Follow the Recipe: How to Open a New Restaurant in Columbia, MO

Before Firing Up the Kitchen, Learn How to Start Your Restaurant Business in Mid-Missouri

Opening a restaurant can be one of the most successful and fulfilling businesses to pursue. Nothing beats the feeling of seating guests, giving them a pleasant dining experience, and letting them try amazing recipes that they’ll rave about to their friends. However, restaurants require a lot of involvement and preparation to get them off the ground, starting with securing a commercial space and fine-tuning management in the future. Your restaurant won’t be filling tables until it has the right combination of location, service, decor, and a memorable menu.

The Columbia, MO community is home to hundreds of popular eateries, both local and national, but you can break through and stand out by making smart choices before opening day. Remember these tips and call the Lindner Properties team when you’re ready to mix your ideas into the dream mid-Missouri restaurant!

Pin down the concept of your restaurant opening in mid-Missouri

First, you should have a concrete plan for what kind of restaurant you want to open. Once you have the answer to this question, it will help guide your choices for the rest of the process. If your setting is inconsistent with other features of the restaurant, it can confuse customers or lead to branding issues. As soon as you find the clear definition of your upcoming restaurant, it will be much easier to optimize the commercial space, whether that includes long tables for large parties or a self-ordering kiosk for fast food spots. Other ways to communicate your restaurant’s concept are creating a logo, building a website, and making calls to action on social media. Most restaurants in Columbia, MO can be simplified into the following categories: 

• Casual sit-down restaurant 
• Cafés
• Fast casual restaurant 
• Fine dining restaurant 
• Pop-up restaurant

Budget for a commercial space rental in Columbia, MO & gather funding for the restaurant

The main factor that will determine almost every decision moving forward is your budget. From the cost of furniture and cooking equipment to financing commercial real estate, you’ll need to crunch the numbers with an expert to make sure the project works within your limits. Many restaurant owners in central Missouri use multiple outside sources to support their funding rather than paying out of pocket with cash. The most common method is contacting a bank and applying for a commercial loan to cover the cost of the startup. For smaller restaurant owners, obtaining a business line of credit or a loan from the United States Small Business Administration can provide the short-term funding they need in the early stages. Other options include reaching out to private investors or requesting help through fundraising platforms.

One of the most important expenses for a mid-MO restaurant is the commercial property where it will open. Between the dimensions of the leasing space and the placement of your restaurant in high or low traffic areas of town, this will be a permanent choice that can dictate your business operations significantly. Take the extra time to analyze your location and who you want to target–age and income demographics are crucial to consider. Also, think about how the customer experience can be enhanced by your commercial space, considering how foot traffic, parking, and accessibility play a role in your new restaurant. 

Create a solid business plan to follow for managing your mid-MO restaurant

Every renowned company is the result of a secure business plan made by people who are passionate about their project. It will give your restaurant a strong sense of identity and appeal to stakeholders in the area (customers, investors, etc.) while also guiding you in your management from day one. A restaurant business plan will need to include some key components–the first being a company overview that lists your strengths and weaknesses and provides a summary of the restaurant. The next steps are drafting a menu and theme to follow, analyzing the competitive market, and filling out your restaurant staff. You should also determine what type of ownership will be appropriate for your new restaurant in mid-Missouri. For example, is it better to start an LLC or enter a sole proprietorship? These are just a few factors to consider when sculpting your restaurant business plan, and they can make business matters much simpler as the years pass for your Columbia, MO restaurant.

Curate a menu that will attract people to dine at your establishment in mid-Missouri

The best way to pull the public in and convince them that your restaurant is worth visiting is by serving unforgettable food. Your mid-MO restaurant’s menu needs to offer something unique, or if your cuisine is more traditional, it should bring something interesting to the table that entices customers to come back. Depending on the type of menu you create, this can also inform you on the kitchen equipment needed to cook the dishes: Mexican restaurants, breakfast diners, casual American bistros, and more will have differing needs to achieve your desired outcome. You should also calculate the menu prices carefully and find a balance that earns profit without turning visitors away. A good menu and a good location? Your restaurant in mid-Missouri will be more than ready to open!

Use your commercial space in Columbia, MO to your advantage & design the best restaurant layout

Atmosphere can take any restaurant from dull to divine, and it’s essential that you choose the most appealing design for both the front and back of the establishment. The back-of-house layout is what you and your employees will mostly be seeing, as this is typically where the kitchen, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, and other stations are located. This section of the restaurant should give the staff room to navigate, be easy to keep clean, and allow the chefs to prepare and plate the most delicious meals possible. The front of your restaurant is where customers will be greeted by the host and dining at their table, so this side will involve much more interior design. You can use ample seating, comfortable furniture, artwork, plants, and any other decorations to send an inviting message to anybody who walks through the door.

Ensure your mid-Missouri restaurant has proper licensing & permits 

Certification is a necessary part of the restaurant industry because serving food requires specialized knowledge about health and safety. One bad case of food poisoning or a failed health inspection could mean closing down your business in mid-Missouri for good. If you are opening a restaurant that serves alcoholic beverages, you also must ensure that you have a liquor license. In addition to permits and a business license, restaurant owners must obtain an employer identification number (EIN) for hiring employees and making their identity known to the IRS. The sooner you can finish this phase and receive your proper licensing, the closer you will be to your dream restaurant in mid-MO!

Start loading restaurant equipment into your Columbia, MO commercial space

The business will seriously start feeling real once it’s time to pack your restaurant inventory. When it comes to the equipment used in the kitchen, you shouldn’t put your faith in cheap, unreliable products. Most restaurants in central Missouri need the following basics: grills, prep tables, ovens, refrigerators, and fryers. The freshest way to begin is with new equipment that works efficiently and has warranties. However, reliable kitchen equipment doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a little research and testimonial reviews, you can find used kitchen appliances that are still capable of running smoothly; or, some companies lease equipment for restaurant owners in the Columbia, MO area.

Build a strong team of employees for your restaurant in mid-MO

A booming restaurant is nothing without a dependable staff that supports one another while also fulfilling their individual roles. The environment can get stressful during a dinner rush or happy hour, so it is important to maintain a positive team of employees. From servers to bartenders to the head chef, everybody contributes and can help you take your Columbia, MO restaurant to the next level. Make an effort to interview potential employees thoroughly and ask relevant questions that will guide your hiring decisions moving forward. If you’re building on your current staff, pay attention to areas that could be improved.

Market & advertise the new restaurant to draw in customers across central Missouri

You’ve worked so hard finding a commercial property, gathering permits, buying furniture, and the list continues–now you need to spread the word about your brand new restaurant! The more attention you can gain before opening, the more people you can expect to see in the first weeks of management. There are endless ways to share the news: publishing a website with information about the restaurant, posting across different social media platforms, creating directory listings online, and more. Be sure that the messaging of your advertisements connects to how you want your restaurant in mid-MO to be perceived, and that it makes sense with the kind of experience you provide.

Practice managing your mid-Missouri restaurant & open the business how you see fit

Now that all the pieces are fitting together, it is only a matter of time before your new restaurant is open to the public. Plenty of restaurants in Columbia, MO make it official by hosting a grand opening, typically a larger event with celebrations like music, speeches, and of course, food and drinks to try from a fresh menu! There are also what restaurants refer to as “soft openings”. Think of this as a trial run to get an idea of people’s reactions, which gives you the chance to tweak features about the restaurant later on. A soft opening hosts a limited group of guests, from the employer’s family members to friends of the wait staff. You can slowly release your menu, get the feedback you need, and come back stronger for the full opening.

We’ll Help You Set the Table for a Successful Restaurant in Columbia, MO. Contact Lindner Properties & Discover Our Commercial Real Estate Expertise

You have a vision, and we have the commercial space to get you there! Lindner Properties is Columbia, Sedalia, and Jefferson City, MO’s first team to call when you’re opening a business and need to find the optimal location for your audience. For more information, get in touch with our commercial property professionals now!