As a new business owner, it can be easy to make mistakes at any step in the ownership process. All of these mistakes can be easily avoided if you are aware of them.
Brand Mistakes
Before you open your business’ doors to the public, know your brand and how it fits the area you are in. As much as you want to stand out from the competition, it’s important to know what your audience is looking for so that you can make a profit.
Your brand is the image and personality you want to display to the public. Establishing that personality allows you to better make decisions when it comes to your marketing, how you present your business, and what items you’ll be selling to the public.
Layout Mistakes
After you know your brand, it is important to not make layout mistakes. Design a space that includes all the bar or restaurant essentials you think are important without leaving too much unused space. To avoid having excess space, consider incorporating a gaming area into your establishment. You are now adding additional revenue while making best use of that space. You want customers and staff to have plenty of room to move but having a layout with too much space can cost you more money in the long run. It may force you to have to hire more staff and make it difficult to bring in enough customers.
Make sure your menu design also fits your brand. A menu is a customer’s insight into who you are as an establishment. The correct design makes it easier for them to decide what to purchase. Your recipes had a lot of thought put into them, so make sure only your most quality items are included on your menu.
Training Mistakes
In any business it is important to have a documented training process for your staff – whether they are new employees or have worked there for years. For your employees to do their best work, they need to be properly trained. The less training your employees receive, the more difficult it will be for them to do their jobs. This will in turn cause them to be less happy and possibly make them want to leave.
Your training should in some way reflect feedback you have received from both employees and customers. Food safety and sexual harassment are both important trainings for your employees to avoid future problems. It is important to make training ongoing so your employees can continue to learn and grow.
Regardless of someone’s experience level, every employee should receive training – even your restaurant managers. If your managers aren’t properly trained, your other employees will not receive the proper training they need. Make sure you hire the right staff and ensure all necessary roles are filled with the best candidates. Your staff should be properly trained on your brand, so they can best reflect it to the public. When it comes to proper training, remember to enforce it. You need to be firm so that your staff doesn’t change things, such as policies or recipes, to save time or make an angry customer happy.
Remember, each decision made in your new establishment can impact something else, so each decision should be well thought out. Do you now feel better prepared to avoid these mistakes in your restaurant or bar?
