This is one of the most frequently asked questions in starting a restaurant, and one that people often get wrong by seriously underestimating the actual answer.
That may not be a problem, if there is abundance of cash in hold and sales pick up quickly, or it may be a devastating problem if there was very miniature reserve, the estimate was way off, or sales are much slower than staggering in taking off.
Bistro Bar Stools
Because many bistro entrepreneurs have no real contact in these matters, it may seem like a difficult job to accurately estimate the cost to start a restaurant. It doesn't have to be. Using good financial corner software, designed specifically for a bistro can give you the exact cost answers you are seeing for when presenting your plan to a bank or investors.
Here are the main cost considerations for startup costs when starting a new restaurant:
Lease
This includes not only the monthly payments, from the time of taking the keys, but also a deposit that may be required, which could run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to some months worth of payments.
Leasehold Improvement
Once you have the space, you may need to make changes to the interior, along with adding or removing walls, rewiring, replumbing, adding finishes, lighting, shelving, fixtures, etc. To make the space into your actual business.
Beginning Inventory
This is includes all the food, beverages and liquor you will have on hand to be ready on your opening day. Depending on the terms you can get with yourvendors, you may be able to finance some or all of this cost. Being a new restaurant, however, getting good terms right from the start will be more difficult and depend on your good reputation and enterprise contact and to some extent your commerce knowledge and contacts.
Printing
Virtually every bistro requires some printing. This may be as miniature as enterprise cards and menus, or it may be much more.
Restaurant Equipment
You will need to buy or lease the critical tool to control it. Don't forget the small things, like fax machines, phone systems, computers, desk chairs, filing cabinets, etc. Which every bistro needs, and although no one thing costs a lot, the collection will add up.
Utilities and Deposits
You will need to turn on the electricity, phone and any other services you need to operate. Some of these will require a deposit or hook up fee, or both, that will make the first payments double or more of the typical cost you can expect.
Permits/Licenses/Taxes
While not regularly an excessive amount, you will need to funds some money to cover your enterprise license, health permit and any other permits or taxes you will be required to pay. Some states require a deposit for your sales taxes. If you incorporate or form an Llc, there will likely be fees and taxes related with the registration.
Professional Services
If you use a lawyer, accountant or other expert services in starting up, there will be expenses related with these services. Most restaurants can avoid these, unless there is a complex investor association or partnership agreement needed.
Your Staff
You may start your enterprise alone or with only partners, but if you need more help then you will have the cost of employees. You will also have the added charge of payroll taxes, public security, etc. Which adds an further $.20 or more cents to every dollar of payroll cost.
Marketing/Advertising
You will be spending money on whatever kind of advertising you do for your new restaurant. You might buy yellow pages ads, do a mailing, put up a website, buy a sign for the front of your building, or even do radio spots, trade journal ads or any of a collection of other options. Most of these expenses will come up before the advertising positively takes place, which means they can't be funded from the earnings they produce.
Insurance
There are some types you will need, depending on the size of your business. Commonly you can pay in installments, which helps lower the cost.
Other Costs
All restaurants have extra costs that come up. By planning your bistro determined you will be able to accurately estimate how much they will cost when you get started.
The only mistake you can make is not planning at all, because then you will positively get it wrong and that approximately always means arrival up short on cash and having to close the doors on what might have otherwise been a very thriving restaurant.
How Much Will it Cost to Start a Restaurant?