What makes a restaurant successful? Is it vision and passion? Maybe having the money to be able to get it started? Truth be told, there is a lot that goes into running a successful restaurant. Vision, passion and money are definitely all beneficial components, but there are a few other rules you can follow that can increase your chances of keeping your doors open and help you be more efficient, which in turn will help make you more profitable and successful.
Streamline Streamline Streamline
There will be a substantial amount of work to get done every day, so when you can streamline operations, do it! Technology has come a long way, so just about every aspect of running your business can be streamlined. There are apps for helping communication run smoother between employees and managers, mobile apps to help ease the complications of configuring and deploying employee schedules, inventory management software to save time and even accounting and payroll automation. Goodbye pen and paper, hello speed and accuracy. If your restaurant has not already taken steps to streamline your workflow, now is the time to do so!
Keep Up With Big Trends
Some trends may not be worth your time, but there are sure to be some that will be advantageous to your restaurant. For example, creating social media accounts has proven to be effective and beneficial in drawing customers in and keeping them around by interacting and being active on social media platforms. Having a Google business page or Yelp account can help people locate you, read reviews about your restaurant and help them see up-to-date information and photos that will help draw them in. Over 50% of diners will go online to read reviews before going to a restaurant. As an owner or manager, be sure to respond to positive and negative reviews to show people that you appreciate their support, good or bad, and build friendly rapport with your current customers and those observing online trying to decide if they want to be your customer. While some people were hoping that the internet or social media was a fad, it looks like it’s here to stay and we should adapt accordingly!
Open Communication
Ensuring your employees and managers are communicating effectively can be a huge factor in how well your restaurant does. Teaching your managers how to be a good leader will trickle down to your employees and create a better team and overall work environment. Not only is communication key within the workplace, but also open communication with customers is important. Asking for feedback through an online questionnaire or simply leaving a piece of paper and pen on tables can be used to help improve your quality of service.
Having a successful restaurant takes a lot of work, but there are many great resources that can help make your restaurant run smoothly and efficiently. Do your homework and invest in the tools that will help you increase your profit margin. Make sure your staff is trained well and that there is always open communication. These of course are bigger components that will help when you are breaking down logistics, such as deciding your menu layout, kitchen consistency, and who your vendors will be. Take a deep breath, figure out what will help your restaurant thrive and get to work!
