The restaurant business is not for the weak at heart. You must have passion and dedication — and a solid business plan. By keeping your operations organized you'll save time and money, and hopefully keep your doors open for years to come. If you're thinking about opening a restaurant, take these steps:

1. Determine the type of restaurant you will own.
2. Write a business plan.
3. Have your paperwork in order.

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

Choosing a restaurant concept

The list of restaurant types is practically endless. Do you want to open a franchise, start from the ground up or purchase an existing restaurant and make it your own?

I recommend: Use AllFoodBusiness to help define your restaurant concept and FoodService411 to collect the background research necessary for opening a restaurant.

Put together a road map

Every business needs a business plan. In the restaurant industry, a comprehensive business plan will keep you focused on the fundamentals: the market opportunity, the financials and how the operation will run. It may also make the difference between getting a business loan and being turned down.

I recommend: Use Business Plan Pro or RestaurantBizPlans.com to write a structured, professional business plan.

Hire a consultant

If you've never owned a business before, opening a restaurant may be more challenging than you expect. Investing in a consulting firm could help keep your doors open and save money down the road.

I recommend: Contact Restaurant Profit Strategies & Solutions or RAS for professional restaurant advisory services.

Organize and manage operations

Save time and money by keeping your business operations in order and expertly managed. There are a variety of solutions available to the restaurant owner. Find one that works best for your business and use it. The more organized you are, the better your chance of succeeding.

I recommend: Use RestaurantForms or Virtual Restaurant to manage your business operations. Both provide tools to help manage timesheets, financial statements, budgets and staffing costs.

Find the right chef

Choosing the right chef could be the most important decision you will make when starting your restaurant. Depending on your menu, you will want somebody who can meet the expectations of your customers as well as your expectations of how your kitchen will be managed. Take time on this decision and interview a selection of people. Make sure your chef is both an artist and a professional.

I recommend: Recruit your chef at Chef2Chef or ChefsEmployment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Know your city and state's restaurant regulatory laws.
• •  Scout restaurant locations by first seeing how much traffic passes by. Get traffic counts from a state or local highway department, then do your own research by parking near the location at rush hours.
• •  Don't design your kitchen layout until you have a menu. The food you serve will determine how your kitchen is structured.
• •  The ambiance of your restaurant is just as important as the food. Think about the lighting, acoustics and floor plan.
• •  If your restaurant's focus is the dinner and evening crowd, a beer and liquor license should be a priority.