As we have covered previously, running a restaurant is a difficult business. Here are some more ways you can improve your chances.
1. Retaining Customers
Attracting new customers does not help unless you can retain them. Unless you are in a high tourism area, most of your patrons will be people who live locally. If they have an unpleasant experience the first time they visit your restaurant, they will not want to return. Consistency in food, professionalism and cleanliness are the best way to keep customers.
2. Pricing
This is most likely to become difficult when your restaurant becomes established. If the price of ingredients goes up, you may have to consider raising prices. This could lead to dissatisfaction amongst long-term customers who do not appreciate the increase. Keep your prices under review – if you need to change them, try to do so gradually. There are even guides available for consumers who want to know the tricks of restaurant pricing.
Sometimes, spending more upfront can save money in the long run; for example, walk in cold rooms from suppliers such as https://www.fridgefreezerdirect.co.uk/cold-rooms can be expensive but can help you to store more food for longer periods of time.
3. Quality Checks
Once you are established, the everyday things that you once took such care over may become routine. Quality can drop slowly, so it is not immediately obvious. By the time you do realise, there will be a lot of work needed to restore quality. Organise regular taste tests or send fake customers to evaluate your food and service. In this way, any drop in quality can be spotted quickly.
4. Treatment of Staff
Happy staff are more likely to work hard and less likely to move to another establishment. Rather than treating them as subordinates, try implementing bonuses schemes or organizing social events to make them feel part of the family.
5. Acknowledge your own weaknesses
No one is perfect, but self-awareness can help you to compensate for your own weaknesses. Are you more useful in the kitchen or the office? Find the area in which you are comfortable and let someone else take over the areas in which you struggle. This also applies to your restaurant as a whole – know your own style and strengths rather than trying to copy other businesses.
