Why, wanting to invest in a business, do many entrepreneurs around the world choose the fast food industry?
Demand for fast food establishments is great not only in large megacities, but also in small regional cities. The food served in them has a rich taste and satiety. And this is not to mention the fact that its cost is several times lower than lunch in a full-fledged restaurant or cafe.
It is not surprising that many are interested in how to open fast food and start making money on it. And now you will learn some secrets of this popular business.
Step 1. Choose the format of the enterprise
The organization of fast food begins with the fact that you choose one of two formats of the enterprise: stationary or street.
To street fast food can be attributed retail outlets operating in the open air: mobile carts and counters, pavilions, kiosks and vans. Food is prepared right in front of customers and served there, on the street.
Stationary establishments are primarily pizzerias, bistros, small restaurants, coffee houses, etc. In recent years, so-called food courts, restaurant yards near shopping centers, have become increasingly popular.
However, all such institutions have one thing in common: the menu is based on dishes, the preparation of which requires a minimum investment of time.
To argue about which of these two formats is better is pointless - almost any outlet will bring its owner a good profit. Of course, only subject to the competent organization of the work process and the use of high-quality equipment and raw materials.
Step 2. Competitor Analysis
It is extremely important, when opening a private fast food, to analyze the activities of the main competitors (especially if you live in a big city). It is necessary to study the clientele, location, product range and pricing policies of other enterprises. In parallel, you can see the main mistakes made by your competitors and avoid them in your work.
Step 3. Registration of business and paperwork
The organization of fast food street format is possible for individuals registered as individual entrepreneurs. No additional licenses are required for trading. However, an important point is obtaining permits from the fire inspection and the sanitary-epidemiological service. In addition, you will need certificates of compliance of your equipment with relevant standards and documents confirming the quality of the products.
If we are talking about a full-fledged fast food cafe, it would be more logical to register a legal entity LLC.
Step 4. Choosing a room
Being interested in how to open fast food, you should focus on places that are characterized by a large crowd of people. A great option is the location near shopping and office centers or directly on their territory. In this case, you will ensure a stable flow of customers.
At your disposal should be at least 5 rooms (including a kitchen, a trading floor, a warehouse, a toilet and premises for staff).
High-quality repairs must be carried out in the premises, all communications (electricity, hot and cold water, heating, gas, etc.) must be carried out.
Step 5. Purchase of equipment
Now let's talk about what equipment is necessary for fast food. The more diverse units you use, the more opportunities you will have to expand the product range.
The standard set of equipment for organizing the work of a fast food establishment includes:
- apparatus for making hot dogs;
- crepe makers;
- grills;
- deep fryers;
- waffle irons;
- thermal showcases;
- devices for the preparation of shawarma;
- microwaves;
- boilers;
- electric food warmers / microwave ovens;
- chest freezer / refrigerators;
- refrigerators for drinks.
In addition, you will need cash registers, dishwashers, dishes and cutting tools (if it comes to creating a full-fledged cafe).
Modern equipment for fast food can significantly reduce the cooking time of various dishes, reduce their cost and get in the end a really tasty, mouth-watering meal that no one your visitor can resist!
A little "freebie"
Already interested? Indeed, people who are interested in how to open fast food can get some help from large manufacturers of soft drinks (Nescafe, Coca-Cola, Nestle, etc.). These companies are extremely interested in increasing the supply of their products to such points, and therefore they can provide you (as an owner of fast food) with refrigerators for storing drinks for free (or in installments).
If we are talking about an open-air cafe, then they can also help in terms of decorating the point ^ for example, provide branded umbrellas for tables.
Step 6. Analyze seasonality
Fast food as a business is pretty much dependent on the seasonality factor. The largest influx of buyers is observed in spring and autumn. In hot summer days, demand drops a little, but selling a soft drink during this period can make a large enough box office (just imagine how many there are people who want to drink a can of cold Coke in a 40-degree heat!). In addition, the sale of delicious ice cream will allow you to attract customers in the summer.
Step 7. Search for staff
Fast food is a business that, with the right approach, can bring you huge profits in the first years of activity.
To ensure the normal operation of your enterprise, you will need sellers, cooks and cleaners. If you plan to open a sufficiently large outlet, the skills of managers coordinating the work of the rest of the staff will be useful.
In the process of selecting employees should focus on such factors:
- special training and qualifications in this specialty;
- work experience in similar positions in other catering establishments;
- knowledge of relevant regulatory documents related to work in the field of catering.
In addition, an important point is the sociability of all employees and their ability to build communication with customers.
Step 8. We buy products
The most profitable decision is to buy special semi-finished products for fast food. Ask what companies in your city offer similar services, and try to establish regular wholesale deliveries.
It is advisable to start with small volumes - in any case, you will need time to understand which dishes from your menu are most in demand. It should be understood that some semi-finished products for fast food you will need in large quantities, and for others, it is probably better not to spend money at all.
The advantages of using semi-finished products are obvious: you will significantly reduce the time required to prepare various dishes (do not forget that this is the main difference between fast food points and ordinary cafes and restaurants!), And you will also be 100% sure of their quality.
This is due to the fact that in industrial conditions increased demands are placed on the safety and quality of products, and their non-compliance is fraught with serious consequences for the manufacturer (fines, closure of production and even legal proceedings).
Step 9. Do you need a home delivery service?
There can be no single answer. It all depends on the specifics of your activity. For example, if you offer Italian, Japanese or Greek fast food, and at the same time prepare other dishes of national cuisine (sushi, udon, salads, pizzas), most likely there are many who want to enjoy them without leaving their home or office.
On the other hand, if your product range is limited to hot dogs and sandwiches (standard options that offer small kiosks for fast food), the likelihood that someone will order them at home is almost zero.
If you nevertheless decided to organize a home delivery service, it will be most convenient to arrange online order taking (via your institution’s website). So your customers will have the opportunity, slowly, to make a choice, read detailed information about different dishes and, finally, order what interests them.
In this case, several drivers must be present on the staff, who will deliver orders to the specified addresses.
Step 10. Advertising
For success, it’s not enough to know how to open fast food - you will need to invest no less time and effort into the development and advertising of your business.
Design a bright, attractive sign, use advertising banners and banners to draw attention to your institution or point. Do not forget to advertise the opening to local media. Many editorial offices of newspapers and magazines allow you to do this for free or for a nominal fee. And having spent some money, you can order beautiful media advertising on large billboards, light boxes, in public transport and even on radio stations.
If you have the opportunity to allocate enough money for advertising - do not neglect it. Remember that the faster people find out about you, the faster your investment will pay off and the faster you will start making real profit.
For fast food, a recognizable corporate identity is of great importance. Therefore, you need to take care of such trifles as the company uniform for employees, the logo on the packaging and utensils, etc.
Step 11. Financial analysis of the project
We can’t say for sure how much it will cost you to start your own fast food business. Indeed, in different cities, the cost of equipment, rent, salaries and other expenses will vary significantly.
However, on average you will need:
- for the purchase of furniture and equipment - from 10 thousand at e .;
- for salaries to employees - from 2 thousand at e. monthly;
- for advertising - from 1000 e. per month (in the first stages, then less).
Despite the fact that opening your own fast food requires significant financial costs, this project can pay off in six months. BUT profitability level on which most entrepreneurs go without extra effort, is 60-65%. Not bad, is it?
Fast Food Franchising
This is a great option for those who seek to significantly reduce business risks. The bottom line is simple: there is a manufacturer who is already well known in his field. He invites private entrepreneurs to cooperate and provides for a fee a necessary set of equipment, products and ingredients, as well as conducts full-fledged training.
You are required to find a suitable place, rent a room, hire staff and ... start making money!
As you can see, everything is quite simple. This option does not require large cash investments. In addition, in recent years, requirements for the franchisors themselves have significantly decreased - now only secondary education and the presence of “business acumen” are enough.
Another plus of franchising is that you do not need to spend money on advertising and build everything from scratch - the brand is already well known, and the organization of production and sales has been honed thousands of times at other points.
