How to Start a Seafood Restaurant
Opening a seafood restaurant can be an exciting career move. Being fully prepared before embarking on this journey is highly recommended. A solid business plan should be comprised before any steps are taken. Be sure to secure enough funding to see you through the first few months after opening to ensure your seafood restaurant has a good chance of survival.
- Decide on a name for the restaurant.
- Develop a solid business plan for opening and the first year.
- Secure funding with the Small Business Association (SBA), bank or investor, if needed. Use the business plan as a tool to help secure the funding you need.
- Incorporate or form an LLC. This protects private assets from being attached in case of a lawsuit or bankruptcy.
- Choose a location for the restaurant. A visible spot is best. Choose an area with lots of traffic for greatest exposure. Try to pick a place with limited or no seafood restaurants to provide something different in an area. Purchase or lease a former restaurant or empty space.
- Create a menu. If the seafood restaurant is in a town close to fisheries, base the menu on the seafood available to keep costs down. Determine what restaurant patrons are typically looking for when dining. Create signature dishes and recipes that will be unique to your place.
- Find out where to buy your seafood. Wholesale suppliers are used for restaurants inland, away from the coast. If your restaurant is near the coast, consider buying from local fishermen. Buying directly from local fisheries can save serious money.
- Modify an existing restaurant to your own décor or specifications.
- Purchase equipment such as tables, chairs, plates, serving trays and anything else a restaurant could need.
- Apply for licenses required by your state, including a liquor license if you intend to serve alcohol.
- Have all inspections complete prior to opening.
- Hire the staff. The staff will include cooks, wait staff, cleaning crew, bartenders, hosts and bussers. It may be necessary to hire an accountant to keep the restaurant's books and file the necessary taxes.
- Advertise and market the restaurant. Radio, newspaper and cable ads can bring in lots of business. Join the Chamber of Commerce in your area and network.
- Be sure to open slowly. Do not advertise until your staff is ready to handle a large number of clients. Doing a minimal amount of customers per day for at least a week can help stave off unwanted service problems.