Location, location, location. If you’re an entrepreneur who’s trying to figure out how to start a restaurant, one of your biggest areas of research should be related to the best spot for your establishment. As you’re trying to decide where to open a restaurant, there are several key factors that must be considered, and in today’s blog, we’ll take a look at a few of them.
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Location Essentials
When considering potential places for your startup, it’s helpful to evaluate how each location will contribute to the success of your business. Below, we’ve listed five essential factors to think about as you’re shopping around.
Target Customer
If you’ve developed your business plan and marketing strategy, you should have a good idea as to who your target customer and market is. If your average customer is middle to upper-class and your menu prices reflect this, so should your choice in venue. By choosing a location that jives with the environment your ideal guests frequent, you’ll help ensure repeat customers.
Visibility
Particularly for restaurants that are new to the area, being situated in a location that is highly visible to both foot and vehicle traffic can help bring those essential first customers through the door. Diners are more likely to be willing to try a new restaurant on a busy corner of town than one tucked in a back alley downtown.
Accessibility
This consideration is a very important one for several reasons. First and foremost, your restaurant should be easily accessible to any trucks that deliver food and supplies. Additionally, it is vital that your establishment accommodates for the accessibility needs of your patrons as well, including those who are handicapped.
Safety
The safety of your guests should always be one of your top priorities. Older buildings can provide amazing ambiance for a memorable dining experience, but may not be as safe as newer buildings are in terms of fire codes and emergency exits. Additionally, be sure to choose a location that’s in a safe part of your town or neighborhood so your guests feel comfortable parking their vehicles outside.
Competition
Finally, it is essential to inventory the area surrounding your potential location to determine what type of competition you have and how saturated the area is. For example, if you’re considering opening a diner on a block that already has three other diners, you may have trouble getting a foothold in that particular part of town.
Experienced Restaurant Coaching and Consulting
At Restaurant Rockstars, we have more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, and we know a thing or two about how to start a restaurant. If you’re ready to take the next step in your entrepreneurial career, we invite you to check out our innovative consulting services today! We’d love to share our knowledge and expertise with you to help your startup be a success!