Every good chef knows the importance of preparation before starting to cook. The same principles apply to starting your food business. In fact, setting yourself up the right way can fast-track your success. So, we asked our Partake Collective food & beverage industry experts for the 5 most impactful steps to take in the first 30 days of setting up your business. Here’s what they said.
- Create Your Menu
- Not only is your menu the heart and soul of your business, but it also drives many of the action items below. What you’ll serve (or the products you’ll sell) could dictate the equipment and permits you’ll need, possible locations, and suppliers for packaging and ingredients.
- Build Your Brand
- If you haven’t already, choose your name and research competitors in the area to make sure your selection will stand out. Then, work with a professional graphic designer to create your logo. In the process, they can also define a color palette and fonts for your brand, which will provide a consistent image in future marketing materials and packaging choices.
- Protect Your Business
- Before you sign any contracts, select a business structure– such as a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation– and purchase liability insurance. Research your options (this guide from the Small Business Administration is a great resource), then consult an attorney if you’re unsure of the best structure for you. You may also need to file a DBA–an acronym for “doing business as”– if you’ll be conducting business under a name other than your legal entity. These tasks aren’t the most fun, but neither is the hassle of updating your business name and structure with banks, government agencies, and vendors later on.
- Line Up Suppliers
- Since you created your menu in step 1, you now know what ingredients or packaging you’ll need and can identify potential challenges. For example, if an exotic fruit is a critical ingredient, you’ll want to know you have a reliable supplier that can keep you stocked at a fair price. Similarly, if you need disposable taco trays for takeout and delivery– and you’re committed to using compostable materials– scoping suppliers now (and finding backups) will prevent frantic searches when business picks up.
- Determine What Systems You’ll Use
- Give yourself plenty of time to explore the options for your point-of-sale (POS) system. The one you choose will have wide-ranging impacts for customers and staff alike, shaping the experience and efficiency of every touch point in your operation– from dine-in to takeout and delivery. Recommendations from trusted sources and comparing capabilities are all important; but don’t forget to ask about integration with other software you might use, like inventory management, accounting and reservation apps. This can save a lot of headaches down the line.
And don’t forget: if you’re considering renting a commercial kitchen or ghost kitchen, you’ve got an easy shortcut at your fingertips. At Partake Collective, you can plug into our tech platform, so much of the legwork is already done! It’s just one of the many ways we can help you kickstart your business. Explore all the possibilities by getting in touch with one of our experts or scheduling time to check out our commercial kitchens for rent in Los Angeles or Long Beach.
