercontinental delicacies. As a matter of fact, most of them have stayed long enough (10 years and above) in the business and they have mastered the market. The sole fact that they have stayed this long means that they enjoy robust patronage.
Since we are aware of this obvious detail, we have decided to adopt a unique strategy that will help us gain our own market share, stay afloat in the industry and steadily walk our way to the top of restaurant business in Texas and in the United States of America.
And part of the strategy that will give MunaChimso® Intercontinental Restaurant competitive advantage in the marketplace is; the point that we will not only serve various intercontinental delicacies in a cozy environment that will make our customers connect with their culture and heritage, we will offer home delivery services, we will offer culinary training and we will also offer outdoor catering services, as demanded by our clients.
9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY
- Sources of Income
Generating enough income to take care of overhead and operational cost might not come so easy for a new business. As a matter of fact, most new businesses budget for money to pay employees and run the business for as long as 6 months or so, because they know that they might likely not make the money they require to effectively run the business within such a time frame.
This is because they conversant of the teething stage which nearly all businesses face upon inception. As a result of our findings, we have adopted a strategy that will guarantee that we generate adequate income from different sources.
Of course, our business goal is to run a first class intercontinental restaurant, but every other means of generating fund for the business is in line with providing delicacies to our highly esteemed customers which is our business mission. Here are the sources we have put in place to generate resources for MunaChimso® Intercontinental Restaurant;
- Selling intercontinental and local meals in our restaurant
- Offering home delivery services to our customers
- Offering outdoor catering services
- Running a top notch culinary training school
- Offering consultancy services in line with our business goal
- Sales of drinks ( local and intercontinental), wine ( local and intercontinental), beverages and water ,et al
10. Sales Forecast
It is important to state that our sales forecast is based on the data gathered during our feasibility studies and also assumptions. This is for sales projections based on what we saw.
Lunch-:
- 150 lunches per day (on average), 12 months per year
- Typical lunches per year (in full year) is 50,200 (estimated figure)
- $50 per person on the average
Dinner-:
- 180 dinners per day, 12 months per year
- Typical dinners per year (in full year) is 70,000 (estimated figure)
- $75 per person on the average
Sales of Drinks, Wine, Beverages and Water et al-:
- On the average over 80% of people who purchase dinner or lunch would consume drinks
- This equates to 120 drinks for lunch and 144 bottle of drinks / wine / beverage for dinner in a day
N.B-: The possibility of the figure to increase by 25 percent or more cannot be ruled out. Research shows that people who consume alcohol are generally not satisfied with just one bottle, especially when they have the financial resources to purchase a whole lot more.
- Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy
We are quite aware that the market for intercontinental meals is on the increase, and we are also aware that loads of restaurants in the United States of America deal in intercontinental delicacies. In view of that, we have been able to work out plans that will help us win a large percentage of our targeted market over.
It is also important to state that we will continue to change or improve our marketing and sales strategy, until we are able to get a hang of the kind of result we are looking for. In essence, our sales and marketing strategy just like every one of our business strategies will remain flexible.
In nut a shell, we will explore the following marketing and sales strategies to promote our intercontinental restaurant business:
- Direct Marketing (Staff)
- Via Our Sponsored TV Programs
- Erect Our Billboards in Strategic locations around the city
- Making use of sales Agents
- Sales Reps
- Online Marketing (via our official website, social media platforms and blog et al)
- Referral Marketing
- Revenue Sharing Business Partners (Event Planners and Contractors)
- Public relations during our culinary training sessions and outdoor catering services
11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy
Restaurant business just like any other business in the food industry requires media hype to get people to buy into the brand. We are quite aware of this and we have decided to make provisions for serious promotion of our brand. Here are the platforms we intend making use of to promote and advertise our business;
- Place adverts on national TV stations, Radio Stations and Newspapers / Magazines
- Run our own TV program
- Sponsor relevant community programs
- Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , Badoo,et al
- Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations
- Engage in road show from time to time
- Distribute our fliers and handbills to targeted areas from time to time
- Send out introductory letters to multinationals, embassies, and Diaspora organizations and networks in and around Texas.
12. Our Pricing Strategy
Good foods definitely do not come cheap, but we are sure going to work towards fixing prices that will be pocket friendly. Our various intercontinental delicacies might not come cheap when compared to local meals or everyday meals in the United States of America, but we will try as much as lies within our power to strike a balance between making profits and satisfying our highly esteem customers.
Our strategy for fixing prices will be solely driven by what is obtainable in the industry, alongside sampling the opinions of our targeted market on the amount they will be willing to pay for various intercontinental meals.
- Payment Options
Our payment policy is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that will be available in every of our outlets;
- Payment by cash
- Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
- Payment via online bank transfer (preferably for those that will order our products and would want us to deliver it to them, those that wants to attend our culinary training, as well as for payment for outdoor catering services)
- Payment via check (preferably for those that will order our products and would want us to deliver it to them, those that want to attend our culinary training program and for payment for outdoor catering services)
- Payment via Mobile money
In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans without any itches.
13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)
- The Fee for Registering the Business: $725
- The budget for insurance, permits and license: $10,000
- The Amount Needed to Rent a Facility for 6 months in Texas (reconstruction of the restaurant is inclusive): $75,000
- The Cost for the purchase of restaurant furniture and gadgets (fridges, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al): $20,000
- The Cost for tableware, utensils, dishes, bar and kitchen equipment: $15,000
- The Cost for supply of raw foods, ingredients, drinks and beverages for a month: $5,000
- The Cost of Launching a Website: $600
- The cost opening party: $5,000
- Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al): $5,000
Going by the report from our research and feasibility studies, we will need an average $200,000 to set up a moderate intercontinental hotel in Houston, Texas. From our projections, we are likely going to start making profits after the first 3 years of setting up the business and we have put plans in place to take care of the overhead and operational cost.
Generating Funding / Startup Capital for our Restaurant
We don’t have the intention of bringing business partners outside the family to invest in the business, at least for the first 5 years of running the business that is why we have restricted raising our startup capital to;
- Generate part of the start – up capital from my savings
- Source for soft loans from family members and friends
- Apply for loan from the bank
N.B-: We have been able to generate about $120,000 and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan of $80,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from the now our account will be credited.
14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy
The bigger picture of MunaChimso® Intercontinental Restaurant is to grow the business beyond Huston, Texas to other major cities in the United States of America. As such, we intend spending the first 5 years of the business in building and communicating our brand to our targeted market.
We have plans to sell our franchise to interested entrepreneurs who have what it takes to become our ambassadors. We know that once our brand has been accepted by the general public, it will be easier for us to successfully sell our franchise to interested entrepreneurs who intend leveraging on our brand to start their own business.
In addition, we will ensure that we invest in regular training and development of our work force. We will not stop at exploring various intercontinental meals from all parts of the world.
Check List / Milestone
- Culinary Training Plan : Completed
- Business Name Availability Check: Completed
- Business Registration: Completed
- Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
- Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
- Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
- Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
- Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
- Application for business license and permit: Completed
- Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
- Renting of Facility and Construction of the Restaurant: In Progress
- Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
- Generating capital from family members and friends: Completed
- Applications for Loan: In Progress
- writing of business plan: Completed
- Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
- Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
- Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
- Graphic Designs and Printing of Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
- Recruitment of chef and other key employees: In Progress
- Purchase of the Needed furniture, electronic appliances and kitchen equipment: In progress
- Purchase of Kitchen Utensils, plates, cups, cutleries, and other accessories: Completed
- Negotiation with Freelance Sales Reps: In Progress
- Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
- Creating Awareness for the business both online and in the neighborhood: In Progress
- Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
- Opening party / launching party: In Progress
- Compilation of our intercontinental delicacies / Menu list : Completed
- Design and preparation of our cooking guide
- Design and preparation of our culinary training modules: Completed
- Arrangement for trainers and training facility: In Progress
- Establishing business relationship with vendors – suppliers of raw food ingredient: In Progress
- Establishing relationship with vendors – suppliers of drinks, wines, beers, and all forms of drinks: In Progress
- Purchase of delivery vans: Completed
- Purchase of motor bikes for delivery: Completed