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How to Write Restaurant Mission and Vision Statements in 2021

On the surface, restaurant mission and vision statements are just a sentence or two about why a business exists. They can seem insignificant compared to the daily grind of attracting customers , serving delicious food, and growing your restaurant.

However, these mission statements are important. Defining your restaurant’s mission, vision and values will help guide strategic decisions and can add significant value to your business.

A restaurant mission statement shouldn’t be something you create on a whim. Instead, dedicate some time to thinking about why you are starting—or have already started—your restaurant.

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know to create a mission and a vision statement for your restaurant, as well as show you 21 examples of them in action.

Table of Contents

• 1 What Is a Good Restaurant Mission Statement?
• 2 Don’t Forget Your Vision Statement
• 3 How Do You Write a Mission and Vision for a Restaurant?
• 4 What Are Some Mission Statement Examples?
• 5 What Are the Core Vision and Values of a Restaurant?
• 6 Why You Need a Mission and a Vision Statement
• 7 General Tips on Crafting a Statement for Your Restaurant
• 8 21 Restaurant Mission Statement Examples 

Let’s get started on your restaurant’s mission statement and outline your vision and goals.

What Is a Good Restaurant Mission Statement?

A good restaurant mission statement clearly defines your restaurant’s goals. It also explains why your restaurant exists, and what makes it different.

This will typically relate to the dining experience, how you will ensure absolute guest satisfaction or broader issues like the environment, for example. If you choose to make your mission statement about a broader problem, it works best when it is something that appeals to your target customer.

Here are three mission statement examples:

• Dining experience: Create the best donuts in the world—Krispy Kreme
• Guest satisfaction: Create memorable experiences for everyone—Nando’s
• Broader issues: We believe it’s our responsibility to protect and preserve our oceans and marine life for generations to come—Red Lobster

Don’t Forget Your Vision Statement

Your restaurant vision is similar to your mission statement. It defines where you want your restaurant to be in the future.

When creating your vision, think about what the ultimate goal of your restaurant is. It could be something small like consistently providing exceptional fine dining experiences to guests or something more ambitious like global restaurant expansion.

To write a restaurant mission and vision statement, be specific and unique to your restaurant. They will strike the balance between being optimistic and matching the reality of your restaurant.

How Do You Write a Mission and Vision for a Restaurant?

All restaurateurs have a reason why they opened their restaurant and choose to serve a specific type of cuisine. They should also know what success means to them.

Creating a mission and a vision statement is simply a case of communicating this information clearly and concisely to your restaurant customers.

If your reasons aren’t clear, you’ll have to focus on gathering your thoughts first. To help, The Balance SMB recommends answering these three questions:

• What does your restaurant do?
• How does your restaurant do it?
• Why does your restaurant do it?

These questions will help you clarify why you are in the restaurant business and ultimately, help you write your mission and vision statement.

Creating a vision statement for your restaurant is a similar process to creating a mission statement. Use the content of your mission to consider what success looks like to you. For example, how will your restaurant look in three or five years once you have achieved your goals?

Your mission and vision statements should be linked.

If your mission statement is: “Bring authentic deep-dish pizza to the local area,” your vision statement should be something like: “Be a recognized brand in the local area and the number one place people choose to fill their pizza cravings.”

The final step is to take this information and write it in a way that is likely to resonate with those that read it. Instead of just stating the answers to the questions, spend some time crafting a sentence or paragraph that you are happy with. Ensure you avoid buzzwords in your writing.

You could even consider hiring a professional copywriter to help you with the task. This is especially important if you plan to publish your statements online.

What Are Some Mission Statement Examples?

Here is how the above steps could work in practice. Imagine we’re creating a restaurant mission statement for the owner of the fictional deep-dish pizza restaurant mentioned above.

• What does your restaurant do? We sell the best deep-dish pizza in the area and provide a fun experience for families.
• How does your restaurant do it? Our food tastes great because we use a special tomato sauce recipe that has been passed down over generations and we always buy fresh ingredients. We provide a great experience by focusing on the needs of each customer.
• Why does your restaurant do it? We hope to provide a new and unique dining experience for locals.

This could become the following restaurant mission statement:

At [restaurant name], we create good memories by serving original-style deep-dish pizza using a recipe that has been passed down over generations. Our restaurant provides an authentic dining experience that is unique to the area.

What Are the Core Vision and Values of a Restaurant?

The core values of your restaurant are the beliefs that dictate how you and your team behave. They are beliefs that your business won’t compromise, even if it means a boost in short-term (or long-term) profits.

Core values typically relate to how you interact with restaurant customers, employees, and suppliers. They are different from your mission statement, although they will influence it.

Some typical values include teamwork, service, quality, measurable customer satisfaction , and sourcing sustainable ingredients.

While these are all positive beliefs to have, they sound very generic. When writing your core values, think about how you can make each one unique to your restaurant.

Here are examples:

• Customer satisfaction becomes: Our restaurant strives to become our customers’ favorite place to eat and drink.
• Teamwork and trust become: We provide support for our employees and encourage them to make their own decisions. 
• Sustainability becomes: We always source ingredients from sustainable, local suppliers. 

Be careful not to confuse core values with aspirational values. These are values you would like to have at your company but don’t currently exist there.

For example, you might value sustainability but if your restaurant doesn’t already source its ingredients from sustainable producers, it is an aspirational value rather than a core one.

You shouldn’t necessarily give up on aspirational values. If you take steps to implement them throughout your business, they can become part of its core vision and values.

Why You Need a Mission and a Vision Statement

Mission and vision statements have different uses depending on who reads them. However, they mainly affect owners, employees, and customers.

The owner and other decision-makers benefit from a mission statement as it helps guide their strategic thinking. When they need to make a choice, they can consider the mission statement and make the choice that fits best. Likewise, they can look at the vision and ensure that any decisions are pushing them towards it.

A mission and a vision statement can help team members find meaning in their work. According to the Harvard Business Review this can result in staff feeling a sense of ownership for their work, which can make them more motivated, engaged, and ultimately perform better.

It also gives customers a reason to eat at your restaurant beyond just delicious food. Consider the Shake Shack mission statement below and its focus on “carefully sourced premium ingredients.” This could be a powerful motivator for people who are conscientious about where the food they eat comes from.

Ultimately, having clearly defined values can affect whether a consumer eats at your restaurant. An Edelman report found that one in two people are belief-driven buyers and that 67% of people have made a first-time purchase due to a company’s position on an issue.

General Tips on Crafting a Statement for Your Restaurant

When crafting your restaurant’s mission statement there are several things you should do. The first step is to read the 21 example mission statements in the next section. This will provide you with a better idea of the type of mission statements you should be aiming for.

Beyond that, try these tips:

• Keep it short. Most mission statements range from a single sentence to a short paragraph.
• Be specific. Don’t waffle about vague goals. Keep your mission statement specific to your restaurant and to the point.
• Keep it grounded in reality. Your mission statement should reflect the service you plan to offer. A fast-food restaurant that offers burgers and pizza shouldn’t talk about trying to help customers lead healthier lives, for example.
• Consider customer expectations. If you are already open, thinking about why guests come to your restaurant could help guide your statement.
• Don’t limit yourself. If your statement talks about providing the best tacos in the area, be sure you aren’t planning to expand to new locations or serve different types of food.
• Consult employees. When creating your statement, get a second opinion from employees or business partners. Ask if the statement resonates with them.
• Don’t be afraid to change. If your company goals do change, you can always adjust your statement.

21 Restaurant Mission Statement Examples 

This next section includes 21 restaurant mission statement examples, as well as some value and vision statements.

Many of the restaurant mission statements are part of a larger ‘About Us’ or story page that delves deeper into the company’s background.

Click the link on each restaurant to find out more about each restaurant mission statement example.

Panda Express

Mission: To deliver exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives.

Values: Proactive, Respect/Win-Win, Growth, Great Operations, Giving (the company goes into more detail about each of these on its website).

Shake Shack

Mission: We Stand For Something Good in everything we do: This means carefully sourced premium ingredients from like-minded purveyors we admire and love; thoughtful, well-crafted and responsible design for its place; and deep community support through donations, events and volunteering.

Mission: Our aim is to provide a fun and safe environment where our customers can enjoy good food made with quality ingredients at affordable prices.

Mission: We create food we’re proud to serve and deliver it fast, with a smile.

TGI Fridays

Mission: In Here, It’s Always Friday. Each of us bases every decision on what is best for our Guest. We operate as One brand with uncompromising Standards of Excellence around our Credo, our guiding principles, and our Culture of Fun. We deliver on our financial commitments, but never at the expense of the safety and security of our Guest, Team Members, and the brand.

Whatever you do, do with Integrity.

Wherever you go, go as a Leader.

Whomever you serve, serve with Caring.

Whenever you dream, dream with your All.

And never, ever give up.

Mission: Domino’s is a company of exceptional people on a mission to be the best pizza delivery company in the world.

Pret a Manger

Mission: To serve freshly made food and good organic coffee, while also trying to do the right thing.

Pizza Express

Mission: Ever since 1965 when our founder, Peter Boizot, opened our first restaurant in Soho, the same Pizza Express values of great food, evocative music, and distinctive design have remained in our DNA. This is one recipe we’ve never changed, and today we take the same pride in offering great hospitality and unforgettable experiences.

Cheesecake Factory

Mission: To create an environment where absolute guest satisfaction is our highest priority.

Vision: Through a shared commitment to excellence, we are dedicated to the uncompromising quality of our food, service, people and profit, while taking exceptional care of our guests and staff. We will continuously strive to surpass our own accomplishments and be recognized as a leader in our industry.

In-N-Out Burger

Mission: Serve only the highest quality product, prepare it in a clean and sparkling environment, and serve it in a warm and friendly manner.

Krispy Kreme

Mission: To make the most awesome doughnuts on the planet every single day.

Mission: Inspiring Smiles Through Delicious Experiences.

Mission: Our goal is to showcase the quality and diversity of the ingredients and the wonderful people who raise, grow and produce them.

Logan’s Roadhouse

Mission: We deliver the best guest service experience with a sense of warmth, friendliness and individual pride so that each guest leaves highly satisfied with our great value, convinced that we are the best choice for their everyday authentic Roadhouse, serving quality steaks, a kickin’ bar and upbeat dining experience.

Mission: To inspire and nurture the human spirit—one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.

Values: With our partners, our coffee and our customers at our core, we live these values:

• Creating a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome.
• Acting with courage, challenging the status quo and finding new ways to grow our company and each other.
• Being present, connecting with transparency, dignity and respect.
• Delivering our very best in all we do, holding ourselves accountable for results.

We are performance-driven, through the lens of humanity.

Dairy Queen

Mission: To create positive memories for all who touch Dairy Queen.

Vision: To be the world’s favorite quick-service restaurant.

Papa John’s

Mission: Better ingredients. Better pizza.

Mission: To serve the best cup of coffee, make the best donuts, give the best service, offer the best value and stay open 24 hours a day.

Red Lobster

Values: Traceable. Sustainable. Responsible. These are more than just words on our menu—it’s our promise that all of the seafood we serve is sourced to the highest standards. Because, as one of the world’s largest seafood purchasers, we believe it’s our responsibility to protect and preserve our oceans and marine life for generations to come.

Waffle House

Mission: To deliver a unique experience to our customers through delivering great food, friendly, attentive service, excellent price and a welcoming presence.

These restaurant mission statement examples should give you a better idea of how to write an inspired restaurant mission statement, and outline your vision for your business.

If you’re interested in restaurant marketing check out our article Restaurant Marketing Ideas: The Top 31 Ideas to Grow in 2020 . Want to get your own online ordering system? Click here .

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How to Write a Restaurant Business Plan (+ Examples)

Learn how to create a restaurant business plan with the best format that outlines your concept, and financials. Get examples and templates to get started.

10 minute read

helped business professionals at:

Short answer

What is a business plan for a restaurant?

A business plan for a restaurant is a document that outlines the restaurant's concept, strategies, and financial forecasts. It serves as a roadmap for launching and growing the establishment successfully.

Don't just focus on profit margins, ensure your business plan is well-presented

In the competitive world of the restaurant industry, where low-profit margins are a well-known hurdle, there emerges a critical, yet often overlooked, factor pivotal to success: the design of the business plan.

As we enter 2024, it's becoming increasingly clear that the traditional overlook of business plan design can no longer be afforded.

This isn't just about financial projections or market analysis; it's about crafting a blueprint that encapsulates the essence of your restaurant, compellingly communicates its value, and sets a solid foundation for growth.

By focusing on the design of your business plan, you stand to gain not just the attention of potential investors but also a clearer roadmap to navigate the challenges ahead.

What makes an effective business plan?

Embarking on the restaurant business journey requires more than just a passion for food-it demands a comprehensive plan that lays out every aspect of your venture with precision and foresight.

Let's delve into what constitutes an effective restaurant business plan, ensuring it's not just another document, but a roadmap to success.

6 key components of a winning restaurant business plan:

1. Vision and concept clarity

Start with a crystal-clear articulation of your restaurant's concept. Whether it's a cozy vegan cafe or a high-end steakhouse, the essence of your establishment should leap off the page.

This clarity helps potential investors and partners instantly grasp what you're aiming to create.

Beyond the concept, delineate your restaurant's values, mission, and the unique selling points that set you apart in a crowded market.

2. Comprehensive market analysis

A deep dive into market analysis cannot be overstated. Here, you're not just identifying who your customers are but also understanding the competitive landscape.

What are the prevailing trends in the dining sector? Who are your direct and indirect competitors, and how do you plan to differentiate yourself? This section should reflect a meticulous research process, showcasing insights that guide your strategy.

3. Robust financial planning

In any successful business plan, sound financial management is key.

Essential elements include:

Realistic financial projections: Your forecasts should be realistic, and built on data-backed assumptions.

Detailed profit and loss forecasts

Cash flow predictions

Break-even analysis

Contingency planning: Preparing for unforeseen challenges is crucial.

Develop a well-thought-out contingency plan to navigate the industry's unpredictable nature.

Identify potential risks and solutions, including supplier issues, staffing shortages, and changes in consumer behavior, to ensure business resilience.

4. Operational strategies

Operational excellence underpins a restaurant's success. Detail your plans for day-to-day operations, from sourcing ingredients to managing inventory and staffing.

Highlight your commitment to quality and efficiency in every aspect of the operation, from the kitchen to customer service.

Also, outline the technology and systems you'll implement to streamline processes and enhance the dining experience.

5. Marketing and branding

In today's digital age, a savvy marketing and branding strategy is crucial.

Describe how you'll create a strong brand identity and the channels you'll use to reach your target audience.

From social media campaigns to community engagement initiatives, your plan should reflect a keen understanding of how to connect with potential customers and build a loyal following.

Discover how to create a marketing deck to align your strategy with your business objectives, target audience needs, and market trends.

6. Customer experience focus

Exceptional customer service is the lifeblood of any successful restaurant. Detail the steps you'll take to ensure every guest feels valued and satisfied.

From the ambiance and menu design to staff training programs, every element should contribute to a memorable dining experience.

Feedback mechanisms and how you'll adapt to customer preferences are also vital components of this section.

What should be included in a restaurant business plan?

Creating a restaurant business plan is a foundational step toward launching a successful dining establishment.

It outlines your vision, strategy, and the specific actions you plan to take to make your restaurant a success.

Below, we break down the essential components that should be included in your restaurant business plan, ensuring clarity, comprehensiveness, and appeal to potential investors.

8 essential sections of a restaurant business plan:

1. Executive summary

A compelling overview of the restaurant, showcasing its unique concept, mission, and strategic objectives that guide its operations.

Overview: Present a succinct snapshot of your restaurant, including its concept, mission, key goals, and ownership structure.

Purpose: Highlight what you aim to achieve with the restaurant and the appeal it has to potential investors or lenders.

2. Business description

An in-depth look at the restaurant's theme, location, and how these elements combine to create a distinctive dining experience.

Concept and theme: Describe the unique aspects of your restaurant's concept, from the cuisine and menu items to the design and ambiance.

Location analysis: Analyze the chosen location, discussing demographics, foot traffic, and how these factors make it an ideal spot for your target market.

3. Market analysis

An insightful examination of dining trends, target demographics, and customer needs to inform strategic positioning.

Trends: Examine current trends in the dining industry and how they influence your restaurant's positioning.

Target demographic: Identify your target customers, detailing their preferences, dining habits, and how your restaurant will meet their needs.

Needs and preferences: Focus on understanding and catering to what your target market seeks in a dining experience.

4. Competitive analysis

A detailed evaluation of competitors, focusing on differentiation and strategies for establishing a market edge.

Competitors: List direct and indirect competitors, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and how you'll differentiate your restaurant.

Differentiation: Explain the unique selling points that will set your restaurant apart in the competitive landscape.

5. Menu and product offering

Overview of menu design, ingredient sourcing, and special services that enhance the restaurant's appeal.

Menu design: Discuss the inspiration behind your menu, including how it reflects the theme and caters to your target demographic. Outline your pricing strategy and item selection.

Sourcing and suppliers: Detail your approach to sourcing high-quality ingredients, including partnerships with local suppliers and commitments to sustainability.

Special offerings: Highlight any additional services your restaurant offers, such as catering, special events, or exclusive seasonal menus, to draw in a wider audience and generate extra revenue.

6. Marketing and sales strategy

A summary of branding efforts, promotional tactics, and sales projections designed to attract and retain customers.

Branding: Detail your restaurant's brand identity, including name, logo, and how it communicates your restaurant's values and mission.

Marketing tactics: Outline the strategies you will employ to attract and retain customers, such as social media marketing, local advertising, partnerships, and loyalty programs.

Sales forecasts: Provide realistic sales forecasts, explaining the rationale behind these projections and how you plan to achieve them.

7. Operating plan

Description of daily operations, facility management, and health safety protocols to ensure smooth and compliant restaurant functionality.

Daily operations: Describe the operational flow of the restaurant, including hours of operation, staffing requirements, and customer service policies.

Facility management: Discuss the layout and design of your restaurant, kitchen equipment needs, and any other facility-related details that will ensure efficient operation.

Health and safety: Outline the health and safety measures you will implement to comply with local regulations and ensure the well-being of both employees and guests.

8. Management and organization

An outline of the restaurant's organizational structure, key personnel, and staffing strategies for operational excellence.

Ownership structure: Specify the ownership structure of the restaurant, including key stakeholders and their roles.

Team composition: Introduce the management team, chefs, and other critical staff, highlighting their experience and how it contributes to the restaurant's success.

Staffing plans: Discuss your plans for hiring staff, including numbers, positions, and the qualities you seek in employees to maintain high standards of service.

How to create a business plan for a restaurant?

Creating a standout business plan for your restaurant involves focusing on key components that blend your vision with practical strategies.

6 actionable steps to distill your restaurant business plan:

Define your concept clearly: Begin by articulating your restaurant's concept, ambiance, and what sets it apart. This clarity lays the groundwork for the entire business plan.

Conduct thorough market analysis: Dive deep into your target market and competitors. This research will guide your menu design, pricing strategy, and marketing efforts, ensuring you carve out a unique space in the marketplace.

Craft a compelling menu: Ensure your menu reflects your brand identity and appeals to your target audience, all while considering cost-effectiveness and supply chain realities. Aim for a balance between innovation and simplicity.

Develop realistic financial projections: Detail initial costs, revenue expectations, and a break-even point. Importantly, predict potential hurdles with ready contingency plans.

Outline operational strategies: Describe your daily management approach, including sourcing, staffing, and customer service. Efficient operations are crucial for a seamless experience and streamlined processes.

Implement strategic marketing: Choose the most effective ways to connect with your audience. Building a strong brand narrative and engaging actively with customers can help turn first-time visitors into regulars.

7 restaurant business plan examples for winning partners and investors

When it comes to crafting a business plan for a restaurant, the type of establishment you're planning significantly influences the structure and content of the document.

Each kind of restaurant from fast-casual and fine dining to food trucks and bistros-caters to different market segments and operational models.

Here's a look at how these differences manifest in their respective business plans:

1) Fine dining restaurant business plan

Market focus: Targets higher-income clientele seeking a premium dining experience. The plan should highlight exceptional service, high-quality ingredients, and unique culinary offerings.

Operational model: Detailed attention to the ambiance, chef expertise, and a higher staff-to-guest ratio. Wine lists and bar offerings also play a significant role.

Financial projections: Emphasizes higher check averages with a focus on profitability per guest rather than volume. The cost structure will detail higher initial investment in decor, kitchen equipment, and inventory.

Here’s an example of a fine-dining restaurant business plan:

2) Bar restaurant business plan

Market focus: Targets a diverse clientele, from young professionals to social groups, seeking a blend of dining and socializing.

Operational model: Balances innovative cuisine with an extensive beverage selection in a space designed for both eating and lounging, including live entertainment options.

Financial projections: Outlines dual revenue streams from food and drinks, emphasizing beverage sales' higher profit margins and detailing licensing, entertainment, and insurance costs.

Here’s an example of a bar restaurant pitch deck:

3) Bistro restaurant business plan

Market focus: Caters to locals and tourists seeking a casual yet refined dining experience, positioning itself as a cozy neighborhood spot.

Operational model: Highlights a selective menu that adapts seasonally, emphasizing a warm ambiance and personal service.

Financial projections: Projects moderate earnings with a strong local following, noting initial investments in location and ambiance to create a distinctive setting.

Here’s an example of a bistro restaurant pitch deck:

4) Food truck business plan

Market focus: Appeals to urban professionals, millennials, and foodies looking for unique, high-quality food options on the go.

Operational model: Mobility is key. The plan must address location strategy, permits and regulations, and adaptability to different events and seasons.

Financial projections: Lower startup costs compared to brick-and-mortar establishments but include considerations for vehicle maintenance, fuel, and parking permits.

5) Coffee restaurant business plan

Market focus: Appeals to a varied audience with a unique theme or specialty cuisine, standing out from conventional coffee shops.

Operational model: Details the influence of theme or cuisine on menu design, decor, and guest experience, aiming to make the restaurant a destination.

Financial projections: Anticipates varied financial outcomes based on concept uniqueness, with thorough market research guiding pricing and marketing strategies.

6) Italian, Mexican, Asian, etc., cuisine restaurant business plan

Market focus: Focuses on providing authentic dining experiences to both expatriates and locals interested in specific cuisines.

Operational model: Requires sourcing authentic ingredients and skilled chefs familiar with the cuisine. The business plan should address menu authenticity, culinary training, and potential partnerships for ingredient import.

Financial projections: Depending on the positioning (casual vs. fine dining), financials would reflect the cost of unique ingredients and the expected dining experience level.

Here’s an example of an Italian restaurant business plan proposal:

7) Fast food restaurant business plan

Market focus: These plans emphasize speed, efficiency, and affordability. The target market typically includes busy professionals, families looking for convenient meal options, and younger demographics.

Operational model: The business plan must detail quick service operations, including streamlined kitchen layouts, supply chain logistics for fast-moving inventory, and technology for order taking (e.g., apps, and kiosks).

Financial projections: Focus on volume sales, low to moderate check averages, and strategies for high turnover rates.

How to design a restaurant business plan?

Designing a restaurant business plan is much like crafting a compelling game pitch deck, it's all about presenting your concept in a way that's as irresistible as the dining experience you're proposing.

8 restaurant business plan design tips:

1. Embrace scrollytelling

Use narrative scrolling to take your audience through the journey of your restaurant's concept, from the inspiration behind your dishes to the ambiance you plan to create.

This dynamic presentation style keeps readers engaged, turning your business plan into an immersive experience.

Here's an example of scroll-based design:

2. Incorporate interactivity and multimedia

Go beyond static pages by embedding interactive elements like sample menu walkthroughs, virtual tours of the restaurant layout, or clips from cooking demos.

These elements not only highlight your restaurant's unique offerings but also keep potential investors or partners engaged throughout your presentation.

And here's what a static presentation looks like compared to an interactive one:

Static PowerPoint

Interactive Storydoc

3. Use data visualization

Present market research, target demographics, and financial projections through clear, compelling visuals.

Transform complex data into easy-to-understand graphs, charts, and infographics, making your business strategy both visually appealing and straightforward to grasp.

Here's an example of a presentation with dataviz elements:

4. Personalize your deck

Leverage software that allows for customization, such as incorporating the viewer's name or tailoring content to specific investor interests.

A personalized approach demonstrates meticulous attention to detail and can forge a stronger connection with your audience.

5. Use cohesive branding

Ensure your business plan reflects your restaurant's identity through consistent use of colors, fonts, and imagery that align with your branding.

This not only enhances the visual appeal of your plan but also immerses your audience in the atmosphere you aim to create.

6. Ensure mobile-responsive

Given the variety of devices stakeholders might use to view your plan, ensuring a mobile-responsive design is essential.

This ensures that your business plan is accessible and engaging, whether it's being viewed on a smartphone or a desktop computer.

7. Highlight key information

Design your business plan to draw attention to critical information.

Techniques such as strategic content placement and highlighting can guide the reader's focus, ensuring that essential points stand out without overwhelming the viewer with too much information at once.

8. Segment content in tabs

Organize your business plan into sections or tabs that cater to different aspects of your restaurant concept and business strategy.

This not only makes your plan more navigable but also allows readers to easily find the information most relevant to their interests or concerns.

Here's an example of a tabs slide:

Restaurant business plan templates

Kicking off your restaurant business plan is a daunting task, especially when you aim to capture the essence of your dining concept in a document.

Interactive restaurant business plan templates are designed to simplify this process. They provide a structured framework that incorporates interactive and multimedia elements, essential for presenting your restaurant in a vibrant and dynamic manner.

These templates not only save you precious time but also guarantee that your business plan conveys a polished and compelling story.

Snag one today!

I am a Marketing Specialist at Storydoc, I research, analyze and write on our core topics of business presentations, sales, and fundraising. I love talking to clients about their successes and failures so I can get a rounded understanding of their world.

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• How to Craft an Effective Restaurant Mission Statement: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your restaurant's mission statement outlines your values for internal and external customers (workers, stakeholders, and diners). It is an important component of your brand identity and will have a direct and significant impact on how you implement it in management. 

Most restaurant mission statements are basic and effective, but few are spectacular. Knowing why and how to construct an amazing mission statement is useful whether starting a new restaurant or updating an existing one. 

Discover why restaurants should have a mission statement, what makes it good, and when and how to write a mission statement for a restaurant in this blog post. 

Table of Contents

What is a Restaurant's Mission Statement?

A restaurant's mission statement is a brief summary of the company's purpose and goal. Restaurant managers usually develop mission statements for their businesses to promote the brand's image and provide the public with an understanding of its values. Mission statements can also help describe how a business differs from its competitors. They can be displayed on restaurants' premises or used in advertisements, advertisements, and promotional materials. 

Why Should You Have a Mission Statement?

Determining your restaurant's mission statement is important for a variety of reasons. If someone asks you about your restaurant's primary focus and business goals, a mission statement is an excellent approach to explain what you're about.  

Here are a few reasons why it's important to develop a strong mission statement for your restaurant.  

To clearly describe your restaurant's purpose for customers and stakeholders.  

Your customers should be aware of what to expect. Will they find homemade comfort food in your restaurant? Or will they get a true cultural experience?  

You should describe what you do at a very high level. Even if your menu or operations change, your goal statement should not change. 

To focus your attention when working on your business plan.  

Your mission statement serves as the foundation for all the activities outlined in your business plan. When choosing menu items , establishing customer service standards, and developing your marketing plan , keep your goal statement in mind. 

Tell customers and stakeholders how you're different.  

There may be ten burger joints in your neighborhood, but there is something that distinguishes you from the crowd. That something should be clearly stated in your mission statement.  

To help customers remember you.  

A well-written mission statement can influence a customer's experience before and after they visit your restaurant. Your goal is to ensure that their experience aligns with your mission.  

What Makes a Good Mission Statement?

You might be wondering, “What makes a good mission statement?" An effective mission statement describes: 

• What does your restaurant do?  
• How do you deliver your customer experience ?  
• Why did you open your restaurant ?  
• What Your Customer Can Expect
• The value you bring to consumers, employees, and stakeholders

When a mission statement is effective, it

• Uses concise language.
• Sets expectations.
• Addresses customer needs.
• Provides direction for your restaurant's activities
• Declares your competitive advantages.
• Describe your value in simple words.
• Drives all decisions.

When to Write a Restaurant Mission Statement?

If you are launching a new restaurant business, you should finish the mission statement draft following the SWOT analysis. The four areas – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats – can help you determine the purpose of your restaurant and what should be included in your mission statement. After you've established your mission statement, you can go on to your company plan.  

A SWOT analysis should be performed on any brand refresh, new location, or new processes in an existing restaurant. Always double-check your restaurant's mission statement after any changes to ensure it remains true to its goal.  

Create Your Restaurant Mission Statement

To get started, learn how other restaurants convey their goal and vision. Some restaurants have long stories, while others have short, simple lines. Create a goal statement that reflects you while being true to your identity.  

Strong value, vision, mission, and culture statements are critical for restaurants to maintain business integrity.   

Continue reading to find out how these four key claims differ.  

1. Value Statement  

Your values shape the decisions you make and the people you collaborate with. As a result, your value statement should be defined before moving to the next statement or idea.  

When starting off on your value statement, it may be helpful to highlight a couple of your competitive traits.  

Try not to discuss what your restaurant does or what you have planned in this statement, as this will be covered in your vision and goal. Instead, your value statement should be a concise, compelling explanation of your company's beliefs.  

2. Vision Statement  

After you've defined your value statement, you can go on to your vision statement. It is all about why your restaurant concept is important and how it can impact the community. 

One way to focus on your vision statement is to see it as the “what" component of your restaurant's objectives. What are your goals? How does this vision distinguish you from your competitors? It might assist in recalling your original reasons for launching the restaurant . Consider what you imagined for your concept and what it would represent to others.   

3. Mission Statement  

If your restaurant's vision statement is the how then its purpose is the what. Your mission outlines how you want to make your objectives and desires come true.   

Restaurant mission statements can be a few phrases long, but they are often brief and to the point. Some of the most well-known restaurant mission statements only contain a few words. The finest restaurant mission statements cater to the audience's desires while remaining honest about what the restaurant is striving to achieve.  

4. Cultural statement  

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a culture statement and a mission statement. Consider your mission statement to be an external force and your cultural statement to be an internal force. 

After all, your culture is entirely internal, and it governs how people engage with customers, what employees value, and what your workforce stands for. Having said that, your cultural statement should include all of the above.  

Now that you know what you're making, you must be inspired.   

How to Write a Restaurant Mission Statement

1. get inspired by competition.

When looking for good restaurant mission statements, look for companies with similar missions to yours.

Next, consider drawing inspiration from well-known restaurant goal statements. Because well-known restaurants are profitable, there may be something special hidden in their mission statement that sustains and propels the business ahead. Just make sure you're inspired by these statements rather than taking them!

2. Look at your idols

To find a successful example of a restaurant or bar's mission and vision statement, look to establishments you admire. These can be either local or global businesses, and it makes no difference what kind of drinks or food they serve.

The most important thing is to take note of what you value when looking at various restaurant and bar mission statement examples. Perhaps you enjoy the length, perhaps you want to replicate the language. Being specific in your research will allow you to build an inspired and focused mission.

3. Consider your customers

Another important aspect to keep in mind when creating your restaurant mission statement is the needs of your guests. What sub-populations live in your community? What other area establishments already serve the groups you're looking for, and where is there room for expansion? Consider what people value in their lives and in the businesses, they patronize, and consider how a mission statement can connect to those values to provoke an emotional response.   

Whether you're targeting military families, college students, or retired seniors, your restaurant's mission statement should represent their interests. 

4. Keep it fresh and unique

If you're tempted to steal a restaurant mission statement sample from the internet, try to resist. You don't want to convey the idea that your restaurant is just like everyone else when it first menus since if you do, customers will have no reason to visit.  

Furthermore, the top restaurant mission statements take a stand on something new and different. They encourage people to think beyond food and explore culture, ideas, and people. Instead of following in someone else's footsteps, craft your goal on what you're trying to accomplish and why customers should support it.  

You can also read our latest blog on branding your restaurant expert tips and tricks.   

Restaurant Mission Statement Examples to Help You Get Started

1) mcdonald's mission statement.

The McDonald's brand mission is to be our customers' favorite place and way to eat and drink. Our global operations are unified with a global strategy known as the Plan to Win, which focuses on providing a great customer experience through People, Products, Place, Price, and Promotion. We are dedicated to continuously improving our operations and our customer experience.  

2 ) Dunkin' Donuts' Mission Statement  

To be the premier provider of a diverse choice of delicious beverages and baked goods throughout the kingdom in a convenient, relaxing, and welcoming environment that ensures the highest level of product quality and value for money. We provide our guests with exceptional service and an amazing experience on every visit.  

3) Buffalo Wild Wings' Mission Statement  

Every day, we strive to impress others! We are guest-driven: Every day, we will WOW our visitors by providing the highest level of satisfaction with an unparalleled focus on friendly service, food, fun, and value.  

We are team-oriented: We will WOW our team members by treating them with the same respect, positive encouragement, and fair treatment that we want Team Members to share externally with every guest.  

We are community-connected: We will WOW the communities where we do business by demonstrating good citizenship and contributing to their improvement as places to live, work, and thrive. 

We are committed to excellence: we will wow our stakeholders with great, industry-leading financial and operational results.  

4) Panda Express's Mission Statement  

To provide great Asian dining experiences by creating an organization that inspires people to better themselves.  

5) Applebee's Mission Statement  

To contribute to the development, joy, and enrichment of all the lives we touch.  

6) Wendy’s Mission Statement  

To provide high-quality products and services to our customers and communities through leadership, innovation, and collaboration.  

7)  Cheesecake Factory's Mission Statement  

To create an environment where complete visitor happiness is our top goal. 

What Should You Do After You've Completed Your Restaurant Mission Statement?

Now that you've created a well-written restaurant mission statement, it's time to strategize how you'll achieve it. Create your vision statement, define your beliefs, and tie it all together in the business plan. Whether you're starting a new restaurant or revamping an old one, your business plan should constantly be updated to reflect your overall goal. 

You can also get your hands on the top things you should know about service charges vs. Tips. 

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Restaurant Business Plan: What To Include, Plus 8 Examples

• Business Growth & Management , Templates & Guides

Do you want to ensure the success of your new foodservice endeavor? Write a restaurant business plan.

In this article, the experts at Sling tell you why a business plan is vital for both new and existing businesses and give you tips on what to include.

Table Of Contents

What Is A Restaurant Business Plan?

Why is a restaurant business plan important, questions to ask first, what to include in an effective restaurant business plan, how to format a restaurant business plan, efficient workforce management is essential for success.

At its most basic, a restaurant business plan is a written document that describes your restaurant’s goals and the steps you will take to make those goals a reality.

This business plan also describes the nature of the business itself, financial projections, background information, and organizational strategies  that govern the day-to-day activity of your restaurant.

A restaurant business plan is vital for the success of your endeavor because, without one, it is very difficult — sometimes even impossible — to obtain funding from an investor or a bank.

Without that all-important starting or operational capital, you may not be able to keep your doors open for long, if at all.

Even if funding isn’t a primary concern, a business plan provides you — the business owner or manager — with clear direction on how to translate general strategies into actionable plans  for reaching your goals.

The plan can help solidify everything from the boots-on-the-ground functional strategy  to the mid-level business strategy  all the way up to the driving-force corporate strategy .

Think of this plan as a roadmap that guides your way when things are going smoothly and, more importantly, when they aren’t.

If you want to give your restaurant the best chance for success, start by writing a business plan.

Sitting down to write a restaurant business plan can be a daunting task.

As you’ll see in the What To Include In An Effective Restaurant Business Plan section below, you’ll need a lot of information and detail to ensure that the final document is both complete and effective.

Instead of starting with word one, it is hugely beneficial to answer a number of general questions first.

These questions will help you narrow down the information to include in your plan so the composition process feels less difficult.

The questions are:

• What problem does the business’s product or service solve?
• What niche will the business fill?
• What is the business’s solution to the problem?
• Who are the business’s customers?
• How will the business market and sell its products to them?
• What is the size of the market for this solution?
• What is the business model for the business?
• How will the business make money?
• Who are the competitors?
• How will the business maintain a competitive advantage?
• How does the business plan to manage growth?
• Who will run the business?
• What makes those individuals qualified to do so?
• What are the risks and threats confronting the business?
• What can you do to mitigate those risks and threats?
• What are the business’s capital and resource requirements?
• What are the business’s historical and projected financial statements?

Depending on your business, some of these questions may not apply or you may not have applicable answers.

Nevertheless, it helps to think about, and try to provide details for, the whole list so your finished restaurant business plan is as complete as possible.

Once you’ve answered the questions for your business, you can transfer a large portion of that information to the business plan itself.

We’ll discuss exactly what to include in the next section.

In this section, we’ll show you what to include in an effective restaurant business plan and provide a brief example of each component.

1) Executive Summary

You should always start any business plan with an executive summary. This gives the reader a brief introduction into common elements, such as:

• Mission statement
• Overhead costs
• Labor costs
• Return on investment (ROI)

This portion of your plan should pique the reader’s interest and make them want to read more.

Fanty & Mingo’s is a 50-seat fine-dining restaurant that will focus on Sweruvian (Swedish/Peruvian) fusion fare.

We will keep overhead and labor costs low thanks to simple but elegant decor , highly skilled food-prep staff, and well-trained servers.

Because of the location and surrounding booming economy, we estimate ROI at 20 percent per annum.

2) Mission Statement

A mission statement is a short description of what your business does for its customers, employees, and owners.

This is in contrast to your business’s vision statement which is a declaration of objectives that guide internal decision-making.

While the two are closely related and can be hard to distinguish, it often helps to think in terms of who, what, why, and where.

The vision statement is the where of your business — where you want your business to be and where you want your customers and community to be as a result.

The mission statement is the who , what , and why of your business — it’s an action plan that makes the vision statement a reality

Here’s an example of a mission statement for our fictional company:

Fanty and Mingo’s takes pride in making the best Sweruvian food, providing fast, friendly, and accurate service. It is our goal to be the employer of choice and offer team members opportunities for growth, advancement, and a rewarding career in a fun and safe working environment.

3) Company Description

In this section of your restaurant business plan, you fully introduce your company to the reader. Every business’s company description will be different and include its own pertinent information.

Useful details to include are:

• Owner’s details
• Brief description of their experience
• Legal standing
• Short-term goals
• Long-term goals
• Brief market study
• An understanding of the trends in your niche
• Why your business will succeed in these market conditions

Again, you don’t have to include all of this information in your company description. Choose the ones that are most relevant to your business and make the most sense to communicate to your readers.

Fanty & Mingo’s will start out as an LLC, owned and operated by founders Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe Washburne. Mr. Reynolds will serve as managing partner and Ms. Washburne as general manager.

We will combine atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and menu variety to create a unique experience for our diners and to reach our goal of high value in the fusion food niche.

Our gross margin is higher than industry average, but we plan to spend more on payroll to attract the best team.

We estimate moderate growth for the first two years while word-of-mouth about our restaurant spreads through the area.

4) Market Analysis

A market analysis is a combination of three different views of the niche you want to enter:

• The industry  as a whole
• The competition your restaurant will face
• The marketing  you’ll execute to bring in customers

This section should be a brief introduction to these concepts. You can expand on them in other sections of your restaurant business plan.

The restaurant industry in our chosen location is wide open thanks in large part to the revitalization of the city’s center.

A few restaurants have already staked their claim there, but most are bars and non-family-friendly offerings.

Fanty & Mingo’s will focus on both tourist and local restaurant clientele. We want to bring in people that have a desire for delicious food and an exotic atmosphere.

We break down our market into five distinct categories:

• High-end singles
• Businessmen and businesswomen

We will target those markets to grow our restaurant  by up to 17 percent per year.

Every restaurant needs a good menu, and this is the section within your restaurant business plan that you describe the food you’ll serve in as much detail as possible.

You may not have your menu design complete, but you’ll likely have at least a handful of dishes that serve as the foundation of your offerings.

It’s also essential to discuss pricing and how it reflects your overall goals and operating model. This will give potential investors and partners a better understanding of your business’s target price point and profit strategy.

We don’t have room to describe a sample menu in this article, but for more information on menu engineering, menu pricing, and even a menu template, check out these helpful articles from the Sling blog:

• Menu Engineering: What It Is And How It Can Increase Profits
• Restaurant Menu Pricing: 7 Tips To Maximize Profitability
• How To Design Your Menu | Free Restaurant Menu Template

6) Location

In this section, describe your potential location (or locations) so that you and your investors have a clear image of what the restaurant will look like.

Include plenty of information about the location — square footage, floor plan , design , demographics of the area, parking, etc. — to make it feel as real as possible.

We will locate Fanty & Mingo’s in the booming and rapidly expanding downtown sector of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Ideally, we will secure at least 2,000 square feet of space with a large, open-plan dining room and rich color scheme near the newly built baseball stadium to capitalize on the pre- and post-game traffic and to appeal to the young urban professionals that live in the area.

Parking will be available along side streets and in the 1,000-vehicle parking garage two blocks away.

7) Marketing

The marketing section of your restaurant business plan is where you should elaborate on the information you introduced in the Market Analysis section.

Go into detail about the plans you have to introduce your restaurant to the public and keep it at the top of their mind.

Fanty & Mingo’s will employ three distinct marketing tactics to increase and maintain customer awareness:

• Word-of-mouth/in-restaurant marketing
• Partnering with other local businesses
• Media exposure

We will direct each tactic at a different segment of our potential clientele in order to maximize coverage.

In the process of marketing to our target audience, we will endeavor to harness the reach of direct mail and broadcast media, the exclusivity of the VIP party, and the elegance of a highly trained sommelier and wait staff.

8) Financials

Even though the Financials section is further down in your restaurant business plan, it is one of the most important components for securing investors and bank funding.

We recommend hiring a trained accountant  to help you prepare this section so that it will be as accurate and informative as possible.

Fanty & Mingo’s needs $250,000 of capital investment over the next year and a half for the following:

• Renovations to leased space
• Dining room furniture
• Kitchen and food-prep equipment
• Liquor license

Projected profit and loss won’t jump drastically in the first year, but, over time, Fanty & Mingo’s will develop its reputation and client base. This will lead to more rapid growth toward the third and fourth years of business.

Most entrepreneurs starting a new business find it valuable to have multiple formats of their business plan.

The information, data, and details remain the same, but the length and how you present them will change to fit a specific set of circumstances.

Below we discuss the four most common business plan formats to cover a multitude of potential situations.

Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a short summary of your restaurant business plan’s executive summary.

Rather than being packed full of details, the elevator pitch is a quick teaser of sorts that you use on a short elevator ride (hence the name) to stimulate interest in potential customers, partners, and investors

As such, an effective elevator pitch is between 30 and 60 seconds and hits the high points of your restaurant business plan.

A pitch deck is a slide show and oral presentation that is designed to stimulate discussion and motivate interested parties to investigate deeper into your stakeholder plan (more on that below).

Most pitch decks are designed to cover the executive summary and include key graphs that illustrate market trends and benchmarks you used (and will use) to make decisions about your business.

Some entrepreneurs even include time and space in their pitch deck to demonstrate new products coming down the pipeline.

This won’t necessarily apply to a restaurant business plan, but, if logistics permit, you could distribute small samples of your current fare or tasting portions of new dishes you’re developing.

Stakeholder Plan (External)

A stakeholder plan is the standard written presentation that business owners use to describe the details of their business model to customers, partners, and potential investors.

The stakeholder plan can be as long as is necessary to communicate the current and future state of your business, but it must be well-written, well-formatted, and targeted at those looking at your business from the outside in.

Think of your stakeholder plan as a tool to convince others that they should get involved in making your business a reality. Write it in such a way that readers will want to partner with you to help your business grow.

Management Plan (Internal)

A management plan is a form of your restaurant business plan that describes the details that the owners and managers need to make the business run smoothly.

While the stakeholder plan is an external document, the management plan is an internal document.

Most of the details in the management plan will be of little or no interest to external stakeholders so you can write it with a higher degree of candor and informality.

After you’ve created your restaurant business plan, it’s time to take steps to make it a reality.

One of the biggest challenges in ensuring that your business runs smoothly and successfully is managing  and optimizing  your team. The Sling  app can help.

Sling not only includes powerful and intuitive artificial-intelligence-based scheduling tools but also many other features to help make your workforce management more efficient, including:

• Time and attendance tracking
• Built-in time clock
• Labor cost  optimization
• Data analysis and reporting
• Messaging and communication
• And much more…

With Sling, you can schedule faster, communicate better, and organize and manage your work from a single, integrated platform. And when you use Sling for all of your scheduling  needs, you’ll have more time to focus on bringing your restaurant business plan to life.

For more free resources to help you manage your business better, organize and schedule your team, and track and calculate labor costs, visit GetSling.com  today.

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This content is for informational purposes and is not intended as legal, tax, HR, or any other professional advice. Please contact an attorney or other professional for specific advice.

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Restaurant Business Plan: Step-by-Step Guide + examples

Dreaming of opening a 🍴 restaurant? Passion, creativity, and delicious food are key. But for long-term success, a business plan is essential too.

Maja Jankowska

Are you dreaming of owning your own restaurant? Picture the sizzle of a hot skillet, the laughter of satisfied guests, and the fulfillment of sharing your culinary creations with the world. But before you dive into this flavorful adventure, there’s a crucial ingredient you can’t overlook: a winning restaurant business plan.

What is a business plan for?

A business plan is a vital document for every restaurant owner. It provides a roadmap for success, helps secure funding, guides financial and operational decisions, mitigates risks, and facilitates effective communication. 

Just like any other business, a restaurant needs a well-crafted business plan to ensure its success and sustainability. Without a business plan, you risk operating in the dark, making decisions on a whim, and facing unexpected challenges that could have been avoided. 

Investing time and effort into creating a solid business plan sets your restaurant on the path to achieving your culinary dreams and exceeding customer expectations.

Create Restaurant’s Business Plan in these 9 steps:

✔️ 1. Start with an executive summary ✔️ 2. Describe your concept ✔️ 3. Conduct Market analysis ✔️ 4. Define your management and organization ✔️ 5. Give a sample “yummy”  Menu ✔️ 6. Create design and branding ✔️ 7. Provide a Location ✔️ 8. Establish Marketing plan ✔️ 9. Define Financial plan

1. Executive summary

The executive summary is like the appetizer of your restaurant business plan – it’s the first bite that leaves a lasting impression. Its purpose is to capture the essence of your entire plan and entice time-crunched reviewers, such as potential investors and lenders, to delve deeper into your vision. It’s worth noting that the executive summary should be the final section you write.

To craft a concise and captivating summary, it’s crucial to highlight key points, including your unique concept, target market, and financial projections. Additionally, bear in mind that the executive summary sets the tone for the rest of your plan, so it’s essential to make it irresistible and leave readers yearning for more.

When it comes to the executive summary of your restaurant business plan, brevity is key . You have only one page to capture the attention of readers, but don’t worry, it’s definitely doable. Here’s what your executive summary should include:

• Restaurant concept : What does your business do?
• Goals and vision : What does your business want to achieve?
• Restaurant differentiation : What makes your menu/concept different, and what sets you apart?
• Projected financial state : What revenue do you anticipate?
• The team : Who is involved in the business?

2. Describe your concept

In the world of restaurant business plans, there’s a section that holds immense importance. It’s the one that answers two fundamental questions: Who are you, and what do you plan to do?

This is the section where you fully introduce your company, and it deserves special attention. Share all the important details that paint a vivid picture of your unique business. Include the restaurant’s name, location, and contact information. Additionally, provide relevant details such as the chef’s background and what makes your restaurant stand out in the market.

Curious about concept creation? Watch our short video featuring a summary of an example restaurant concept below! 👇

Now is your opportunity to showcase your vision and establish a unique identity for your restaurant. Utilize this section to highlight what sets you apart and capture the reader’s imagination.

3. Market analysis

Market analysis helps you understand your potential customers, competition, and overall restaurant market trends. It’s like having a crystal ball to shape your restaurant’s success.

Target audience 

When it comes to your potential market, you want to know how many people are hungry for what you’re serving. Sounds exciting, right? To estimate this, you’ll gather data on your target customers, like their age group or preferences, and combine it with industry trends. It’s like finding the perfect recipe to satisfy their cravings.

Competition

Now, let’s tackle the competition. Every restaurant has rivals, even if they’re serving a unique dish. It’s crucial to identify direct or indirect competitors and understand what makes you stand out. Are you offering affordable prices, a one-of-a-kind experience, or catering to a specific niche? Highlight your “secret sauce” that sets you apart from the rest.

Market analysis for restaurant’s business plan

Market analysis also involves a SWOT analysis. Don’t let the jargon scare you. It simply means evaluating your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Think of it as a superhero assessment for your restaurant. Identify what you excel at, areas for improvement, potential market opportunities, and external factors that could impact your success.

Example of SWOT analysis for a restaurant

Remember, market analysis is like a compass guiding your restaurant’s journey. It helps you make informed decisions, attract investors, and stay ahead of the game. So, embrace the power of market analysis, and let it shape the destiny of your delicious dining destination.

4. Management and organization

Effective management and organization are critical for success in the restaurant sector. This section of your business plan introduces the talented individuals who will lead your restaurant to new heights.

Outline your legal structure, whether it’s an S corporation, limited partnership, or sole proprietorship, providing key information for stakeholders.

Showcase your management team using an organizational chart to highlight their roles, responsibilities, and contributions. Their expertise and guidance are crucial for seamless operations and exceptional customer experiences.

With a strong management team in place, your restaurant is poised for success. They are the driving force behind your journey to greatness. Let’s meet the key players who will make it happen!

Streamline your operations and optimize your financial performance With resOs , you can efficiently manage reservations, track inventory, analyze sales data, and streamline your overall workflow. Get your FREE plan

5. Sample “yummy” Menu 

In the restaurant industry, your menu plays a main role as the core product. Include a section in your business plan that highlights key details about your menu offerings to engage readers.

If you offer a diverse range of dishes, provide a brief overview of each category. Alternatively, if your menu focuses on specific specialties or signature dishes, provide more detailed descriptions for each item.

You can also mention any upcoming menu additions or unique culinary creations that will enhance profitability and attract customers.

6. Design and branding 

When it comes to starting a restaurant, don’t underestimate the power of design and branding. They’re the secret ingredients that can make your establishment truly stand out. Think about it – when customers walk through your front door, what do they see? The right design and branding can instantly captivate their attention and make them feel right at home.

So, take some time to envision the overall aesthetic and mood you want to create.

Do you imagine a cozy and rustic setting or a sleek and modern vibe?

Let your creativity shine through! Include captivating photos of similar restaurants that inspire you and give potential investors a glimpse of your vision.

And don’t forget about your logo! If you’ve already designed one, proudly showcase it in your business plan. It’s the visual representation of your restaurant’s personality and will help establish brand recognition.

resOS’ customizable interface for your booking system

Stand out in the competitive restaurant industry with resOS’ customizable booking management system . Personalize every aspect of the interface to reflect your restaurant’s unique brand identity. Seamlessly integrate your logo, colors, and visual elements, creating a cohesive and immersive experience for your guests. With resOS, you have the power to revolutionize your restaurant’s image and leave a lasting impression.

Details matter too! Share your plans for specific design elements , from the choice of furniture to the color palette that will adorn your space. The more you paint a vivid picture, the more investors and customers will be enticed by your unique ambiance.

7. Location

For a restaurant, location can make or break the business. Occasionally, a restaurant concept is so good that people go out of their way to find it. But, more realistically, your location needs to be convenient for your target market. If it’s hard for your customers to get to you, hard for them to park, and not something they notice as they drive by, they’re unlikely to check your restaurant out.

In your business plan, make sure to discuss the potential locations that you hope to occupy, assuming you haven’t already secured the location. Explain why the location is ideal for your target market and how the location will help attract customers.

Unlock the potential of your restaurant’s location and streamline reservations with resOS. Our platform offers seamless integration with Reserve With Google , allowing customers to easily discover and book tables directly from Google search results and maps. By enabling this feature, you’ll maximize your restaurant’s visibility and attract more diners with just a few clicks. Experience the power of location-based reservations with resOS .

Be sure to explain the complete costs of your location and what kinds of renovations will be necessary to open your restaurant.

8. Marketing plan

In today’s competitive restaurant industry, it’s important to showcase your marketing strategy to investors. They want to know how you’ll create buzz and keep it going before and after your grand opening.

Create a winning business plan with a strong marketing focus. Our Restaurant Business Plan Steps Graphic (👆 see above) is your visual guide, including key marketing strategies. Download or save for later and plan your path to success.

Whether you’ve enlisted a top-notch Marketing company or have a solid ready-to-go marketing plan, highlight your chosen path. Discuss the unique strengths of your selected agency and why they stand out, including their notable clients. Alternatively, showcase your in-house plan, leveraging social media, your website, and valuable media connections.

A well-crafted marketing plan holds the key to differentiating your restaurant and attracting customers. Prepare to tantalize taste buds and offer an exceptional dining experience. Stay in tune with the latest restaurant industry trends, leverage effective marketing tools, and optimize your online presence. 

Lastly, integrate a robust restaurant booking system to streamline reservations and enhance the overall customer experience. With these strategic elements in place, success is within your reach.

9. Financial Plan

Financial analysis is a crucial part of your restaurant’s business plan. It helps investors assess the profitability of your concept and whether it’s a worthwhile investment. In this section, you’ll outline how you plan to allocate your funds in the first year and provide projections for costs and revenues.

Here are the 🔑 key components to include:

Investment Plan: Explain the initial investment costs, such as kitchen equipment, furniture, employee wages, legal fees, marketing expenses, and working capital. This shows how you’ll use your funds effectively.

Profit and Loss Projection: Estimate your restaurant’s costs and sales figures in the profit and loss statement. Consider factors like the size of your establishment, your target market, and the existing competition in your chosen location.

Break-Even Analysis: Show investors the monthly revenue you need to achieve to cover all your expenses and reach profitability. This analysis considers overhead costs, operational expenses, and factors that may affect revenue fluctuations throughout the year.

Claim your FREE plan on resOS today! Ready to revolutionize your business management? Join resos.com for FREE and take control of your operations. ✅ Seamless calendar integration ✅ Customizable booking forms ✅ Automated reminders ✅ Real-time availability updates Don’t miss out! Sign up now at resos.com and experience stress-free scheduling. Your time is valuable, so claim your FREE plan today!

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A Mission Statement Can Bring Your Values to Life

Amanda McNamara Author

Amanda McNamara

Amanda was a front-of-house renaissance woman before hanging up her apron to lead content strategy for Toast.

“With every burrito we roll or bowl we fill, we're working to cultivate a better world.”

Which restaurant comes to mind when you hear that sentence? We won’t make you guess, but if you said “Chipotle,” you’re spot-on.

Chipotle’s mission statement — like any good restaurant mission statement — clearly communicates what their company stands for, what purpose they serve, and what makes them different from their competitors. And while Chipotle is a large-scale example, you can apply the same thinking to your restaurant’s mission statement no matter your size.

In this article, you’ll learn what a restaurant mission statement is, why you need one, and how to write the right mission statement for your restaurant — along with example mission statements to get you feeling inspired.

What Is a Restaurant Mission Statement?

A mission statement is used to convey your restaurant’s raison d'être — its whole reason for being — to potential customers, the media, investors, or anyone who hasn't come in contact with your brand before. Sometimes it’ll be your first impression with a guest, while other times it can be a way to remind people why your restaurant exists and what you believe in.

Your mission statement is an integral part of your restaurant’s brand identity , along with your vision and values. But it’s important to distinguish between the three, so let’s do just that.

Restaurant mission statement

A restaurant’s mission statement drives the business. It’s what you do, the heart of your business. From the mission statement come your objectives and what it takes to reach those objectives. It should be short and memorable, but also specific enough that people will easily understand what you do and what makes you different from your competitors.

Restaurant vision statement

A restaurant’s vision statement looks to the future and helps give the business direction. It communicates your goals and what you hope to become. A strong vision statement helps you and your team stay focused on what matters most, and invites innovation to help you realize the vision you’ve created.

Restaurant core values

Your restaurant’s core values are what you care about, what you believe in, and what you stand for. They define how your actions will positively impact your staff, your customers, and your community. They should also act as your business' compass, guiding all business decisions including hiring, menu adjustments, marketing, and management style.

When going through the steps of how to open a restaurant , developing a mission, vision, and core values should be high on your list. Your mission, vision, and core values should play a part in every decision you make for your restaurant business, from what products you purchase, to who you hire, to the community initiatives you support. Also, if you're in the process of opening your first restaurant, be sure to get your free copy of the Opening a Restaurant Checklist . It'll help you set your new business up for success.

Restaurant Marketing Plan

Create a marketing plan that'll drive repeat business with this customizable marketing playbook template and interactive calendar.

What Are the Benefits of a Restaurant Mission Statement?

A restaurant mission statement is more than just a cute collection of words — it can actually have real impact on your business. Here are just a few of the benefits of writing a restaurant mission statement:

It makes you really stop and think about why you got in this business in the first place.

It aligns the many moving parts within your restaurant under one consistent message.

It makes business decisions easier, regardless of who on your team is in the driver's seat. When faced with a choice, you and your staff need only ask yourselves: Does this move the restaurant's mission forward? If not, why are we doing it? 

It's a crucial part of restaurant marketing : it tells the world what you're all about and separates you from your competition.

It can help you hire the talent you’re looking for by attracting people who fit your culture and share your values.

Now that we’ve covered the why behind creating a restaurant mission statement, it’s time to learn how to craft one for your restaurant.

How to Write the Right Mission Statement 

When writing your restaurant’s mission statement, you have to do some soul searching. You’ll have to spend time thinking through your core values (if you haven’t already), then mapping your mission, vision, and brand. It’s a trickle-down effect: You choose your values, and your business and culture begin to take shape from there.

This might seem kind of obvious, but your values should be things you really believe in — things you might aspire to but also things you already live and breathe.

Here are some helpful questions you can ask yourself when writing your restaurant’s mission statement:

What does my restaurant do? 

Who do we serve? And how do we serve them?

What are my restaurant’s goals?

What do we believe in? How do we strive to bring those values to life? 

Remember to get creative and have fun with it. Focus on what makes your restaurant unique and different from the rest.

Get Inspired by These Example Restaurant Mission Statements

Now that you know just what a restaurant mission statement is and how you can start to craft one for your restaurant, it’s time to get inspired. The following is a list of some mission statements from restaurants big and small to get your creative juices flowing. You’ll see that many of them follow a similar formula — one you can use and plug your own values into.

Burger King : “Offering reasonably priced quality food, served quickly, in attractive, clean surroundings.”

Butcher & Bee : “Butcher & Bee opened on King Street in 2011 with the simple mission of serving honest-to-goodness sandwiches made with flavor combinations and food quality usually reserved for fine dining.”

Chipotle : “With every burrito we roll or bowl we fill, we're working to cultivate a better world.”

Culver’s : “Our mission today is the same as it’s always been: That every guest who chooses Culver’s leaves happy.”

Domino’s : “Domino's is a company of exceptional people on a mission to be the best pizza delivery company in the world.”

Dunkin’ : “Everything we do is about you. From chefs who create exciting new flavors, to crew members who know exactly how you want your drink — we prioritize what you need to get you on your way. We strive to keep you at your best, and we remain loyal to you, your tastes and your time. That’s what America runs on.”

Everytable : “Our mission is to make nutritious, fresh food affordable and accessible to all.”

Flour Bakery + Cafe : “Make amazing food. Offer warm welcoming service. Give back to the neighborhood. Run an efficient, profitable business. Make Flour a better place for both our customers and ourselves.”

Freshii : “To help citizens of the world live better by making healthy food convenient & affordable.”

Harmony Cafe : “Our mission is to serve high-quality and nutritious meals based upon pay-what-you-can pricing. In a socially engaging environment that encourages all people to dine together.”

Homeroom : “Homeroom exists not just to make the world’s best mac + cheese, but to be a model for a new way of doing business.”

Il Fornaio : “At Il Fornaio, our mission is to provide our guests with the most authentic Italian experience outside of Italy.”

In-N-Out Burger : “Since 1948, we have maintained a simple philosophy — serve only the highest quality product, prepare it in a clean and sparkling environment, and serve it in a warm and friendly manner.”

Jamba Juice : “To make eating better fun and easy by providing access to everything you need to support your active lifestyle.”

The Ultimate Guide to Restaurant Branding

Use this guide to get tips on how to create a restaurant brand that stands out, attracts customers, and drives repeat visits.

McDonald’s : “To be our customers’ favorite place and way to eat and drink.”

Mei Mei : “We're on a mission to provide not only great food and wonderful service, but also a thoughtfully crafted dining experience that seeks to address the complicated ethics that surround restaurant food and restaurant work.”

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt : “To make life sweeter, by creating a memorable treat experience that is all about you.”

Panda Express : “To deliver exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives.”

Panera Bread : “Food served in a warm, welcoming environment, by people who care. To us, that’s good eating and that’s why we’re here.”

Pieology : “We didn’t set out to create just another create-your-own pizzeria. We’re here to nourish and inspire — to serve creativity — and celebrate people coming together to connect.”

Starbucks : “To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.”

Sweetgreen : “Our mission is to inspire healthier communities by connecting people to real food.”

Tasty Burger : “Our mission is to serve a fresh, flavorful, flat patty burger made from the finest American beef, while becoming a real part of every neighborhood in which we open.”

Union Square Hospitality Group : “Our mission is to nourish individuals, businesses, and communities through the practice of Enlightened Hospitality.”

Zaxby’s : “Every company has one. Not every company means it. We do. Consistently create encore experiences that enrich lives, one person at a time.”

99 Restaurant & Pub : “Four simple words comprise the Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub's mission statement: a passion to serve.”

What Will Your Restaurant Mission Statement Say?

Whether it's your restaurant's mission to create radical change, introduce a new cuisine to your community, or be a strong community partner, you’re following your dream and standing for something. Craft a mission statement that clearly shouts that out to the world, expressing why you do what you do and providing your business with guidance for the road ahead.

Related Restaurant Branding Resources

• Restaurant Branding
• Restaurant Promotion Ideas
• Restaurant Names
• How to Start a Food Business

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How to Write a Restaurant Mission Statement (Tips and Examples)

Your restaurant’s mission statement is a pillar of your identity. It tells the world who you are and what you stand for while helping to guide your decisions, marketing strategy, food, and well basically everything, as a company.

That’s why writing a restaurant mission statement is a personal affair. To make it meaningful , you’ll need to dig into some pressing questions about your values, vision, and goals. What makes you stand out from the rest? Why should your customers, employees, investors, the media, and other entities favor you?

How to write your restaurant’s mission statement

Mission statements come in all shapes and sizes. Yours can be as short as a sentence or two, or you can use it as an opportunity to tell a story about your brand and the impact it strives to have in the local, national, or global community.

Regardless of the format, it’s critical that you deep-dive into what really makes you tick, and how your internal aspirations and values translate into your interactions with others.

It’s shockingly easy to create a bland, generic, and downright boring mission statement that fails to differentiate you from your competitors. To avoid doing so, dig deep into a few important points in the process:

Your values

It’s important to define what your restaurant’s core values and beliefs are in order to write a mission statement that represents your restaurant personally. 

Your Vision Statement

A vision statement gives an insight into your restaurant’s future aspirations and goals. It gives direction to your team, helps them stay focused, and provides clarity about your long-term vision.

Your Culture

A company’s culture determines how people communicate within the company, what values they hold, and how the overall internal organization works. It’s important to take it into account so that the final mission statement reflects the true spirit of your team.

What is the main purpose of your restaurant? Is it to create a sense of community, or to spread awareness about your local cuisine? Taking a look back at your goals can help you in crafting your mission statement.

Now that you have a general checklist for writing your restaurant mission statement, let’s look at some examples from other restaurants.

Once you’ve gathered these important insights, answer the following questions to get a full picture of your restaurant operations before you write the final mission statement

What does your restaurant do for its customers? Do you provide fresh and organic food, or serve family-style meals? Your mission statement should reflect what makes you different from all the other restaurants. 

Why do you do what you do? Here, you’re defining the purpose behind your restaurant’s “what”. For instance, a restaurant may provide fresh and healthy meals made with organic produce to promote a healthy lifestyle in society - this is the reason behind what they do. Take a look back at your goals to determine your restaurant’s “why”

Your customers are the most important part of your business, make sure to reflect on who you want to serve at your restaurant so that you can create a mission statement that is catered especially to them. If your customers are the younger generation, for instance, the mission statement will be much different from one that focuses on creating a family-friendly atmosphere.

How do you make your mission successful? Think about your restaurant’s culture and beliefs, the values your team holds, and how they bring your restaurant’s goals to life.  

Tips on how to write a restaurant mission statement

Keep it short and sweet so that it’s easy to remember and recall. Remember, it’s not an investment pitch, you just want to give customers a brief overview of your restaurant. Make sure it’s never more than three or four sentences.

Keep it clear and concise, don’t use technical industry jargon. People should be able to understand it in one read.

Be humble, don’t go overboard in praise of your restaurant by using big words like ‘fantastic food’, ‘unmatched service’ etc. Keep it simple and straightforward.

Keep your audience’s choice and preferences in mind so that you can create a mission statement that is attractive to them.

Take a look at your competition and what’s working for them. Looking at examples can be helpful, but make sure to only take it as inspiration and add your own personal touch to it.

Ask yourself -  can any of my competitors use this exact same mission statement? If the answer is yes, it’s time to dig a bit deeper into why your company exists.

Examples of restaurant mission statements

Upscale and fine dining examples

Union Square Cafe

Union Square Cafe is committed to extending hospitality beyond the walls of our restaurant and into the community.

  Lincoln Ristorante

Our philosophy is simple: to source the best local ingredients and prepare them with authentic Italian methods and spirit. A focus and commitment to freshness and respect for every ingredient is paramount in our daily life.

  ABC Cocina

  We are passionately committed to offering the freshest, safest ingredients, presenting a seasonal menu that is locally focused and globally artistic, and cultivating a healthy relationship on our tables and for the planet. 

At Gracie's, our mission is simple: enhance and educate the palate with the freshest ingredients and flavors, while surprising and exciting each guest with personal care and service.

No presumptions. No pretensions. Ask questions. Feel comfortable.

Never bending to industry trends, the dishes and service at Oriole give guests a thought-provoking and interactive experience, where the diner is the true focus of the meal.

Corporate and chain restaurant examples

McDonald's brand mission is to be our customers' favorite place and way to eat and drink. Our worldwide operations are aligned around a global strategy called the Plan to Win, which center on an exceptional customer experience – People, Products, Place, Price and Promotion. We are committed to continuously improving our operations and enhancing our customers' experience.

Delight every customer, so they want to tell their friends – with great value through fresh, delicious, made-to-order sandwiches, and an exceptional experience.

To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time . 

Krispy Kreme

To make the most awesome doughnuts on the planet every single day.

Tim Horton’s  

Our guiding mission is to deliver superior quality products and services for our guests and communities through leadership, innovation and partnerships.

The Cheesecake Factory  

To create an environment where absolute guest satisfaction is our highest priority.

We take pride in making the best Mexican style fast food providing fast, friendly, & accurate service.

Apple Bee’s

To contribute to the growth, joy and enrichment of all the lives we touch.

Moe’s Southwest Grill

To provide a one-of-a-kind experience that energizes everyone with an enthusiastic welcome, exceptional service, awesome food, killer tunes, and an unforgettable time.

Dunkin Donuts

To be the leading provider of the wide range delicious beverages & baked product around the kingdom in a convenient, relaxed, friendly environment, that insures the highest level of quality product and best value for money.

 Whether you’re building a restaurant business plan from scratch or revamping your restaurant’s branding and direction, a mission statement can help to paint a better picture of your company.

It can help to establish and build trust for your brand in the eyes of key people and entities like customers, employees, stakeholders, and the media.

 When writing your restaurant mission statement, make sure that you’re clear about your values, vision, and purpose, and how your company creates this impact. Ultimately, your mission should set you apart in a unique way that showcases what you’re all about.

Ready to write your mission statement? Download our free template to get started now.

Read more about restaurant marketing on the Eat App blog

• How to do a restaurant SWOT analysis
• Instagram post ideas for your restaurant
• Email marketing for restaurants
• KPI's every restaurant should measure
• The best digital marketing strategies for restaurants
• Restaurant event ideas
• Restaurant advertising examples
• Grand opening ideas for restaurants
• Top restaurant influencers for inspiration
• Supercharge your marketing with automation 
• How to get more reservations from Instagram
• SEO for restaurants: the complete guide

Director of Marketing at Eat App

For the past 7+ years Ryan has been focused on helping restaurants succeed with digital marketing and front-of-house operations. He is Director Marketing at Eat App.

Reviewed by

Nezar Kadhem

Co-founder and CEO of Eat App

He is a regular speaker and panelist at industry events, contributing on topics such as digital transformation in the hospitality industry, revenue channel optimization and dine-in experience.

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Restaurant Business Plan

Welcome, ambitious entrepreneurs and aspiring restaurateurs! If you have a brilliant vision for a restaurant and seek investor capital to make it a reality, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the essential steps of creating an impactful restaurant business plan. Not only will this plan catch the attention of investors, but it will also establish a strong foundation for your success. So, let’s dive in and start building the blueprint for your culinary venture.

Understanding Your Target Audience and Market

Before we delve into the intricacies of your business plan, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your target audience. Getting to know their preferences, habits, and desires will enable you to tailor your offerings to their specific tastes. Perhaps your target audience consists of pizza enthusiasts or health-conscious individuals seeking nutritious options. Catering to their preferences will increase your chances of winning their hearts and stomachs.

Additionally, thoroughly researching your competition is paramount. Analyze their strengths, weaknesses, and pricing strategies to identify any gaps your restaurant can fill. By understanding the market saturation, you can position your unique concept in a way that distinguishes it from existing establishments.

Defining Your Unique Value Proposition

Now, let’s bring out the secret ingredient that sets your restaurant apart—the unique value proposition. This is what sets you apart from the competition and generates a memorable dining experience. It could be your unrivaled concept, the way you expertly combine flavors, or your commitment to using locally sourced ingredients. Imagine yourself as a contestant on a cooking competition, aiming to awe the judges—your potential investors. Articulate your value proposition with passion and conviction, compelling them to envision the exceptional experience your restaurant will offer.

Menu Development and Pricing Strategy

With your target audience in mind, it’s time to create a menu that captivates their taste buds. Craft dishes that align with their preferences, making sure to incorporate a diverse range of options. Whether they’re enthralled by plant-based cuisine or traditional cheeseburgers, cater to their desires and leave them craving more.

Yet, crafting a menu isn’t complete without considering pricing. Striving for the ideal balance between cost, quality, and customer expectations is crucial. You want to ensure profitability while offering prices that entice customers to choose your establishment over competitors. Therefore, factor in the costs associated with preparing each dish, set margins that guarantee profitability and ensure your prices reflect the value you provide.

Operational Plan and Organizational Structure

Now, let’s delve into the operational aspects of your business plan. Just as a recipe requires careful organization, your plan should outline the layout and facility requirements of your restaurant. Consider the seating capacity, kitchen setup, and equipment needed to create a seamless dining experience.

Moreover, detail the operational processes and workflow that will drive the smooth running of your restaurant. From managing reservations and staff scheduling to inventory control and customer service, every aspect plays a pivotal role. Highlight your plans for incorporating innovative technologies to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

Of course, assembling a competent team is essential. Clearly define the organizational structure and showcase the roles and responsibilities of key team members. Demonstrate to investors that you possess the necessary culinary expertise, outstanding management skills, and a passion for delivering excellent service. Just like harmonizing the perfect culinary ensemble, your team’s collective expertise will be paramount to your success.

Marketing and Sales Strategy

Now that we have the recipe and the team, let’s develop the perfect strategy to entice customers to your restaurant. A well-crafted marketing and sales plan will be your secret ingredient for attracting and retaining a loyal customer base.

Your marketing plan should encompass both online and offline channels. Embrace the power of social media, websites, and online advertising to tap into today’s digital landscape. Additionally, consider traditional methods like print media and local partnerships to reach a broader audience. By combining old and new marketing techniques, you can maximize your restaurant’s exposure.

Engage with customers on social media by sharing captivating food photos, captivating behind-the-scenes insights, and compelling customer stories. Encourage user-generated content and reviews to build trust and broaden your brand’s reach. With a comprehensive marketing strategy, your restaurant will become the talk of the town, enticing customers to eagerly visit your establishment.

Financial Projections and Funding Needs

Now, let’s crunch some numbers. Investors seek a clear understanding of your financial projections and funding requirements. Prepare a detailed financial forecast encompassing startup costs, operating expenses, and revenue projections. Thoroughly research and base your projections on market insights to ensure accuracy.

When outlining your funding needs, be transparent about how investor capital will drive your restaurant’s growth and profitability. Explain how the investment will be allocated, whether through traditional loans, investor partnerships, or crowdfunding. Align your financial needs with the potential returns for your investors, painting a compelling picture of the business opportunity at hand.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Lastly, let’s address the risks that accompany any business venture. Investors understand that challenges are inevitable, but they want to see that you have assessed potential risks and formulated solid mitigation strategies.

Identify the risks specific to the restaurant industry, such as evolving food trends and economic downturns. Showcase your contingency plans, demonstrating preparedness and adaptability. Similar to having backup ingredients in your pantry, investors need to see that you’re equipped to handle unforeseen circumstances. By effectively addressing risks, you will inspire confidence in your ability to navigate obstacles and ensure ongoing success.

Congratulations, fellow entrepreneur! Armed with this guide, you now possess the knowledge to create an effective restaurant business plan. From understanding your target audience and developing a unique value proposition to crafting an impactful marketing strategy and presenting compelling financial projections, you’re well on your way to culinary greatness. It’s time to roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and start cooking up that irresistible business plan. You have the passion, skills, and expertise to thrive—now, go out there and let your restaurant shine. Bon appétit!

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Creating a Restaurant Business Plan: Your Ultimate Guide for 2024

• • Why a restaurant business plan is the cornerstone of your success
• • Key components of a successful restaurant business plan
• • Try TheFork now

Deciding to open a restaurant is an exciting moment in your business journey. But before you start designing the uniforms and crafting the dishes, you have one crucial strategic step to complete: creating the perfect restaurant business plan.

More than just a formality, a restaurant business plan is a crucial strategic step to ensure the success and sustainability of your project in 2024. With TheFork Manager’s comprehensive guide, you’ll discover the essential steps for creating your business plan, from crystallising your vision to financial and strategic planning, so you can transform your passion for dining into a thriving and enduring business.

• Why a restaurant business plan is the cornerstone of your success

An effective business plan will set out your restaurant’s structure and long-term vision and serve as a solid foundation for building and growing your enterprise.

When done well, it’s a strategic tool that affirms your vision, highlights your goals, and charts the path toward realising your ambitions. It also allows you to anticipate and address the specific challenges of your business by providing innovative and tailored solutions.

More crucially, you need a well-crafted and clear restaurant business plan to convince investors of the viability of your project. In financial terms, it guides you in budget planning, cost management, and revenue estimation while offering the flexibility you need to adapt to market fluctuations.

• Key components of a successful restaurant business plan

To create a successful business plan, you need to balance several elements, each of which plays a key role in defining and ensuring the future success of your restaurant.

Make a great first impression with the executive summary

Just like when customers first step foot into your restaurant, the executive summary is your first opportunity to make a great impression. It’s your chance to offer a concise and compelling project overview that will immediately capture the attention of your investors, bankers, and partners.

It should summarise the essential points of your business plan: your restaurant's unique concept, the goals you’re aiming for, the strengths that set you apart in the competitive landscape, and your strategy to attract and retain customers. The executive summary is the opening line in a fruitful dialogue with your stakeholders that will set the tone for the rest of your restaurant business plan.

Showcase your team’s talents

By offering a detailed presentation of your team in your business plan, you’ll highlight the competence and expertise of each member as well as the collective strength that will drive your restaurant. Describe your staff’s unique skills and experience, highlighting the necessary technical skills and the teamwork and corporate culture you wish to establish.

• Try TheFork now

Present your project’s vision

To attract interest and, ultimately, investment in your project, you need to communicate your vision clearly and enthusiastically.

This section of your restaurant business plan should capture the complete essence of your establishment. Describe your restaurant's concept in detail, explaining the inspirations, themes, cuisine type, and experience you want to offer your customers. It's also an opportunity to discuss the ambience and design you envision, showing how these elements fit into the local culture or current dining trends. Your vision should be inspiring but realistic, demonstrating a profound understanding of what makes a restaurant successful and what will appeal to your target audience.

Set out a clear business and economic strategy

No matter how brilliant your vision and concept are, your restaurant business plan won’t impress your stakeholders without a strong business and economic strategy. 

This strategy should detail how you plan to position your restaurant within the market, attract and retain clientele, and generate revenue. Demonstrate that you’ve done thorough market research to understand current trends and anticipate customer needs. Address your approach to pricing, advertising, and delivering your services. Also, explain how you will manage your day-to-day operations to maximise efficiency and profitability.

This section should reflect a deep understanding of the restaurant market and show how your restaurant will address the needs and expectations of customers while standing out from the competition.

Secure your future with a thoughtful legal structure

Choosing an appropriate legal structure is vital for the protection and growth of your restaurant. This part of the business plan should clearly outline your chosen legal business form, whether that’s a corporation, sole proprietorship, or another structure.

Discuss the tax implications, legal responsibilities, and asset protection associated with each option. Also, consider how this structural choice will influence future decisions, such as expanding your business, partnerships, and investment opportunities. A well-chosen legal structure not only provides security for your business but also a solid platform for its growth and evolution.

Anticipate your growth through financial forecasts

No restaurant business plan will succeed without detailed financial forecasts that demonstrate the viability of opening your restaurant.

This section should provide a detailed analysis of expected revenues, startup costs (including location choice and obtaining a restaurant licence), operating expenses, and cash flow projections. Present realistic and well-founded estimates based on thorough market research and analysis of industry trends. Your financial plan should include a profit and loss statement and cash flow projections.

Include best and worst-case scenarios to show how your restaurant might perform in different economic conditions. These projections for the coming months and years will help convince potential investors of the financial strength of your business and its potential to generate revenue — as well as your capabilities as a savvy business owner.

Complete your portfolio with appendices

The appendices of your restaurant business plan are a chance to provide additional information and concrete evidence that supports your project. They can include detailed menus, interior design plans, market studies, resumes of team members, or agreements with suppliers. Appendices add depth to your plan by offering details that might be too extensive for the main body of your document. They create a comprehensive and detailed picture of your vision and launch plans for your stakeholders.

To craft a truly outstanding restaurant business plan, you must focus on aspects that will excite and inspire confidence among your investors.

To do this, you need to present a unique and well-defined restaurant concept, demonstrate realistic financial projections, highlight how your restaurant aligns with current and future market trends, and show your deep understanding of the industry and your ability to evolve with it.

For the finishing touches, do a laser-focused proofread of your plan, add enticing visuals where relevant to bring your restaurant to life, and gather helpful feedback from mentors or colleagues. 

An irresistible restaurant business plan will tell a captivating story, combining concrete data with a passionate vision that leaves your stakeholders hungry for a taste of your new business.

Once your new venture is up and running, get in touch with TheFork Manager to find out how we can help drive your success.

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Mission, Vision, and Values of a Restaurant: How to Write Them?

How to write your restaurant's mission statement, vision, and values..

You don’t know how to write the mission and vision of a restaurant?

The mission and vision of a restaurant are crucial aspects of the identity of your business.

They will inform your employees, your customers, and the whole world of the goals that drive your restaurant, and how you plan to achieve them.

In this article, I'll talk to you about:

• The importance of a restaurant's mission and vision
• How to write the best
• About some examples of restaurant mission and vision
• And more considerations

It is vital that you define these aspects of your restaurant and distribute them in strategic places — social networks, web pages , in your restaurant, in your job offers, and more.

Let's get started!

Importance of a Restaurant’s Mission

The importance of a restaurant's mission is simple: it's about the goal you want to achieve with your restaurant.

A restaurant can have many objectives, however, the objectives mentioned in your restaurant's mission have another connotation.

These are your restaurant's goals in relation to your employees , your customers , the local community , and more.

A restaurant's mission is how you make your intentions known.

You can't just say that you've created a restaurant to make money for yourself and your family — that would be your downfall, even if it were true.

Some common objectives may be:

• Create a valuable restaurant in the local culinary scene
• Create a source of jobs for as many people as possible
• Help the growth of tourism in your locality

Another thing to consider is that the mission of your restaurant has to be genuine so that it can make a real impact on its readers.

With a good and authentic mission statement, your restaurant can attract investors, partners, customers with the same ideals, and much more.

That makes your business mission a method or tool to create connections with the people around your business.

Importance of the Vision of a Restaurant

The vision of a restaurant is the way in which you project the future change in the locality that surrounds your restaurant thanks to the fact that it exists and you have achieved all your objectives.

If your mission is, for example, to create a restaurant where all people can be together without any type of discrimination, then the vision is the way in which you project a profound change in society because you achieve that goal.

Not only your business goals can attract a following — a restaurant vision can do so just as well.

The correct vision will help your diners, customers, employees, and more to visualize the future and the impact that your restaurant will have on it, while keeping them motivated to support your business.

How to Write the Mission of a Restaurant?

Writing a restaurant mission is actually a bit difficult.

This is a piece of text that should contain less than 100 words and a max of three powerful lines.

The real problem arises when you realize that such a small text must answer several questions , it must be persuasive , memorable , and impactful .

Here are a couple of steps you can use to write your restaurant mission statement.

1. Create and Answer Questions

Your restaurant's mission must answer certain questions about your business. You should ask yourself:

• What type of restaurant do you have?
• Who is your target audience?
• What are their needs?
• How do you plan to help your target audience?
• How can your restaurant improve their situation?
• What is your locality like?
• How does your restaurant improve your locality?

You can try to answer as many questions as you want, but these will get you started.

It's a good idea to answer each question briefly.

2. Choose the Feeling You Want to Convey

The emotion conveyed by your mission is very important because it is what can empower the customer to support your restaurant.

You can choose any feeling you want, such as writing a text that denotes your hunger to innovate and change the world or create awareness of social problems with a feeling of obligation .

Keep in mind that this will be the sentiment that you will use to connect with your target audience, so studying it in depth in advance is a good idea.

3. Put Everything Together

In this third step, you simply write everything together in one text — it does not matter the total length at the beginning.

You must write:

• The answer to each question
• Write using the feeling you chose to convey
• And then rewrite it as if it were a short speech in front of your guests

After this, it will be almost ready.

4. Summarize

In the final step, you must summarize, cut, skip, and shorten the mission to three lines that add up to less than 100 words in total.

This is the hardest part, because unless you can summarize everything you have written in this many words — preferably less — you will have to think hard about what is the most important thing you have to say.

How to Write a Restaurant Vision?

The vision of a restaurant is a little easier to write. This is a text that describes a future in which you have fulfilled your restaurant's mission — so it is somewhat hypothetical.

Remember that this future must start from the mission of your restaurant, so you must first define a mission that is unique, realistic, achievable, and has a positive impact.

Then simply imagine a world where you have already achieved those goals, and think about how that hypothetical future is better for the community, for your guests, and more.

Restaurant Mission and Vision Examples

Now I will give you some restaurant mission and vision examples. They are all imaginary restaurants, so I will give you a brief explanation of the restaurant in question so that you understand the context better.

Example of a Restaurant’s Mission

The first example is the mission of the first healthy food restaurant located in a city in the interior of a country, far from the spotlight of the capital.

Our mission is to bring healthy food to the city, to offer affordable alternatives that improve people's quality of life, and at the same time, teach our guests the importance of good nutrition.

In this mission you will be able to find several objectives:

• The first is to bring healthy food to a place where the option did not exist.
• The second is that it is an accessible restaurant, with low prices for the general public.
• And the third is that the restaurant will serve to educate diners on nutrition in some way.

The second example is the mission of a fusion food restaurant located in a border city in Mexico, with the United States a few kilometers away.

We want to offer fusion food that denotes the cultural exchange between Mexico and our neighbors in the United States, to unite our people with good food — we will serve everyone equally!

This mission also provides information about the restaurant:

• First, it reinforces the fact that it is a fusion food restaurant.
• It is implied that it is a restaurant that is in favor of cultural exchange between these neighboring countries.
• Also, that you’ll find fusion food between American and Mexican gastronomy in it.
• It is a restaurant that seeks to unite two peoples with the good food resulting from the mix of its cuisines.
• And finally, it is a restaurant that will not have a preference among customers from both countries, since they will all be treated the same way.

The third example is the mission of an haute cuisine restaurant located in a very touristy area of Brazil.

We want to create a restaurant that introduces gourmet food to new generations, without the high prices, the pretentiousness, and the prejudices. Only good vibes!

This mission refers to the barriers of entry that some fine dining restaurants may have for young people.

This mission is written directly for restaurant diners, who can perceive these barriers in fine dining restaurants that have been in the market for years and are frequented by older people who might, in turn, perceive younger people as unworthy of entering such restaurants.

Restaurant Vision Example

For these examples, I am going to use the same fictitious restaurants, in the same order.

The first example is:

Our vision for the future is to help create a healthier, more nutrition-conscious locality, and that our city has a reliable and low-cost option to eat well, without sacrificing the pleasure of eating.

The second example is:

We want to help eliminate the perceived differences between the cultures of our countries and create a more unified city, without prejudice or xenophobia. Let's share our humanity!

The third example is:

We dream of a world where haute cuisine is shared and accessible to all people, regardless of gender, gender identity, origin, age, social position, and privileges.

What all these examples share is that they create an image of hope for change, generally positive, and beneficial to society and their customers.

Other Considerations

Some companies also decide to add the values that drive their actions. This is rare, however, it has become increasingly important.

Why? Because today's companies seek to separate themselves from the lack of humanity and from being perceived as large corporations with a negative impact on society.

That's why talking about the values that drive your business can help you connect with your target audience more easily, while attracting people with similar values to be part of your team.

Another thing you should consider is that the mission, vision, or values are not only for the people who will visit your restaurant.

Instead, these ideas will help you build support, like-minded investors, high-quality employees, and more.

In addition, it is vital that everything you write is a real part of your business decisions — it cannot be just pretty words without actions that prove your position.

You can even dedicate your mission, vision, and values to actively help society, be it with actions in your restaurant, supporting social causes, important organizations, and even taking actions outside your restaurant.

This can also become donations to important causes or social works for the community that surrounds your restaurant.

What do you achieve with this? Differentiate your restaurant from a corporation that only seeks to make money! Even if it's what you want, it's not a good idea for this to be your only motivation — especially since the world is turning away from companies with selfish motives.

Make Your Mission, Vision, and Values Stand Out for Your Business

Your business’ mission, vision, and values can set your restaurant apart from the competition. Either because the motivations of your restaurant are in line with those of your guests, or because you support causes of social value .

These aspects of your business are not just another branding strategy, but they must be authentic, achievable, and visible through your actions.

Have you created your mission, vision, and values?

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How to Write a Restaurant Business Plan

Sally Lauckner is an editor on NerdWallet's small-business team. She has over 15 years of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet in 2020, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content and specializing in business financing. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She is based in New York City.

Robert Beaupre leads the SMB team at NerdWallet. He has covered financial topics as an editor for more than a decade. Before joining NerdWallet, he served as senior editorial manager of QuinStreet's insurance sites and managing editor of Insure.com. In addition, he served as an online media manager for the University of Nevada, Reno.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

When starting a business—no matter what type of business that may be—a business plan is essential to map out your intentions and direction. That’s the same for a restaurant business plan, which will help you figure out where you fit in the landscape, how you’re going to differ from other establishments around you, how you’ll market your business, and even what you’re going to serve. A business plan for your restaurant can also help you later if you choose to apply for a business loan .

While opening a restaurant isn’t as risky as you’ve likely heard, you still want to ensure that you’re putting thought and research into your business venture to set it up for success. And that’s where a restaurant business plan comes in.

We’ll go through how to create a business plan for a restaurant and a few reasons why it’s so important. After you review the categories and the restaurant business plan examples, you can use the categories to make a restaurant business plan template and start your journey.

Why you shouldn’t skip a restaurant business plan

First-time restaurateurs and industry veterans alike all need to create a business plan when opening a new restaurant . That’s because, even if you deeply understand your business and its nuances (say, seasonal menu planning or how to order correct quantities), a restaurant is more than its operations. There’s marketing, financing, the competitive landscape, and more—and each of these things is unique to each door you open.

That’s why it’s so crucial to understand how to create a business plan for a restaurant. All of these things and more will be addressed in the document—which should run about 20 or 30 pages—so you’ll not only have a go-to-market strategy, but you’ll also likely figure out some things about your business that you haven’t even thought of yet.

Additionally, if you’re planning to apply for business funding down the line, some loans—including the highly desirable SBA loan —actually require you to submit your business plan to gain approval. In other words: Don’t skip this step!

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

How to write a restaurant business plan: Step by step

There’s no absolute format for a restaurant business plan that you can’t stray from—some of these sections might be more important than others, for example, or you might find that there’s a logical order that makes more sense than the one in the restaurant business plan example below. However, this business plan outline will serve as a good foundation, and you can use it as a restaurant business plan template for when you write your own.

Executive summary

Your executive summary is one to two pages that kick off your business plan and explain your vision. Even though this might seem like an introduction that no one will read, that isn’t the case. In fact, some investors only ask for the executive summary. So, you’ll want to spend a lot of time perfecting it.

Your restaurant business plan executive summary should include information on:

Mission statement: Your goals and objectives

General company information: Include your founding date, team roles (i.e. executive chef, sous chefs, sommeliers), and locations

Category and offerings: What category your restaurant fits into, what you’re planning to serve (i.e. farm-to-table or Korean), and why

Context for success: Any past success you’ve had, or any current financial data that’ll support that you are on the path to success

Financial requests: If you’re searching for investment or financing, include your plans and goals here and any financing you’ve raised or borrowed thus far

Future plans: Your vision for where you’re going in the next year, three years, and five years

When you’re done with your executive summary, you should feel like you’ve provided a bird’s eye view of your entire business plan. In fact, even though this section is first, you will likely write it last so you can take the highlights from each of the subsequent sections.

And once you’re done, read it on its own: Does it give a comprehensive, high-level overview of your restaurant, its current state, and your vision for the future? Remember, this may be the only part of your business plan potential investors or partners will read, so it should be able to stand on its own and be interesting enough to make them want to read the rest of your plan.

Company overview

This is where you’ll dive into the specifics of your company, detailing the kind of restaurant you’re looking to create, who’s helping you do it, and how you’re prepared to accomplish it.

Your restaurant business plan company overview should include:

Purpose: The type of restaurant you’re opening (fine dining, fast-casual, pop-up, etc.), type of food you’re serving, goals you have, and the niche you hope to fill in the market

Area: Information on the area in which you’re opening

Customers: Whom you’re hoping to target, their demographic information

Legal structure: Your business entity (i.e. LLC, LLP, etc.) and how many owners you have

Similar to your executive summary, you won’t be going into major detail here as the sections below will get into the nitty-gritty. You’ll want to look at this as an extended tear sheet that gives someone a good grip on your restaurant or concept, where it fits into the market, and why you’re starting it.

Team and management

Barely anything is as important for a restaurant as the team that runs it. You’ll want to create a section dedicated to the members of your staff—even the ones that aren’t yet hired. This will provide a sense of who is taking care of what, and how you need to structure and build out the team to get your restaurant operating at full steam.

Your restaurant business plan team and management section should have:

Management overview: Who is running the restaurant, what their experience and qualifications are, and what duties they’ll be responsible for

Staff: Other employees you’ve brought on and their bios, as well as other spots you anticipate needing to hire for

Ownership percentage: Which individuals own what percentage of the restaurant, or if you are an employee-owned establishment

Be sure to update this section with more information as your business changes and you continue to share this business plan—especially because who is on your team will change both your business and the way people look at it.

Sample menu

You’ll also want to include a sample menu in your restaurant business plan so readers have a sense of what they can expect from your operations, as well as what your diners can expect from you when they sit down. This will also force you to consider exactly what you want to serve your diners and how your menu will stand out from similar restaurants in the area. Although a sample menu is in some ways self-explanatory, consider the following:

Service : If your brunch is as important as your dinner, provide both menus; you also might want to consider including both a-la-carte and prix fixe menus if you plan to offer them.

Beverage/wine service: If you’ll have an emphasis on specialty beverages or wine, a separate drinks list could be important.

Seasonality: If you’re a highly seasonal restaurant, you might want to consider providing menus for multiple seasons to demonstrate how your dishes (and subsequent purchasing) will change.

Market analysis

This is where you’ll begin to dive deeper. Although you’ve likely mentioned your market and the whitespace you hope to address, the market analysis section will enable you to prove your hypotheses.

Your restaurant business plan market analysis should include:

Industry information: Include a description of the restaurant industry, its size, growth trends, and other trends regarding things such as tastes, trends, demographics, structures, etc.

Target market: Zoom in on the area and neighborhood in which you’re opening your restaurant as well as the type of cuisine you’re serving.

Target market characteristics: Describe your customers and their needs, how/if their needs are currently being served, other important pieces about your specific location and customers.

Target market size and growth: Include a data-driven section on the size of your market, trends in its growth, how your target market fits into the industry as a whole, projected growth of your market, etc.

Market share potential: Share how much potential there is in the market, how much your presence will change the market, and how much your specific restaurant or restaurant locations can own of the open market; also touch on any barriers to growth or entry you might see.

Market pricing: Explain how you’ll be pricing your menu and where you’ll fall relative to your competitors or other restaurants in the market.

Competitive research: Include research on your closest competitors, how they are both succeeding and failing, how customers view them, etc.

If this section seems like it might be long, it should—it’s going to outline one of the most important parts of your strategy, and should feel comprehensive. Lack of demand is the number one reason why new businesses fail, so the goal of this section should be to prove that there is demand for your restaurant and show how you’ll capitalize on it.

Additionally, if market research isn’t your forte, don’t be shy to reach out to market research experts to help you compile the data, or at least read deeply on how to conduct effective research.

Marketing and sales

Your marketing and sales section should feel like a logical extension of your market analysis section, since all of the decisions you’ll make in this section should follow the data of the prior section.

The marketing and sales sections of your restaurant business plan should include:

Positioning: How you’ll describe your restaurant to potential customers, the brand identity and visuals you’ll use to do it, and how you’ll stand out in the market based on the brand you’re building

Promotion: The tools, tactics, and platforms you’ll use to market your business

Sales: How you’ll convert on certain items, and who/how you will facilitate any additional revenue streams (i.e. catering)

It’s likely that you’ll only have concepts for some of these elements, especially if you’re not yet open. Still, get to paper all of the ideas you have, and you can (and should) always update them later as your restaurant business becomes more fully formed.

Business operations

The business operations section should get to the heart of how you plan to run your business. It will highlight both internal factors as well as external forces that will dictate how you run the ship.

The business operations section should include:

Management team: Your management structure and hierarchy, and who is responsible for what

Hours: Your hours and days of operation

Location: What’s special about your location that will get people through the door

Relationships: Any advantageous relationships you have with fellow restaurateurs, places for sourcing and buying, business organizations, or consultants on your team

Add here anything you think could be helpful for illustrating how you’re going to do business and what will affect it.

Here, you’ll detail the current state of your business finances and project where you hope to be in a year, three years, and five years. You’ll want to detail what you’ve spent, what you will spend, where you’ll get the money, costs you might incur, and returns you’ll hope to see—including when you can expect to break even and turn a profit.

Financial statements: If you’ve been in business for any amount of time, include existing financial statements (i.e. profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow, etc.)

Budget: Your current budget or a general startup budget

Projections: Include revenue, cash flow, projected profit and loss, and other costs

Debt: Include liabilities if the business has any outstanding debt or loans

Funding request: If you’re requesting a loan or an investment, lay out how much capital you’re looking for, your company’s valuation (if applicable), and the purpose of the funding

Above all, as you’re putting your financials together, be realistic—even conservative. You want to give any potential investors a realistic picture of your business.

Feel like there are other important components but they don't quite fit in any of the other categories (or make them run too long)? That’s what the restaurant business plan appendix section is for. And although in, say, a book, an appendix can feel like an afterthought, don’t ignore it—this is another opportunity for you to include crucial information that can give anyone reading your plan some context. You may include additional data, graphs, marketing collateral (like logo mockups), and more.

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The bottom line

Whether you’re writing a restaurant business plan for investors, lenders, or simply for yourself and your team, the most important thing to do is make sure your document is comprehensive. A good business plan for a restaurant will take time—and maybe a little sweat—to complete fully and correctly.

One other crucial thing to remember: a business plan is not a document set in stone. You should often look to it to make sure you’re keeping your vision and mission on track, but you should also feel prepared to update its components as you learn more about your business and individual restaurant.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

• Sample Business Plans
• Food, Beverage & Restaurant

How to Write a Restaurant Business Plan + Free Template

You have cracked the recipe for good food & great ambiance and are planning to start a restaurant, fantastic!

Whether starting a cozy corner cafe, a theme-based fine dining restaurant, or growing an existing one, you will need a restaurant business plan as a roadmap for your business success.

But writing a business plan is complex, isn’t it? That is why we are here with our comprehensive restaurant business plan template to help you in writing yours.

Key Takeaways

• Highlight the concept of the restaurant along with the ambiance, types of cuisines, customer base, and USPs of the restaurant in the plan.
• Utilize tools for SWOT analysis to assess your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for making informed decisions.
• Craft an impactful executive summary that outlines your restaurant’s concept, marketing approach, financial outlook, and team expertise to attract potential investors and partners.
• Conduct thorough market research to understand market trends, consumer preferences, and the needs of your target market.
• Analyze the competitive landscape, and identify direct & indirect competitors, to develop strategies that maintain your restaurant’s competitive advantage.
• To ensure efficient daily operations, provide in-depth operational plans that incorporate staffing, additional services, inventory control, and customer service.
• Create realistic financial projections for sales revenue, expenses, and profit forecasts while considering contingencies & emergencies.

Why is a restaurant business plan important?

Crafting a restaurant business plan is daunting but its significance cannot be underestimated. It is essential to drive your business toward success.

In the competitive atmosphere where there are 700,000+ restaurants in the USA, having a proper plan will help you get funding and better adaptability in a constantly changing business environment.

Even if funding isn’t a primary concern, a plan provides the restaurant owner or manager with clear direction on how to create actionable strategies for reaching business goals.

Your business plan will also help solidify the viability of the restaurant’s idea and concept.

In short, think of it as a guide for running all the aspects of the business smoothly.

How to write a restaurant business plan: Step-by-Step Guide

Since we are talking about a restaurant business plan; let us walk you through this restaurant business plan outline step-by-step without any delay:

1. Executive summary

An executive summary is the first section and the most significant section of any business plan. It captures the essence of your whole plan summarizing it for a quick understanding of your business.

Think of it as a sneak peek for the readers that draws their attention to the entire restaurant business plan.

You should start your summary with a compelling introduction with the name of your restaurant. It should also focus on the essence of your restaurant concept.

Give a brief overview of your unique selling points, emphasizing what makes your restaurant special. It might be the signature dishes, innovative ambiance, prime location, or some new cuisine experience.

Apart from the above essential points, your executive summary should include:

• Mission statement
• Vision statement
• Execution structure
• Potential costs
• Expected return on investment

Many readers will read the executive summary before making a judgment, so if this is all they read, make every word count.

Also, SBA advises to include financial projections in your executive summary if you’re using your business plan to request funding.

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2. Company Overview

Company overview is a part where you fully introduce your restaurant business including legal business structure, location, and your restaurant’s proposed concept.

Here you have the liberty to be a little more creative in describing your restaurant in the whole business plan.

Here are some points to incorporate in the company overview:

• Detailed vision and mission statement
• Type of restaurant (fine dining, small restaurant, bistro, cafe, etc.)
• Legal business structure
• Service style
• History and background of the restaurant (if existing)
• Owners’ names and qualifications
• Cusinies & menu highlights
• Restaurant size and seating capacity
• Operating hours & meal plans
• Related service availability (delivery, catering, etc)

Mainly emphasize the chosen location because easily accessible locations with high foot traffic will attract more walk-in customers. And if you haven’t decided on a specific location yet, then mention the type of place you are looking for to give an idea about it to your readers.

Besides, mention the short-term and long-term goals of your restaurant business in the later part of the company description. Along with that mention regional industry trends and your USPs.

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3. Market analysis

The market analysis section provides you with a clearer picture of your target market, competitors, and industry trends.

Based on the above details, one can make informed decisions while creating strategies. Therefore, make this section precise and concise to understand.

Here are some steps to follow to write an engaging market analysis section of the restaurant business plan:

• Define your customer base: Identify and describe whom you are going to serve. Make a consumer base after considering the demographics, location, and concept of your restaurant.
• Competitive analysis: List out the names of other restaurants in your location and do the SWOT analysis. You can get the competitive advantage of your restaurant this way.
• Market trends: Discuss any shift in consumer behavior like healthy choices, an increase in vegan food consumption, or technological breakthroughs that might affect your restaurant.

Consider conducting market research, TAM-SAM-SOM analysis , and SWOT analysis to get insights for this section.

Remember, this section helps your readers and potential investors understand your target market, restaurant market overview, market size, and growth potential, so make sure you play your cards right.

4. Sample Menu

The most vital step in launching your restaurant business is the menu. A well-curated menu design will sell itself for your restaurant. Even if you are a new restaurant, then present the sample menu with the name and logo of your restaurant on it.

The menu will showcase all the unique offerings your direct competitors might not provide. Not just the list of cuisines but the pricing is also crucial. This way potential investors and readers can understand your restaurant’s target price point.

Plus your menu should be in sync with target customers; for example, a restaurant near the university should contain more beverages and delicious food options for brunch as students prefer those things more.

Consider your menu as a part of branding, choose the same theme for the menu as for the restaurant.

5. Restaurant Design

Restaurant design is the part where you can show your restaurant concept to potential investors and readers practically. Moreover, create a mood board to explain things smoothly.

Utilize this section to show the uniqueness of your restaurant, and how it is different from competitors.

Explain how your design represents your restaurant’s branding and visual identity. Furthermore, mention how your target market will enjoy and appreciate the ambiance you plan to provide.

Note that restaurant design is one of the key elements to running a successful restaurant, so match the theme and cuisines accordingly.

In this section, you also have to provide a detailed description of how many seats are going to be there along with the floor plan of your restaurant.

6. Management Team

As the name suggests, the management team section of your restaurant’s business plan introduces restaurant owners, key executives, and the management team. It also incorporates the experience, qualification, and restaurant industry knowledge of every individual who is on the team.

A strong management team section can be essential to weigh authority and help potential investors be confident about your restaurant’s idea and vision.

You might consider including the following information in the management team section:

• Business owner or founder’s information
• Executive chef and culinary team
• Front-of-house manager
• Operations and back-of-house team
• Advisors/consultants
• The organizational structure of the team

Showcase how each member fits and what roles & responsibilities they will play.  You should include a resume-styled summary for each person in the restaurant’s management section.

7. Operations Plan

The operations plan section outlines the daily business processes and activities centered on achieving the restaurant dream and objectives described in the rest of the plan.

A detailed operations plan helps you and your team define your responsibilities, daily tasks, and short-term goals you need to achieve, keeping track of your long-term objective.

Here are a few key elements to include in your operations plan section:

• Staffing and training
• Operating hours
• Operational process
• Tools and equipment
• Inventory control
• Technology and software
• Quality control measures
• Customer service policies

Remember it should incorporate all important daily tasks. Also, an operations plan is a living document, you can change it often according to the change in the dynamics of the work.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Restaurant Operations Planning

8. Marketing Plan

Even with great food, prices, and ambiance, you won’t attract enough diners without marketing.

Thus, a well-crafted restaurant marketing plan is necessary to spread awareness and build a strong brand presence.

The marketing plan can help you streamline your marketing efforts and create impactful and effective marketing campaigns while keeping track of the projected budget and maximizing return on investment.

Hence, this is the section in which you give an idea to your potential investors about how you will acquire new customers and retain existing ones. This section should include:

• Target market and their dining habits
• Branding and positioning
• Marketing strategies (website, social media accounts, etc.)
• Marketing Calendar
• USPs of your restaurant (unique ambiance, amiable staff, new cuisines in the local area)
• Your marketing goals
• Customer retention strategies (loyalty program, giving coupons or discounts on bulk orders or events)

Even if you are going to hire a PR agency for marketing, then mention it and the reason why you chose them.

After taking care of marketing, let us move further to finances.

Read More: Step-by-Step Guide to Restaurant Marketing Plan

9. Financial Plan

The financial plan is the most crucial and demanding section of any business plan. It is one of the deciding factors for potential investors, banks, or any financial institute to invest in your restaurant business.

This section of your plan details your restaurant’s financial information and how it will reach its financial goals or how much revenue potential it has.

Here are key components and statements that you should include in your financial plan section:

• Pro forma profit and loss statement
• Break-even analysis
• Balance sheet
• Sales forecast
• Detailed cost analysis
• Cash flow projections
• Business ratios
• Funding request
• Tax considerations
• Exit strategy

Before you create financial projections, know how many seats the restaurant will have and what services you plan to provide. This will help you in making realistic financial projections if you are going to start a new business.

Also, if you are asking for funding, then mention where you will utilize your funds.

We hope that this sample restaurant business plan will provide you with an idea for writing a successful plan.

Restaurant Industry Highlights 2024

• Growth forecast : National Restaurant Association predicted US restaurant sales to reach $898 billion in 2022 which would further grow by 4% yearly to reach $1.2 trillion by 2030.
• Technology is everywhere : Automation is helping staff maximize their efficiency by handling orders, deliveries, and communication effectively.
• Sustainability & ethical sourcing : Eco-friendly practices such as minimizing food waste, avoiding single-use plastics, and ethical plus local sourcing are encouraged by customers.
• Delivery is the new deal : People prefer deliveries over dining out as they are time-saving. So, there is an incline in the number of delivery apps and delivery services providing restaurants.
• Kiosks are the preference : The number of people who prefer ordering and paying through kiosks is increasing due to the convenience.

How to Refine & Present a Restaurant Business Plan

Once you have written your entire business plan, it is time to read and re-read it and make it error-free. You have to be confident about every aspect of the plan before you present it in front of your audience.

Moreover, alter your plan to suit different audiences to enhance your communication. For instance, keep your plan professional and include all the growth potential, profitability, and ROI data when you present your restaurant business plan for seeking funding.

Also, when you present your restaurant business plan to potential partners or vendors, emphasize collaboration benefits and how it can help in their individual growth.

Apart from the above points, make sure your plan has various engaging visuals, interactive elements, and enhanced storytelling to present all the data interestingly. Thus, make a digital presentation of your plan to incorporate all the above things clutter-free.

Once you are confident, it is time to email your plan to the people already on your mind. And give a pat to yourself for finally taking that step.

Download a sample business plan for a restaurant

Ready to kick-start your business plan writing process? And not sure where to start? Here you go, download our free restaurant business plan pdf , and start writing.

This intuitive, modern, and investment-ready template is designed specifically for restaurants. It includes step-by-step instructions & examples to help in creating your own restaurant business plan.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Related Restaurant Resources

• Restaurant Marketing Plan
• Restaurant Financial Plan
• Restaurant Operations Plan
• Restaurant Industry Trends

Discover how Upmetrics can help you write a business plan

With Upmetrics, you will receive step-by-step guidance, customizable templates, 400+ sample business plans , and AI assistance to streamline your business planning process.

In fact, if you are not adept with finances, the financial forecasting tool Upmetrics provides will help you create realistic financial forecasts for 3 or more years.

Whether you’re starting a new venture or looking to grow one, Upmetrics offers the resources and insights you need to develop a successful & professional business plan that aligns with your goals.

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a restaurant business plan.

A solid business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful restaurant business. It helps to get clarity in your business, raise money, and identify potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

How to get funding for your restaurant business?

There are several ways to get funding for your restaurant business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

• Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
• Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
• Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

What is the easiest way to write your restaurant business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of restaurant business plan samples and edit it as per your needs. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

Can a good restaurant business plan help me secure funding?

Indeed. A well-crafted restaurant business plan will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping them make better financial decisions.

What's the importance of a marketing strategy in a restaurant business plan?

Marketing strategy is a key component of your restaurant business plan. Whether it is about achieving goals or helping your investors understand the return on investment—an impactful marketing strategy is the way to do it!

Here are a few pointers to help you understand the importance of having a marketing strategy:

• It provides your business an edge over your competitors.
• It helps investors better understand your business and growth potential.
• It helps you develop products with the best profit potential.
• It helps you set accurate pricing for your products or services.

About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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Table of Contents

The restaurant industry is as dynamic as it is diverse, with various types of restaurants catering to different culinary preferences. For those aspiring to open a new restaurant, understanding this vast landscape is crucial. One of the pivotal steps before diving into this venture is to create a business plan. It not only defines the unique essence of your eatery but also lays out a roadmap for its successful operation. Familiarizing oneself with the different types of restaurants is essential to pinpoint your niche and stand out in a bustling market.

What is A Restaurant Business Plan? 

When you’re planning to open a restaurant, a comprehensive restaurant business plan is your blueprint to success. It serves as a strategic guide, outlining your restaurant’s vision, objectives, and operational procedures. But beyond its functional use for the business owner, a well-crafted plan becomes a tool to attract potential investors.

Writing a business plan requires detailing every aspect of your restaurant dream, from the concept and target demographic to the financial projections and marketing strategies. For restaurant owners, this document encapsulates the essence of their establishment, ensuring they remain on the right track. Moreover, presenting this plan to potential investors offers a clear, organized view of your vision, increasing their confidence in the venture.

Ff you want to get your restaurant off the ground and appeal to both patrons and investors, a restaurant business plan is not just a recommendation—it’s a necessity.

Why A Business Plan Is Important For A Successful Restaurant Business?

Making a restaurant a reality isn’t just about great food or an attractive interior; it’s about laying the groundwork for success with a good business plan. A well-crafted restaurant business plan comes with a slew of benefits, not least of which are:

Clear Vision and Objectives: One of the foremost reasons to plan for your restaurant is to articulate a clear vision and set definitive objectives. This process helps you refine your restaurant ideas, making them more viable in the real world. With a concrete vision, you can maintain a consistent direction and avoid being swayed by fleeting trends that don’t align with your brand.

Financial Planning: Money is the lifeline of any venture. A restaurant business plan provides a detailed financial blueprint, determining startup costs, projecting revenues, and outlining budgetary constraints. It anticipates potential financial hurdles, allowing restaurant owners to make informed decisions. By meticulously charting out every financial detail, restaurant owners can ensure they have the necessary funds to sustain the business, even during lean periods.

Operational Efficiency: Operational hiccups can turn even the most promising restaurant ideas into failures. With a comprehensive business plan, you can optimize staffing, inventory management, customer service, and daily operations. A good plan streamlines the restaurant’s workflow, enhancing efficiency and customer satisfaction.

In a world teeming with culinary ventures, a business plan is essential to stand out. It gives clarity to your vision, ensures sound financial footing, and optimizes operations, paving the way for the restaurant needs to thrive.

Step-by-step Guide To Write A  Restaurant Business Plan

Starting a restaurant is a dream for many, but to make that restaurant dream into a reality, one needs a structured approach. A winning restaurant business plan provides a comprehensive roadmap to bring your vision to life. Here’s how to craft that perfect plan:

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is a snapshot of your entire restaurant business plan. Typically, it should be concise, about one to two pages long, capturing the essence of what your restaurant is about and what it aims to achieve.

What should you cover in an Executive Summary?

• Introduce your bakery business : Begin by describing the kind of restaurant you’re opening.
• State your mission and vision : Your mission statement reflects your restaurant’s core purpose, while the vision paints a picture of its future.
• Outline your objective : Define the goals for your new business.
• Provide a financial overview : Offer a brief insight into the financial state of your business.

2. Restaurant Business Description

This section provides an in-depth look into what your restaurant is and what it aims to offer to the diner.

What should you cover in the restaurant description section?

• Talk about your bakery concept : Describe your restaurant, its theme, and its unique approach to serving patrons.
• Explain your unique selling proposition (USP) : What sets your restaurant apart?
• Operational model : Explain how you’ll operate your restaurant before and after opening.

3. Market Analysis

Market analysis provides data-driven insights derived from thorough market research. It helps restaurant owners understand their audience and the market landscape.

• Target market : Delve into the demographics of your potential clientele.
• Location : Describe where your restaurant fits geographically and why it’s an ideal spot.
• Competition : Analyze other restaurants in the area and their offerings.

4. Organization and Management

This section presents the business structure and the key players driving your restaurant’s operations.

What should you cover in the organization and management plan?

• Restaurant ownership information : Detail the type of business entity (e.g., LLC, Partnership) and ownership distribution.
• Profiles of your Restaurant management team : Introduce your core team members, their roles, and their experience in the restaurant industry.

5. Sample Menu

This section is a sneak peek into what diners can expect when they visit.

What should you consider when creating a sample menu?

• Menu items : List down dishes and beverages you’ll offer.
• Unique Selling Proposition (USP) : What makes your menu stand out?
• Menu Pricing : Provide a range or specific prices for your offerings.

6. Marketing Strategy

The marketing strategy outlines how you plan to market your restaurant and drive sales.

What should you cover in the marketing strategy for your restaurant business?

• Define your brand : Discuss the brand identity – from logo to restaurant design.
• Plan how you’ll attract diners, from online promotions to loyalty programs,  SEO for website, and partnerships with local local businesses
• Considering using an  online food ordering system  in your food truck
• Create a  digital menu with QR code  to make your menu easy for your customers to access online

7. Business Operations

This section delves into the day-to-day operations of running your restaurant.

What operational issues should you address in your business plan?

• Supply chain : Detail how you’ll procure ingredients and manage inventory.
• Operating hours : What days and hours will you operate? Consider peak meal times and special events.
• Staffing : Discuss hiring, training, and staff management plans.
• Equipment : List the equipment needed to run the restaurant.

8. Financial and Loans

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Restaurant?

Depending on the type of restaurant you’re opening, costs can vary significantly. Starting a bar business, for instance, can range anywhere from $95,000 to over $2 million. Several factors can influence these numbers. The size of the restaurant, its location, and the culinary offerings play crucial roles in the total investment. Want to delve deeper into the specifics? This comprehensive guide on how much it costs to open a small restaurant breaks down the various expenses you can expect.

How Many Ways to Fund Your Restaurant?

For every restaurant dream, funding is a pivotal aspect. From traditional bank loans to seeking angel investors or crowd-funding, there’s a multitude of avenues available for those considering opening a restaurant.

Important Questions to Consider When You Create Your Funding Request

Beyond just how much you plan to spend, you’ll want to include details on projected ROI, repayment strategies, and how the funds will directly help grow your business. Remember, lenders and investors are most interested in understanding how their contributions will help the restaurant flourish and ensure a return on their investment.

9. Financial Projections

Financial projections are a crucial aspect of the business plan, providing a roadmap for operating the restaurant and giving potential investors a clear picture of your business strategy.

Break-even analysis

This analysis tells you when your restaurant may start to turn a profit, balancing out initial investments and operational costs.  It’s essential to understand this when you plan to gain traction and open the restaurant.

To calculate the break-even point, use this formula:  Fixed Costs / (Price – Variable Costs) = Break Even Point  

Projected profit and loss statement

This section should include estimations of your future revenues, costs, and profits over a specific period, helping you and investors visualize the financial health of your restaurant.

Cash flow analysis

A comprehensive cash flow analysis is part of your business plan, showing the movement of cash in and out of your business. This plan can help identify periods of potential cash shortages and allow for strategic preparations.

Restaurant Business Plan Template

As you embark on the journey to make your restaurant dream come true, using a free template for guidance can be invaluable. This example provides a glimpse into what a business plan can look like. However, always remember to choose your restaurant’s features that align with your vision and market demand. For more insights, consider consulting various restaurant business plan examples and business plan samples to get a holistic view.

Mission : “To provide an unforgettable dining experience by blending authentic flavors with a modern twist.”

Vision : “To be the leading global chain offering our signature fusion cuisine.”

Restaurant Description : “DineFusion, an innovative blend of Italian and Japanese cuisines, located at the heart of downtown.”

Costs : Initial investment of $150,000.

Profits : Expected yearly net profit of $75,000 after operating costs.

2. Description of the Restaurant

Restaurant Concept : A fusion of Italian and Japanese cuisines, bringing together the best of both worlds.

Restaurant Name : “DineFusion”

Restaurant Type : Casual dining

Restaurant Location : 123 Downtown Street, Metropolis

Order Fulfillment : Dine-in, takeaway, and online delivery through partnering platforms.

Working Hours : 10 AM – 10 PM daily.

Type of Cuisine : Italian-Japanese Fusion

Offer : From sushi rolls with a twist of Italian herbs to pizzas topped with sashimi. Include a sample menu for a detailed look.

Unique Selling Point : “Where East meets West on a Plate!”

4. Market and Competition Analysis

Market Analysis : 

Target Customer : Young professionals aged 25-40 and tourists.

Size of the Target Customer : Approximately 150,000 individuals fit our target profile in Metropolis.

Competition Analysis : 

Size of the Competition : Collectively serve an estimated 500 customers daily.

Competitors’ Offer : Traditional fusion dishes without the unique Italian-Japanese blend.

Competitors’ Prices : Average meal price is $25.

5. Investment Plan (Detailed Cost Analysis)

Investment Cost :

• Renovation: $50,000
• Kitchen Equipment: $40,000
• Initial Inventory: $10,000
• Licenses and Permits: $5,000
• Marketing and Promotion: $20,000
• Miscellaneous: $25,000

Operating Costs (Monthly) :

• Rent: $5,000
• Salaries: $15,000
• Utilities: $1,000
• Inventory Replenishment: $4,000
• Marketing: $2,000
• Miscellaneous: $3,000

Total Cost : Estimated monthly operating cost of $30,000.

6. Financial Forecast

Based on the expected customer footfall and average ticket size, we anticipate monthly revenues of $60,000, with a profit of $30,000 before taxes.

Owner/Manager : Jane Smith, with 10 years of experience in the restaurant industry.

Chef : Marco Tanaka, a specialist in both Italian and Japanese cuisines.

Supporting Staff : 10 members, including servers, cleaners, and kitchen assistants.

8. Marketing Plan

Our marketing strategy involves an initial launch on social media platforms, collaborations with influencers, and partnerships with delivery platforms. Periodic offers, loyalty programs, and events like “fusion food fests” will help in consistent customer engagement.

Tips For Creating A Successful Restaurant Business Plan 

Opening your restaurant is exhilarating, but to transform your culinary dreams into business a reality, a well-crafted business plan is paramount. Here are some tips to ensure success:

Thorough Research : Before you put pen to paper, conduct in-depth research. Understand your target market, competition, and potential challenges. This will not only guide the rest of your plan but also demonstrate your commitment and seriousness to potential restaurant investors.

Use a Template : If you’re unsure where to begin, use a business plan template to get started. It will offer structure and ensure you cover essential sections of your business plan.

Clarity is Key : Your business plan should be concise yet comprehensive. Avoid jargon. Remember, you may be presenting this to individuals who might not be familiar with restaurant terminologies.

Be Realistic with Projections : Overestimating your future success can be as detrimental as underselling it. Ensure your financial forecasts are realistic and achievable.

Highlight What Sets You Apart : Whether it’s a unique theme, a special dish, or an innovative service model, pinpoint what makes your restaurant stand out.

Seek Feedback : Before finalizing, seek feedback. Whether from industry peers, potential restaurant investors, or mentors, a fresh set of eyes can offer invaluable insights.

Remember, to make a restaurant business plan truly effective, it should be a living document, revised and updated as you gather more information, make decisions, and choose your restaurant’s path forward. Keep refining and adjusting to ensure the best path to make the business a thriving success.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what should be included in a restaurant plan, 2. what is a strategy plan of a restaurant, 3.  how do i write a business proposal for a food business, 4. how do you write a marketing plan for a restaurant.

A marketing plan for a restaurant should start with an understanding of your target customers. Identify where they spend their time online and offline and strategize accordingly. Outline your brand voice and how you’ll communicate your unique selling proposition. Factor in promotions, advertising campaigns, and loyalty programs. Also, consider modern restaurant technology tools that can aid in marketing, such as CRM systems or social media analytics tools. Ensure that each marketing initiative has clear objectives, a set budget, and methods to track effectiveness.

Opening a restaurant is a thrilling yet intricate endeavor. Every section of the restaurant business plan serves as a roadmap, guiding entrepreneurs towards realizing their culinary dreams. As you choose your restaurant’s concept, location, and design, always revert to your business plan to ensure alignment with your vision. In essence, a meticulously crafted plan not only provides clarity and direction but also instills confidence in potential stakeholders. Remember, success in the restaurant industry goes beyond delectable dishes; it lies in foresight, strategy, and relentless execution.

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50+ Restaurant Mission Statement Examples To Inspire Your Restaurant Mission

Table of contents.

A restaurant mission statement is a crucial component of a restaurant’s brand identity. A mission statement is a reflection of you and the values you instill in your work, which are then communicated to both customers and employees. 

Whether you’re working on starting up a new restaurant or you’re looking to update your current branding and promotional materials, it helps to have inspiration for mission creation. Many restaurants have a mission statement, but not many restaurants have an excellent mission statement. We’ve compiled an extensive list of mission statements from across the country so you can get the inspiration you need to build something better. Once you have your mission, you can build it into your restaurant products with custom printed disposables from Budget Branders. Budget Branders can help you create custom plastic cups , custom paper cups , custom paper bowls , custom coffee sleeves , and more with designs that reflect your restaurant’s mission. 

What is a Restaurant Mission Statement? 

A restaurant mission statement conveys your raison d’être (reason for being). In other words, a mission statement identifies the purpose your restaurant will serve; the reason why your restaurant exists. 

Mission statements are usually paired with company values and/or a vision. Together, these components collectively serve as a guide post for what you hope to achieve for your restaurant and how you hope to achieve it. 

Why Your Restaurant Needs a Mission Statement

Unfortunately, not all restaurateurs recognize the benefits associated with a well-written mission statement. Just pull up the websites of some of your favorite local restaurants and you’ll likely be hard-pressed to find an articulated mission statement. While the development of a mission statement may seem like a trivial task, mission statements are an invaluable component of your brand and business strategy. 

By taking the time to develop a mission statement, you can better guide decision making for your restaurant and save time on daily tasks to focus on what really matters for your core business. Mission statements also:

• Serve as a constant reminder for why you started your restaurant in the first place; 
• Align the many moving parts of your restaurant with one overarching message; 
• Communicate who you are and what differentiates you from your competitors; 
• Help attract great talent to the business;

Simply having a mission statement is not enough. Many mission statements are littered with buzzwords, clichés, and business jargon. If you fail to put time and effort into developing your mission, then it will not be very effective at helping to accomplish much of anything. Your mission statement needs to mean something to you. 

The Difference Between Restaurant Missions, Visions, & Values

As previously mentioned, mission statements are often paired with a vision and/or values. For this reason, the three terms often get mixed up and are sometimes used interchangeably. Mission, vision, and values are three distinct components and should be treated as such.  

Restaurant Mission Statement

A mission statement describes the why of your business. For example: 

“We exist to connect local Bostonians to each other through great tasting pizza while also supporting local farmers and utilizing the freshest ingredients.” 

Restaurant Vision Statement

Your restaurant mission and vision can work together synergistically. Your restaurant’s mission statement explains the why while a restaurant vision is what you want the future to look like when you accomplish your mission. For example: 

“We imagine a world where there are no barriers between Boston residents, sloppily produced pizza doesn’t exist, and local farmers are able to live prosperously.” 

Restaurant Value Statement

Finally, a restaurant’s values outline what you believe in and what your restaurant will stand for. For example: 

“We value teamwork, honesty, community involvement, dedication to the culinary arts, and transparency.” 

Some restaurants will go the extra mile and develop all three message components (mission, vision, and values). While defining all of these components for your restaurant is helpful, you can get by without developing all three. Even having just one statement will provide more clarity and purpose for your work. 

How to Write a Powerful Restaurant Mission Statement

Now that you understand what a mission statement is and why it matters, it’s time to start thinking about how you can develop your own mission statement that will effectively guide your restaurant to success. The creation of your mission statement will take some soul searching and reflection. Your mission should be unique to you and isn’t something we can develop for you. Nevertheless, there are some important principles and tactics you can use to help write an effective statement. 

Components of a Strong Mission Statement

 While there is no one correct way to write a mission statement, there are characteristics that every strong mission statement embodies. As you work to write your mission statement, you should reflect on the following six characteristics. 

• Accurate: Your mission statement should be an honest reflection of what your restaurant will do. If your mission statement doesn’t accurately reflect your restaurant, it may be time to either revise your statement or revise some of your operations policies. 
• Achievable: It’s good to set lofty goals, but your goals should be measurable and achievable. Many restaurants seek to provide the world’s most delicious food or the best service, but those goals aren’t easy to measure and not every restaurant can be “the best”.  
• Actionable: The strongest mission statements both define goals and articulate how those goals will be achieved. 
• Concise: Your mission statement shouldn’t be three pages long. You want a concise statement that is easily digestible and understood. As a general guide, you should try to keep your mission statement under five sentences. 
• Transparent: The best mission statements avoid business jargon and clichés that sound impersonal. Your mission statement should be an accurate, honest reflection of what you want the restaurant to be.  
• Unique: Your mission statement should help differentiate you from your competition. If your mission sounds like that of your competitors, then the statement doesn’t effectively accomplish that goal. 

As you review the mission statement examples further down in this post, you’ll find that not every mission statement encompasses every one of the characteristics above. It is a testament to just how difficult it is to write a compelling mission statement. 

Questions to Consider

During the brainstorming stage of mission statement development, it can help to frame your mission within the context of questions. Answering key business questions can help you extract the root reason for your restaurant’s existence. Below are some important questions you should ask yourself while developing your mission: 

• Why are you in business?
• What is the image you want your restaurant to convey?
• Who is your target market? 
• What are the needs of your target market and how will you fill those needs? 
• What does/will your restaurant do for employees? 
• How is your restaurant differentiated from your competitors? 
• What underlying philosophies or values contributed to the founding of your restaurant? 

Restaurant Mission Statement Examples

To get the development process kicked off for your mission statement, it can help to review what other restaurants have communicated as their mission. We’ve compiled over 50 mission statements from restaurants across the country and the world. We’ve included mission statements from large, well-known chains, as well as, smaller local restaurants to provide you with a well-balanced mix of inspiration. 

It’s important to remember that your mission statement should be unique to your restaurant. It’s valuable to study how others have approached mission development, but it’s important to draw upon your own goals when developing your unique statement. 

Family Style Restaurant Mission Statement Examples

Avanti’s italian restaurant.

“We prepare and serve high quality, simple food, at a great value, in a home-like environment.”

P.F. Chang’s

“To HONOR Life. Family. Food.”

Ruby Tuesday

“Quality. Passion. Pride.”

Bamboo Sushi 

“To change the way people eat, inspiring a shift within the restaurant industry and beyond.”

The Cheesecake Factory

“To create an environment where absolute guest satisfaction is our highest priority.”

Darden Restaurants

“To be financially successful through great people consistently delivering outstanding food, drinks and service in an inviting atmosphere, making every guest loyal.”

“Going back to basics. Connecting flavors of Asia with the community through culinary traditions and culture.”

Pachamanka Restaurant

“To exceed each and every one of our customer’s expectations.”

Plaza Tapatia

“To serve exquisite and authentic Mexican Cuisine representing our cultures and legendary culinary gastronomy with typical dishes with a creative and talented touch, delivering a distinctly unique dining experience to fulfill our guest expectations.”

Provision Community Restaurant

“To foster creative, community-based solutions to overcome food insecurity, isolation and hardships in the lives of our neighbors.” 

Smoke BBQ Restaurant & Catering

“To share our love of authentic BBQ, inspired by regional classics throughout the US, prepared and smoked daily in our smokers.”

Applebee’s

“To make sure you’re eatin’ good whenever you step into an Applebee’s.”

Studio Movie Grill

“To open hearts and minds, one story at a time.”

The Table Cafe

“To provide a restaurant that serves locally grown food with amazing taste, at an affordable price, where all can enjoy the flavor of community.”

Bar, Brewery, & Pub Mission Statement Examples

Buffalo wild wings.

“ Our mission is to WOW people every day!”

Celebrations Restaurant & Bar

“To capture the character of our community, boiling down its stocks, foraging its plants, and showcasing its produce; all in an attempt to capture a time and a space in the confines of a plate, but more often in a series of plates.”

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

“Inspire Loyalty in both our guests and in our staff.”

Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub

“A passion to serve”

Founders Brewing Company

“make uncompromising craft beer that we love”, fine dining restaurant mission statement examples, mccormick & schmicks.

“Absolute guest satisfaction” 

“To provide our guests with the most authentic Italian experience outside of Italy.”

Little Fish Grill

“To provide the community with fresh, locally sourced, top quality food and service in a friendly casual environment to remind you the little fish eats like a shark too!”

Cadre Restaurant

“To provide our guests with a comfortable, quality, and satisfying dining experience using local, seasonal ingredients in classic dishes paired with select wine.”

Novo Restaurant & Lounge

“To delight every guest with remarkable dining & hospitality experiences that keep them returning.”

Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group

“Do right and far exceed expectations daily.”

Gracie’s 

“Enhance and educate the palate with the freshest ingredients and flavors, while surprising and exciting each guest with personal care and service.”

P.S. Kitchen

“To leverage the power of good food and an open heart to lovingly serve our clients, employees, society and the earth.”

Hearth Restaurant 

“Serve REAL food that tastes, looks, and smells delicious.” 

Fast Food Restaurant Mission Statement Examples

“To become America’s most loved restaurant brand.”

Panda Restaurant Group 

“To deliver exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives.” 

“Serve only the highest quality product, prepare it in a clean and sparkling environment, and serve it in a warm and friendly manner.”

Domino’s 

“To break down the barriers between our customers, and the food they love to share.”

Culver’s 

“That every guest who chooses Culver’s leaves happy.”

McDonald’s 

“To provide a fun and safe environment where our customers can enjoy good food made with quality ingredients at affordable prices.”

Krispy Kreme

“To make the most awesome doughnuts on the planet every single day.”

Frugals 

“To provide the highest quality product at the lowest possible price, the best consumer experience in the industry, and respect for our employees, business partners, and community.”

Tasty Burger

“To serve a fresh, flavorful, flat patty burger made from the finest American beef, while becoming a real part of every neighborhood in which we open.”

Fast Casual Restaurant Mission Statement Examples

“Some want to make superior sandwiches. Some want to make the world a better place. We want to do both!”

Zaxby’s 

“Consistently create encore experiences that enrich lives, one person at a time.”

Panera Bread

“Food as it should be. Food should taste good. It should feel good. It should do good things for you and the world around you.”

Firehouse Subs

“To carry on our commitment to and passion for hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service, and public safety.”

“To help citizens of the world live better by making healthy food convenient & affordable.”

Boloco 

“To better the lives and futures of our people. We use ridiculously delicious burritos to do it.”

“To serve the world flavor.”

“From sprout to plate, we obsess over the details to bring better eating to everyone.”

Flour Bakery

“Make amazing food – offer warm welcoming service – give back to the neighborhood – run an efficient, profitable business – make flour a better place for both our customers and ourselves”

Hannah’s Bretzel

“Make insanely tasty food, provide healthier nutrition on the go, and do it with the smallest environmental footprint possible.”

“We believe the choices we make about what we eat, where it comes from and how it’s prepared have a direct and powerful impact on the health of individuals, communities and the environment.”

Cafe & Coffee Shop Mission Statement Examples

Starbucks .

“To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.”

CC’s Coffee House

“To serve everyone better than anyone else .”

Philz Coffee 

“To better the days of everyone who walks in.”

Dunkin’ Donuts

“ We prioritize what you need to get you on your way. We strive to keep you at your best, and we remain loyal to you, your tastes and your time.”

Again, there’s no right or wrong way to develop a mission statement. Take your time and piece together a message that you can stand behind and others can believe in. 

Further Developing Your Restaurant Brand

Developing a restaurant mission statement is a component in further developing your restaurant’s brand. As you refine your brand you’ll also want to consider where it’s being placed. Some of the biggest brands in food service put their logo on everything and you may want to as well. You might even want to print your restaurant mission on your disposable promotional items.

Budget Branders is a market leader in affordable custom disposable restaurant products. Our branding consultants can help you design and develop custom printed cups and bags that will allow your brand to really stand out at an affordable rate. Print your restaurant logo or restaurant mission on our custom stadium cups , custom coffee cups , custom dessert bowls , custom deli bowls , custom napkins , custom sandwich bags , custom paper bags , and more. Call (888) 373-4880 or fill out a contact form to speak to a brand consultant today.

David Kranker

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Business Plan Template: Restaurant

This easy-to-use business plan template is designed to help aspiring restaurant owners set their plans into motion. Download now to start working on your plan.

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A restaurant business plan provides the foundation for your business. Not only is a detailed business plan the key to your restaurant’s success, but it also outlines your vision by detailing how your business will take shape and operate.

• Highly customizable – Easily add your concept, ideas and information into the editable template.
• Prompts and examples – Not sure where to start? Our examples help you craft a detailed business plan that’s ready to present to potential partners and investors.
• Open-ended template – Get started quickly by filling out the sections that are relevant to your business. Skip the sections you don’t need.

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How to Write a Restaurant Business Plan [with a Template & Instructions]

Feb 3, 2022

A restaurant business plan can help you put the “business” in your restaurant. After all, restaurants aren’t just about offering hospitality , serving your favorite recipes or creating a cozy ambiance. They need to generate revenue to support you and your employees. With a business plan serving as your blueprint, you can stay focused on meeting your goals and running a lasting enterprise.

In this guide to creating and using your restaurant business plan, you’ll learn:

What is a restaurant business plan?

A restaurant business plan is a document that explains the who, what, where, when, why and how of your restaurant. It serves as a source of truth for your vision for the business, and can help you stay accountable to your goals and stakeholders. A typical business plan includes sections on your restaurant’s concept and team, the competition, your marketing plan, financial projections, an executive summary and more. 

Why is it important to have a restaurant business plan?

Writing a business plan is a critical step on the road to becoming a restaurant owner . This document helps keep everyone involved in starting and managing the business aligned on goals and means. A business plan gives you direction and holds you accountable as you make decisions.

It’s also a helpful tool to share with potential investors. A business plan shows that you’re serious about the business, have done your research on the competition and target market and understand the risks and key financial and regulatory aspects of running a business.

How to write a restaurant business plan

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of exactly what you should include in the business plan for your restaurant.

Executive summary

The executive summary serves as both an introduction to the business plan and a summary of everything else found in the document. Write it as a high-level overview of your plan, and write it last so you can pull from other sections.

Business introduction

Start with the basics of your business, including the restaurant’s name, its mission and values, your concept and a sample menu .

If you need help conjuring a business mission and values, consider your restaurant’s purpose. Why does it exist? What does your business stand for?

When describing the concept, you can be straightforward (e.g., a fast-casual Vietnamese restaurant), but you can also add color by including your inspiration for the business. For example, you could share that you want your restaurant to be the Chipotle of Vietnamese food to help make the cuisine more accessible and widespread. 

Include a sample menu that you and potential investors can reference as you finalize the dishes you’ll serve.

Explain who will be in charge of running your restaurant or bar . Will it be you, or will you hire a CEO or general manager ?

Describe which roles you will need to hire for and when you plan on doing that. Include an organizational chart for future reference. And, since the restaurant industry is notorious for high employee turnover , it’s important to explain what you plan to do to retain hospitality staff .

List any kinds of external consultants you plan to engage, like an accountant or marketing agency.

The financial analysis section of your restaurant business plan is one of its most important. Writing one is a useful exercise that helps you plan and understand where the funds to start your business are coming from, and how you will spend that money and your revenue.

Include insights about your funding sources . Where will the money to support your startup costs – and keep it running until it’s profitable – come from? Personal savings, friends and family, investors? How much money will you need to start the business?

Additionally, work out your operational budget . List how much you plan to spend on payroll, technology, furniture and decor, equipment, inventory and marketing. 

Next, include details about your business model and revenue streams . Most restaurants will start with on-premises dining, then may add additional revenue streams via online ordering , catering and selling merchandise.

Finally, include financial projections . How long do you anticipate it will take to become profitable? How much revenue do you think you’ll make in your first year of business?

In this section, explain where you will go for legal counsel and which licenses and permits you will obtain.

Create a plan for keeping up with labor regulations, such as fair labor practices , overtime and wage requirements. 

Designate a member of your team, like the general manager, to keep licenses up to date and ensure you’re complying with local regulations and are ready for health inspections.

Marketing analysis & plan

This part of your restaurant business plan should include the following sections:

Technology plan

Tech is a critical part of running an efficient, modern restaurant. Decide which restaurant technology you’ll need to run your business. As you research tech vendors, make sure the solutions you choose can grow with your restaurant.

Consider the following types of tools:

Create a timeline to mark milestones for the days leading up to your restaurant’s opening, and what you hope to accomplish in the years after opening day. Take inspiration for milestones from these examples:

Restaurant business plan template

Take a screenshot, copy and paste or print this restaurant business plan sample to kickstart the writing process.

(Summarize the rest of your restaurant business plan)

Proposed restaurant name: 

Mission and values:

Leadership team:

Hiring plan:

External consultants:

How will you fund the business?

How much money do you need to start the business?

What will your operational expenses be?

When will the business start making a profit?

Which licenses and permits will you need to obtain?

Market analysis & marketing plan

Where will the restaurant be located?

Competitive analysis:

SWOT analysis:

Price analysis:

Marketing plan:

Which tools and vendors will you be using?

CRM: SevenRooms

Reservations: SevenRooms

Online ordering: SevenRooms

Inventory management:

Accounting:

Leading up to opening day

Opening day:

6 months from opening:

1 year from opening:

5 years from opening:

Need more inspiration? Check out these restaurant business plan samples for more ideas.

Stay focused with a restaurant business plan

Creating a restaurant business plan can help you stay focused on your goals and prove to external stakeholders and potential investors that you’re serious about the business. While the specifics of your restaurant will change between its grand opening and several years in operation, a business plan can keep you accountable to your original goals and vision. Use our restaurant business plan template to start jotting down your ideas.

SevenRooms can help you achieve your business goals by equipping you with the technology you need to run a successful restaurant. Request a demo today.

FAQs about restaurant business plans

​​1. what is a business plan for a restaurant.

A restaurant business plan is the blueprint that outlines your vision, and explains in detail how the new business will take shape and operate once its doors are open.

2. Is it profitable to open a restaurant?

Restaurants are profitable, but have lower profit margins compared to other industries, which should be factored into your restaurant business plan.

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More From Forbes

Navigating the seas of startup success: a guide.

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Michael Shribman is president and founder at APS Global Partners Inc. and Medias Health Inc.

Embarking on the journey of creating your own startup might seem like a long and drawn-out process. For people just getting into this position, it's like sailing into uncharted waters. That being said, there is a sense of freedom that can come with this goal you have decided to pursue. The thrill and potential of prosperity draw countless individuals to entrepreneurship.

In this day and age, with social media being a way to reach millions of individuals, if done right, the dream of being an owner may only be a vision away. So, here is how you can begin setting up the sails of your ship and chart a course toward building a thriving new business.

Charting Your Course: From Vision To Action

Every successful startup begins with a vision. It could be as simple as an idea that addresses a pressing need or solves a significant problem in the world. This newfound passion ignites an entrepreneur's vision for a new product and propels them forward through the highs and lows of their new startup journey.

As such, you need to consider some key aspects before diving headfirst into a business. Ask yourself: What problem am I passionate about solving? How can I make a meaningful impact on this problem? Your answers serve as your North Star; follow it.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, market mastery: researching, analyzing and understanding.

Once you've identified your passion project and thought of ways to solve the issues within your idea, conduct thorough market research to validate that your idea will be profitable. Dive into your target market, and understand its demographics, behaviors and key points. Research any competitors to identify gaps and opportunities within the market that you can harness. This research will provide you with the insights needed to help you enhance your product or service to better suit the needs of your potential clients.

Plotting Your Path: Crafting A Detailed Business Plan

You have made it this far—great job. Now, you have reached a key factor in your success: creating an in-depth business plan. This document should outline your objectives, target market, competitive landscape, marketing strategy and financial projections. If you need funding to reach your goal, your business plan becomes an investor's road map to your company’s success and more money in their pockets.

Team Building: Finding Your Crew For Success

At this step in the game, you need to find your perfect team. Surround yourself with talented individuals who share your passion for your company and a drive to reach for the stars. Your team can bring fresh new perspectives, expertise and collective firepower to propel your startup forward. Use this team for collaboration, trust and open communication to foster innovation and beat out the companies you will be going against in the future.

From Concept To Creation: Developing Your MVP

You have the idea, the plan and the people. Now, you are at the product part of your journey, which requires creating a minimum viable product. This is a lower-end version of your idea or version. Your MVP is enough for the public to understand what your product is about but not enough to give it out to the real world. You need to use your MVP to address any issues your clients have and perfect it over time. This is when you gather feedback and refine your product based on user insights.

Customer Delight: Elevating Experiences In The Digital Era

In the digital age, customer experience reigns supreme. Delight your customers at every touchpoint, from seamless onboarding to responsive customer support. Build meaningful relationships, listen attentively to feedback and continually iterate to exceed expectations. Happy customers are not just loyal advocates but also invaluable sources of growth through word-of-mouth referrals.

Navigating Setbacks: Embracing Failure As A Stepping Stone

Your startup journey will have unexpected twists and turns, so set goals to move yourself away from rough seas. Furthermore, don’t be hurt by negative feedback; welcome it with open arms. Keep an eye on market trends, and be prepared to adapt your strategy to any situation that may show its face. Failure is not something to look down on yourself for; it is a lesson to learn from and evolve into the best version of yourself.

Steady Growth: Sustainable Strategies For Long-term Success

Soon, your startup will likely start to gain some traction. When it does, focus more on growth that is sure and steady instead of making grand promises, only to let people down from being unplanned for an influx of clients. Spend money on scalable systems, streamlined operations and diverse revenue streams to confirm long-term capability. Short-term gains are long-term failures.

Building a successful startup isn't easy. There will be setbacks, rejections and tough moments. Don't let emotions hinder you. Instead, use them as fuel to bounce back stronger. Keep pushing forward with determination.

Celebrating Victories: Finding Joy In Milestones

This is the most important part of my message to new start-up businesses: When you reach a milestone in your business, celebrate it with your team. If it seems like a small thing, don’t forget all the effort it has taken to secure the deal or how many "nos" you had to hear before the big "yes." Take in the little victories. So much hardship goes into creating an idea and so many doors slam in your face, so once you reach the "good stuff," breathe it in, my friend.

Building a successful startup business takes hard work, dedication, vision and resilience. With strategic execution, entrepreneurs can navigate the challenges and sail toward success.

So, set sail with a newfound confidence, embrace the challenge and dare to dream.

Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?

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Kim’s restaurant in Uptown vandalized overnight Saturday

Kim’s restaurant vandalized.

Kim’s restaurant in Uptown was vandalized overnight on Saturday after a cement slab and a full can of paint were thrown through one of the buildings windows, according to the restaurant.

The Korean-American restaurant run by chef Ann Kim, owner of Young Joni and Pizzeria Lola, will be closed for business on Saturday and said they plan to take their time thinking about any next steps.

A sign on the door at Kim’s on Saturday said in part, “The physical damage can and will be fixed, but that doesn’t mean the feeling of our space being violated, and our security being threatened, doesn’t bring a new level of angst.”

A spokesperson for Minneapolis police said officers responded to the restaurant around 7 a.m. on a report of overnight damage. Officials say nobody was in the business at the time of the vandalism.

No arrests have been made.

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Millcreek approves plan for BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse on site of former auto center

The developer of a new Millcreek Mall restaurant is finalizing plans for the site. 

The 7,662-square-foot BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse is planned for construction on a portion of the property previously occupied by Sears Auto Center, off Peach Street. A portion of that property already is occupied by Sonic restaurant.

Township supervisors approved a land development plan for the project submitted by Bohler Engineering of Pittsburgh in June 2023. Yet to come is a stormwater management plan for the site. 

The developer can apply for construction permits once that plan is approved, township officials said. 

BJ's Restaurants Inc. owns and operates more than 200 restaurants in 29 states, including four others in Pennsylvania, in Pittsburgh, Upper St. Clair, Allentown and Lancaster, according to the  company website .

The restaurant/brewhouse specializes in deep-dish pizza and craft beers.

Lighting up East Bayfront

● The Bayfront East Side Taskforce is gearing up to help light up the neighborhood in Erie's historic Historic East Bayfront.

As one of four recipients of the Safe Routes to Parks Pennsylvania Activating Communities 2023 grant and technical assistance program, B.E.S.T. conducted a nighttime audit of the neighborhood to identify areas that might benefit from additional lighting.

The organization purchased light-sensor LED light bulbs and developed a plan to install them — free of charge —– for interested residents as part of their Safe Routes to Parks action plan.

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For information on submitting an obituary, please contact Reading Eagle by phone at 610-371-5018, or email at [email protected] or fax at 610-371-5193.

Most obituaries published in the Reading Eagle are submitted through funeral homes and cremation services, but we will accept submissions from families. Obituaries can be emailed to [email protected] .

In addition to the text of the obituary, any photographs that you wish to include can be attached to this email. Please put the text of the obituary in a Word document, a Google document or in the body of the email. The Reading Eagle also requires a way to verify the death, so please include either the phone number of the funeral home or cremation service that is in charge of the deceased's care or a photo of his/her death certificate. We also request that your full name, phone number and address are all included in this email.

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Obituaries can be submitted for any future date, but they must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. the day prior to its running for it to be published.

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Business | Say Cheese! Restaurant in West Reading is closing

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Breaking News

Business | gov. mifflin wins piaa class 5a baseball title, subscriber only, the property is being sold; new owners plan to open a new restaurant..

The restaurant management posted the news on its Facebook page Wednesday evening.

“The closure is concurrent with a transaction to purchase Say Cheese’s assets and the buildings which house Say Cheese Restaurant, the Wine and Cheese Shop, Encrypted Escape, and six apartments,” the statement on Facebook reads.

The restaurant is owned by Adam Cocuzza, who announced May 30 that two other businesses he owns in West Reading — Nitro Bar and West Reading Motor Club — were closing indefinitely.

According to the Facebook statement about the Say Cheese! closing:

“The buyers of the assets are Massimo & Trisha Grande, Raffaele & Tina Cirandine. They will be establishing a new restaurant at 6th and Penn, maintaining this central Main Street site as a destination point for Berks County and beyond.”

The new owners of the Say Cheese! assets are West Reading restaurateurs. The four are owners of Nonno Alby’s Handcrafted Wood Oven Pizza, 701 Penn Ave.

Say Cheese! and the Wine and Cheese Shop are holding a closing sale through Saturday with food and bottled wine available at a 25% discount. Gift cards will be accepted through June 15, according to the post.

“We are very happy and grateful to our customers, our employees, our tenants, our Main Street business partners, the Borough of West Reading and WRCRF for their support over the last 13 years,” the Facebook post continued.

Cocuzza opened Say Cheese! in 2012, offering a menu that put the focus on cheese. In 2022, Cocuzza purchased the building next to the restaurant, connected the two and opened the wine and cheese shop in the adjacent space.

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Fells Point chef asks the mayor to cook up another plan

by Vincent Hill

Fells Point restaurant owner and chef, Ashish Alfred is speaking out about the recent disturbances in the area.

“I’m a chef and I know the recipe for bread pudding, mashed potatoes, steak. I also know the recipe for disaster is a bunch of children, being allowed to drink alcohol, carry guns and not being held accountable, leads to somebody being shot and somebody dying," said Alfred.

Just after 1 a.m. on Saturday, a 16-year-old girl was shot during yet another fight involving young people in Fells Point.

While police were investigating that, a group of young people jumped on a marked police vehicle and threw bottles at police.

ALSO READ | Chaotic weekend in Fells Point

Alfred is looking to the mayor to do more.

“I believe in our mayor and I believe, I believe he wants to do the things he says he wants to do. All I ask is why are we shutting the streets down instead of enforcing the law," said Alfred.

But, he's not just looking for the mayor to do more for the businesses of Fells Point, but also for the youth of the city.

“I’ve heard Mr. Mayor say that we can’t chastise black kids for being black and being outside. I agree. But I don’t believe we solve the injustices of this world, by dealing a generation of children, that they’re allowed to behave whoever they want, wherever they want," said Alfred.

ALSO SEE | PHOTOS: An unruly weekend in Fells Point

FOX45 cameras have been in Fells Point, after hours for several weeks.

They captured countless images of juveniles, some who appear to be well under the age of 18, freely walking past Baltimore Police.

“I’ve heard the mayor talk about an equitable Baltimore, for all of Baltimore. These children will never be able to take part in that equity, because the world will reject them. Because the world rejects people that do not know how to follow the rules, by respectful and do the right thing," said Alfred.