Go big or go home is a phrase that has been around for a long time. “The bigger the better” and “go all out” are other similar phrases that allude to the idea that more is better. This is probably true in some aspects of life, but when it comes to running a restaurant, sometimes going with a more simple choice can actually be beneficial to your business. If you are exhausted from spinning your wheels trying to come up with the next big idea, trying to find ways to jazz up all areas of your restaurant or spending ample time scheduling and taking inventory, let’s take a minute and breathe. The answer to your problems might actually be to take a more simplistic approach. Here are some areas where simple just might be the better choice.
Menus
People are behind you waiting to order, the pressure is on, and you are trying to read all the different items the restaurant has to offer. Walking up to a menu can be overwhelming, especially one that has too many options to sort through. Even for a sit down restaurant, customers would much prefer a smaller menu to choose from. Not only does this ease the customers, but it also helps speed up the ordering process and is easier to control costs. Another way to simplify your menu is to go digital. Doing this can save your restaurant time and money!
Technology
If your restaurant is over-complicating the business side of running a restaurant, listen up. There are so many tools to help you simplify your business management and all you have to do is start utilizing them.
–Scheduling is one area where you can easily take the path of least resistance. Scheduling software allows you to easily schedule your employees and send them a completed copy via email, text or through a mobile app. Employees can even use an app to post shifts that they can’t work or pick up shifts posted by coworkers so managers don’t have to be the middleman trying to find someone to cover a shift. You can start the new week’s schedule using the previous week and only make the adjustments that you need to. It’s as simple as that.
– Inventory is another area where you can use technology to simplify your workload while lowering your food cost and gaining profit. Digital mobile count sheets, detailed recipes and tracking tools will definitely simplify your workload.
Interior
While there is something to be said about the all out decor and lavish design choices, in most cases simple is best. When you have a smaller space, it is easier to manage. The larger the place, the more customers you can seat, and the more employees you need to staff. Many quick service restaurants are building smaller dining rooms and focusing more energy on their drive-thru, curbside, mobile orders and take-out. Customers today care more about sustainability, a good experience and authenticity, so focusing on those areas might better serve your business.
Before you set out to do something bigger and better, or something that might unnecessarily take up way too much of your time, evaluate the situation and see if there is a simpler way to do things. When it comes to your marketing, it can be limited to social media, google, yelp and word of mouth. Running a restaurant is hard work. We do not want to downplay that fact. There are a lot of moving pieces every day and there are constantly decisions to be made. So while it might never be “simple”, there are many areas that can be simplified to help you run a more efficient and profitable business.
