When it comes time in your food service career to create a unique restaurant that's all your own, you have two choices: remodel an existing restaurant or other space, or build a restaurant from scratch. In either case, you will need a good grasp of restaurant building services basics.

In order to achieve your dream of building a restaurant, you will require the help of a number of professionals. At the very least, you'll need to:

1. Establish ideas for making a restaurant that's unique and will attract desired customers.

2. Have restaurant design plans made.

3. Hire an expert in restaurant construction.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get ideas for restaurant building designs

Unless you have a background in designing restaurants, it's not a good idea to design your business entirely on your own; mistakes could cost you many thousands of dollars. However, there's nothing wrong with developing some of your own design ideas. Your sketches or sample floor plans can greatly help a designer know what your goals are.

I recommend: SmartDraw.com offers free software for designing restaurant floor plans; just choose one of several templates, and then alter as you desire. The "Restaurant Planning Tools" at Entrepreneur.com includes links to sample floor plans for a full service restaurant, pizzeria, sandwich shop and coffee shop.

Find a professional to create restaurant building plans

Once you have concept in mind, it's time to approach a professional. An experienced restaurant designer will help you sharpen your goals and image for your restaurant, plus ensure it's functional and meets codes.

I recommend: Quantified Marketing Group not only specializes in restaurant design and marketing, but their website offers detailed photos of restaurant interiors and exteriors, plus helpful articles about restaurant design and floor plans. National Restaurant Design also does restaurant design; check out their website for floor plan ideas, too.

Hire experts to build a restaurant to your specifications

When it comes time to find a contractor, it's best to find experts who build restaurant facilities regularly. Some companies specialize not just in building restaurant facilities, but in taking you through the entire process of design, following codes, construction and interior design.

I recommend: I-5 Design & Manufacture will help you design a chain or other restaurant, as well as build it. Restaurant Space Design offers similar services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of high-concept ideas, but remember the ultimate goal of any restaurant design should be efficiency. Not only should the kitchen be laid out to speed the work of cooks, but the restaurant construction plans should reflect an efficient flow of restaurant staff from the dining area to the kitchen.

Diligent planning allows you to build a restaurant that both fulfills your expectations and complies with local building codes. Building the restaurant of your dreams starts with a solid design and lay-out created by foodservice professionals. Artful restaurant designs send out all the right messages: you're in control, your staff operates in an organized and functional setting and you've invested money to guarantee that your customers dine in comfort and style.

With the proper restaurant building plans prepared well in advance of actual construction, you won't be stressed out by trying to fix mistakes on opening day. More importantly, you'll find that a well-thought-out restaurant design makes it easier and more cost-effective to operate your new business. Before you settle on a restaurant building service, you must:

1. Decide on the companies you want to design it.

2. Choose experienced contractors to build a restaurant.

3. Pick an equipment installation company which operates according to applicable codes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contract with companies that design layouts and floor plans for restaurant building projects

You can divvy up the design work by choosing one company to prepare layouts for the kitchen and another to handle other portions of the project. Just make sure the company you choose can offer critical feedback on whether your design visions are structurally feasible.

I recommend: Economy Paper & Restaurant Supply Co., Inc. first made its name supplying wholesale equipment and paper products in 1932 to restaurants in the Northeast and has branched out into design of restaurant kitchen floor plans. Another respected name in the restaurant building designs field is Arrow Restaurant Equipment, which has been designing kitchens for fast food stands, ice cream parlors, donut shops and even liquor stores for almost 30 years.

Build restaurant interiors and exteriors with seasoned professionals

Now that you've got the plans, you'll need a contractor experienced in building the restaurant's interior and exterior.

I recommend: Restaurant Space Design offers a unique mix of services ranging from architectural drawings and engineering to project managing of the entire construction job. For larger-scale jobs, choose Design Line Construction, known for first-rate restaurant building, mostly of theme restaurants. TDS Construction, Inc. are national general contractors which boast an impressive client list and know how to construct free-standing restaurants as well as those within strip malls.

Locate a restaurant building service that installs the equipment

Restaurant equipment must be installed to conform with state and local mechanical codes. Your equipment installation company can provide you with equipment manufactured with the correct ETL listings and should install it in compliance with current codes.

I recommend: Kesco Kitchen Equipment & Supply not only maintains a large supply of foodservice equipment, but they also specialize in its proper installation. Restaurant Equipment Installations has been owned and run by the same family for about 15 years. They specialize in the installation of ventilation systems according to the correct mechanical codes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Seek out restaurant constuction companies that maintain an experienced staff who can advise you on how to create your dream restaurant while cutting restaurant construction costs and remaining on a tight construction schedule.

Exterior restaurant construction is similar to that of most other construction projects. The differences in restaurant building designs are only apparent once construction moves to the interior. There, health and safety codes must be met for a functional restaurant. The architect who designs the restaurant must consider the size of the kitchen, spaces for proper food storage and access to public bathrooms.

Restaurant building services provide contractors with many options when designing the building and its interiors. For those who want to work in this industry, expert knowledge in building and design is necessary. Restaurant building services education and training should include:

1. Architecture and planning classes.

2. Project management training for building a restaurant.

3. Training on how to purchase restaurant equipment for kitchens, bars and dining areas.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn how to build a restaurant through training courses

While general construction management training is essential for building any project, you will also want to find training courses and seminar events that provide training for restaurant construction. This can come from other construction management companies or organizations that work closely with restaurant construction and management.

I recommend: Grantlun has seminars for construction management, including a strategic business planning and management seminar that provides a one-day overview of how to plan and manage any type of construction project. Vennen Company provides up-to-date seminars that teach management training to construction firms that work in the restaurant and food service industry.

Attend seminars to learn more about working with restaurant construction plans

Seminars can be helpful when it comes to planning and building a restaurant. There are always new innovations for making safer, stronger buildings. Plus, you can always find out about the latest industrial kitchen technology to see if it will work for your own restaurant project.

I recommend: Restaurant Trends provides an annual seminar that discusses industry news for those who own and operate restaurants. NW Restaurant Seminars provides many seminar topics geared toward the small business or first-time restaurant owner, including how to get funding together and choosing the right location.

Build restaurant kitchens and dining areas with knowledge of interior kitchen design

Building restaurant kitchens is a complicated process. After the architect has allotted the space, those who work on the interior must find equipment and appliances necessary for the restaurant. These not only have to be functional, but the appliances and equipment must all be able to fit into a designated space.

I recommend: Many trade shows, such as the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, can help to teach designers about new concepts and products. The Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference is another annual event where commercial kitchen contractors and designers can participate in workshops to learn about the latest in kitchen construction and design.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you plan to work with restaurant builders, it is a good idea to have previous experience designing or building restaurants and more specifically, industrial kitchens.

Building a restaurant involves many processes, from designing the seating, kitchen, bathroom and parking areas to choosing kitchen equipment and restaurant decor. The goal is a restaurant that meets local and national building codes and regulations, has a floor plan that allows the restaurant to run efficiently and is attractive to patrons. Get to know the basic terms used in restaurant building services to meet your goals within budget and schedule.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Building codes

Building codes vary from region to region. They are set by state and local building and health departments. These codes dictate the design of a restaurant as well as setup and equipment.

I recommend: See Nation's Restaurant News for an article about challenges in meeting building codes and tips for dealing with them.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets regulations for public buildings in order to provide accessibility for people with disabilities. The ADA includes regulations for restaurants and facilities within restaurants like bathrooms. ADA compliance must be taken into consideration when designing a restaurant.

I recommend: The United States Access Board lists requirements for restaurants, including counter, table and bathroom requirements.

Design service

A design service usually performs all the steps necessary to get the restaurant built, including drawing up plans and working with field engineers and contractors.

I recommend: View Maxey Hayse Design Studios to see the steps involved in the design process.

Equipment installation

Vendors that sell and install food service and restaurant equipment have the knowledge necessary to recommend products, properly install and configure equipment and conform the equipment to current safety and building codes.

I recommend: See One Fat Frog for an article on the importance of professional installation of restaurant equipment.

Decor

A restaurant's decor can add ambiance and give an indication of what type of regional or specialty food is served. One trend in restaurant design and decor is to locate restaurants in historical buildings.

I recommend: See FoodHistory for opinions and information about restaurant decor, including the use of historic spaces for restaurants.

Facade

Your restaurant's facade provides an outsider a view of your concept and business. It needs to have curbside appeal to make a good impression, including lighting, signage, and maintenance.

I recommend: See the Quantified Marketing Group for tips on creating a facade.