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How to open a diner in your city? We give advice on how to start a business

Cafe is the most popular format of public catering establishments. It doesn't take a multi-million dollar to start this business. costs. With a good work of the cafe, it is easy to acquire a permanent loyal clientele. You can work in one place for decades and even pass this business on by inheritance.

But in order for the cafe to bring a constant stable income, before opening it, you need to study the key points of this business. Of course, nothing can replace your real experience, but still, it is worth knowing where to start if you decide to open your cafe from scratch.

For our users, we have written a book about opening a small cafe, where we have collected only practical recommendations, examples and calculations. This is a little more than just a step-by-step guide, so we highly recommend that you read it.

What will you learn by reading our book? Before you open your cafe, you need to answer a number of questions:

  • Where will you open a cafe? Will it be a shopping center, a busy street, a residential area or a closed area such as an office center, university, enterprise?
  • Are there enough potential customers out there? How to estimate the expected attendance of your cafe?
  • How are your competitors doing? What niche in the catering market can you occupy?
  • Where to buy equipment, furniture and utensils for your cafe?
  • How to legally resolve the issue with musical accompaniment?
  • What do you need to get permission to open a cafe?

Our instruction book will tell you where to start to open your own cafe. But we did not limit ourselves only to describing the procedure for opening a cafe. You will also learn how to evaluate the restaurant's menu for profitability, what are the performance indicators of a working cafe, what should your chef do, and what area of ​​responsibility should you control yourself.

How much does it cost to open a cafe from scratch

To understand how much money you need to open a cafe, you need to decide on the format of your establishment. At the preliminary stage of assessing the location, activities of competitors, possible attendance, average bill, it is already possible to assume what daily income your cafe will bring. A good payback period for a cafe will be one year of full operation, and this is the starting point when calculating how much money you need to open your cafe.

All costs for opening a cafe from scratch can be divided into one-time and those that will have to be borne for the entire period of the cafe's operation. Let's collect this data in a table:

We did not indicate in the table the most important item of expenditure - for the premises, since the situation here may be different:

  • Do you already have your own cafe space?
  • Are you planning to buy a property?
  • cafe space will be rented.

Most often, the premises for a cafe are rented. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, areas where there is good attendance are often located in shopping centers, where premises can only be rented. Secondly, renting rather than buying premises reduces the cost of opening a cafe. Thirdly, despite all the preliminary calculations, the location of the cafe may turn out to be unsuccessful.

You need to rent a space for a cafe wisely. About what you need to pay attention to when concluding a lease agreement with the owner, we told in our book. Well, if the premises are yours, congratulations, your risks when opening a cafe from scratch will be much less.

In each case, the amount of expenses when opening a cafe from scratch will be different. In our book, we calculated in detail and to the smallest detail the cost of opening a summer-type cafe for 20 people. One-time costs amounted to 500 thousand rubles, plus 330 thousand rubles were fixed costs for the first month of the cafe, taking into account the lease of the premises. Total, 830 thousand rubles.

For business starters, we advise you to consider the option of a franchise in the field of catering. Opening a franchise cafe in some cases will be cheaper, due to the fact that the franchisor is interested in promoting his brand. For example, he may offer you equipment in installments, for rent, or even for free use. Of course, he will reimburse his expenses later when he receives monthly payments from you, but at the first stage, running a franchise cafe will help you start making a profit faster.

When choosing a franchise, keep in mind that the cost and income examples in the franchisor's proposal may not be entirely accurate. The franchisor is interested in selling you a franchise, so recalculate all the figures yourself and add those costs that are not taken into account in his rosy picture.

Are you planning to start your own business? Do not forget about the current account - it will simplify doing business, paying taxes and insurance premiums. Especially now, many banks offer favorable conditions for opening and maintaining a current account. You can get acquainted with the offers on our site.

How to open a cafe from scratch: a business plan

Do I need a business plan to open a cafe? If we talk about a professionally written document with formulas, graphs and market research, then it will cost a lot. Unfortunately, even an expensive document prepared by specialists will not guarantee you the declared income figures. A business plan is just a plan; only the cost figures will be more or less accurate in it.

Nevertheless, before you open your own cafe, you must definitely calculate its revenue side. Yes, it will only be assumed, but you have to imagine what you can expect with a good organization of the cafe.

We propose to replace a professional business plan for opening a cafe with an example with calculations of expenses and revenues. You can also find such an example in our book. In this example, we calculated not only the amount of expenses, but also how many visitors should enter the cafe, what should be the average bill, and what could be the payback period of your cafe.

What documents are needed to open a cafe

What permissions are needed to open a cafe? A cafe is a public catering enterprise, and such establishments are under increased attention of supervisory authorities. Answering the question: “What does it take to open a cafe?”, we must draw your attention to the presence of certain bureaucratic barriers.

Unfortunately, the process of obtaining permits for opening a cafe can take you a lot of time. The procedure itself is not explicitly spelled out in any regulatory act, because approvals must be obtained in different services.

The package of documents for opening a cafe in 2019 will include:

  • coordination with the fire inspectorate;
  • sanitary and epidemiological conclusion from Rospotrebnadzor on the compliance of the cafe with the requirements;
  • permission to open a cafe from the local administration;
  • permission to place outdoor advertising;
  • a license to sell alcohol, if you sell it;
  • coordination with the police on the placement of a panic button.

The most difficult thing will be to get permission from Rospotrebnadzor to open a cafe, because. for this, it is necessary to comply with the requirements of several special documents (SNiP). During the issuance of the conclusion, Rospotrebnadzor will request contracts for disinfection, garbage disposal, laundry services, a technological project for connecting equipment to electricity, water, sewerage, and other documents. Further, a program of sanitary production control will be approved, according to the plan of which further activities will be checked. We advise you not to conclude a lease until you know the sanitary requirements for your type of cafe. It is possible that the room you have chosen may not correspond to them at all.

It is easier to open a cafe in a room where there was already a catering point, or in a shopping center in the format of a food court, where the administration of the shopping center will provide some assistance in obtaining permits.

You can answer what documents are needed to open a cafe in Russia in specialized law firms that help in obtaining various kinds of licenses, approvals, permits. It is no secret that connections, knowledge of the procedure, regional peculiarities are of great importance in this matter, therefore, if you have the opportunity to order such services, you should take advantage of this.

In any case, do not despair, you can get permits to open a cafe on your own, especially since you only need to do this once. Look how many active catering outlets are around, they all managed to overcome these bureaucratic obstacles. You can too.

If you advise your managers not to be afraid to make mistakes, make sure you don't make the same mistakes first (Akio Morita)

If a businessman does not have large material investments, but has knowledge of the features of the catering industry, as areas with a quick payback and a high level of profitability, then you should seriously start opening a snack bar or fast food cafe (fast food). Fast foods are popular among the population, so the business must quickly reach profitability. A business plan is a key element in achieving success in this business.

Short review

For the purpose of profitability and self-sufficiency, much attention should be paid to the location of the institution. And of course, do not forget about a good menu, high-quality, hearty and fresh dishes. Cleanliness, comfort, simplicity in design and ease of use are important factors for this kind of cafe.

It is unlikely that cafes on wheels are suitable in this case, but establishments with high tables and a good selection of dishes will be quite appropriate. The number of customers will increase, and, accordingly, income will grow.

Organization

Before you start writing a business plan for a fast food diner, you need to choose an idea and form of organization. So, if you do not sell alcoholic beverages, then it will be enough to register as an individual entrepreneur. If the establishment will sell alcoholic beverages, then it is necessary to issue a license and register a limited liability company.

In order to avoid mistakes and speed up the process of paperwork, it is necessary to consult a competent lawyer. Basically, in order to open public catering establishments, the list of documents must include the results of a sanitary and epidemiological survey of the premises, which is drawn up by Rospotrebnadzor.

Range

In the menu of establishments of this type, the assortment is not wide, mainly these are dishes from semi-finished products that are quickly prepared.

For example:

  • hot dogs with different fillings,
  • hot dumplings,
  • variety of sandwiches.

The menu also includes drinks:

  • carbonated mineral water,
  • several types of coffee
  • different juices,
  • black and green tea,
  • draft beer.

The amount of funds needed to start depends on the cost of the necessary equipment.

The opening hours of the diner establishment must be set, focusing on customers, since the flow of customers directly affects profitability.

Diner location

The business plan of the diner must also include the location. It is advisable to open a snack bar where there is a flow of people. People who have little time for meals prefer to have a bite to eat in inexpensive but comfortable eateries with a good menu.

Such establishments can be located:

  • in various markets
  • railway and bus stations,
  • parking places and service for truckers.

If at the same time the cafe has a good menu, fresh and tasty dishes, high-quality work of the staff, then the success of the institution will be ensured. There is one more condition - lack of competition.

Necessary equipment

Choosing the necessary furniture and kitchen utensils, you must purchase:

  • pasties (if you have pasties on the menu),
  • coffee machine
  • Microwave,
  • various utensils,
  • electric meat grinder,
  • refrigerated showcase for storing ready meals.

This is a basic list of equipment required for that type of establishment. The amount of furniture and equipment needed will depend on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. So, if it is a small room, then high tables and chairs are best suited. If the room is spacious, then you can get by with standard plastic tables and chairs, which in the summer in hot weather can be taken out into the street. This will increase the client flow.

Service staff

For the operation of the cafe, about five people of service personnel will be needed, namely:

  • several sellers
  • Chef,
  • several or one dishwasher.

Costs and income

The profitability of the institution will directly depend on the client flow, since the prices for products are quite low.
All expenses can be divided into two types: initial investments and current expenses.

The initial investment in the diner consists of:

Current expenses include:

At the same time, the daily income should be eight thousand rubles, this is taking into account the average client flow.

Which means:

Summary

The break-even point of this type of institution will be no more than five months, which indicates the attractiveness of such a business for investment.

Human beings need food every day. But he does not always have time to cook something on his own. Not everyone will choose an expensive restaurant for a snack, most will prefer something more budgetary. Therefore, a cafe, snack bar or coffee shop will definitely be in demand. What does it take to start a business in this area?

official registration

Before opening a diner, you will need to obtain all the necessary documents. First of all, you need to register a legal entity.

Individual entrepreneurship can also be chosen as an organizational and legal form, but then alcoholic beverages will have to be excluded from the menu.

If you plan to implement them, open an LLC. This form will allow, for example, to enter into cooperation agreements with nearby companies, where you can deliver hot meals. Among other things, you must have documents for the premises of the diner, certifying the lease or purchase of space. If you're thinking about opening a food truck, you'll need a separate permit that specifies where you can stop and trade.

Visit to Rospotrebnadzor

A package of documents deserves special attention, which will need to be collected before the opening of the institution for the state supervisory authority. You will need papers such as a production control program, a contract for disinsection, deratization, solid waste removal, disposal of fluorescent lamps and the use of dry cleaning and laundry, a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion, as well as a book of reviews and suggestions.

Only after submitting all these documents to the appropriate institution and obtaining official permission, you will be able to start serving visitors. Do not be afraid of such an impressive list. Rospotrebnadzor often conducts practical consultations on how to open an institution, and generally tries to accommodate small businesses, so almost any difficulty can be eliminated.

Placement of the establishment

For the optimal choice of location, you need to conduct a preliminary study. Try to choose a busy street with high traffic. It is desirable that there are clothing or grocery stores, office centers or educational institutions nearby, it is also a good idea to place a snack bar near a train station or a transport stop. Of course, you should pay attention to competitors.

Ideally, there should be no food establishments nearby, but this is not necessary. Competitors may not be able to cope with the flow of customers, the quality of their products may be inferior to yours. High-class service and delicious food will surely attract visitors to your establishment. Just study the competitor's menu and chat with customers, find out what they like and don't like. Only then can you make a choice of the optimal location.

Equipment and furniture

In the business plan of the diner, it is necessary to include the cost of interior decoration. You will need chairs and tables for visitors, as well as equipment. Purchase counters, refrigeration units, showcases and cabinets, this is the basic equipment of any establishment. If finances do not allow the purchase of a new one, rent or buy a used one.

Everything can be gradually replaced in the coming months. Among other things, you may need a microwave, a pancake maker, a deep fryer, a grill, a hot dog machine, a coffee machine, kettles, a vertical grill and a donut machine. Decide what exactly you want to include on your menu and purchase the appropriate device before you open a diner. If funds do not allow, new items can be added after the opening, when some income appears.

Interior

It is important that visitors feel comfortable in the diner. Perhaps you will come up with some original idea that can be implemented in the design of the hall, menu and associated with the list of dishes. Or maybe just decorate everything in neutral colors.

The main thing is that the room should be cozy and comfortable. Chairs and tables should be comfortable, the showcase should allow a good view of the goods displayed in it.

If you are not sure that you can take into account all the subtleties yourself, seek the help of a professional designer who can think over the interior for you according to the budget that you are ready to invest in it.

Menu planning

Researching the preferences of potential customers will help you decide on dishes. You can learn about them even when choosing a place to stay, by interviewing visitors to neighboring establishments. In order for a mini-snack or cafe to be in stable demand, it is important to ensure that the food offered is prepared quickly. That is why semi-finished products are most often used for dishes.

But they should also be of the highest quality, be sure to take this into account in the procurement process. Delicious and quickly prepared food will guarantee that visitors will return to you again and again, as well as tell friends and acquaintances about your establishment, providing the effect of the so-called word of mouth. The best solution would be to offer, for example, several soups and main courses, vegetable and meat salad, sandwiches, some snacks and drinks.

Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes can bring additional income, but special licenses are required to sell them, so try to figure out right away how serious the benefit will be. If the profit from such a group of goods is unlikely to be large, it is better not to start selling.

Recruitment

Before you open a diner, you should recruit workers. If you plan to sell burgers from the counter and only provide high tables for customers, no chairs, one employee will be enough for you.

The restaurant business is becoming more and more popular in Russia. Now you can open a cafe or bar of exactly the kind that you have always dreamed of. It can be a mini cafe or a fast food restaurant. Perhaps you want to open a pastry shop or make the first children's cafe in the area.

There are a lot of options, but what are the first steps you need to take to open a cafe? Where to start a business plan and what to look for when it is the first project?

Choosing a place for a successful institution

The first key point in creating an institution where you can eat is the choice of premises. The success or failure of the project will depend on it. You can make a chic renovation, create a unique atmosphere and hire a brilliant chef. But if the wrong area is chosen, then there will be no visitors: the cafe and the ticket office will be empty day after day. Unfortunately, there are many such examples among those who think

The business plan starts with finding the area. When choosing a foothold, pay attention to the condition of the main communication systems. Pay attention to the availability of sewerage, water supply and heating. A good option would be to buy out the old dining room, where there is already a kitchen. It is harder and more expensive to build a new cafe from unsuitable for cooking, but cheaper premises: hangars and warehouses.

Most eateries and bars open in residential areas.
If there was already a dining room, pub or restaurant at this place, then everything is in order, you can open a cafe in a residential building. But if you decide to open a cafe for the first time, where to start the process to avoid a lot of pitfalls? If the sounds of music and the aromas of the kitchen become uninvited guests of the residents' apartments, then problems can begin very quickly. Therefore, it is worth taking care of good zoning of the room, sound insulation and exhaust hood in advance. If the residents find the neighborhood inconvenient, the cafe can simply be closed.

Rent or buy?

Renting is not the best option. Especially when it comes to a large cafe. The rent tends to grow, and not because of the good economic situation in the country. If you suddenly decide to move, then the repair and clientele will remain with the owner. Most of the venerable, established restaurateurs opened their business by buying out the property. After that, the institution can be advertised on a large scale, realizing that the cost of PR is an investment in the future. In addition, if the project does not take place for some reason, you can always rent out your space, but it is more difficult to sublease.

Before opening, it is worth contacting specialists in order to find out whether it is profitable to open a cafe, take into account all legal regulations and guest requirements. Based on these recommendations, a project plan is drawn up. After the cafe business plan is received, an example of it must be submitted to Rospotrebnadzor. After coordinating the project with government agencies, you can start repairing and redevelopment.

A meal with good taste

It is very important to choose a single concept and style of a restaurant or cafe. What audience do you want to work for? Who do you want to see among the guests? The answers to these questions will help you understand the values ​​of your potential visitors and develop a suitable image. Do not forget to take into account your ideas, because now your personal dream is being realized.

It does not matter what level of restaurant you are planning to open - it is important to find your "zest" around which the concept will be built. Think about what is the criterion that will distinguish your shop from all the others? This question will help you successfully open a cafe.

How to implement a business plan?

The first step is to conduct segmentation and risk assessment. Enthusiasts often skip these stages, underestimating the weaknesses of the enterprise and the strengths of competitors. In addition, at this stage it is worth calculating the cash costs, finding out

A working cafe business plan is an example of good preparation. It is impossible to make it without an accurate portrait of a potential client, his social income, tastes, lifestyle.

Right now, the question is being decided where the cafe will receive the main profit from: due to a large turnover or a high markup? If, say, your typical guest is a young student who likes to spend time with friends, consuming chips and light beer, then expensive gourmet meals are unlikely to be appreciated by him. He will not understand the fabulous prices for a cream of 30 ingredients and a goose liver prepared according to a special recipe. This business planning option is likely to end in failure, despite the fact that you will be able to open a cafe.

Getting Started: Documentation and Registration

This will require a package of documents.

Firstly, only an entrepreneur can do business in our country. You must first open an LLC or IP.

Second, build the following documentation package:

  • permission to place an institution issued by Rospotrebnadzor;
  • permission obtained from the fire safety authorities;
  • confirmation of the compliance of the premises with sanitary standards (lease agreement, staff medical books, state registration certificate, permission for raw materials and commercial products);
  • licenses for the sale of retail, alcohol and tobacco;
  • a license for trading activities in a given territory (issued by local governments);
  • start notification.

Federal Law No. 294-FZ of December 26, 2008 “On the Protection of the Rights of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs in the Implementation of State Control (Supervision) and Municipal Control” regulates this activity.

A legal entity (entrepreneur) provides the necessary documentation to Rospotrebnadzor at its actual location. The completed notification is supplemented with a copy-extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (Entrepreneurs), as well as a copy of the certificate of registration with the tax authorities. These documents are enough to open a cafe.

Getting Started

The work of even the smallest catering is unthinkable without equipment. In order to brew a cup of coffee or make ice cream, you need a technical base. It is necessary to think over all the details at the design stage of the room.

All equipment should be as functional and practical as possible, durable, meet the requirements for bars, restaurants and cafes. Otherwise, the technique simply will not pay off.

Modern appliances allow you to quickly prepare high-quality dishes. But high productivity is not only the result of a powerful technical base of the institution, but also the ability of the staff to work on it. It is very important to hold a master class for employees after buying a new car.

The right equipment will increase the profitability of the business, while the wrong machines will lead to losses.

Furnishings and furnishings

This is another important issue that you should devote your attention to before opening a cafe. Where to start building a situation? A profitable solution would be to order a set of furniture designed in a single design. However, this is an exclusive option - it is always more expensive. You can buy ready-made furniture. If a cafe is the first such enterprise, then cheap furniture will serve as a model to better see the needs of the institution by its example. It will be easier to order the right furniture next time.

Human factor: we select talented staff

The number of employees will depend on the sales volume of the establishment. All roads in the "edal" are reduced to the cook. He is like a captain on a ship. The chef should not only cook delicious dishes, but also decorate them beautifully. It is very good if you know your future chef in advance, even at the stage when you are developing a business plan for a cafe.

An example, when a case is opened under a well-known master, will definitely not go unnoticed in the city.

The ideal composition of the kitchen is the chef, the required number of cooks and dishwashers. There should be two such trains - for a shift work schedule. The right hand of the owner - the chef - must cook quickly, while not compromising the quality of the dishes, since in such places there are quite often influxes of visitors.

If the chef is the soul of the establishment, then the next group of workers is his face. Bartenders, waiters, administrators personally address the client. The impression that the hall manager makes when meeting guests can be a turning point in a future relationship.

If you have no experience in hiring workers, then try the following advice. Remember your favorite place and try to talk to its owner about the choice of staff. Find out from him the details of how to open a cafe. The business plan of his idea is already living within the walls of the institution, and perhaps his advice will save you from financial and emotional disasters. The successful experience of a colleague is always priceless for someone who knows how to learn.

Any owner will tell you that you should not choose employees based on just good looks. Sometimes administrators, like waiters, have to find themselves in very delicate situations where they need to defend the honor of the institution and not lose the client. Here, of course, you need quick wits, resourcefulness. Such a person can make mistakes, but should not let the owner down. The ability to resolve conflicts peacefully is a precious talent, so pay your employees for it when calculating salaries.

A good waiter is also an excellent seller who will be able to offer exactly what the client wants or does not yet know what he wants.

In order for the cafe to be inexpensive, you can invite an already established team there, or at least the backbone of a team that has worked together for quite some time. This will help make the work process quick and harmonious. This is the important nuance that unfavorably distinguishes new establishments from venerable chains.

"Delicious" day

So, when the basic procedures are completed, and you can invite guests, the stage of purchasing food comes. Of course, if you have not invested in advertising and do not expect an influx of visitors on the first day, then you can gradually improve the menu, finalizing the kitchen. And yet you have traveled this path for the sake of success, and the success of the institution is its full house. Food is a perishable commodity, but it is better to stock up on it in excess than to be left with a full hall and empty refrigerators, explaining that you have just been able to open a cafe.

Where to start shopping? This question is worked out quite well in chain coffee shops. They have well-established deliveries with the best suppliers for the network, and when opening a new point, the franchise owner will already have an approximate estimate, telephone numbers for coordinating purchases. You can use this experience on your own, especially if you are going to discover where there is where to gain experience.

"Eatable" budget

A good advantage of large cities like Moscow is the ability to borrow or take part of the equipment for free.

Suppliers can provide free of charge. In addition, venerable firms with deep pockets offer free souvenir accessories to attract customers. Bar mugs, ashtrays and even furniture with logos. All this will be an invaluable contribution to those who are eager to open a cafe inexpensively. Part of the equipment, such as a microwave or a kettle, it is quite possible to bring from home.

If you open a cafe in an average Russian city, then there will be other advantages. There is no need to invest in interior design and diversify the menu every week. You don’t need fabulous advertising and a glamorous image of the institution. This may even scare off visitors who understand the word "comfort" differently than "metropolitan things".

The first major expenses will be advertising, wages and food costs. The first months are usually unprofitable, but do not despair if you have already managed to open a cafe. Where to start in this situation is to gut the "financial cushion". This is the amount that is initially budgeted for a similar period. After the company becomes on a flat course, the costs will relate mainly to the repair and renewal of equipment.

In a hurry: how to open a fast food cafe?

If you decide on the type of cafe, then it is worth noting that the demand for fast food is very high.

The fact is that this type of food is suitable for poorer groups of the population due to the low cost of lunch and office workers who snack on the go. This creates a certain blur in the client's portrait, but brings other criteria of the project to the fore.

A fast cafe should be located in a place with high traffic of people. You need to stand out from the competition. To do this, it is enough to open a mini-cafe at least around the corner from the shopping center where the rival is located: the main thing is that the flows of people do not intersect.

From a legal point of view, it takes as much work to open a fancy restaurant as to open a fast food restaurant. But investments in the second will be ten times less. The owner of such a business mostly invests in primitive kitchen equipment and rental space.

The smallest gourmets

Toddlers are also connoisseurs of gourmet cooking. But they value rather something else. How to open a children's cafe in your city and not miscalculate? It should be noted that this is still an unfilled niche in Russia, while in the West there is a children's cafe in every crowded place, and a children's menu in every self-respecting restaurant.

Here, of course, special attention should be paid to the design of the room so that the kids feel comfortable. It is better to invite a designer and consult with animators, because they will arrange holidays and events here. Perhaps you should choose one stylistic line, a fairy tale, an era. The entourage should evoke a feeling of comfort and recognition in children, and fabulousness in their parents.

A good place for a children's restaurant would be where there is a kindergarten, a clinic for kids or a playground nearby. It is quite enough to make a hall for 60 seats and fill the menu with bizarrely shaped pasta, soups and delicious cereals - with such a base you can already open a cafe.

confectionery business

This is the most fertile ground for investment. To open a diner with one oven, 100 thousand dollars is enough. Therefore, opening a cafe-confectionery is quite simple.

This establishment will delight guests with fresh pastries and a hot drink. By the way, what they come to the confectionery for is delicious bakery products, and they are good only fresh. Therefore, this type of cafe does not need a cook, but a baker.

The profitability of the business reaches 30% with an investment of 400 thousand dollars.

Confectioneries are very different. These can be art trams at metro stations where you can buy muffins and tea bags. But it can also be a confectionery house with a century of history, where real works of art are made. And people are willing to pay for tasty and beautiful carbohydrates.

A diner is a type of catering establishment that is designed to quickly serve a large number of visitors, and the menu is mainly a limited number of dishes of simple preparation. In fact, these are varieties of a canteen in its classic style. This format of institutions came to us from the times of the USSR, then they were especially popular. In our time, this type of establishment has evolved a bit, due to technical solutions, modern renovation and an interesting menu, but the philosophy has remained the same.

In this article, we will consider a diner business plan with which you can open such an institution in your city.

The competition in this segment is high, but at the same time, a narrow specialization in one of the areas of dishes can make it possible to stand out from the competition. Unlike modern cafes, the diner's menu is dominated by homemade dishes that everyone is used to eating, and the price tag for lunch is quite low, these are the factors that make them so popular among both young people and the older generation. Some craftsmen even organize such establishments on wheels, in mobile kiosks, segmenting, for example, into dumplings or dumplings.

Institution format

Eateries are divided into two main types: general and specialized. The first type implies the presence of a wide range of menus, and the second, profile, presents certain types of dishes in its assortment, for example, dumplings, dumplings and others.

The choice of the format of the institution depends on many reasons, such as competition, initial capital, target audience.

We will focus on a universal type of diner, with full meals, which will include first, second and drinks.

We draw up documents

In order to comply with all legal requirements and work according to the law, you need to draw up a package of documents.

Here is what you will need:

  • register as an IP.
  • specify OKVED for activity. For Russia, this is 55.30. For Ukraine - 56.10.
  • permits from the SES and fire supervision are needed.
  • lease or sale agreement for the premises.
  • recruit staff, employees must have medical books.
  • visitor's corner with a book of complaints.
  • waste collection contract.
  • certificates for products and equipment.

This is the basic set of documentation. The best thing to do when starting a fast food business is to contact an experienced lawyer who will help you get all the permissions and certificates, and you will be sure that you did everything right.

We are looking for a room

Finding a place for a diner is a very responsible step. After all, it depends on him whether your institution will be successful.

The first and most important thing is the location of your establishment.

1.) Passing crowded place. Good options would be premises near universities, office buildings, train stations.

2.) Study the level of competition. If your area already has a general type of eatery, then it might be worth considering a profile establishment like dumplings.

3.) Your windows and entrance should face the entrance street, and there should be a bright sign above the entrance, and a stand with the menu for today near the entrance.

The second is the requirements directly to the premises. Before you open a diner, it is important to make sure that the premises meet the requirements of inspection services, namely SES and firefighters. And only then proceed to the final repair. Otherwise, you will have to redo it, and this is additional waste that is not provided for in the business plan.

Here are the main parameters of the room:

1.) The area of ​​the premises must be at least 100 sq.m.

2.) Availability of space for a kitchen, a lavatory, a room for staff and, of course, a hall for guests.

3.) Availability of communications (water supply, electricity, ventilation, heating and sewerage).

4.) Convenient access and parking for cars, or the presence of transport interchanges nearby.

Also take care of fire safety by installing an alarm.

Working on a menu for a diner

The first thing you should pay attention to is the most popular types of dishes. Potato pancakes, dumplings, dumplings, pancakes, various salads. All this should be present in your assortment.

An excellent solution would be complex lunches or breakfasts. If there are office centers or universities nearby, then the demand for such solutions will be constant.

After the final approval of dishes and drinks, order a design for your menu. Try to arrange everything according to a certain structure, for example, hot dishes - side dishes - desserts, etc.

If you do not plan to have your own bakery shop, then you can order the delivery of bakery products, as well as semi-finished products from suppliers in your area.

Remember, you should have delicious food, and home-cooked dishes, then a stable flow of visitors is guaranteed.

Equipment

After compiling the menu, you will see a clear picture of the equipment that will be required for their preparation. Let's take a look at what you will need to open a small diner.

  • hobs - from $ 250
  • gas oven - from $500
  • mixer - $70
  • toaster - $25
  • coffee maker - $200
  • juicer - $150
  • deep fryer - $300
  • refrigeration equipment - $1500
  • showcases and shelving – $2000
  • furniture - $3500
  • crockery — $400
  • tureen — $200
  • kitchen utensils and overalls - $600.

The list of equipment is far from complete, and it should be supplemented according to your own needs. In total, at the start you need to have at least $10,000 - $15,000.

In addition to appliances, you will need furniture for the hall and kitchen. Dishes will be a hotel cost item.

You also need to buy fixtures for bathrooms and audio equipment.

Staff

For the stable operation of the diner, you will need to hire qualified staff. It is desirable that people be responsible and already have experience in catering. Pay special attention to finding a cook, since the reputation of the institution will directly depend on his work, and do not spare money for his salary.

The staff may be as follows:

  • Cook.
  • waiters.
  • cleaning woman.
  • accountant.

You can do the supply of products, in a cafeteria cafe yourself, and the duties of an accountant can be performed independently. Your main task at the start is not to inflate the budget for extra employees and work as much as possible yourself. You can delegate these tasks in the future.

How much does it all cost?

Now let's touch on the issue of start-up capital for opening a diner. You will calculate all these points in your business plan, we will indicate the main items of expenditure.

Starting investments:

  • redecoration of the premises - $110 per 1 sq.m.
  • purchase of furniture, utensils and equipment - $14,000
  • paperwork - $300
  • corporate identity (signboard, leaflets) – $200
  • initial purchase of products - $ 1900

Monthly investment:

  • rent for the premises - $10 - $15 per 1 sq.m.
  • utility bills – from $300
  • taxes - $200
  • staff salaries - from $ 200 per employee.
  • restocking products - $1100

Also here you need to take into account transport costs, if you will independently carry out the delivery of products to your institution.

Profitability

The profitability of this business is estimated at 35% - 50%.

With a well-constructed marketing plan and high quality food, you can recoup your investment in 1 - 1.5 years.

Conclusions. Opening a diner from scratch is a difficult but quite profitable business. The success of a business depends on the location of the institution and delicious food. Promotion occurs through recommendations to friends and an adequate pricing policy.