Opening a restaurant is an exciting venture, but it takes careful planning and attention to detail to get it right. Your grand opening is the first opportunity to show guests what your restaurant is all about, so every decision from choosing the launch date to ensuring operations run smoothly matters.

If you’re preparing for your first service and want a step-by-step guide on how to start strong, this how to open a restaurant resource offers practical tips to help you plan effectively.

Below, we’ll explore the key do’s and don’ts to set your restaurant up for success.

Dos in Opening a Restaurant

Start With A Soft Opening

One of the best things you can do when opening a restaurant is to have a soft opening. Before the big day, you may test your cuisine, service and operations at this invite-only event, which is usually for friends, family, and local influencers.

A soft opening gives you the opportunity to identify and address problems in a relaxed environment, as opposed to a grand opening, which is all about drawing a crowd.

Take advantage of this opportunity to observe how your crew, kitchen, and technology function during actual service. Keep an eye on customer reactions, process, and timing. Whether it’s making changes to a dish, enhancing customer service or optimizing your point-of-sale system, get feedback and consider it carefully.

Plan Enough Employees

Having the appropriate number of skilled employees is crucial when opening a restaurant. Every position on your team, from front desk to kitchen, has an impact on the visitor experience and your team is your brand.

Consider your menu, anticipated customer base and restaurant size when determining your personnel requirements before the grand opening.

Have a contingency plan in case of last-minute changes or absences and make sure you have enough employees for both the soft opening and the grand opening.

Advertise Your Grand Opening On The Internet

When opening a restaurant, having a strong internet presence might make all the difference. Post behind-the-scenes images, short-form videos and countdowns to your launch on social media to generate buzz.

To keep your audience interested, use Instagram Stories or make a Facebook event. Incorporate devoted consumers, food bloggers and local influencers into your marketing campaigns to encourage word-of-mouth and attract more visitors.

Engage In The Community

One effective strategy to put your restaurant for success is to establish a connection with the people in your community. Establish connections with local companies, civic leaders and prospective clients before your grand opening.

To foster goodwill, you can organize a small neighborhood gathering, work with nearby merchants or coordinate marketing campaigns. From the start, this local support can help you build a devoted clientele, increase visibility, and improve the reputation of your restaurant.

Offer Special Promotions

Special offers are a powerful way to draw attention when opening a restaurant and encourage people to give it a try. Promotions create a reason for customers to visit, helping you quickly build a loyal customer base.

Consider These Ideas For Your Grand Opening:

• First Visit Discount: During the week of your big opening, give new customers a 20% discount, or apply the discount to their subsequent visit. This encourages both first-time and return visitors.
• Offer a BOGO promotion: Offer promotions on well-liked goods, such as appetizers or desserts. It’s a fantastic method to draw in groups or couples and increase total orders.
• Free Welcome Drink: As soon as visitors arrive, provide them with a complimentary signature cocktail or mocktail. This modest act of kindness helps patrons feel valued and improves the atmosphere of their meal.

Don’ts When Opening a Restaurant

Skipping to Set Up Technology

Your soft opening should be a complete test run before you open a restaurant. Using a half-set system for your big opening can result in expensive errors. Before the soft opening, confirm that your reservation system, inventory management software and point of sale system are all configured and tested. In this manner, any problems can be fixed beforehand, guaranteeing a smooth public opening.

Don’t Forget To Train Staff

A recent NACS article on how employee training improves customer experiences emphasized that well-trained staff members are the cornerstone of excellent customer service, including instruction on the technology they will utilize regularly.

Make sure your employees can effectively maintain inventory, handle reservations and use the point-of-sale system. Conduct simulated orders and discuss potential problems to prepare students to handle issues on their own.

When workers are comfortable with the equipment, they can reduce errors, work faster, and provide flawless service for your big opening.

Rushing the Opening

Although it may be tempting to open your restaurant as soon as possible, rushing might lead to issues that negatively impact the first impression.

Make sure your systems, personnel and menu are prepared.  To get things right, postpone your grand opening if necessary.  A well-planned launch lays the groundwork for long-term success and is significantly more useful than a hastily planned one.

Skipping To Follow Up With Guests

After your grand opening, the work doesn’t stop. Maintaining a relationship with customers after opening a restaurant is essential to converting newcomers into loyal patrons. By holding follow-up events, occasionally launching promotions, and maintaining an active social media presence, you can sustain the excitement.

Offer incentives through a loyalty program, invite visitors to post about their experiences online, and include them in your email list. Regular interaction fosters enduring client relationships and keeps your restaurant in the forefront of consumers’ minds.

Overwhelming the Kitchen

Special promotions can bring in a crowd, but they also put pressure on your kitchen. Avoid offering too many deals at once, as this can lead to slow service and unhappy customers.

Plan promotions that your team can handle without sacrificing food quality or efficiency. A smooth, well-paced service leaves a better impression than an overbooked and overextended launch.

Turning Your Grand Opening into Lasting Success

Making a good first impression is your chance when you open a restaurant.  Every stage is essential to your success, from holding a soft opening to interacting with the community and doing internet promotion.

A well-prepared staff, appropriate technology, and careful planning will set the stage for a seamless and unforgettable launch.

You can concentrate more on producing amazing experiences that entice customers to return and less on back-end worry if you have the proper mechanisms in place.