Wondering how to open a breakfast restaurant that’s profitable? Here are six things to consider when choosing the right breakfast restaurant opportunities.
Long since billed as the most important meal of the day, breakfast presents unique restaurant opportunities for clever entrepreneurs who wish to capitalize on a meal that isn’t necessarily limited to morning time (Breakfast for dinner, anyone?).
Breakfast foods contain some of the most versatile and affordable ingredients available, and different menu options can be eaten on the go or enjoyed at a more leisurely pace with friends and family, presenting a range of possibilities for investors learning how to open a breakfast restaurant. The all-American diner is the perfect example of the type of restaurant model that often serves breakfast all day to great effect, with rarely any negative impact on their bottom line. In fact, only offering breakfast foods during traditional breakfast hours can limit a restaurant’s ability to make the most of their inventory and turn a larger profit.
Whether you choose to focus on a quick-serve, takeaway-focused concept, an eat-in restaurant, or some combination thereof, breakfast continues to be a vital and popular meal at all hours of the day.
Even if your restaurant serves its breakfast offerings all day, you will certainly need to prioritize prime, traditional breakfast hours to make the most of your business. The earlier morning hours will bring in commuters on their way to work as well as families and individuals who prefer the convenience and options of eating out over having to make their own breakfast at home. Breakfast crowds will require you to interact with a lot of guests as well as your employees, so be prepared to show up to work well-rested and ready to serve.
Consider your location; a breakfast restaurant may have different requirements than another type of restaurant that only serves lunchtime or dinner crowds. You want high visibility in an area that allows for a healthy mix of foot traffic and drivability to be a desirable option for as many guests as possible.
Breakfast alone is still a fairly broad category, so it’s essential to narrow your scope to best appeal to local demand and stand up against any competition. Ask and answer questions such as:
The more specific you can get about the type of breakfast restaurant you wish to open, the stronger the likelihood of success you will have in the long run.
Whether you formulate your plan on your own or seek outside help from specialists, this is a crucial step to open your breakfast restaurant. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a step-by-step guide for a business plan complete with instructions on how to prepare an executive summary, company description, industry and geographic analysis, target market, marketing plan, management strategy, and financial plan.
You should also consult with business accountants and attorneys to assist with any licenses and permits that will be required.
Opening any type of new business requires a significant investment, and a breakfast restaurant is no different. Conduct a financial analysis to evaluate all of your startup costs, as well as take into consideration the amount of capital you’ll need to have on-hand to support your business through the first 3-12 months of operation. Many investors require outside lenders for help, so having a strong and compelling business plan will certainly be helpful here.
Prospective customers should be made aware of your new breakfast restaurant before you even open your doors. Various marketing tactics, including traditional and digital media, can help create a buzz and draw guests to your business. For an independent restaurant, this can prove to be an expensive endeavor, so be sure to factor that into your startup costs. However, if you choose to go the franchising route, you will have the backing of a team of experts who are dedicated to promoting your business both locally and as part of the wider breakfast franchise brand.
If you do opt to franchise, be sure to consider Scooter’s Coffee®, a brand backed by over 20 years of franchising experience in the high demand coffee and breakfast restaurant industry. Both customers and franchise owners have come to depend on Scooter’s for our commitment to quality, convenience, and unrivaled service. With drive-thru kiosks and full-service café models available to qualified investors, Scooter’s Coffee provides an excellent opportunity for hungry investors seeking to partner with the best in the breakfast game.
To learn more about Scooter’s Coffee, request franchise information today.
