Restaurant consultants can certainly save you the hassle of going through a long learning curve. They come with experience and expertise.
If you’re facing troubles in your existing restaurant business or are looking at expansion options, it’s time to seriously consider going for a good restaurant consultant. Restaurant consultants are like an extension of you who can give you a third person point of view as well. This is why restaurant consultants can often recognize challenges and operational issues more clearly. It’s easy for owners to overlook their own problem areas and this is where restaurant consultants can play a very crucial part. The restaurant consultant can help you with multiple areas like situational analysis, problem-solving and strategic planning.
Most importantly, a restaurant consultant can help you dodge costly mistakes, thereby enhancing your profits and helping you with sustainable growth.
Here are 3 situations where you must seriously consider hiring a restaurant consultant:
1. When your restaurant is running in losses due to underperformance.
Have you noticed less footfall and depleting profits? Is your inventory costlier than expected? Are you overstaffed? If these kind of problems are hindering your business, then you need help from a professional restaurant consultant. The first sitting with them is usually free so that you can brief them about your problems. Restaurant consultants bring many years of experience to the table and are well aware of many situations, so they’re most likely aware of your situation already and are also aware of the solution. They can fix it for you quicker than you think. But firstly, they will start with an operational assessment to get clarity on the issues that you’re facing, after which they will explain the exact root of the problem to you. They will give you a roadmap to get out of the situation through a solution that works the best in your case. Depending on the kind of contract you have with them, you can also expect execution of the solution from them.
2. When you’re on your way to open a new restaurant.
Opening a new restaurant is no joke. It involves not only a lot of money but also planning and major risk. Working in a successful restaurant and venturing out on your own are two very different things. According to research, most restaurants don’t even run a year before they’re shut down because something or the other went wrong. The challenges of a new restaurant can be tricky and are very sensitive, which means they can quickly spiral out of control and before you know it, your restaurant is a big liability to you. Restaurant consultants can help you understand those challenges, from concept and feasibility to licensing and permitting. All of these are necessities that can’t be ignored and a restaurant consultant is definitely your best bet to get all of it done in time and in a proper manner.
3. When expanding your restaurant business
Firstly, it’s awesome news that you’re expanding your restaurant. It means that you’re doing good and you’re earning good profit. This is validation of your overall concept, choice of location, good business sense and service. Yes, it is amazing to be expanding from one unit to another or maybe many but you must understand that it is an incredibly tedious task. When you open the second restaurant, you’ve doubled your investment, costs, staff and also, the risk of failure. What works for one location, might not work for another. However, if done correctly, you will end up doubling your revenue and profit too. Hiring a consultant is a very wise decision at this point because they’re experts with scaling businesses. They’ll know exactly what works and what doesn’t when it comes to expansion. Not only will they know the right location, but will also know the kind of investment you need and an estimate of all costs involved. The best part is that they know the ‘don’ts’ besides knowing just what to do. They can also save you loads of time and shorten the path to profits while cutting down on mistakes you might be prone to making along the way.
Restaurant consultants play a pivotal role at multiple points of time in your business. Hiring one at the right time can totally change the date of your business. Their experience is your biggest benefit, as they help you build your dream restaurant while cutting costs and reaping more profits along the way. It’s easy to overlook the need of a restaurant consultant, especially if you’ve owned a restaurant business for a very long time. However, the value a restaurant consultant can add by saving you time and money, both in your process of climbing the ladder, far outweighs your doubts.
If any of the three points mentioned above hold true for you, it’s time you start the hunt for a specialized restaurant consultant who will make things both, easier and profitable for you and your restaurant business.
