business plan for takeaway shop

Fast Food Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Business Plan Outline

• Fast Food Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan

Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan & Template

You’ve come to the right place to create your fast food business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their fast food businesses.

Fast Food Business Plan Example

Below are links to each section of a fast food restaurant business plan sample:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Fast Food Business Plan FAQs

What is a fast food business plan.

A fast food business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your fast food restaurant. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your fast food business plan using our Fast Food Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Fast Food Businesses?

There are many types of fast food businesses. The most common fast food restaurants serve hamburgers, fries, and soft drinks. Other common fast food establishments serve chicken, Chinese food, Mexican food, and pizza. There is a recent trend in fast food restaurants serving healthier options such as smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, and salads. A fast food restaurant can be centered around any food genre that is able to be prepared fast and in large quantities to serve multiple customers daily.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenue and Expenses for a Fast Food Restaurant?

The primary source of revenue for a fast food restaurant are the food and drink items sold at the establishment.

The key expenses are the costs to source the ingredients for the menu items, kitchen equipment and supplies, overhead expenses for the staff and rent, and any marketing costs the restaurant chooses to partake in.

What is the Difference Between a Franchise and Non-Franchise Fast Food Restaurant?

A franchise fast food restaurant is a business that is owned and operated by someone who has a contract with a larger company. That company provides the products, training, and marketing for the smaller business. A non-franchise fast food restaurant is a business that is independently owned and operated.

Franchise fast-food restaurants have a set of guidelines and standards to which they must adhere in order to use the franchise name. Non-franchise fast food restaurants do not have these guidelines and can vary greatly in terms of quality, cleanliness, and customer service.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Fast Food Business?

Fast food businesses are most likely to receive funding from banks. Typically you will find a local bank and present your business plan to them. Another option for a fast food business is to obtain a small business loan. SBA loans are a popular option as they offer longer loan terms with lower interest rates. Outside investors, crowdfunding, and/or friends or family are other typical funding options. This is true for a fast casual restaurant business plan or a takeout restaurant business plan.

What are the Steps To Start a Fast Food Business?

Starting a fast food restaurant can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a successful fast food business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Write A Fast Food Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed fast food business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include market research on the fast food industry and potential target market size, information on your fast food menu, marketing strategy, pricing strategy and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your fast food business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your fast food business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Fast Food Restaurant   - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your fast food business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your fast food business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Fast Food Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your fast food business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your fast food business. Marketing efforts includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising to reach your target audience.

Where Can I Get a Fast Food Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free fast food business plan template PDF here. This is a sample fast food business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Fast Food Business Plan Template

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 7,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their fast foods.

Below are links to each section of your fast food business plan template:

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Fast Food Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my fast food business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Fast Food Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan.

Where Can I Download a Fast Food Business Plan PDF?

You can download our fast food restaurant business plan pdf here.  This is a business plan template you can use in PDF format.

What Is a Fast Food Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your fast food restaurant as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why Do You Need a Business Plan for a Fast Food Restaurant?

If you’re looking to start a fast food restaurant or grow your existing one you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your fast food restaurant in order to improve your chances of success. Your fast food business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your business grows and changes.

What Are the Sources of Funding for a Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan?

Fast Food restaurants are usually funded through small business loans, personal savings, credit card financing and/or angel investors.

This is true for a traditional fast food restaurant, a quick service restaurant and a takeout restaurant business plan.

FAST FOOD BUSINESS PLAN OUTLINE

• Fast Food Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan
• 10. Appendix
• Fast Food Business Plan Summary

Start Your Fast Food Plan Here

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Business Plan For Takeaway Shop

Congratulations on taking the first step in creating a business plan for takeaway shop. This is an essential step towards entrepreneurial success and a well-crafted business plan will provide a solid foundation for your business venture!

Whether you're a budding entrepreneur with a brilliant idea or a seasoned business owner looking to expand, a thoughtfully constructed business plan will help you plan and navigate towards business prosperity.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the essential elements of creating a business plan for takeaway shop that captures your vision as well as attracting investors, partners, and customers alike. From defining your mission and identifying your target market to formulating financial projections and developing a robust marketing strategy, our aim is to empower you with the knowledge and tools needed to turn your aspirations into a reality.

So whether you're just starting out or you're looking to revamp your existing business plan, read on for everything you need to know.

Why is a business plan important?

A business plan will help you think about your takeaway shop business like you’ve never done before. This thinking will help you clarify important elements like your long-term goals and objectives. You can then work backwards from your goals to develop strategies and marketing campaigns to help make these objectives a reality.

A business plan will also help you think about your customers in great detail. You will be able to understand their wants and needs, where they hang out, and exactly how you will target them. This clarity will enable you to focus on developing the products or services they want.

Finally, if you are seeking outside capital such as investment or a bank loan, a well-thought-out business plan will show them you are serious about your business and you have developed a clear and thorough plan of action to achieve success.

A Business Plan For Takeaway Shop - The Key Parts

The executive summary, your company description, market analysis, products and services.

• Marketing Strategy
• Operational Plan
• Financial Projections

Risk Analysis

• Funding Request and Use of Funds (if applicable)
• Additional Information

An executive summary of your business plan for takeaway shop is a brief overview of your business plan.

This is the first thing that potential investors or lenders will see, so it is crucial that you make a good impression. Keep this section short and highlight the key points of your plan.

What should an executive summary include?

• Overview of the Business
• Mission Statement
• Key Objectives
• Summary of Products/Services
• Financial Highlights and Funding Requirements (if applicable)

Remember potential investors don’t always have huge amounts of time to read your document so make sure that you condense the critical information, enabling the reader to make quick and well-informed judgments. Tips for the Executive Summary

Wait until you’ve written the whole business plan and then come back and complete the executive summary. This way you will know your business plan for takeaway shop inside and out so you can highlight the key elements of the document. Remember the Executive Summary will shape the reader's initial perception of the business and whether they continue reading the document.

If you are looking for any tips on how to improve any section of your business plan, check out our Learning Zone , which has several in-depth guides on each section of the business plan.

The Company Description section of your takeaway shop business plan is crucial as it offers a comprehensive overview of your business. This section provides essential information about your company's history, mission, vision, legal structure, location, and key milestones. It allows readers to gain a clear understanding of your company's fundamental characteristics and the context in which it operates.

When crafting your company description, make sure to include the following key elements:

• Business Name and Legal Structure: Clearly state the legal name of the company and its legal structure.
• Business History: Provide a brief overview of how the business came into existence. Highlight key milestones or events that shaped the company's growth and development.
• Mission and Vision Statements: Present the company's mission statement, which outlines its purpose and primary goals. Additionally, share the vision statement, which describes the long-term vision and objectives for your business.
• Products and Services: Briefly explain the products or services your business offers, emphasising their unique selling points and how they address customer needs.
• Competitive Advantages: Clearly state the competitive advantages that differentiate your business from others in the market. This could include unique features, patents, proprietary technology, or a strong brand presence.
• Location and Facilities: Provide details about the physical location of your business and any facilities required to operate successfully.

Tips for writing the company description section:

• Interweave storytelling into the company's history, tell the reader about your passion for the business and the journey you’ve been on to get to this point.
• Include strong visuals and infographics.
• Avoid jargon and keep the writing style clear and concise.
• Focus on your company's unique selling point (USP) and how that makes you stand out in the marketplace.
• Back up this information with customer testimonials if possible.

The market analysis section of your takeaway shop business plan is essential for understanding the competitive landscape and the overall business environment. It is crucial to execute this section effectively as it demonstrates your in-depth knowledge of the market dynamics. This process will enable you, as an entrepreneur, to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and develop strategies for success.

To conduct a good market analysis, it is important to have a deep understanding of the industry you are operating in. This information will help you make informed decisions about your product or service offerings, marketing strategies, and pricing.

Key elements to include in your market analysis section:

• Industry Overview: Provide a general overview of your industry. Describe the industry's size, growth rate, major players, and key trends. Include relevant statistics and data to support your claims.
• Target Market and Customer Segmentation: Clearly define your target market and outline the specific customer segments you aim to serve. Identify the needs, preferences, and behaviours of each segment.
• Competitor Analysis: Identify direct and indirect competitors in the market. Analyse their strengths, weaknesses, market share, and strategies. Highlight areas where your business differentiates itself from competitors.
• Market Trends and Opportunities: Explore current and future trends in the industry and market. Assess how these trends can impact your business positively and identify potential opportunities for growth.
• SWOT Analysis (optional): Consider including a SWOT analysis specific to your market. This can help you understand your business's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the context of the market.

How to nail the market analysis section?

• Differentiation: Focus on highlighting how your business differentiates itself from competitors, really try to drum home this point.
• Market Surveys or Interviews: Adding surveys or interviews and adding the key findings and quotes in the Market Analysis to support your claims will help reinforce the plans in your document.
• Competitive Matrix: a competitive matrix visually comparing your business against key competitors based on factors such as price, features, and customer service. This matrix is a great visual method highlighting your competitive advantages.
• Emerging Technologies or Trends: Identifying potential disruptions and how your company is prepared for them shows a great understanding of market dynamics and trends.

Looking for more inspiration on how to make your market analysis section even better, then check out our in-depth business market analysis guide.

In this section, we will highlight the core products and services that make your takeaway shop business unique and valuable. It is essential to showcase what sets you apart from the competition and why your offerings are exceptional. This information is especially important for potential investors, partners, and customers who are keen to understand what sets your business apart in the market.

When describing your products and services ensure you include the following information:

• Description of Products/Services: Provide a clear and concise description of each product or service your business offers. Explain their primary function and how they address customer needs.
• Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Highlight the unique features or benefits that make your products or services stand out from competitors. Clearly state why customers should choose your offerings over alternatives.
• Product/Service Life Cycle: Describe where each product or service stands in its life cycle (e.g., introduction, growth, maturity, decline) and outline plans for updates or new offerings in the future.
• Intellectual Property (if applicable): If your business has any intellectual property (e.g., patents, trademarks, copyrights) related to your products or services, mention them in this section.

Extra elements to make this section stand out:

• Customer Use Cases: Present real-life customer use cases or success stories that illustrate how your products or services have solved specific problems for customers. Use compelling narratives to engage readers.
• Product Roadmap: If applicable, include a product roadmap that outlines future updates, enhancements, or new offerings. This showcases your business's commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.
• Quality and Testing Standards: Discuss the quality standards your business adheres to and any testing processes you conduct to ensure the reliability and performance of your offerings.
• Pricing Strategy: Integrate your pricing strategy into this section. Explain how you've determined the pricing of your products or services, considering factors like production costs, competition, and value to customers.
• Environmental and Social Impact: If your products or services have positive environmental or social implications, highlight them in this section. Increasingly, customers appreciate businesses that contribute positively to society.

The Marketing Strategy Section

Key Information to Include Within the Marketing Strategy Section:

• Marketing Goals and Objectives: Clearly state the marketing goals you aim to achieve. Focus on how you will increase brand awareness and drive customer conversions or leads.
• Target Market Strategy: Describe the specific strategies you will use to reach and engage with your target customers. This could involve digital marketing, traditional advertising, or other channels.
• Pricing Strategy: Explain how your pricing will attract the target market and how it compares to competitors' pricing.
• Promotion and Advertising Plan: Outline the promotional activities and advertising campaigns you plan to execute. Include details about social media marketing, content marketing, email campaigns, and other promotional tactics.
• Sales Strategy: Describe your sales process and how you plan to convert leads into paying customers. Mention any sales team structure and their responsibilities if applicable.
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Approach: Discuss how you intend to build and maintain strong relationships with your customers to encourage repeat business and loyalty.

Getting Creative with the Market Strategy Section

• Create a visual marketing timeline.
• Outline influencer or brand ambassador partnerships if applicable.
• Detail key metrics and KPIs.

By infusing creativity and innovative marketing ideas with sound fundamental marketing, you can really make this section stand out and impress potential investors and partners.

The Operation Plan Section

While marketing activities may seem more exciting, operational planning is essential for the success of your takeaway shop business. This section focuses on the day-to-day operations and internal processes that drive your business forward. By providing a comprehensive roadmap of your resources, workflows, and procedures, you can instill confidence in potential investors that your business is well-equipped for growth.

Here are some key items to include in your operational plan:

• Organisational Structure: Describe the organisational structure of the company, including key roles and responsibilities.
• Key Personnel and Team: Introduce key team members and their qualifications. Highlight how their expertise contributes to the success of the business.
• Operational Workflow and Processes: Provide a high-level step-by-step overview of delivering your product or service, from production to delivery or distribution.
• Resource Requirements: Outline the key resources required to run the business, such as equipment, technology, facilities, and human resources.
• Quality Control and Assurance: Explain how the company ensures the quality and consistency of its products or services, and how it addresses any potential issues.
• Supply Chain Management (if applicable): If the business involves sourcing materials or products from suppliers, describe the supply chain management process.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Discuss any legal or regulatory requirements specific to the industry and how the company ensures compliance.

How to add value to the Operation Plan section:

• Use visuals to outline organisation structures and workflows.
• Outline contingency plans, for example how the company is prepared for supply chain shortages or price shocks.
• Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency. Describe how you have driven efficiency gains for the business.
• Have you considered your business's environmental impact? If so, mention within this section.

The operational section of a business plan does have the potential to be dryer than more exciting elements such as marketing, however, by incorporating creative elements and forward-thinking workflows you can help keep reader engagement high.

The Financial Projections

The Financial Projections section can make or break a business plan. Always include well-researched and accurate projections to avoid undermining your business plan and losing out on potential investment. What to include in the financial projections section:

• Sales Forecast: Provide a detailed projection of the company's sales revenues for each product or service category over the forecast period.
• Expense Projections: Outline the expected operating expenses, including costs related to production, marketing, salaries, rent, utilities, and any other significant expenses.
• Profit and Loss (P&L) Statement: Present a comprehensive Profit and Loss statement that summarizes the business's revenue, cost of goods sold (COGS), gross profit, operating expenses, and net profit or loss for each year of the forecast.
• Cash Flow Projection: Include a cash flow statement that outlines the inflows and outflows of cash over the forecast period. This will help identify potential cash flow gaps.
• Break-Even Analysis: Perform a break-even analysis to determine the point at which the business's total revenue equals total costs, indicating when it becomes profitable.

How to add value to your financial projections section:

• Be prepared to defend your assumptions with data. If you are planning for a high-growth % make sure you can justify this assumption. If in doubt the more conservative the better.
• Include visuals that help readers quickly grasp the trends and patterns in revenue, expenses, and profits.
• Offer different scenarios based on varying assumptions. For example, present a conservative, moderate, and aggressive growth scenario.
• Include key financial ratios like gross margin, net profit margin, and return on investment (ROI).

The Funding Request and Use of Funds Section

This section outlines the financial requirements of the company and how the requested funds will be utilised to support its growth and operations.  Providing potential investors or lenders with a clear picture of how their money will be used will improve the business case for the funds and provide further confidence to investors. What to include in this section?

• Funding Request Amount: State the specific amount of funding you are seeking to obtain from investors, lenders, or other sources.
• Use of Funds: Provide a detailed breakdown of how the requested funds will be allocated across different aspects of the business. Common categories include product development, marketing, operational expenses, hiring, equipment, and working capital.
• Timeline of Funds Utilisation: Outline the timeline for utilising the funds. Specify when and how the funds will be disbursed and the expected milestones or deliverables associated with each funding phase.
• Expected Return on Investment (ROI): If applicable, include information on the expected ROI for investors. Highlight the potential for financial gains or equity appreciation over time.
• Repayment Plan (if applicable): If seeking a loan, provide a clear repayment plan that outlines the repayment period, interest rate, and the proposed schedule for repayment.

How to maximise this section?

• Create a visual timeline for key milestones such as the initial investment and key payback periods.
• Outline risk mitigation plans to instil confidence.
• Reiterate the company's long-term vision and how the funds can help achieve these goals.

As you near the end of your takeaway shop business plan, it is crucial to dedicate a section to outlining potential risks. This section holds immense significance as it can greatly influence the confidence of potential investors. By demonstrating your market awareness and addressing challenges head-on, you can instill trust and credibility.

When conducting a risk analysis for your takeaway shop car rental business plan, consider including the following:

• Identification of Business Risks: Enumerate the key risks and uncertainties that could affect the business. These risks can be internal (e.g., operational, financial) or external (e.g. market changes, regulatory changes, economic downturns).
• Impact Assessment: Analyse the potential impact of each identified risk on the business's operations, finances, and reputation. Rank the risks based on their severity and likelihood of occurrence.
• Risk Mitigation Strategies: Present specific strategies and action plans to mitigate each identified risk. Explain how you will proactively address challenges and reduce the negative impact of potential risks.
• Contingency Plans: Describe contingency plans for worst-case scenarios, outlining how the business will respond and recover from significant risks if they materialise.

How to make your risk analysis stand out?

• Add context with real-life examples. Are there similar businesses that have dealt with risks successfully in a similar manner to your strategy? This will add credibility to this section.
• Create adaptive strategies that demonstrate your business’s flexibility and adaptability.
• Outlining the responsible person for each risk and how they own it, giving further confidence in your risk management strategies.

Some additional information you may want to include in your business plan for takeaway shop:

• Customer Surveys and Feedback
• Letters of Support or Intent
• Legal Documents (e.g., licenses, permits)
• Resumes of Key Team Members

A Business Plan For Takeaway Shop Wrapping It All Up

A business plan is one of the most important documents that you will create about your business. It can literally be the difference between securing additional finance or missing out. Developing your business is not an easy task, however, the opportunity to think about your business in such detail will no doubt help you develop new and important insights along with new ideas and strategies. With all sections of your business plan and especially the financial plan, be prepared to defend your position to potential investors or lenders. This means that you should never publish anything that you can’t back up with additional data or rationale. Business Plans are not created overnight so take the time to research and think about each section properly, always try to support your claims and strategies with market insight and data. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this guide, if you are looking for more tips on creating a business plan check out our learning centre .Good luck with your next business endeavour! Action Planr

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Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan

Planning on starting a fast food restaurant? It can be an excellent way to create a niche business, serve a diverse customer base, and make a great career in the food service industry, but you need detailed planning for it.

That’s where you need a business plan; it will not only help you secure funding but will also provide a roadmap for seamless business operations.

Need help writing a business plan for your fast food restaurant business? You’re at the right place. Our fast food restaurant business plan template will help you get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

How To Write A Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan?

Writing a fast food restaurant business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the whole business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.

Market Opportunity:

Products and services:.

• For instance, your products and services may include menu items, combo meals, takeout and delivery services, combo meals, and catering services.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your restaurant. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

• Vegetarian fast food restaurants
• Pizza chains
• Mexican fast food restaurants
• Asian fast food restaurants
• Sandwich shops
• Fried seafood restaurants

Describe the legal structure of your fast food restaurant, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

• Additionally, If you have received any awards or recognition for excellent work, describe them.

Future Goals:

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

• For instance, young adults, millennials, and busy professionals can be an ideal target market for a fast food restaurant.

Market size and growth potential:

Competitive analysis:, market trends:.

• For instance, there is an increasing demand for healthier food options; explain how you plan to cater to this growing market.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your fast food business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Fast Food Menu:

Beverages and desserts:.

• For instance, dramatic style involves using longer & thicker lashes for a glamorous look.

Food Preparation and Safety Measures:

This section should explain your food preparation process, cooking methods, and how your business aligns with food safety regulations.

Special Services:

In short, this section of your fast food restaurant plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

• For example, fresh and quality ingredients, unique menu items, sustainability, and ethical practices could be some of the great USPs for a fast-food restaurant.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your fast food restaurant business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your fast food restaurant, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Operational process:, equipment & machinery:.

• Explain how these technologies help you maintain quality standards and improve the efficiency of your business operations.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your fast food restaurant’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:.

• It should include key executives, master chefs, senior management, and other department managers (e.g. operations manager.) involved in the fast food restaurant operations, including their education, professional background, and any relevant experience in the food industry.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

Mentioning advisors or consultants in your business plans adds credibility to your business idea.

This section should describe the key personnel for your fast food restaurant, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

• This exercise will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to sustain or be profitable.

Financing Needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the restaurant industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your fast food restaurant business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This sample fast food restaurant business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful fast food restaurant plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our fast food restaurant business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a fast food restaurant business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful fast food restaurant business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your fast food restaurant.

How to get funding for your fast food restaurant business?

There are several ways to get funding for your fast food restaurant business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

• Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
• Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
• Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your fast food restaurant business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your fast food restaurant business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your fast food restaurant business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any fast food restaurant business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our   business plan software .

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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How to Start a Take Out Food Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sydney Kida | April 6, 2022 |

The take out food industry has experienced a massive boom throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During the second and third quarters of 2020, the top four leading food delivery apps in the U.S. saw their revenues rise by $3 billion .

Even as life begins to return to normal, take out restaurant ideas continue to grow in prominence nationwide. What does this mean for the humble restaurant owner trying to get their business back on its feet?

Opportunity.

Dine-In vs. Take Out: How Take Out is Changing the Restaurant Business

Take out (sometimes spelled takeout and take-out) has altered the restaurant business irrevocably. While people like to point to the COVID-19 pandemic, take out changed the industry long before coronavirus became a thing.

Perhaps the main reason for takeout’s growth is the ease of ordering. Food delivery apps require a couple of clicks, and your order is already on its way. Giving people an entire list of choices and the option to order from the comfort of their sofas tends to encourage them to eat off premises vs. dining on site.

The younger generation of millennials is also driving growth among take out providers. They boast the most spending power and lean toward take out delivery more than other generations. For example, USA Today reported that 77% of millennials ordered food delivery compared to 51% of other diners during a three-month period in 2018.

Figuring out how to start a take out food business is, therefore, a viable option for companies looking to increase their revenues.

Finally, it’s essential to look at how people spend their evenings. If more people choose to watch Netflix over a night on the town, why wouldn’t they also order dinner at home?

How to Start a Take Out Food Business

Deciding how to start a new take out restaurant requires following several defined steps to put the infrastructure for success in place.

Before going into a takeout restaurant business plan, here are some tips for a takeout restaurant and what makes it successful.

Step One – Plan Your Concept

Take out restaurant design ideas must be optimized entirely for delivery, as this is your primary revenue generator.

Your kitchen’s layout, storage, and logistics must focus on the two key metrics of time and temperature. Get one of them wrong, and you risk killing any repeat business. Perfect your take out restaurant menu ideas and make sure they are optimized for time and temperature.

Most restaurants will maintain smaller menus for this reason. Not everything is suited for take out.

You should also think about your ingredients. Group dishes by the ingredients required to keep your workflow efficient. Remember, unlike dine-in customers, take out customers value speed over everything else.

Step Two – Choose Your Niche

Identify any gaps in the market. If Italian pizza take out restaurants have saturated your area, the chances are it’s not a wise investment.

Think about who you want to cater to and figure out an image of your ideal customer. Some examples of niches include:

• Office workers
• People with special diets
• Seniors with limited mobility

Talk to people on the street and find out what your local area lacks. Your take out restaurant design ideas may not be 100% unique, but you still need that underserved market.

Step Three – Set Up Your Physical Operations

Going through registering your business and applying for any licenses you might need in your state may take weeks, so think about these administrative burdens in advance.

Once you have your concept and your menu, it’s time to build the physical gears that will keep your take out food business turning.

Here are the primary considerations you’ll need to think about:

• Kitchen – Where will you produce your food? You may want to consider a low-rent area that's close to a densely populated place. Make sure it has the space and layout conducive to producing your unique menu.
• Point of Sale (POS) – Technology helps you to run your business. Choose a POS platform that allows you to easily take online orders, manage the payment side, and ensure your kitchen/delivery service runs efficiently.
• Staffing – How many staff do you need to run your kitchen? How much will it cost you to maintain that staff per month?
• Logistics – Do you have a place set up for collection or your own fleet of delivery drivers?

These tasks take longer than most people expect, so avoid setting a launch date before everything is in place. Furthermore, your state may have special requirements regarding commercial kitchen certifications and any required health inspections.

Step Four – Choose Your Distribution Providers

Getting your food to your customers requires a reliable distribution provider. Figuring out how to start a take out food business requires you to take the time to research and factor in distribution costs.

Whether you decide to opt for a third-party provider and eat the commissions or invest in creating your own delivery fleet is up to you.

Remember, your needs might change, so you can alter your distribution model later.

Step Five – Market Your Business

Take out businesses rely on the digital space to gain brand exposure. Craft a unique story that allows you to stand out from the crowd. What makes your take out restaurant special?

Focus on aspects like SEO, social media presence, and how you will convince those first customers to give you a try. Marketing begins from day one of coming up with your business idea. Save money during those initial months by drumming up interest before you officially open for business.

Innovative Take-Out Restaurant Ideas for Your Future Food Business

Staying on the cutting edge of the food industry is what will allow your business to thrive. Think about how you can integrate new ideas into your growing take out business for a better customer experience.

Here are some great tips for a takeout business in the future:

• Make-Your-Own Meals – Offer care packages, such as a build-your-own pizza kit to make ordering take out more fun and tailored to the customer.
• Creative Naming – Get creative with your naming, according to whatever is trendy at the time. Make people smile and make your meals memorable.
• Loyalty Schemes – Promote repeat businesses by bringing the classic retail loyalty scheme to the world of take out.
• Build Relationships – Handwritten notes, postcards, and formal loyalty programs help to bring the human touch to digital transactions.
• The Unconventional – Consider going beyond burgers and pizza and opting for more unconventional take out foods, such as omelets, steaks, and special sauce.

Think outside the box by examining your competitors and looking at what they aren’t doing. There are always openings for getting creative.

Starting Your Takeout Restaurant Business Plan

The pillar of how to start a take out food business is your business plan. Think of it as your professional roadmap to success.

Even if you already have a brick-and-mortar restaurant, your business plan provides direction, alignment, and orientation.

Take Out Restaurant Description

Outline what your take out place is going to be. Define the style of cuisine, the options available, the legal structure of your business, and operating hours.

It’s also the time to come up with a prototype menu. Include no more than 10-15 dish ideas at this stage.

Target Audience Analysis

Conduct market analysis of your target market. Form an image of your ideal customer, such as how old they are, their spending power, professions, interests, and what they expect from a take out establishment.

Understanding your ideal customer will help you give them the experience they expect when ordering take out.

Competitor Analysis

You also need to know who you’re coming up against, as you did with your target audience. A complete competitor analysis will examine a sampling of restaurants in your area.

Don’t just focus on the competitors offering the same cuisine as you. It helps to know what options customers have in the area, how much they charge, and the most common complaints they receive.

Either go out into the community and place orders yourself or make use of online reviews to find out more.

Organizational Sections

Labor, facilities, and associated financial costs and projections should also form a crucial part of your business plan. These are the hard figures that will tell you about the viability of your business and whether you need to make any changes.

You will also have a section dedicated to marketing, branding, and delivery models. The organizational sections are where you delve deep into the nuts and bolts of your business.

Starting a take out business for the first time doesn’t need to be intimidating. You’re moving into a booming industry with tremendous growth potential. How you establish your business and the tools you adopt will define whether you are a success or a failure.

Help with income stream diversification and creating a better customer experience with the revolutionary restaurant POS from Revel Systems®.

Find out why so many take out establishments are using Revel to transform their organizations by requesting a free product demo now.

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How to Write a Restaurant Business Plan in 2024 (Step by Step Guide with Templates)

A restaurant business plan is a framework that guides you to plan and forecast every element of restaurant management and operations.

This includes anything from your restaurant's menu design , location, financials, employee training , and a lot more.

Creating a solid business plan is important, as it helps:

• Transform your restaurant ideas into reality.
• Boosts entrepreneurial success by 16% (Harvard Business Study) .
• It equips you to navigate challenges before they arise.
• Attracts potential investors.

Planning is key to restaurant success. Without a plan, you're more likely to join the 26% of restaurants that fail within a year.

Create a business plan to set yourself up for success.

Here's how to get started. 

What is a restaurant business plan? 

Before writing a business plan, it is important to understand its fundamentals.

It serves as a roadmap for starting and running your restaurant , making it easy for outside parties, such as investors, to understand your objectives, vision, and plan of action for your restaurant.

The length and level of detail of business plans vary, ranging from brief synopses to large papers. Investors can benefit from clear insights and additional information provided by beginning with a concise plan and working their way up to a detailed one.

In short, a thorough description of the resources allocated to the success of your restaurant should be included in your business plan.

Steps to include in your business plan 

Your restaurant and mission statement needs to reflect your brand and goals, but you don't have to start from scratch.

The Eat App Restaurant Business Plan template , created by industry professionals and packed with insider information, is your go-to manual for creating a profitable business plan.

Your finalized business plan should have 11 essential elements, no matter how you write it. Continue reading below. 

1. Executive summary

A restaurant business plan should always begin with an executive summary. Why?

• 80% of venture capitalists say they read the executive summary first.
• 62% of investors say they would not continue reading a business plan if the executive summary did not capture their interest.
• A strong executive summary can increase the likelihood of securing funding by up to 40%.

An executive summary not only acts as the introduction to your restaurant business plan samples but also as a summary of the entire idea.

The main aim of an executive summary is to draw the reader (oftentimes an investor) into the rest of your business plan.

The executive summary also helps you envision the identity of your restaurant which essentially shapes the customer experience and sets you apart from competitors.

To establish a distinct identity, you need to focus on c ommon elements of an executive summary, including:

• A mission statement  
• Proposed concept development
• Cuisine selection
• The overall execution
• The potential costs
• Expected return on investments (ROI)

Let's take a more in-depth look at the concept development, cuisine selection, and mission statement.

Further reading

• How to write a restaurant executive summary

Concept Development

Selecting the type of restaurant, service style, and atmosphere is the first step towards creating a unique dining experience. Whether you envision a sample menu for a:

• cozy, intimate bistro
• bustling quick-service deli
• fast-casual restaurant
• fine dining establishment

Your concept should reflect your passion and expertise in the industry.

Cuisine Selection

The cuisine you select for your restaurant can significantly influence its success.

Choosing the appropriate cuisine is vital for distinguishing your establishment from competitors and attracting your target market.

To make an informed decision, consider factors such as:

• Market demand
• Expertise and passion
• Ingredient availability
• Competition
• Profitability
• Cultural fit
• Seasonality
• Dietary restrictions and trends

In the highly competitive restaurant industry, keeping track of current and emerging cuisine trends can be a significant advantage.

Creating a mission statement

A well-constructed mission statement communicates the purpose, values, and goals of your restaurant to potential investors and customers alike.

A mission statement serves as a guiding light for decision-makers and employees, fueling their efforts to achieve your restaurant’s objectives.

To create an impactful mission statement, consider the following steps:

• Identify the purpose of the restaurant.
• Contemplate the brand’s image.
• Account for the target audience.
• Incorporate company values.
• Ensure brevity and comprehensiveness.

Related content:  How to Write a Restaurant Mission Statement  

Remember, your mission statement should not only differentiate your restaurant from competitors but also resonate with your target market .

2. Company description

This is where you carefully introduce the company in the restaurant business plan. Include the name of the restaurant you are launching in this field along with its address, phone number, and other important information. Then, also include the owner's information as well as a synopsis or explanation of their background. The restaurant's legal position and its short- and long-term objectives should be outlined in the second section of the company description. To demonstrate your understanding of the changes in the local food business and the reasons why the most independent restaurant investors will be successful in this market, please submit a brief market research.

Here's an example of the page layout:  

Company Description

Restaurant Name: [Restaurant Name]

Location: [Restaurant Address]

Contact: [Restaurant Phone Number] | [Restaurant Email Address]

Owner: [Owner Name]

Experience: [Owner Name] has over [Number] years of experience in the restaurant industry. They have worked in various roles, including [List of Roles]. They are passionate about food and creating a memorable dining experience for their guests.

Legal Standing: [Restaurant Name] is a [Type of Legal Entity] registered in [State/Province].

3. Market analysis

The market analysis portion of the restaurant business plan is typically divided into three parts.

3.1 Industry analysis

What is your target market? What demographics will your restaurant cater to?

This section aims to explain your target market to investors and why you believe guests will choose your restaurant over others.

Comprehending your target market is key to customizing your restaurant offerings to their preferences and needs.

By diving into demographics, preferences, dining habits, and trends, you can fine-tune your concept and marketing strategy to reach and appeal to your target audience effectively.

An example of analyzing your target market

  Comprehending your target market is key to customizing your restaurant offerings to their preferences and needs.

Demographics and preferences

Identifying your primary target market involves considering factors such as:

For example, a neighborhood with a high concentration of families might prefer a family-friendly restaurant with a diverse menu catering to various age groups and dietary preferences.

Conversely, a trendy urban area with a predominantly young and affluent population may gravitate towards upscale dining experiences and innovative cuisine.

Cultural and ethnic backgrounds also have a significant impact on restaurant preferences, with people from different backgrounds having distinctive tastes and customs that influence their dining choices.

By thoroughly understanding the demographics and preferences of your target market, you’ll be better equipped to create a restaurant concept that resonates with them and ultimately drives success.

Dining habits and trends

As the restaurant industry continues to evolve, staying informed about dining habits and trends is crucial for adapting your offerings and attracting customers.

For example, the rise of online ordering and delivery services has significantly influenced dining habits, with many consumers seeking the convenience of having their meals delivered to their doorstep.

Health trends have also had an impact on dining habits, with an increasing number of individuals seeking healthier options when dining out.

• How to find your restaurant's target market

3.2 Competition analysis

It's easy to assume that everyone will visit your new restaurant first, so it is important to research your competition to make this a reality.

What restaurants have already established a customer base in the area?

Take note of everything from their prices, hours, and service style to menu design to the restaurant interior.

Then explain to your investors how your restaurant will be different.

3.3 Marketing analysis

Your investors are going to want to know how you plan to market your restaurant. How will your marketing campaigns differ from what is already being done by others in the restaurant industry?

How do you plan on securing your target market? What kind of offers will you provide your guests? Make sure to list everything.

The menu is the most important part of a restaurant's debut. Your restaurant wouldn't be able to operate without it.

You most likely don't have a final draft at this time, but you should aim to create a mock-up for your restaurant business plan. You can choose a design that you can envision yourself using and add your logo to the mock-up.

• Top Free Restaurant Menu Makers

There are several resources available online if you need assistance with menu design or don't want to hire a designer.

But the price should be the most important component of your sample menu. The cost research you've completed for investors ought to be reflected in your prices. They will have a clearer idea of your restaurant's intended price range as a result.  You'll quickly see how important menu engineering can be, even early on.

5. Employees

The company description section of the restaurant business plan briefly introduces the owners of the restaurant with some information about each. This section should fully flesh out the restaurant's business plan and management team.

The investors don’t expect you to have your entire team selected at this point, but you should at least have a couple of people on board. Use the talent you have chosen thus far to highlight the combined work experience everyone is bringing to the table.

6. Restaurant design

The design portion of your restaurant business plan is where you can really show off your thoughts and ideas to the investors. If you don’t have professional mock-ups of your restaurant rendered, that’s fine.

Instead, put together a mood board to get your vision across. Find pictures of a similar aesthetic to what you are looking for in your restaurant.

The restaurant design extends beyond aesthetics alone and should include everything from restaurant software to kitchen equipment. 

7. Location

The location you settle on for your restaurant should be well aligned with your target market (making it easier to cater to your ideal customer) and with your business plans.

At this stage in the process, it's not uncommon to not have a specific location in mind - but you should at the very least have a few options to narrow down.

Pro Tip: When you approach your investors about potential locations, make sure to include as much information as possible about each venue and why it would be ideal for your brand. 

Example for choosing an ideal location

Choosing the ideal location for your restaurant is a pivotal decision that can greatly influence your success. 

To make the best choice, consider factors such as foot traffic, accessibility, and neighborhood demographics.

By carefully evaluating these factors, you’ll be better equipped to maximize visibility and attract your target market.

Foot traffic and accessibility

Foot traffic and accessibility are important factors in selecting a location that will attract customers and ensure convenience.

A high-traffic area with ample parking and public transportation options can greatly increase the likelihood of drawing in potential customers.

Additionally, making your restaurant accessible to individuals with disabilities can further broaden your customer base and promote inclusivity.

Neighborhood demographics

Analyzing neighborhood demographics can help you determine if your restaurant’s concept and cuisine will appeal to the local population.

Factors such as income levels, family structures, and cultural diversity can all influence dining preferences and habits.

By understanding the unique characteristics of the neighborhood, you can tailor your offerings and marketing efforts to resonate with the local community.

Conducting a market analysis can be a valuable step in this process.

To gather demographic data for a particular neighborhood, you can utilize resources such as the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and reference maps.

Armed with this information, you can make informed decisions about your restaurant’s concept, menu, and pricing, ensuring that your establishment is well-positioned for success within the community.

Conducting market research will further strengthen your understanding of the local demographic.

8. Market overview

The market overview section is heavily related to the market research and analysis portion of the restaurant business plan. In this section, go into detail about both the micro and macro conditions in the area you want to set up your restaurant.

Discuss the current economic conditions that could make opening a restaurant difficult, and how you aim to counteract that. Mention all the other restaurants that could prove to be competition and what your strategy is to set yourself apart.

9. Marketing

With restaurants opening left and ride nowadays, investors are going to want to know how you will get word of your restaurant to the world.

The next marketing strategy and publicity section should go into detail on how you plan to market your restaurant before and after opening. As well as any plans you may have to bring a PR company on board to help spread the word.

Read more: How to write a restaurant marketing plan from scratch

10. External help

To make your restaurant a reality, you are going to need a lot of help. List any external companies or software you plan on hiring to get your restaurant up and running.

This includes everything from accountants and designers to suppliers that help your restaurant perform better, like POS systems and restaurant reservation systems .

Explain to your other potential investors about the importance of each and what they will be doing for your restaurant.

11. Financial analysis

The most important part of your restaurant business plan is the financial section . We would recommend hiring professional help for this given its importance.

Hiring a trained accountant will not only help you get your own financial projections and estimates in order but also give you a realistic insight into owning a restaurant.

You should have some information prepared to make this step easier for the accountant.

He/she will want to know how many seats your restaurant has, what the check average per table will be, and how many guests you plan on seating per day.

In addition to this, doing rough food cost calculations for various menu items can help estimate your profit margin per dish. This can be achieved easily with a free food cost calculator. 

• Important restaurant metrics to track

A well-crafted restaurant business plan serves as a roadmap to success, guiding every aspect of the venture from menu design to employee training.

By carefully considering each component of the plan, aspiring restaurateurs can increase their chances of securing funding, attracting customers, and achieving their long-term goals.

Remember, a restaurant business plan is not just a document to satisfy investors; it is a living tool that should be revisited and updated regularly as the business grows and evolves.

By staying committed to the plan and adapting it as needed, restaurateurs can ensure that their culinary dreams have a solid foundation for success.

Growth Marketing Manager at Eat App

Saif Alnasur used to work in his family restaurant, but now he is a food influencer and writes about the restaurant industry for Eat App.

Reviewed by

Nezar Kadhem

Co-founder and CEO of Eat App

He is a regular speaker and panelist at industry events, contributing on topics such as digital transformation in the hospitality industry, revenue channel optimization and dine-in experience.

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Fast Food Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Fast Food Business Plan Template

If you want to start a Fast Food business or expand your current Fast Food business, you need a business plan.

The following Fast Food business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning Fast Food restaurant business plan. It can be used to create a takeout restaurant business plan, a quick service restaurant business plan or a traditional fast food plan.

You can download our Fast Food Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Below are links to each of the key sections of a Fast Food restaurant business plan sample:

I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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Fast Food Business Plan Outline

• Canada (EN)
• Canada (FR)
• Deutschland
• Netherlands
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Take reservations
• Market your restaurant
• Run smoother shifts
• Sell events & experiences
• Manage reviews
• Manage guest profiles
• View all restaurant solutions
• Robust reporting and insights
• The largest diner network
• 24/7 customer support
• For restaurants
• For restaurant groups & enterprise
• For bars & wineries
• For hotels & casinos
• Integrations
• Pricing and plans
• View all industry insights
• Industry expertise Get advice and tactics from top industry authorities.
• Hospitality Find out how the most successful restaurants make every guest feel like a VIP.
• Marketing Learn how to bring new guests to the table with the latest tech, tools, and ideas for every marketing budget.
• Operations How to iron out operations for shifts smooth as butter.
• Industry trends
• Product innovation
• Advisory board
• Case studies
• Get started

How to write a restaurant business plan

A small restaurant business plan is the roadmap you use to open a successful spot. As a first step to creating yours, ask your friends and colleagues to share restaurant business plan examples. Their restaurant business plan samples can inspire yours.

Once you’ve studied those examples, it’s time to start writing your own. No matter how much thought you’ve put into your concept or how many trusted colleagues have assured you of its greatness, you must write a restaurant business plan. It will prove the viability of your concept to potential investors and provide them with a clear and engaging answer to the question: “Why does the world need this restaurant?”

“The point of a business plan is to show that you’ve done your homework,” says Charles Bililies, owner of Souvla , a fine casual Greek restaurant in San Francisco that has received national acclaim since opening in the spring of 2014.

“You have to show any potential investor that you have an actual plan, you know what you’re talking about, it looks professional, and you’re not just screwing around.”

Quick links Branded cover Table of contents Concept Sample menu Service Management team Design Target market Location Market overview Marketing and publicity Specialists and consultants Business structure Financials

1. Branded cover

Include your logo (even if it’s not finalized), the date, and your name.

2. Table of contents

A table of contents in a restaurant business plan provides an organized overview of the document’s structure and content. It typically appears at the beginning of the plan and lists the major sections and subsections with their corresponding page numbers.

The table of contents is important for several reasons. Firstly, it allows readers to quickly navigate through the plan, enabling easy access to specific sections of interest. Secondly, it helps in presenting a professional and well-structured document, showing that you have carefully organized your thoughts and ideas. It also improves readability and comprehension, as readers can easily locate and refer back to relevant information

3. Restaurant concept

Describe your restaurant concept and get the reader excited about your idea. Specify whether the restaurant will be fine dining or more casual. Include an executive summary and go into detail about the food you’ll be serving, inspiration behind your concept, and an overview of service style.

Define clearly what will be unique about your restaurant and include your mission statement. This section should include a market analysis that shows how your restaurant will be similar and different from competing restaurants.

4. Sample menu

The menu is the most important touchpoint of any restaurant’s brand, so this should be more than just a simple list of items. Incorporate your logo and mock up a formatted menu design (tap a designer for help if needed).

Your sample menu should also include prices that are based on a detailed cost analysis. This will:

• Give investors a clear understanding of your targeted price point
• Provide the info needed to estimate check averages
• Show the numbers used create financial projections for starting costs
• Show investors that you’ve done the homework
• Prove you can stay within a budget

This section is most relevant for:

• Fine-dining concepts
• Concepts that have a unique service style
• Owners who have particularly strong feelings about what role service will play in their restaurant.

It can be a powerful way of conveying your approach to hospitality to investors by explaining the details of the guest’s service experience.

Will your restaurant have counter service and restaurant hostess software designed to get guests on their way as quickly as possible, or will it look more like a theater, with captains putting plates in front of guests simultaneously?

If an extensive wine program is an integral part of what you’re doing, will you have a sommelier? If you don’t feel that service is a noteworthy component of your operation, address it briefly in the concept section.

6. Management team

Write a brief overview of yourself and the team you have established so far. You want to show that your experience has provided you with the necessary skills to run a successful restaurant and act as a restaurant business owner.

Ideally, once you have described the strong suit of every member of your team, you’ll be presenting a full pitch deck. Most independent restaurant investors are in this for more than just money, so giving some indication of what you value and who you are outside of work may also be helpful.

Incorporate some visuals. Create a mood board that shows images related to the design and feeling of your restaurant.

Whether you’re planning to cook in a wood-burning oven or are designing an eclectic front-of-house, be sure to include those ideas. Photos of materials and snippets of other restaurants that you love that are similar to the brand you’re building are also helpful.

8. Target market

Who is going to eat at your restaurant? What do they do for a living, how old are they, and what’s their average income? Once you’ve described them in detail, reiterate why your specific concept will appeal to them.

9. Location

There should be a natural and very clear connection between the information you present in the “Target Market” section and this one. You probably won’t have a specific site identified at this point in the process, but you should talk about viable neighborhoods.

Don’t assume that potential investors will be familiar with the areas you’re discussing and who works or lives there—make the connections clear. You want readers to be confident that your restaurant’s “ideal” diner intersects with the neighborhood(s) you’re proposing as often as possible.

If you don’t have a site , this is a good place to discuss what you’re looking for in terms of square footage, foot traffic, parking, freeway accessibility, outdoor seating , and other important details.

10. Market overview

Address the micro and macro market conditions in your area and how they relate to licenses and permits. At a macro level, what are the local and regional economic conditions?

If restaurants are doing poorly, explain why yours won’t; if restaurants are doing well, explain how you’ll be able to compete in an already booming restaurant climate. At a micro level, discuss who your direct competitors are. Talk about what types of restaurants share your target market and how you’ll differentiate yourself.

11. Marketing and publicity

The restaurant landscape is only getting more competitive. Discuss your pre- and post-opening marketing plans to show investors how you plan to gain traction leading up to opening day, as well as how you’ll keep the momentum going.

If you’re going to retain a PR/marketing company, introduce them and explain why you’ve chosen them over other companies (including some of their best-known clients helps). If not, convey that you have a solid plan in place to generate attention on your own through social media, your website , and media connections.

12. Specialists and consultants

List any outside contractors you plan to retain, such as:

• General contractor
• PR and marketing

Briefly explain the services they’ll be providing for you, why you chose them, and any notable accomplishments.

13. Business structure

This section should be short and sweet. What type of business structure have you set up and why did you make that specific decision? You will need to work with an attorney to help you determine what business structure is best for you.

“Step one: write a business plan. Step two: hire a good attorney. In addition to helping me build a smart, sustainable business structure, my attorney was also a great resource for reviewing my business plan because she’s read thousands of them. She was a very helpful, experienced outside perspective for more than just legal matters,” says Charles Bililies.

14. Financial projections

Let your accountant guide you through this portion of your business plan. It is crucial that whoever you hire to help you with your finances has a wealth of restaurant experience (not just one or two places). They should be familiar with the financial specifics of starting a restaurant and know what questions to ask you.

Before creating realistic financial projections, your accountant will want to know:

• How many seats the restaurant will have
• What your average check will be
• How many covers per day you plan to do

Being conservative in these estimations is key. These three data points will be used as the basis for figuring out whether your concept is financially feasible.

Lou Guerrero, Principal at Kross, Baumgarten, Kniss & Guerrero, emphasizes, “You’ll get a lot of accountants that tell you that they’ve done a couple of restaurants, but you have to choose someone that has a deep expertise in what you’re doing. There’s nothing to gain from going with someone that doesn’t have a very restaurant-centric practice.”

A well-vetted accountant with restaurant experience will know exactly what you’ll need to have prepared to show investors.

The key projections you can expect to work on are:

• Pro forma profit and loss statement for the first three to five years of operation
• Break even analysis
• Capital requirements budget

Writing a comprehensive restaurant business plan is a crucial step towards opening a successful establishment. By seeking inspiration from examples, demonstrating your expertise, and addressing all the essential components, you can prove the viability of your concept to potential investors.

Remember, a well-prepared business plan demonstrates professionalism and a clear understanding of your goals, increasing your chances of achieving long-term success in the competitive restaurant industry.

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Food and Beverage Business Plans

Bakery business plans.

• Delicatessen and Bakery Business Plan
• Dessert Bakery Business Plan
• Specialty Baker Business Plan
• Bakery Business Plan

Bar & Brewery Business Plans

• Bar and Tavern Business Plan
• Brewery Business Plan
• Hookah Bar Business Plan
• Karaoke Bar - Bowling Alley Business Plan
• Microbrew Bar Business Plan
• Nightclub Business Plan
• Nightclub Saloon Business Plan
• Nightclub, Dance Classes Business Plan
• Singles Bar Business Plan
• Sports Bar Business Plan
• Microbrewery Business Plan
• Wine Store Business Plan

Catering & Food Truck Business Plans

• Catering and Ballroom Rental Business Plan
• Catering Company Business Plan
• Food Preparation Business Plan
• Food Truck Business Plan

Coffee Shop & Cafe Business Plans

• Cafe Bistro Coffeehouse Business Plan
• Coffee Kiosk Business Plan
• Coffee Roaster Business Plan
• Coffee Shop Business Plan
• Coffeehouse Business Plan
• Convenience Store Cafe Business Plan
• Internet Cafe Business Plan
• Religious Coffeeshop Business Plan
• Sports Equipment Cafe Business Plan
• Tea Room Business Plan
• Coffee Distribution Business Plan
• Coffee Export Business Plan

Restaurant Business Plans

• Bed and Breakfast - Caribbean - Business Plan
• Bed And Breakfast Business Plan
• Bed and Breakfast Inn Business Plan
• Bowling Entertainment Center Business Plan
• Deli Restaurant Business Plan
• Ethnic Food Restaurant Business Plan
• Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan
• Fine Dining Restaurant Business Plan
• Franchise Sandwich Shop Business Plan
• Healthy Restaurant Business Plan
• Italian Restaurant Business Plan
• Mediterranean Restaurant Business Plan
• Mexican Restaurant Business Plan
• Movie Theater Restaurant Business Plan
• Organic Restaurant Business Plan
• Pasta Italian Restaurant Business Plan
• Pie Restaurant Business Plan
• Pizzeria Business Plan
• Pizzeria Franchise Business Plan
• Sandwich Restaurant Business Plan
• Steak Buffet Restaurant Business Plan
• Steak Restaurant Business Plan
• Themed Restaurant Business Plan
• Fast Food Service Business Plan
• Small Restaurant Business Plan

Specialty Food & Beverage Shop Business Plans

• Butcher Shop Business Plan
• Dinner Theater Business Plan
• Ethnic Food Import Business Plan
• Frozen Custard Shop Business Plan
• Convenience Store Soda Fountain Business Plan
• Gourmet Food Store Business Plan
• Organic Food Store Business Plan
• Pizza Delivery Business Plan
• Shaved Ice Beverage Business Plan
• Ice Cream Shop Business Plan

Wholesale Food & Beverage Business Plans

• Agriculture Fruit Farm Business Plan
• Hydroponics Farm Business Plan
• Nonprofit Food Bank Business Plan
• Pasta Manufacturer Business Plan
• Produce Farm Business Plan
• Salsa Manufacturer Business Plan
• Wholesale Food Business Plan
• Wholesale Food Manufacturer Business Plan
• Wholesale Juice Business Plan

Food and beverage industry overview

The food and beverage industry includes all businesses involved in the production, distribution, and sale of food and drinks.

The global food and drink market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 11.9%, reaching a market volume of $3.8 billion by 2027. This increase sharply contrasts the declining industry performance over the last three years.

Contributing factors to this performance are:

• Expected ease of inflation over the next year.
• Continued innovation in beverage and grab-and-go options.
• Increased interest in health-conscious options.
• Lifestyle changes as consumers increase travel and return to the office.

Additionally, the increased adoption of app-based and eCommerce purchasing options will continue to fuel discretionary spending in this category. Portable eating, tech-based purchasing, and alternative health and wellness products or services all show great promise for new entrants.

How to start a food and beverage business

To start a food and beverage business, you need to focus on the following:

1. Identify an idea that meets current demand

Identify your target market and potential competitors. Then, develop a unique product or service that serves a specific need—such as a particular cuisine, dietary need, or a unique dining experience.

2. Write a business plan

Create a business plan that thoroughly explains your business model, operations, pricing strategy, and financial projections.

3. Handle health, safety, hygiene and legal compliance

Food and beverage is a highly regulated industry with additional legal, health, and safety requirements. You must develop strict health and safety standards, prepare a staff training plan, and apply for permits or licenses relevant to your food or beverage offering.

4. Operations and relationships with suppliers

Establish relationships with reliable suppliers to acquire consistent quality ingredients. Focus on implementing an effective inventory management system that helps minimize waste and unnecessary expenses.

5. Location, layout, and staffing

Purchasing behavior and workflows are rooted in your business location and how your business is presented. Carefully choose a location and layout that fits your customers’ expectations and provides a healthy working environment for your employees.

Then, focus on training to ensure quality service, adherence to safety protocols, and the representation of your brand values.

6. Startup costs and financial management

Hefty upfront investments can be needed to start a food and beverage business. Kitchen equipment, menus, signage, POS systems, and mobile ordering technology scratches the surface.

You’ll likely be operating on thin margins, making effective financial planning necessary early on. Take direct inventory of what it will cost to start and run your business for the first year. Consider if you need funding and put a system in place to forecast and review your performance regularly.

7. Marketing and branding

You will have plenty of competition as a food and beverage business. Every restaurant, big brand, delivery service, grocery store, and mini-mart is a potential alternative.

So, don’t sleep on your branding and marketing efforts. Remember your target market, choose the proper channels, and develop a memorable visual identity that fits your mission.

For more on starting a business, check out our full selection of startup resources.

How to write a business plan for a food and beverage business

Here are some specific sections and information to focus on when writing a business plan for a food, beverage, or restaurant business.

Market analysis

The food and beverage industry is a highly competitive market with established competition and a steady influx of new entrants. Thoroughly document who you will be competing with, how you are different, and your ideal customers. This information will influence everything else about your business.

Business model

You’ll notice a trend through the rest of these, but you need a detailed description of how you will make money. As mentioned before, food and beverage businesses often operate on incredibly thin margins.

You need to be sure that your revenue streams make sense for the market, can consistently bring in cash, and will be sustainable long-term.

Menu and product offerings

Specific to this industry, you must cover what you offer and provide a sample menu or product list. It should directly relate to the interest of your clientele and showcase what you offer.

Describe your location, including a layout of your store or restaurant and details for how your business will operate—how you will work with suppliers, specific workflows, equipment needs, and staffing.

Focus on demonstrating quality and efficiency when outlining your operations, and don’t forget to revisit it as you run your business.

Financial projections

Provide detailed financial projections to map out your revenue and expenses. At a minimum, cover startup costs, break-even analysis, profit and loss forecasts, and cash flow statements.

Include any assumptions behind your projections and map out funding needs if you intend to pursue a loan or other investment.

You can use any of our food, beverage, or restaurant sample plans to ensure you cover the right information in your plan. For a detailed overview, check out our complete business plan outline.

What is an example of a food and beverage business?

Food, beverage, and restaurant businesses include:

• Agriculture and food production
• Food processing and packaging
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage production
• Restaurants
• Food transportation services

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Setting up a Takeaway Business

All you need to know about starting and running your business.

In this article

What is a Takeaway Business?

The takeaway industry is at an all-time high, with more than 46,000 takeaway and fast-food restaurants currently operating in the UK. 15% of adults in the UK order takeaway food at least once a week, equating to more than 5 million people. With the takeaway industry booming, now could be a great time to set up a takeaway business.

A takeaway business, also known as a quick service restaurant (QSR), is a type of food business that is specifically designed for takeaway food. A takeaway restaurant prepares food that is ordered and collected (usually from a drive-through window or an ordering counter) to be eaten off the premises or delivered directly to the customer’s home. A takeaway business is popular with customers because of its convenience and because of the typically lower prices.

Takeaway restaurants serve a wide variety of food. There are many different types of foods and cuisines that your takeaway business could focus on, including:

• Fast food, e.g. burgers, pizzas, kebabs, chicken nuggets and French fries.
• Cuisine from a specific country, e.g. Chinese, Indian, Italian, Thai or Japanese cuisine.
• Traditional fish and chips.
• Vegetarian or vegan food.
• Healthy eating food, e.g. salads, poke bowls, smoothies and protein boxes.
• Desserts, e.g. cakes, ice cream, milkshakes, waffles, brownies and cookie dough.

When choosing the type of food your business will specialise in, consider the food you are familiar with and are skilled at cooking and the market demand in your chosen area. Once you have chosen the type of food you are going to specialise in, you can then design your menu. Focusing on a specific type of food can help you to focus your menu, profit from a particular takeaway niche and make your business stand out.

There are several different ways you can operate a takeaway business, including:

A takeaway delivery service

This type of business offers a delivery service. Customers access your menu (usually online or via a physical menu leaflet) and place an order, either online, over the phone or via a mobile app. The food will then be delivered to them within the specified timeframe. Payment can be made online or over the phone while placing the order or customers can pay upon delivery (usually in cash). If you choose to set up a takeaway delivery business, you can handle deliveries yourself or sign up with an order and delivery service, such as Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber Eats.

A takeaway collection service

This type of business offers food for collection. Your takeaway establishment will likely be located in a central or busy area that is easily accessible to customers and can capitalise on passing trade. Depending on the size of your premises, you may offer a drive-through service or a collection service from the counter. You may offer a collection service whereby customers order their food in advance and then come to your restaurant at a specified time to collect the food. Alternatively, they can order the food on your premises and wait for it to be prepared.

A collection and delivery service

To maximise your sales and profits, you may choose to offer both collection and delivery services. To do this, you will need to ensure your kitchen can handle a higher volume of orders and that you have an appropriate number of employees to fulfil your orders.

A home takeaway business

A home takeaway business prepares food at home, rather than on a commercial premises. They will then deliver the food or arrange for customer collection. This type of takeaway business usually accepts a significantly lower volume of orders and will likely only accept orders in advance.

There are many different responsibilities associated with running a takeaway business. Your responsibilities can vary, depending on the type of takeaway you set up, the size of your business, your menu and the number of employees you hire.

Some of the tasks you can expect to be responsible for include:

• Sourcing and ordering stock and ingredients.
• Planning and preparing your menu and pricing your food and beverages.
• Purchasing, cleaning and maintaining equipment and machinery.
• Preparing, cooking and serving food and beverages.
• Delivering orders to customers and handling customer collections.
• Implementing food safety and hygiene policies and ensuring they are followed by everyone in your business.
• Ensuring the cleanliness of your premises and avoiding cross-contamination.
• Complying with all legal guidelines and health and safety requirements.
• Managing inventory and maintaining accurate records.
• Speaking to customers, taking orders and handling payments and receipts.
• Overseeing daily operations, such as staffing, scheduling and managing inventory.
• Ensuring timely delivery of orders.
• Monitoring driver performance.
• Marketing and advertising.
• Completing business and administrative tasks, such as budgeting, forecasting and reporting.

Starting up a takeaway business can be both financially and personally rewarding. You do not need any formal qualifications to open a takeaway; however, you will need the necessary skills, experience and training required to create recipes and prepare and cook the food to a high standard. You will also need the necessary knowledge of health, safety and hygiene regulations and requirements to ensure you run your business safely and hygienically. A high level of knowledge of the food industry, an understanding of how to successfully run a takeaway, strong business skills and a solid business plan can also be beneficial.

Types of Customers

A takeaway business can be popular with people of all ages and demographics. However, multiple factors can influence the typical customers that order from your takeaway. Identifying your typical customer base can help you to plan your advertising and marketing strategies, focus your business and maximise your profits.

Some of the factors that can determine your typical customer base are:

This is one of the most important factors in determining the types of customers your business is likely to appeal to. It could be that customers are searching for a particular type of food or cuisine (e.g. pizza or Chinese food) or that your menu appeals to them. Consider the types of customers that are most likely to be interested in your food and how you can personalise your menu further to entice them to choose your takeaway restaurant. For example, a fish and chip takeaway may be popular with families so offering a children’s menu could be advantageous.

Your primary ordering and delivery strategies

This is another important factor, as the majority of takeaway customers are looking for convenience and ease. What ordering strategies are in place in your restaurant (e.g. online, over the phone or via a food delivery service)? Do you offer a delivery option or is it collection only? Does your business have a drive-through? These are all important factors that can determine whether a potential customer will choose your business.

Your location

Takeaway restaurants usually only offer a delivery option to customers located in their vicinity (the maximum delivery radius is usually two miles). This is to reduce delivery costs and ensure the food is delivered to customers at the appropriate temperature and in a good condition. If your business operates a collection service (e.g. via a drive-through or ordering counter) your typical customers will be those who live locally or are visiting the area for another reason. For example, if you are located close to a retail area, your typical customer base may be primarily shoppers.

Your wait times

When a customer attempts to make a food order, the waiting time for food will be an important factor they consider. Your wait times will be determined by the size and capabilities of your kitchen, the number of employees you have, the volume of orders and the availability of delivery drivers. A shorter wait time is likely to be most attractive to potential customers.

Your pricing strategy

Your price points will be a key determiner of your customer base.

Takeaway customers can typically be separated into three pricing categories:

• Budget: This type of customer is looking for the lowest-priced food and is usually happier with a more limited menu and more basic service. Price will be a major factor when choosing a takeaway restaurant.
• Mid-range: Mid-range customers are looking for a combination of quality and affordability. Although they don’t want to pay premium prices, they don’t look for the cheapest option and instead look for a less limited menu and higher quality food at a reasonable price.
• Luxury: This type of customer wants the highest quality, best-tasting food and is willing to pay higher prices. These customers will look at your menu, your hygiene rating, customer reviews and your brand, rather than your prices.

Your business brand and aesthetic

Your brand and aesthetic are key factors in the types of customers you are likely to attract. If you have a physical premises, consider the style and design of your takeaway, including your décor, accessories and the front of your premises. You should also consider the name of your business. If you primarily accept orders online, your takeaway’s website and the design of your online menu will all be important factors that can affect your typical customer base.

Your food hygiene rating

This will be a key consideration for certain customers. If you have a low hygiene rating, this will deter some customers from ordering from your business.

Your customer rating and reviews

Food delivery services (such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats) will all display your customer rating (usually scored out of 5). Search engines such as Google will also display your customer rating and reviews that are easily accessible with a quick search for your business. Some customers will look at your rating and reviews before creating a food order.

Equipment You Will Need

The type of equipment you require will depend on the type of takeaway business you set up, your menu and the size of your premises. Choosing the appropriate equipment is imperative as without it you will not be able to run your business.

Although your equipment requirements can vary, below is a list of the equipment typically required by takeaway businesses:

Kitchen Equipment

Stock and ingredients

This is an important ongoing purchase that can take up a large percentage of your business’s running costs. Before ordering food stock and ingredients, you will first need to plan your menu. Try to include common ingredients in multiple dishes to reduce your food waste and create an ongoing inventory that makes it easier for you to create a stock order. As part of your stock order, you will also need to purchase any condiments (e.g. ketchup and mayonnaise) and any herbs and spices that you will require.

An industrial fridge and freezer

A fridge and freezer are essential in your kitchen. You will need to store any perishables and fresh stock or ingredients in your fridge or freezer. Consider how much you will need to store when considering what size you will need. If you have the available space, you may opt for a walk-in or industrial-sized fridge and freezer. Ensure both the fridge and freezer are set to the correct temperature.

A food display warmer

A food display warmer is a glass-fronted piece of heating equipment that applies direct heat underneath cooked food. It keeps any pre-made food warm and tasty. The glass front means the food is visible to customers and can help encourage impulse purchases. You can keep different food items in your warmer, as long as they are separated to avoid contamination.

An industrial oven

Depending on the size of your kitchen and the number of items you want to cook in your oven at one time, you may require multiple ovens. However, many foods typically prepared in a takeaway are not cooked in an oven and are instead cooked on a hob or grill. The type of ovens you need will depend on the food you are making.

Some popular choices are:

• A commercial oven.
• A convection oven.
• A pizza oven.
• A combination oven.
• A steam oven.
• A fan oven.

Multiple hobs

Hobs are necessary for any items that are fried, boiled, pan-roasted, seared or sauteed, including stir-fries, curries and pasta. You will likely want to choose built-in commercial hobs or a commercial range that is built to be long-lasting and can handle heavy usage. The number of hobs you need will depend on the type of food you primarily cook.

Some food items are cooked on a grill rather than in an oven, for example, burgers, chicken, pancakes and grilled sandwiches. You could choose a grill that is inbuilt with your oven or range or opt for a stand-alone grill.

A bain-marie

If you plan to cook food in bulk, a bain-marie allows you to keep the food at a safe temperature. They are particularly recommended if your order volume is likely to be high at certain times or if you want to batch-cook some items.

Kebab machines

A kebab machine, also known as a gyros grill, is a piece of equipment that is used to rotate kebab meat around a vertical seat of burners, ensuring even cooking. The meat closest to the burner can then be shaved off once it is cooked. You will need multiple machines if you plan to serve different kebab meats. Kebab machines are available in both gas and electric forms and are available in different sizes to suit different-sized meat joints.

Deep fat fryers

Certain takeaway businesses find that a deep fat fryer is their most used piece of equipment (e.g. a fish and chips takeaway or a fried chicken shop). A deep fat fryer is used for cooking items such as chips, fried chicken, battered fish, churros and doughnuts. Consider your menu when deciding whether your restaurant requires a deep fat fryer.

A commercial microwave

A microwave can be useful for heating up any foods or sauces that have been pre-cooked or for quickly defrosting some food items. It could also be that you don’t make all the food in your takeaway business from scratch and instead order some ready-made items. Microwaves can also be useful to steam cook, reheat, pre-cook or defrost any food or stock.

Depending on what you cook in your kitchen, there are several different pots and pans and other cookware you may require, including:

• Frying pans.
• Grill pans.
• Sauté pans.
• Baking trays.
• Roasting pans.

You will likely require multiple pieces of the same cookware items (e.g. multiple frying pans) for different types of cooking and to ensure foods are kept separate.

If you run a dessert takeaway business or offer any baked products on your menu, such as pizzas, pies and cakes, you will need to purchase bakeware. This is the type of equipment you will use to bake your products. Investing in quality bakeware is recommended as it will likely be heavily used and can be susceptible to dents and warping.

Some pieces of bakeware you may need to purchase include:

• Bread pans.
• Muffin tins.

A dough proofer and dough sheeter

Dough is used in a variety of baked goods, including bread, pastries, pizzas and certain desserts. If your takeaway makes dough from scratch, you will need a dough proofer. A dough proofer can help to simplify the dough-rising process, helping you to ensure your products are uniform in shape and size, and that the production process is streamlined. A dough sheeter can help you make dough in large quantities at a much quicker rate. It rolls out pieces of dough to the desired thickness, whilst ensuring the dough is smooth and uniform.

A heavy-duty food processor

A food processor can help to reduce prep time and labour costs. They can be used for a variety of tasks, including pureeing soup, grinding meat and kneading dough. A food processor can shred, knead, dice and grind and combine ingredients into the required mixture using a multipurpose blade that rotates at a high speed.

A mixer is used to combine ingredients in preparation for cooking or baking and is utilised for tasks such as stirring, whisking and beating. They are particularly popular for mixing the batter for cakes and cookies and for creating dough. You could opt for an industrial mixer, as they are more durable and more reliable. When deciding the type of mixers that are best for your business, consider the size and capacity of the mixer, the power and the type of mixing they are capable of (e.g. mixing, kneading, blending and whipping).

The most common mixers are:

• Planetary mixers.
• Horizontal mixers.
• Spiral mixers.

If you sell smoothies or milkshakes, you will need a blender to blend the ingredients together and puree or crush the ice or ice cream. You can also use a blender for making soups and sauces.

Ventilation

Commercial kitchens require more complex ventilation, as kitchens are commonly filled with smoke, steam, odours, high heat and potentially harmful gases.

Some ventilation you could install includes:

• Ventilation hoods.
• Exhaust fans.
• Make-up air systems.
• Fire suppression systems.

An industrial dishwasher

A dishwasher is a necessity, not only because it will help you to save time in the kitchen and reduce your kitchen duties, but also because it will demonstrate the hygiene standards and cleanliness of your takeaway business. Choose an industrial-sized dishwasher to allow you to clean more dishes at the same time, helping your kitchen to run more efficiently.

Stainless steel worktops or worktables

The majority of your food preparation will be done on your worktops or tables. Your worktables should be stainless steel as this material is non-porous, meaning it is resistant to most bacteria and germs. It is also easier to clean and will help you to maintain high standards of hygiene.

Storage racks and shelving

Shelving creates a safe and organised area for storing non-perishable ingredients (such as bread, seasoning and dried pasta), as well as equipment, accessories and utensils. Shelves also allow you to maximise the space in your kitchen. You will need enough shelving to keep stock separate and keep your kitchen well-organised.

Kitchen accessories

Some kitchen accessories you may require include:

• Colour-coded chopping boards.
• Kitchen knives and a sharpening stone.
• Mixing bowls.
• Temperature gauges.
• A strainer and colander.
• Weighing scales, measuring cups and a measuring jug.
• Oven gloves.
• Baking paper, greaseproof paper and aluminium foil.

Cooking utensils

Some cooking utensils you could require are:

• Stirring spoons.
• Peelers and graters.
• Tin openers.

Storage containers

Storage containers can be used for safely storing any opened stock, to prevent spoilage or contamination. You can also use the containers to store any cooked or pre-prepared food, such as salads, to keep them fresh for longer. Ensure your storage containers are strong and airtight.

Some storage containers you could opt for include:

• Food storage containers in different shapes and sizes.
• Dough containers.
• Kitchen canisters.
• Large ingredient bins (for storing larger amounts of dry ingredients).
• Vegetable crispers (to keep your fruits and vegetables fresh and crisp).

Date labels

These are necessary to label when ingredients were opened and when certain items were cooked. It ensures that all stock, ingredients and food products are completely safe to use and that your kitchen is operating in line with food safety and hygiene guidelines.

Equipment and handwashing sinks

Equipment sinks should be used specifically for cleaning or disinfecting food equipment and utensils and should not be used for handwashing. You must ensure the sink has both hot and cold running water. You will also need separate handwashing facilities that are used solely for washing hands. As well as hot and cold running water, your handwashing sink should also have sanitising products (such as handwash) and a means for drying hands (e.g. a hand dryer or paper towels).

Rubbish bins and a waste disposal system

You will need rubbish bins in all areas of your takeaway premises. You will also need different bins for different items to ensure you are disposing of rubbish correctly and following recycling guidelines. Colour-coded bins are the easiest way to ensure your waste disposal system is operating correctly.

A Kitchen Display System (KDS)

This is a digital screen that is used instead of handwritten or printed orders. A KDS manages your orders and helps you to prioritise, edit and track your orders. It creates a more streamlined ordering system by ensuring that your kitchen gets orders in real time. It can help your takeaway to be more organised and efficient and reduces the risk of human error.

Other Equipment

Insulated delivery bags

If you make deliveries to your customers, you will need insulated delivery bags to maintain the temperature of the food or drink and ensure food is delivered to your customers at an appropriate temperature. The number of delivery bags you will need will depend on how many delivery drivers you have.

Regardless of whether your customers order and collect their food or whether you make deliveries, you will need appropriate food packaging to keep the food secure and prevent any spillage or contamination. To reduce costs and help protect the environment, ensure your packaging is as environmentally friendly as possible. The type of packaging you require will depend on the types of food you sell.

Some items you may need include:

• Cardboard boxes, containers and bowls.
• Cardboard pizza boxes.
• Polystyrene or plastic boxes.
• Foil containers.
• Paper cups and straws.
• Ice cream tubs.
• Eco-friendly cutlery.
• Paper bags.
• Paper wrappings.
• Chip boxes.
• Portion pots (e.g. for sauces and condiments).

There are a number of different menus you could opt for, depending on the type of takeaway you operate, including:

• Large, waterproof outdoor menus positioned near your drive-through.
• A large menu over your counter.
• Leaflet menus for customers to take away with them or that are delivered to people’s homes for advertisement purposes.
• Online menus.

Your menus should be attractive to potential customers and should be designed to fit your takeaway’s brand.

Some of the information you could include on your menus is:

• The name of each dish.
• An appropriate description of each dish.
• Any allergen information.
• The pricing of each dish or item.
• Additional information, such as vegetarian or vegan.
• A photograph of the dish.

A computer and Wi-Fi system

A computer or laptop is necessary for getting instant access to any online orders that are made. You will also need a computer to run your business website, arrange stock deliveries, for marketing purposes and for completing any business and administrative tasks. A Wi-Fi system will give you access to the internet on your premises.

A business phone

A business phone allows your customers to call to make orders or can allow you to contact customers directly to discuss an order. You could opt for a landline or mobile phone and could advertise your business phone number on your website and your menus.

A website is useful for advertising your business and could also act as your primary ordering strategy. It should contain photographs and descriptions of your food (including the ingredients). It should also show the areas and locations you offer delivery to and your customer reviews. Your website will likely feature an option to order online. Design your website to include your business logo and to reflect your branding.

An online ordering system

If you want to reduce your outgoings and have complete control over all orders and deliveries, and your business has the means to handle orders and deliveries, you may want to invest in an online ordering system. The most popular option is an online ordering system on your website and a dedicated ordering app. Your online ordering system should also feature a secure payment option. The system should be connected to your business phone or computer so that you are alerted to new orders instantly.

A payment system

The type of payment system you require will depend on your primary selling strategy. For example, if you accept in-person sales, you will likely require a Point of Sale (POS) system with a cash till. If you accept orders online, you may require an online payment system. Keep in mind that if you accept orders through food delivery services, such as Deliveroo and Just Eat, the food delivery company will handle any customer payments on your behalf.

Safety equipment

Some of the safety equipment your business may require includes:

• Fire extinguishers.
• Rubber floor mats.
• Wet floor signs.
• A fully stocked first aid kit.

A CCTV system

Because you will be storing expensive stock and equipment and may have customers visiting your premises, CCTV can protect your business from potential break-ins and theft. CCTV can also protect your business in the event of an injury or accident and can provide vital footage to the police if a theft or incident occurs at your premises. You can choose the specification of the equipment and how many cameras you require.

If your takeaway accepts cash payments, you will need a safe as a way of safely storing the cash from your till at the end of the day. You can also keep extra change in your safe in case your cash register runs out of change during the working day.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is a necessary purchase for all food businesses, as it helps to protect your food from contamination. PPE can also protect you and your staff from harm. Some PPE you may require includes hairnets, gloves, anti-slip footwear and aprons.

Cleaning equipment

Keeping all areas of your premises clean is imperative. Food preparation areas and food storage areas are particular areas that should be cleaned regularly throughout the day, to avoid cross-contamination and the breeding of bacteria. You will likely need different cleaning materials for different parts of your takeaway business. You may need to invest in cloths, sponges, antibacterial surface cleaners, bleach, sanitiser, dishwashing soap and a sweeping brush and mop.

Typical Costs

When you are setting up your takeaway business, an important consideration you will need to make is the approximate costs associated with starting up and running this type of business. Calculating your typical costs allows you to estimate your initial investment requirements, any monthly and annual costs, your pricing strategy, your profit goals and your acceptable profit margins.

There are multiple costs associated with setting up and running a takeaway business. Some of these costs will be one-off initial costs that you will need to pay when you are setting up your business. Other costs will be ongoing costs you will need to pay regularly – usually weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually.

Although typical costs can vary, depending on the type of takeaway business you set up and the size of your business, the typical costs you can expect to be responsible for include:

Your takeaway premises

Unless you operate a takeaway business from your home, your commercial premises will likely be your biggest expenditure. You will need to rent your premises on a monthly or annual basis. Rental prices can vary significantly, depending on the location and the size of the premises. City centre locations and locations close to point of interest usually have the highest rental costs. Rental costs are often calculated per square metre. They can range significantly, from £500 to £15,000 per square metre annually. Your rental cost may be higher if you are renting an already established, refurbished or equipped food business.

Refurbishment and installation costs

Unless your premises previously operated as a takeaway or a similar food business, you will likely need to refurbish or convert your venue to install the equipment and furniture you need for your business and make the area fit for purpose. You will also want to refurbish and decorate your premises to fit the aesthetic of your business and make it attractive to customers. If your premises doesn’t have an established kitchen, you will need to set one up, which may include installing the necessary water, electricity and gas lines. Renovation costs can vary, from £5,000 to £50,000 depending on the level and scale of work required. As part of your renovation costs, consider how you can make the customer-accessible areas of your takeaway attractive and ensure all areas of your premises are easy to clean and are safe and in line with health and safety regulations.

Your equipment is an important purchase, as without it you will not be able to run your takeaway business. The cost of equipment can vary based on how large your premises are and the type of equipment you require. The bigger your premises and the more food you want to be able to cook at one time, the more equipment you will require. You may choose to purchase less equipment initially and expand your equipment as your business grows. Equipment for your takeaway business can cost between £10,000 and £50,000.

This is an ongoing cost you will need to factor into your budget and will be a major monthly expenditure. Depending on your menu, a lot of your stock and ingredients will be perishables, such as fresh meat, seafood, dairy, fruits and vegetables and bread. These ingredients will need to be purchased regularly and you may need to take deliveries several times a week (or daily). Other dry, non-perishable ingredients can be ordered in bulk. You can reduce the cost of your stock by buying wholesale, buying in bulk and shopping around. To maximise your profits, your food stock cost should be no more than 30% of your food sale price. The higher the return, the higher your profits will be. Design your menu so that multiple items feature similar ingredients to reduce your stock costs.

Maintaining, repairing and replacing equipment

Repairs, maintenance and replacements are ongoing costs you will need to factor into your budget. Although some of your equipment and machinery will come with warranties, repairs and replacements are inevitable – particularly because food preparation and cooking equipment typically experience heavy use. Regularly cleaning and maintaining equipment and ensuring it is used correctly can extend its life, but potential repairs and replacements should still be factored into your budget.

Food delivery service fees

If you sign up with a food delivery service, such as Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber Eats, you will need to account for their sign-up fees and commission rates. Food delivery services typically charge between £300 and £500 for signing up. Commission percentages can range from 10% to 30% of the total cost of the order; for example, if a customer makes an order worth £20, the food delivery service may charge between £2 and £6. Consider the costs associated with each company before deciding which best suits your business.

The fees associated with using an online ordering system are typically lower than using a food delivery company. Most companies have no fees associated with setting up your account. They may charge you a weekly or monthly fee (usually between £25 and £50 per month) or charge you a percentage fee for each order (usually between 2.5% and 10%). However, keep in mind that although the costs are lower compared to food delivery companies, you will have additional costs associated with marketing and advertising.

Delivery costs

If you offer a delivery service yourself (rather than employing the services of a food delivery company) you will need to account for the costs associated with delivering food. This includes the hourly wage of your delivery drivers. Although delivery drivers tend to use their own vehicles, you will need to cover the cost of petrol and may need to pay for their business vehicle insurance. However, keep in mind that you can charge your customers a delivery fee for every order, which can help you to cover any associated costs.

Running costs

These are the day-to-day costs associated with running your business. Some running costs are paid monthly, and others are paid quarterly or annually. Your running costs can include electricity, gas, water, council tax and insurance. To maximise your profits, try to keep your running costs as low as possible.

You will need to hire staff such as chefs and other kitchen staff, front-of-house staff and cleaners. You will need to pay any staff you employ at least the national minimum wage and account for other expenses such as holiday pay, sick pay, maternity/paternity pay, National Insurance and any company pension contributions.

When creating your brand identity, consider how you want your takeaway to be perceived by potential customers. When creating your brand, consider the type of takeaway business you are setting up, your menu and your typical customer base. Branding can include creating your business’s visual identity, design and aesthetic, your business name and logo, your signage and your website. You could hire a professional to help you with branding or do some or all of the work yourself. Branding can cost between £500 and £10,000, depending on the level of work required.

Advertising and marketing

To ensure your takeaway attracts customers and creates maximum profits, you will need to spend money on advertising and marketing. It is recommended that you spend between 1%–3% of your annual turnover on marketing. For example, if your annual turnover (or your desired annual turnover) is £100,000, you should spend between £1,000 and £3,000 on advertising and marketing. You may need to invest more money when you initially set up your business or when you are trying to grow your business. To reduce your costs, capitalise on free marketing strategies, such as on social media or in your local community. Once your business is established, you should be able to reduce your advertising costs. If you use a food delivery service, your advertising costs should be lower, as your customers will automatically be able to find your restaurant on the delivery app.

You and your employees will need to obtain food hygiene training before you open your business. You will also need to refresh your training regularly (at least every three years). You may also opt to undertake other training courses, such as manual handling, first aid and electrical safety. You can expect to pay approximately £20 + VAT per training course per person.

Business insurance

There are multiple coverage options available for a takeaway business. Some types of coverage are optional, whereas others are mandatory.

Your coverage options include:

• Public Liability Insurance.
• Employers’ Liability Insurance.
• Product Liability Insurance.
• Building and Contents Cover.
• Stock Insurance.
• Personal Accident Insurance.
• Food Contamination Insurance.

Prices can vary, depending on your insurance provider and the level of coverage you choose. Prices typically start at £15 per month.

Typical Pricing for Customers

Once you have calculated the typical costs associated with setting up and running a takeaway business, you can then price your menu. Each item on your menu will be priced differently.

Multiple factors can influence your pricing, including:

• The type of food you sell.
• Your location.
• Your reputation, customer rating and customer reviews.
• The popularity of your takeaway.
• Your food hygiene score.
• The cost of your food stock and ingredients.
• The complexity of each meal and how long it will take you to prepare and cook.
• Whether the order is for collection or delivery.
• The number of employees you hire.
• The pricing of other similar takeaway businesses in your area.

Safely Running a Takeaway Business

Safe practices in your takeaway business can help to protect the health, safety and well-being of you, your staff and your customers.

Some ways you can safely run your takeaway business are:

Safely store food

All food (regardless of whether it is perishable or non-perishable) must be stored safely to prevent contamination and to ensure it is of good quality and safe to consume.

Some safe storage practices you should follow include:

• Storage areas should be kept clean and tidy.
• Food deliveries should be checked to ensure they are safe and of good quality before accepting them.
• Follow the First In First Out (FIFO) stock rotation system.
• Pay attention to use-by and best-before dates.
• Fridges and freezers should be set to the correct temperature.
• Follow the storage instruction on pre-packaged food.
• Raw food and high-risk food should be stored correctly (e.g. below ready-to-eat foods).
• Foods containing allergens should be stored separately.
• Chemicals should be stored away from food.
• Chilled or frozen food should be labelled with the date.

Ensure proper ventilation

To reduce exposure to smoke, steam, high heat and harmful gases, you will need to install a proper ventilation system.

A ventilation system can:

• Improve your indoor air quality.
• Reduce the temperature of your kitchen.
• Reduce odours.
• Remove grease from the air, your surfaces and equipment.
• Reduce your energy bills.

Your ventilation system will likely also include fire suppression equipment, which can help reduce the likelihood of a fire occurring in your kitchen.

Ensure the personal hygiene of all staff

Good personal hygiene is essential when working in the food industry. Good personal hygiene can include:

• Implementing handwashing procedures.
• Tying back hair or covering hair.
• Not wearing false nails or nail varnish on your fingernails or any jewellery or watches when preparing or handling food.
• Not wearing strong perfume or other chemical products that could contaminate the food.
• Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Following good habits, such as not coughing or sneezing near food and refraining from touching your hair or face.

You should also be aware of staff illnesses and ensure no employee is near food if they are displaying signs of illness or have recently experienced vomiting or diarrhoea.

Follow guidelines on foods that may contain traces of gluten or allergens

The Food Standards Agency has provided voluntary guidelines on labelling products that may contain traces of gluten or another allergen. For example, if the foods were prepared in the same area as gluten or an allergen, you should label your products accordingly so that your customers can make an informed decision.

Examples of the labelling terms you could use include:

• May contain traces of gluten.
• Made in a factory that also handles peanuts.

Implement pest prevention and control methods

Pests can be a major issue for food businesses and can result in contaminated food and your business being shut down by an Environmental Health Officer (EHO).

Some ways you can prevent pests are:

• Fill any gaps or holes in your building.
• Keep your external areas free from food, rubbish or vegetation.
• Dispose of food properly in closed bins.
• Keep your premises clean and tidy.
• Store food in sealed containers.
• Use fly screens on open windows or doors.
• Check your deliveries for signs of pest damage.

Implement cleaning procedures

A cleaning schedule or cleaning policies should be in place that cover the cleaning of equipment, surfaces, and food preparation and storage areas. Your cleaning procedures should specify when cleaning should take place and whether any specific equipment should be used.

Keep clear and accurate records

When you are inspected by the EHO, they will likely request to see up-to-date records of your business’s cleaning schedules, risk assessments, health and safety policies and allergen information. Keeping such records not only helps to protect your business and improve the likelihood of you receiving a higher score, but it also ensures procedures are followed at all times.

Conduct risk assessments

Although this is not a legal requirement if your business has fewer than five employees, risk assessments can help to eliminate risks and ensure safe practices in your takeaway.

As part of your risk assessments, you should:

• Identify hazards.
• Determine who could be at risk.
• Evaluate any potential risks.
• Implement relevant safety measures.
• Record the results of the risk assessment.
• Review the risk assessment regularly.

You should keep physical records of your risk assessments as evidence of your commitment to safe practices.

Implement safety measures

Safety measures can help to protect your business, your employees, your customers and your equipment.

Some safety measures you should implement include:

• Install a CCTV system.
• Install an alarm system and secure and reliable locks.
• Keep a fully stocked first aid kit on site.
• Other safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, should be easily accessible.
• Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Keep your floors clean

Slips and falls are one of the most frequent causes of injuries in food businesses. Slipping or falling on a floor that is wet or slippery can lead to an injury and could result in your business being sued. Implement a policy that any spills are mopped up immediately and ensure your premises has enough ‘Wet Floor’ and ‘Caution’ signs and that these are used when necessary. You should also perform regular inspections of your kitchen floor to check for any hazards that haven’t been reported.

Obtain health and safety training

Obtaining health and safety training can ensure that you and your employees follow safe practices at all times.

Some training courses you could opt for include:

• Assessing Risk.
• Health and Safety for Employees.
• Fire Safety Awareness.
• COSHH Awareness.

Legal Requirements

Complying with legal requirements is essential when setting up and running your takeaway business. Legal guidelines can vary, depending on the type of takeaway you set up and where your business is located.

Some of the legal requirements you should be aware of include:

Register as a food business

Any business in the UK that sells food must apply for a food business registration with their local council. You must apply for your food business registration at least 28 days before you begin trading. Once you have registered, you may be inspected by your local council.

Apply for a Food Premises Licence

If you plan to cook meat, fish, eggs or dairy products, you will need to apply for a food premises licence with your local council. Depending on your local council, you may need to display your licence clearly on your premises. Before you open your business, your local council may require your premises to undergo an inspection.

Display your food hygiene rating

If you cook, prepare, package or handle any food in your business, you will likely be required to undergo an inspection from the Environmental Health Office (EHO) to determine your food hygiene rating.

The inspector will assess your:

• Food storage.
• Food handling.
• Food preparation.
• Food cleanliness.
• Food safety management system.

Once you have received your food hygiene rating, this information should be clearly displayed on your premises.

Comply with the Food Safety Act (1990)

The Food Safety Act applies to any business that sells food. It covers food safety, consumer protection and food information. It makes it an offence to make or sell any food which could be harmful to health and lays out hygiene practices you should follow.

There are several legal requirements listed in the Food Safety Act, including:

• Do not add anything to food, remove anything from food or treat food in any way which could make it damaging to the consumer.
• Ensure that all food practices are carried out in a hygienic way.
• Comply with food hygiene and safety practices when cleaning, cooking, chilling and handling food.
• Do not present or describe food in a way that is false or misleading.

Comply with the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations

These regulations specify the standards relating to the control and management of the steps that are critical to food safety, including the cleanliness of your takeaway premises and equipment and temperature control in food preparation, storage and serving.

The regulations differ depending on where in the UK your business is located:

• England: The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.
• Scotland: The Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
• Wales: The Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006.
• Northern Ireland: The Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland).

Comply with The Food Information (Amendment) Regulations 2019

These regulations set out the responsibilities of food businesses, including takeaway businesses, to provide information regarding the 14 allergens (celery, cereals, crustaceans, eggs, fish, lupin, cows’ milk, molluscs, mustard, nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, soya and sulphur dioxide). The regulations were updated in 2019 to include Natasha’s Law. You must ensure that any packaging, menus, signs or labels clearly state if any of these allergens are present. You could also state any allergen information orally on the phone when the customer places an order.

You must provide allergen information:

• Before the food is purchased.
• When the food is delivered (e.g. orally or in writing).

Implement a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) based on HACCP

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) framework should be used in your takeaway to create a food safety management procedure. Your FSMS should be a systematic approach to controlling any food safety hazards.

It should include:

• Identifying any points in your processes where food hazards could occur and identify which of these points could be critical.
• Identifying and implementing monitoring and control procedures at all critical control points (CCPs).
• Regularly reviewing and analysing food hazards, CCPs and control procedures.
• If your takeaway offers a delivery option, you will also need to include information about temperature control and preventing spoilage in your HACCP or FSMS.

Comply with the four steps to food safety

The four steps to food safety (known as the Four Cs) can help to reduce contamination and reduce the likelihood of food poisoning.

It includes:

• Cleaning: Cleaning helps to prevent harmful bacteria from contaminating food. Clean your hands and surfaces often. You should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water before, during and after preparing food and after handling certain foods. You should also wash surfaces, chopping boards and utensils after preparing each food item.
• Cooking: Food must be cooked thoroughly to destroy any harmful bacteria. Check all food is cooked to a safe internal temperature or reheated thoroughly and it is piping hot before serving. When food is packaged for delivery, you must ensure it remains at a minimum temperature of 63°C when it reaches the customer.
• Cross-contamination: Cross-contamination can occur when harmful bacteria spreads between surfaces, equipment, hands and food. To avoid cross-contamination, keep different types of food separate (e.g. raw meat and other foods), use different chopping boards for different foods, keep cooked food separate, store foods correctly and thoroughly clean surfaces.
• Chilling: Chilling food correctly prevents bacteria from growing. Refrigerate stock as soon as it is delivered, ensure your refrigerator is set to the correct temperature and refrigerate perishable or cooked foods within two hours.

Transport takeaway food safely

There are several procedures you must follow when delivering food to your customers:

• Food should be delivered to customers in a way that ensures it does not become unsafe or unfit to eat.
• Any hot boxes or cool boxes must be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly before and after each use.
• The food temperature should be controlled (so that harmful bacteria do not spread). Hot food should be at least 63°C or above and cold food should be at 8°C or below (although between 0°C and 5°C is recommended).
• Takeaway packaging should be sourced from reputable suppliers and must be graded at an appropriate level for its intended use.
• Takeaway packaging should be stored in a clean and dry area to prevent cross-contamination.
• Any cross-contamination risks in the delivery process should be identified and removed.

Implement a waste management system

Food businesses in the UK, including takeaways, should have appropriate provisions for the separation, storage and removal of waste.

Some guidelines you should abide by include:

• Have appropriate bins which are sufficient in number and specified for different types of waste.
• Do not allow waste to accumulate.
• Use bins that have fitted lids and foot pedals.
• Have a specific waste disposal area.
• Do not dispose of food waste in the sink.
• Use commercial sink strainers to prevent fat, oil, grease and small bits of food from entering the sewer network.
• Apply for a waste carrier registration if you transport any waste.

It is also recommended that you clean and disinfect bins regularly.

Comply with premises regulations

Multiple regulations apply to your commercial premises to ensure your takeaway business is in good condition, clean and maintained and encourages good hygiene practices.

• Handwashing facilities: You will need separate handwashing facilities that have hot and cold running water and appropriate materials to allow hands to be washed and dried hygienically.
• Ventilation, lighting and drainage: Your premises must have adequate ventilation, lighting and drainage in all relevant areas.
• Food preparation areas: – Floors and walls must be in good condition, easy to clean and frequently disinfected. – Ceilings must be in good condition, easy to clean, free from condensation and mould and free from flaking paint or plaster. – Windows and doors must be easy to clean and disinfect and if they open to the outside, fitted with removable insect-proof screens. – Surfaces should be maintained in good condition, easy to clean and frequently disinfected.
• Facilities for washing food: Your premises will need separate sinks for washing food and cleaning equipment. These sinks should have hot and cold running water that is of drinking quality.
• Equipment: Any equipment that comes into contact with food must be in good condition and cleaned and disinfected frequently.

Comply with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013

RIDDOR states that you must report all injuries, diseases and dangerous events that occur in your business. Reports must be made to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) using an appropriate recording document. These regulations apply to any incidents that involve employees or customers, including reports of food poisoning.

Comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002

The COSHH regulations state that you must control any potentially hazardous substances. You should also assess, control and reduce any risks or potential hazards and protect people from harm.

Some hazardous substances you should be aware of are:

• Flour dust.
• Concentrates of flavour, citrus oils and spices.
• Cleaning substances.

Comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998

PUWER regulations apply to you and any employees you hire. You must ensure any equipment in your takeaway restaurant is fit for purpose and is maintained and inspected regularly. You must also ensure that health and safety risks are minimised to an acceptable level, that you have the correct knowledge and training to use the equipment, and that protective measures are put into place. Equipment should also be used under appropriate conditions.

Comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

The Electricity at Work Regulations state that any workplaces that use electricals must construct electrical systems in a way that prevents danger. You must also maintain electrical systems to ensure they are safe, ensure electrical equipment is checked by a competent person annually and conduct Portable Appliance Tests (PAT). These regulations apply to any electrical cooking equipment (such as electric ovens and fryers) and any other electricals on your premises.

Comply with gas safety regulations

If you have a gas boiler or any equipment that uses gas, you will need to have it inspected by a gas-safe engineer. If your equipment is deemed safe to use and complies with government requirements, you will be issued a Gas Safety Certificate. You will need to display your gas certificate clearly for your guests and other visitors to your business to see.

Comply with fire regulations

As the business owner, you are responsible for fire safety measures on your premises.

There are multiple fire regulations you must ensure you comply with, including:

• Conducting a fire risk assessment.
• Complying with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 .
• Implementing any necessary fire safety measures.
• Implementing emergency procedures and ensuring these are clearly displayed.

Comply with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

Manual handling regulations can help to protect you and your employees from sustaining an injury or illness as a result of manual handling tasks. The regulations apply to the lifting or moving of any objects, bending down and reaching high and repetitive movements. You will likely be performing manual handling activities when carrying out tasks such as preparing food (e.g. chopping vegetables), handling heavy equipment and carrying food orders.

Appoint a competent person

A competent person should be appointed to help your business meet your health and safety legal duties. You can act in this role yourself or appoint another person to fulfil this role. The competent person should have the skills, knowledge and experience to identify any hazards in your business and put controls in place to protect people from harm.

Prepare a health and safety policy

The law states that every business in the UK must have a specific policy for managing health and safety. Your policy should state exactly how you will manage health and safety in your takeaway and state who is responsible for specific tasks and how and when these tasks are completed. Follow the recommended tips from the Health and Safety Executive when creating your health and safety policy. You should make your policy easily visible to any visitors to your business.

Comply with employment legislation

If you employ any staff, you must ensure you follow employment legislation, including the Employment Rights Act (1996 ) and the National Minimum Wage Act (1998) . You must also comply with legislation relating to recruitment, working hours, sickness, discrimination, dismissals, and maternity or paternity pay.

Comply with the General General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR ) and the Data Protection Act (DPA)

If you take orders online, you must comply with both pieces of legislation when storing or sharing personal information, such as your customers’ personal information, contact details and banking information. You must also apply for a Notification to Process Personal Data Licence. You will also need to apply for a licence with the Information Commissioner’s Office and renew your registration every year.

Register your business

You must register your business with HMRC before you begin operating. You can register as a sole trader or as a limited company. You will need to register your business name and any other relevant information.

Register for self-assessment tax

This allows you to calculate and pay your own taxes each year. You will need to track your finances every month and submit any expenses as part of your tax assessment.

As part of your tax responsibilities, you must:

• Record all forms of income and expenses.
• Complete an annual self-assessment tax return.
• Register for VAT if you earn above the threshold (currently £85,000).
• Pay National Insurance contributions.
• Keep a record of your business accounts for the previous five years.

Positives of Owning a Takeaway Business

Owning a takeaway business can be rewarding in many ways.

Some of the main pros associated with this type of business are:

Build your customer base

The wide range of takeaway options available means that many consumers try new takeaway restaurants and different types of cuisines. This means your business is likely to experience new custom. If your business is listed online, you are registered with a delivery service app or you are located in a busy area with high passing trade, you may experience a lot of new customers trying your food. If they enjoy their order, they may order from you again, recommend your takeaway to others or write a positive review.

Reduced overhead costs

Operating a takeaway rather than a sit-down restaurant can help you to reduce your overhead costs and running costs and maximise your profits. You will require fewer staff members, have reduced costs associated with renting your premises and will have increased efficiency.

Takeaways are in high demand

Even though many other types of businesses have failed or experienced significantly lower profits in recent years, the takeaway industry is stronger than ever. Many consumers got into the habit of ordering takeaways during the Covid-19 pandemic, and this trend has continued. With so many different types of foods and cuisine being popular in the UK, there is the potential for many different types of takeaway businesses to successfully co-exist and make a profit. Having high demand for your services makes it more likely that your takeaway business will succeed.

High-profit margin

You can plan your menu to maximise your profits, for example, by using the same ingredients in multiple dishes. You can also add a markup to your dishes, meaning the price of the dish will significantly exceed the cost of the ingredients. A high-profit margin can help you to increase your profits and your business’s income.

Every day is different

Running a takeaway business will never get boring. Every day will be different and will present new challenges and different customers. You could be managing different staff every day, preparing different types of food and taking responsibility for different tasks. A varied workday helps to keep your job interesting.

A rewarding career choice

Running a takeaway business can be rewarding in many ways. You can have a positive impact on your community, connect with other people and see your business grow and succeed. If you love food and have a passion for cooking and the food industry, running a successful business will not only be financially rewarding but also personally rewarding.

Be creative

You can be creative with your menu. You have the opportunity to be creative with your ingredients, flavours, textures and the presentation of your dishes to create the perfect products. If you love being creative in the kitchen, running a takeaway can be enjoyable and rewarding. You can serve any type of food you like and make creative changes to classic dishes to help your business stand out.

Be part of your local community

Takeaways are an important staple of local communities and make up part of an area’s identity, with many local people being familiar with the local takeaways and ordering food from them regularly. Running a takeaway business allows you to connect with people from your local community, both personally and professionally. You can also give back to the community, by donating to charity, hosting community events and hosting fundraisers.

A scalable business

A takeaway business can have a simple business model, making it easy to set up this type of business. If you want to grow your business, this type of business is highly scalable, as you will already have established strong business relationships with suppliers and wholesalers and will already have created a consumer base. There is always demand for takeaway businesses, giving you great opportunities for growth.

Unlimited income potential

There is no fixed income or limit on how much money your takeaway business can make. If you operate at maximum capacity, this allows you to increase your profits. As your business grows in popularity, you can also raise your prices, extend your premises, improve your menu and even open additional franchises of your business in other areas. A takeaway business has a high-income potential and with a solid business plan, can be extremely lucrative.

Customer loyalty

If your customers enjoy your food and service, they are likely to return time and time again. Many customers return to the same takeaway for years. Not only does this give you the opportunity to get to know your customers, but customer loyalty can also help you to grow your profits. Loyal customers may even recommend your takeaway to other people or write a positive review, which can help you to grow your customer base.

Create a positive work environment

You will be responsible for hiring staff and creating staff policies. This gives you the opportunity to create a positive work environment. You could hire staff that you know will bring positivity to your takeaway and will be an asset to your business. Your staff will also likely be like-minded people who are also passionate about food and beverages and also enjoy talking to customers. Many takeaways operate as a family business, which could be rewarding.

Choose your ordering strategy

There are multiple ordering strategies available for takeaway businesses, including in-person ordering, online or telephone ordering or using a food delivery service (such as Just Eats). Having the ability to sell on multiple avenues can increase your customer reach and increase your revenue streams. You can even change your selling strategy as your business grows and evolves.

Hands-on work

As a takeaway owner, you won’t be sitting around staring at a computer screen all day. You’ll be active for a lot of the day, involved in different tasks, running your takeaway and talking to staff and customers. This is great for people who don’t want a traditional office job.

Choose your own schedule

You can choose which days your takeaway opens and the hours you want to work. You can choose the opening hours, based on your busiest days and your own preferences. As your business grows, you can also work fewer hours and allow your employees to handle the day-to-day running of your business.

Be your own boss

You can make all key decisions yourself and steer your business in whichever direction you choose. You can choose how involved you want to be, the type of takeaway you open, the food and beverages you sell and how you want to run your business. You can make the best decisions for you and your business.

Negatives of Owning a Takeaway Business

Although starting up a takeaway business can be rewarding, there are some potentially negative aspects to this type of business that you should be aware of:

Lower food quality

Putting hot food into closed containers and transporting it from one place to another changes the texture and temperature of the food. No matter what procedures you put in place, food served for takeaway will never be as high a standard as if you were to open a sit-down restaurant.

Lack of control

Once the food leaves your establishment, you have no control over the quality of the food by the time it arrives at your customers. The delivery driver could take too long to deliver it, the food could move around or fall apart, or the temperature could drop, and you will have no control over this. This could result in customers not returning to your takeaway or reviewing your business negatively.

The environmental impact

Even if you try to operate your business in an eco-friendly way, there will inevitably be a negative impact on the environment. This could come from single-use items, customers not properly recycling packaging and the carbon footprint associated with delivering food.

High start-up costs

The equipment needed for a takeaway business can be expensive. You will also be responsible for the rent and renovation costs. The high start-up costs mean you may need to source outside investment. It will also take longer for you to begin turning a profit. High start-up costs also make your business high risk, as you could potentially lose your investment if the business fails.

Spoilage can affect your profits

You will be dealing with a lot of perishable ingredients which spoil quickly. Some of the products you make or purchase will need to be used the same day to prevent them from spoiling or going stale and becoming food waste. This can have a significant impact on your profits, as the ingredients and time required to make them are wasted. Additionally, to save time your kitchen staff may pre-prepare and batch-cook many items on your menu and if these are not sold, the wasted ingredients can affect your profits.

High running costs and fees

To maximise sales, many takeaway businesses opt to list their business with a delivery service, such as Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber Eats. Although this can result in a higher volume of orders, the associated fees can significantly affect your profits. Not only will you need to pay a sign-up fee but delivery services will also take a percentage of each order. Ingredients and stock can also be expensive, which can affect your profit margins and your overall income.

Long, unsociable working hours

Many takeaway restaurants open 6 or 7 days a week and try to maximise their profits by opening for longer hours. You may want to target lunchtime and dinnertime customers and open late at night, or until the early hours of the morning, to target customers on their way home from a party or night out. You will also need to account for the hours you will be working before and after your opening hours, to accept deliveries, prepare food and clean your premises. You may find yourself working more than 60 hours per week (particularly when your business is growing), which can be extremely tiring, both mentally and physically, and can impact your personal life.

Accountability and liability

The food industry is highly regulated with many laws and regulations you must be aware of. You need to ensure you follow all policies and procedures, particularly those relating to health and safety. Not only can it be time-consuming (and sometimes expensive) to ensure compliance, but failure to comply, even unintentionally, could have serious consequences. If a customer contracts food poisoning after eating food from your business you could be held liable.

Complying with legislation

There are many different pieces of legislation and legal guidelines you will need to comply with. Not only can this be complicated and time-consuming, but any non-compliance (even if this is accidental) can be punished with a fine or the forced closure of your business. Some types of legislation also require you to go through specific training and/or gain a qualification, which can be costly and arduous. A takeaway business can have high liability which can be a lot of stress and pressure on a business owner.

Negative reviews

Because customers will not be eating the food in your establishment, you have less control over their experience and their reviews. You could receive negative reviews because of bad delivery service or cold food or because of a miscommunication in the order. Negative reviews can be extremely damaging to your business, particularly if your business is new or you’ve had relatively few reviews.

Not all items are delivery friendly

Depending on the type of food you plan to sell, you need to consider whether your items are delivery friendly. Fried food or bread can arrive soggy, vegetables can be wilted and ice cream or milkshakes can melt. Think about how your items will cope with sitting in closed containers and being transported when creating your menu. Because not all food items are appropriate for delivery, you may find you have to reduce or change your menu.

Fewer options to upsell

Takeaways typically experience lower average order values, as customers are less likely to purchase drinks, sides and add-ons. Because you will not be speaking to the customer directly, it can be more difficult to upsell items, for example, by offering starters and side dishes. This means you will need to increase your overall order volume to experience higher profits.

Increased competition

With so many takeaway businesses operating, you will face high competition. Not only will you be competing with other smaller takeaway businesses, but you will also be competing with large franchises, such as McDonald’s and Domino’s. A high level of competition can make it more difficult for your business to succeed.

Physically demanding

Working in a takeaway can be physically demanding. You will be spending long hours on your feet every day and will be engaged in many physically demanding tasks, such as reaching high and bending low and carrying heavy items.

This can cause multiple health concerns, such as:

• Neck or back pain or strain.
• Pain, strain or injuries to your fingers, hands and wrists.
• Pain in your feet or legs.

It can be difficult to grow your business

It can be more difficult for a new takeaway business to grow and succeed because of the high competition. People often choose a takeaway they have visited before or that has been recommended to them, or they choose a takeaway business that has a high number of positive reviews online. It can be difficult to grow your customer base and you may experience slow business at first. This can have a detrimental effect on your income and profits. You may experience a lack of profitability in your first year of operation.

Staffing challenges

There are many staffing challenges you could face, such as a lack of staff motivation, customer complaints about staff and staff not fulfilling their expected duties. It can be difficult to create and maintain a positive work environment when working in such a busy, high-pressure environment. You will also have lots of responsibilities related to your staff, such as the hiring process, staff training, day-to-day management, staff rotas and staff payroll. While your business and your profits are growing, you may have to undertake many of these responsibilities yourself. You could also have a high staff turnover rate, which can result in a lot of time spent hiring and training staff.

Inconsistent profits

Some days are likely to be busier than others and sometimes this can be difficult to predict. It could also be that you receive more business at certain times of the year. This can make it difficult for you to predict your profits, order your ingredients and plan how many of each product you should pre-prepare every day.

It can be stressful

There are many responsibilities associated with running a takeaway business which can be stressful. Not only will you be responsible for the day-to-day running of your business, but you will also need to ensure your customers are satisfied. You are also responsible for your business’s success, which can be stress-inducing.

Planning Your Takeaway Business

An effective and well-designed business plan is essential to the success of your takeaway business. A business plan can help you to focus on the specific steps that will help your business succeed, plan your short-term and long-term goals, determine your financial needs and help your business to grow.

When creating your business plan, ensure it contains information such as:

• Your company information.
• Your company description.
• The services you will provide.
• Your branding, marketing and advertising plan.
• The structure of your business.
• The operational plan for your business.
• The financial plan for your business.

Some of the factors you will need to consider when creating your business plan are:

The type of food you will focus on and your menu

This is the first consideration you will need to make when planning your business. You will need to decide what type of food or cuisine you are going to focus on (e.g. Chinese food or pizza). Once you have chosen your speciality, you can then create a menu. Creating a menu is a process that can take time and if you are not working in the kitchen, you may want to create your menu in partnership with kitchen staff. Your menu may change over time, but ensure it reflects your brand, the type of takeaway you want to operate and customer demand.

Your business location

Your location will have a significant impact on the types of customers you are likely to attract. It will also impact your premises’ rental costs. If your business is located in an area with high footfall or a place popular with your target market, the increased custom and higher profits will be extremely beneficial to your business. Consider your rental budget and your size requirements when choosing your premises.

Your target market

Determining your target market is a key step to helping your business succeed. Different types of takeaway restaurants and different menus are likely to attract different customers. Your pricing strategy will also be a key factor in determining your target market. Once you have identified your typical customers, you can then focus on how to attract them to your business.

Your local competition

Being aware of other takeaways in your area can help you decide what type of business to run and how much to charge your customers. If your local area already has several successful takeaway businesses, you may want to focus on an untapped niche and target different customers, for example, if there is already a successful Greek takeaway operating within close proximity, you may want to open a different type of takeaway or consider how to make your menu stand out.

Your primary selling strategy

This is a key consideration and can have a significant impact on the types of customers you attract and the success of your business. Will you offer delivery? Will you have a drive-through or counter-ordering? Will customers be able to find your business on food delivery apps and websites, such as Just Eat or Deliveroo? Whichever options you choose will require forward thinking before you begin setting up your business. You could choose to utilise a combination of different selling approaches in order to increase your sales. Your primary selling strategy could also change as your business grows.

Your brand and your unique selling point (USP)

Creating your brand is a key way to ensure you stand out from your competition. Branding can help you to focus your target audience, attract customers and concentrate your marketing and advertising strategies. Some ways you can create your brand are by focusing on your business’s visual identity, designing your menu and creating a brand story. Your USP can also be part of your brand and can help your business stand out from your competitors. Consider what makes your business special and how this fits into what defines your business.

Your marketing and advertising strategies

Marketing and advertising are especially important when you first open your takeaway business. Your marketing strategy needs to be effective and budget friendly. Consider your target customers and the best way to reach them.

Some ways you can market and advertise your business are:

• Build a functional and attractive website.
• Advertise in your local community.
• Offer special deals and introductory offers to build your customer base.
• Post leaflets and menus in your local area.

Your equipment and stock requirements

Consult the list above to determine your equipment requirements. The equipment you require will depend on the type of takeaway business you set up and how big your premises are. Once you have determined your equipment requirements, you can then calculate the initial costs of purchasing the equipment and the monthly replenishment costs, e.g. for stock and ingredients.

Your start-up costs and running costs

Consult the list above to help you calculate the approximate costs of setting up and running your business. Determine what equipment you need and the amount of equipment, as well as the cost of your premises, to help you determine your start-up costs and what your initial investment requirements will be. You can then calculate whether you can finance your business yourself or whether you need to source outside investment, for example, from a bank or an independent investor. Determining your start-up costs and running costs can also help you to create a budget and predict when you will begin to turn a profit.

Financing your business

Consult the list of start-up costs and running costs above to determine what capital you will require. Can you finance the business yourself or will you need to source outside investment? You will also need to calculate when you are likely to begin turning a profit. If you require outside investment, you could consider a bank or other financial institution, a business loan or an investment partner.

Your price points

When determining the pricing of your menu, consider the cost of your stock and ingredients and the time it will take to make each dish. You should also take into account the pricing of your competitors.

Your sales forecast

How many orders do you hope to have each day, week and month? Are there certain days of the week or times of the year that are likely to be busier than others? What are your weekly, monthly and annual sales forecasts? As your business grows, your sales forecast is likely to change.

Your strategy for growth

Your strategy for growth is the actions you will take to realise your goals for expansion and any potential challenges your business could face and how you will avoid or overcome them. This can help to make your business more successful.

Potential challenges could include:

• Issues with your suppliers.
• A lack of orders.
• Issues with the delivery.

Some potential strategies for growth include:

• Expand your menu.
• Hire more delivery drivers and kitchen staff.
• Open a secondary business location.

Your business summary

Your business plan should include a detailed overview of your business, including the type of business you are setting up, the type of food you sell and your menu, your primary selling strategy, your typical customer base, your staffing and equipment requirements and your business goals.

Your business goals

Your business goals or objectives are an essential part of creating your business plan. Your business objectives highlight the targets and goals of your takeaway business and help you to create a one-year, three-year and five-year business plan.

Your business objectives should be SMART:

• S = Specific
• M = Measurable
• A = Achievable
• R = Realistic
• T = Time-bound

Check you have complied with all legal requirements

Consult the list of legal requirements above to check you have complied with all requirements and regulations and that all your paperwork is accurate. Failure to comply with legal requirements could have a detrimental effect on your business or could result in a fine, the forced closure of your business or, in serious cases, prosecution.

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Sample Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan

• January 15, 2024

FAST FOOD RESTAURANT BUSINESS PLAN SAMPLE

Fast food business all has to do with providing quickly prepared and served food which has low nutrition compared to other foods.

It refers to a restaurant that sells food with preheated or precooked ingredients served in a take away form for customers.

Here is a sample business plan for starting a fast food cafe business.

You can own a fast food business by starting it from the ground, buying an existing fast food business or buying into a franchise.

To start such fast food business, in-depth research and planning is important to achieve success.

(1) Decision Making

It is important to decide on which approach you want to use in having a small fast food business. Do you want to start from scratch? Do you want to buy a fast food business going into extinction and make it better? Or do you want to buy into a fast food franchise?

These are questions you should ask yourself in order to be able to decide on one approach out of the three for shaping your fast food business model. It all depends on you because the three approaches are good enough. The success of the business depends on management and not on the approach used in owning a fast food business.

(2) Feasibility Study

This will help in giving economic indicators to use in starting your fast food business. It states the start up and operating cost of a business and also shows if the business is worth all your efforts or not, that is, the profitability or failure of the business.

Feasibility study takes into cognizant the requirements of starting and owning a start up business like the manpower needed, the materials and machines that is needed.

Feasibility study also includes the cash flow analysis which deals with the money needed for the business and how to source for and regroup money for the business.

(3) Fast Food Business Plan

A restaurant business plan is an integral part of starting a fast food outlet. This helps in knowing the steps that will be taken in ensuring success of the business and also helps in determining the target audience of your fast food business.

A fast food restaurant business plan sample always include: business model, information on the product and services, market analysis, financial plan, objectives and method of implementation.

(4) Food Product

There is the need for you to decide on the type of food you want to be selling before opening the business. Although small fast food restaurants mostly sell hamburgers, you can make other products because you are not limited to hamburger. This helps in knowing the type of food you can sell to make money.

You don’t only decide on the type of products to offer but also develop your product for optimal satisfaction of the customers and high profitability.

To do this, you need to conduct a research to come up with a very good recipe that will attract many customers. Test should also be done to determine the final outlook of the product, to ensure that the color of the product doesn’t change due to chemical reactions and also to determine the ingredients that will make it healthy enough to consume.

(5) Location

In every business, location is an important thing that has to be considered carefully because it determines the success of your business and how well you will be patronized. A fast food business should not be situated in places with less traffic and visibility, such location will kill the business.

Highways, shopping centers, business areas, malls, colleges and universities are good locations where you can have your fast food takeaway business.  Easily accessed areas are also good for a fast food restaurant.

(6) Funding 

The feasibility study carried out earlier would have calculated the start up fund needed for the business. Here, all you have to do is to get the money either through your savings or loans and grants. The best way to get your capital is to locate potential investors with your business plan. To do this, you must have a good business plan and must be able to convince the investors.

(7) Registration

You should make inquiries from the health department in your vicinity to know the requirements of starting and owning a fast food restaurant and also the required permits and license. You will also need to be inspected by the health department before you can go on with your business.

In Texas, Florida, California and other states in the US, It is important that you meet both the state and federal requirements and also have the necessary license and permits before opening your healthy mobile fast food business.

Regulations differ from one state to another and from one country to another.

The following are other basic things that needs to be done when starting a fast food center business:

• Purchasing of all required and necessary equipment especially cooking utensils. • Staffs should be hired and trained for providing effective service.  Training is mostly important for staff in order to be aware of developments in the products they offer and also to become better at what they do. • Promote your fast food business through adverts on social media and other platforms.

FAST FOOD RESTAURANT BUSINESS PLAN EXAMPLE

Perhaps, you are keen on writing a business plan because you need it to help you obtain a loan from the bank; or maybe, you realize how really important a business plan could be to the success of your business.

Before we delve in, i believe you must have made inquiries and prepared for that business, and you are well aware of the necessary requirements and steps to be observed before starting up. This article will serve as useful template to help you draft your own fast food outlet business plan.

Other Fast Food Plans:

• Bubble Tea Business Plan
• Shawarma Stand Business Plan
• Cupcake Shop Business Plan
• Catering Business Plan
• Pizza Shop Business Plan
• Ice Cream Factory Business Plan
• Hot Dog Cart Business Plan
• Sandwich Shop Business Plan
• Frozen Yogurt Business Plan
• Cake Making Business Plan
• Donut Shop Business Plan

So without any ado, below is a fast food restaurant business plan sample.

BUSINESS NAME: Tantalizer’s Fries

• Executive Summary
• Vision Statement
• Mission Statement
• Business Structure
• Products and Services
• Market Analysis
• Target Market
• Sales and Marketing Strategy
• Sales Forecast

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Tantalizer’s Fries is a fast food restaurant business that is registered and fully licensed as a Limited company to operate in Singapore. It is a fast food restaurant business that has fulfilled the necessary requirements and obtained the required licenses and permits to legally operate in Singapore.

At Tantalizer’s Fries, we will be committed to tantalizing our customers with good, and quality food recipes at excellent prices with great packaging. We know that today’s world is a very busy one, and people have less time to properly prepare their meals; this is why we have become the answer to this pressing demand for fast food. We will offer a vast range of products, from sandwiches to Belgian fries.

Our fast food restaurant will be located at one of the crowded and populated areas of Singapore. The size of the establishment will range from 60 – 70 metres square and it will contain 20 – 25 guests.

Tantalizer’s Fries will be owned by Matthew Robinson and Jimmy McDonalds, both of whom will be having a 50-50 ownership. Both Matthew Robinson and Jimmy McDonalds have more than 15 years of experience in the fast food industry. We will expand our fast food restaurant business and offer franchise opportunity in the near future, probably after the first five years.

BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

At Tantalizer’s Fries, we have set out our business objectives as given below, to be able to cement our position as one of the leading fast food restaurants in Singapore and Asia as a whole. Our business objectives include:

• To establish a presence as one of the leading fast food restaurants in Singapore and Asia.
• To establish Tantalizer’s Fries as a fast food restaurant that anybody would love to come to.
• To expand the restaurant business and start offering franchise opportunity, before the last quarter of our third year of business, in Singapore, United States, and other parts of the world.
• To create an exciting and unique menu that will set us apart from every other fast food restaurant in Singapore.
• To provide more than a satisfactory service to our customers and maintain a high level of excellent services.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is clear and straightforward, and it is in harmony with our business vision. Our ultimate goal is to be among the leading fast food restaurants in Singapore, offering franchise opportunities within and outside Singapore, and the United States.

Bearing in mind our ultimate goal, we will put in our best efforts to ensure that we provide top quality customer services to our wonderful customers. We will make our customers have more than a wonderful experience whenever they visit our fast food restaurant, and even when they visit our website. We will make sure we will have great quality packaging for our products, and have our brand label attached to all our products.

In a nutshell, our main focus is on serving our cherished customers great quality food at great and affordable prices in a very calm and soothing atmosphere.

BUSINESS STRUCTURE Tantalizer’s Fries will be owned by Matthew Robinson and Jimmy McDonalds. Matthew Robinson holds a Masters degree from the University Of Michigan, and had once been a project manager at several multinational companies while Jimmy McDonalds holds a BS degree. As the company expand over the years, we will need the services of:

• A director of store operations.
• Human Resource Manager (HRM).
• Marketing Manager, and
• Administrative Manager.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Tantalizer’s Fries will focus solely on the sales of fries, sauces, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. We will offer the sales of our products at very affordable prices. We will open our fast food restaurant every day from 8am to 8pm.

We will offer some Belgian fries and sandwiches in various flavours, ranging from satay sauce, Thai chilli ketchup, pesto mayo, teriyaki sauce, creamy wasabi mayo, lava cheese, barbecue, Caribbean islands, etc.

MARKET ANALYSIS

In Singapore, the end of the year 2000 marked the immense growth of consumers’ expenses for fast food, and the subsequent bounce back of the nation’s economy. The number of fast food restaurants had increased tremendously over the years.

In a survey of people within the ages of 15 – 45 years old, 80% of them confirmed to like fast food. 90% of them confirmed to like eating fast food regularly, and 10% of them affirmed to having great love for fast foods.

TARGET MARKET

Our target market will include a host of adolescents and adults that fall within the age bracket of 15 – 38. This is because this group have very flexible budgets. We will make sure we offer our products at prices that are much more appealing than those of our competitors. Our target market will also include the family unit, the male adults –this is because they have very little dietary concerns; and the medium income earners.

SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

We will do well to employ the necessary sales and marketing strategies to be able to catapult our fast food restaurant business to the top and cement it there. We will locally market our brand by distributing colour brochures throughout the regions in our target market areas.

We will make use of the local media of newspapers, magazines, and direct mail campaign; and also establish a website for our fast food restaurant business. We will also not hesitate to move our brand to the social media world such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

FINANCIAL PLAN

Startup requirements

Startup expenses:

Legal fee                                 $2,000 Rent fee                                  $20,000 Interior equipment                  $17,000 Kitchen equipment                 $23,000 Packaging                               $10,000 Contingencies                         $5,000 Startup asset                          $60,000 Total                                       $137,000

Startup funding:

The initial startup investment sum required to startup Tantalizer’s Fries fast food restaurant business is $137,000.

Both Matthew Robinson and Jimmy McDonalds will contribute a 50-50 percent sum of investment to make up the startup capital. Matthew Robinson and Jimmy McDonalds will both contribute $68,500 as the startup investment.

SALES FORECAST

Our sales forecast for Tantalizer’s Fries for the next three years is as follows. This sales projection is however based on a number of factors that have been considered.

Year 1             $100,000 Year 2             $170,000 Year 3             $350,000

Kindly share this business plan for a fast food restaurant , thanks.

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• Sample Chinese Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan
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• 9 Unethical Marketing Examples that Kill Your Business Fast
• 6 Product Reseller Opportunities that Move Fast!

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How to start a takeaway business from home

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If there had been any winners from the chaos of Covid and lockdown, then the takeaway sector had been one of them.

However, it now faces a new threat from the cost of living crisis, which is leaving households across the UK seeing their spending power cut by an average of £3,000 by the end of next year.

As consumer spending habits change  – takeaway businesses need to adapt. They need to offer fairly priced menus, regular deals and discounts, and factor in the management of rising operational costs due to inflation.

Despite these challenges, now is still a great time to set up a takeaway business and begin directly catering to consumers with delicious home-cooked meals.

The benefits are many, particularly for startups, as by taking advantage of existing resources you can minimise the cost of other overheads like rent or travel. But the setup, as our experts know all too well, can be confusing. Luckily, our experience has taught us all the juicy details, including the rules and regulations around setup.

So put your feet up, whack on some Saturday night TV, and let us deliver the information right to you, by telling you everything you need to know to setting up a small business takeaway in the below guide.

There’s a huge amount of planning that needs to go into launching a takeaway business. Thankfully, one area which needn’t cause undue stress is creating a website to promote your business. Thanks to modern templates like the one below , you can create one of your own in under an hour.

At Startups.co.uk, we test and rate website builder tools, and we’ve identified Wix as one of the best you can choose for creating a business site. Wix even has a selection of  custom website templates designed specifically for takeaway businesses – you simply drop your own menu, delivery details, wording and preferred imagery into your chosen template. Better still, it’s completely free to try for yourself.

In this article, we cover:

Should you start a takeaway business now.

• Home takeaway business plan
• Home takeaway business licenses

Compare food delivery companies

Online ordering systems (order and pay apps), the best online ordering systems for takeaway businesses, what else do you need to consider.

At Startups.co.uk, we’re here to help small UK businesses to get started, grow and succeed. We have helpful resources for helping new businesses get off the ground – you can use the tool below to get started today.

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Startups spoke to James Tulley, who told us about his experience setting up Teesside-based  takeaway delivery business Deja Street Food:

“ Before Covid-19, I had a full time job as a chef working Monday to Friday and ran my business at the weekends. When the country locked down my business had to close. Unfortunately, I wasn’t entitled to furlough and I had to do something to prevent losing my home so I set up a gourmet home delivery service. The offering changed weekly and was a set menu from a different country each week, with re-heat instructions. Thankfully, it was a massive success! “

According to a recent, post-Covid market report by the British Takeaway Campaign, the takeaway sector is currently experiencing never-before-seen growth. The report found that 38% of households ordered takeaway at least once a week at the height of the pandemic (and that’s just the ones that will admit to it) spending an average of £45 per month in 2020.

But this isn’t just a flash in the post-pandemic pan – the market was growing even before the first national lockdown began. Over the past five years, it rose by 43% and is expected to hit £22 bn in 2025.

That’s an astonishing rate, and one that definitely bodes well for new startups.

With food delivery companies upping capacity and waiving sign up fees, this is the perfect opportunity to lay the groundwork for your future takeaway business – by setting up your kitchen, getting the qualifications you need, gaining the experience you need, and getting your brand out there.

Best of all, starting a takeaway business from your home doesn’t require a hefty initial investment from you. Although delivery companies usually charge businesses a sign up fee, this typically isn’t payable until you start earning money – something to check with the delivery company before you sign up!

And if you’re worried about the commission charges that come with partnering up with a delivery company, there is another way to get your takeaway business up and running.

You could use a takeaway ordering system provider to create a website with an integrated ordering system. Or, if you already have a website, integrate one into it. It’s worth bearing in mind that these options require you to have your own delivery or pick up service. But you can find out more about these options later on.

“Covid-19 was the biggest challenge I’ve ever had to face and to be honest, the past 18 or so months has been crazy stressful. [But] the takeaway food business has been booming since lockdown, as long as your food is good and you market well, you should do ok.”

– James Tulley, founder of Deja Street Food.

James Tulley, founder of Deja Street Food

Design a home takeaway business plan

The first step to starting any business is to design a business plan.

Your business plan is the document that adds structure to your proposal and helps you focus your objectives on an achievable and realistic target.

It should cover every aspect of what your potential firm might look like, from licensing to predicted revenue. These details will make it a great resource for attracting investors.

Read our free guide to designing a business plan to learn more about what to include in, and how to get started on, your business plan.

Make sure you have the right home takeaway business licenses

Turning your love of food into a takeaway business from your home comes with similar rules and regulations to starting a catering business , including the licenses required, and the standard of cleanliness you should be demonstrating.

Government legislation states that you need to register your food business at least 28 days before opening. And if you’re already trading, you should register as soon as possible.

Before you start a takeaway from home business, you should also make sure you have a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate. Virtual College offers a City and Guilds accredited Level 2 Food Hygiene course for £12.

The three main delivery companies – Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats – all have different fees, commission rates, and regulations. Here’s an overview.

Starting a takeaway business takes time and effort, and it’s important to make sure you don’t waste any of either.

We recommend using project management software to help streamline processes, track progress and assign tasks. Whether you’re starting your business alone or with other people, it’s a great way to keep things moving in the right direction.

Find out which project management tools we recommend .

The figures above offer a top level insight, and proper research should be conducted before you sign up to a food delivery company.

It’s also worth noting that while Just Eat seems to come out on top for lowest fees, it does have a more rigorous partner approval process than both Deliveroo and UberEats.

Weigh up the pros and cons of using a third party delivery company

While third party delivery companies make the lives of takeaway business owners easier, they do, in return, take a relatively large chunk of your earnings.

That’s why, if you have the means to deliver your own food, or want to encourage your customers to pick their takeaway up, you could always use an online ordering system. An online ordering system can either integrate into your website or, you can use a white label order and pay app supplier to host your digital menu and process your payments.

Online ordering systems and order and pay apps are cheaper and take less commission than the likes of UberEats and Deliveroo, yet give your customers the means to order their food directly through you. In fact, some online ordering systems offer their base package for free and just take a percentage of every transaction made through the system or app.

So how do you get one? Start by getting in touch with a takeaway online ordering system or order and pay provider. If you don’t know where to start, you can always use startup.co.uk’s questionnaire to guide you. All you need to do is answer a few basic questions about your prospective business, and we’ll pair you up with the best providers for your needs.

Once set up, customers will be able to order and pay online and orders will come straight through to your phone.

Free online ordering systems

Free online ordering systems allow you to create an ordering platform and take orders for free. But is there a catch? You’ll probably be expected to pay for the following optional services:

• A fee to have payments paid directly into your business account, rather than via your online ordering platform
• Any advanced marketing services
• A sales optimised website
• A branded mobile app

Choosing the right order and pay system for your business takes a lot of thought. While some providers offer to set up your order and pay system for free, be prepared to be charged a commission percentage of each transaction made through the platform. The table below shows a selection of website ordering systems.

Square Online enables you to create a basic online ordering system for free . Once you’ve set up a Square online store, you’ll be able to put a link to it on your social media pages.

Others, like Flipdish, help you to create enticing, user-friendly websites with online ordering built in – and help you to put a marketing strategy in place too! It’s up to you to decide on how sophisticated you want your online ordering platform to be, and how much of each sale you’re willing to give up!

Using an online ordering system versus a delivery company

Create an attractive menu.

You may not be used to cooking at speed. This means you need to consider menu items that you can cook quickly using the facilities that you have. Opt for menu items that you can prepare as much as possible before you open for business – garnishes, sauces, and even whole menu items like casseroles and curries.

Deja Street Food menus

Get active on social media – if you haven’t already!

As you’ll be relatively new to the home takeaway business game, you’ll also need to take it upon yourself to drum up business.

While delivery companies and takeaway ordering companies can carry out some marketing on your behalf, you should be building your own brand image by using the likes of Instagram and Facebook to interact with your target audience.

Or perhaps you’ve already got a loyal Instagram foodie following that you can call upon to try your new menu?

Why not check out our guide to small business marketing to see what hints and tips you can pick up?

Deja Street Food Instagram account

“Find a concept that you’re passionate about, ensure it’s different to what everyone else is doing and make yourself stand out from the crowd. A great logo and visual marketing is important – post regularly on the socials and build your brand. You’re selling food, so make sure your posts are visual and show off what you do.”

–  James Tulley, Deja Street Food.

Keep on top of your finances

Starting a takeaway business takes time and money, and accountancy software can help with both.

Whether you run the business alone as a sole trader or with a team of chefs and delivery drivers, you need to make sure you keep your finances in order. When you start taking orders, and payments, you’ll need to start tracking your spending, revenue and profit. You can do this with spreadsheets and a lot of work, but we recommend getting help. Getting an accountant is expensive, so it’s easier to use software that’ll help you do the legwork.

Accountancy software is designed to simplify the complex processes related to money. From tracking your outgoings to managing your taxes, you’ll find any finance process simpler with the right tools in place. Take a look at the accountancy software that we’ve rated best .

“Ensure you cost your dishes properly. Work out exactly how much it costs to produce each dish including packaging. It’s really, really important. You can then cost it correctly. Food costs should be roughly 20-30% of your sale price. There’s no point selling a dish for £5 if it costs you £3 to produce.”

– James Tulley, Deja Street Food

Use software to your advantage

Similar to the above, software can help you set up your business to succeed in many ways; it can make organising your tasks, keeping track of your customer base, and taking payment so much easier. Using software tools – which are now readily available to even the smallest businesses – can save business owners quite literally hours of time each week, and can even help you offer better customer service.

Consider our top recommended software tools for task and team management, managing customer information, and taking payment in-store below:

What should I do next?

Here’s a round up of how to start a takeaway business from home:

• Get in touch with the different delivery companies or online ordering providers to see if their services are a feasible option
• Make sure to register your business with the Food Standards Agency within 28 days
• Make sure your kitchen is fully equipped, and you have the relevant food hygiene certificates
• Get active on social media. Instigate a discussion around your new takeaway business. You could even get some advice from a digital marketing agency . Startups has partnered with a number of agencies who would be happy to give you advice
• Brainstorm menu ideas and do some practice run throughs of each of your dishes by cooking for people in your household

“My number one piece of advice for people wanting to set up a takeaway business is that things always go wrong, you should expect it, and to be flexible and understand you’ll have to give a lot of your time to make sure it succeeds.

“And above all, make sure your food is amazing! Get your recipes fixed and all the ingredients weighed to the gram so the food is consistent when different staff cook it.”

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Meal Takeaway Small Business Idea and Business Plan

Starting your own small business in the UK isn’t easy but having a properly developed business plan will help you achieve success.

To start a Meal Takeaway business in the UK, take the time and explain the idea via a business plan.

Understanding all of the aspects of the business idea will be the key to getting the Meal Takeaway business running like a well-oiled machine. The business plan you develop will help you organize the elements needed into a strategy that you can actually use to startup, by paving a clear road map as to what you need to follow for the lifespan of your business.

Starting a Meal Takeaway business isn’t easy, but when done right, it can lead to a lot of success.

To help you get started, you can use the free business plan builder tool to develop your own Meal Takeaway business plan.

The business plan template is very easy to use, is interactive and will quickly and easily help you create your business plan just by answering the needed questions about your small business idea.

Create your own Meal Takeaway business plan for free using the Business Plan Builder

The free business plan template builder is divided into a few easy to follow steps.

The free business plan builder template is provided by UKStartups.org to help you develop your own business plan. For step by step guidance, see the 5 steps below.

Once completed, the result will be a clean, professional plan that will help you start your own Meal Takeaway small business in the UK.

When you have completed your Meal Takeaway business plan, the next step will be to find available funding that will help, or to speak with a funding adviser who will assist you each step of the way to securing the needed funds to make your Meal Takeaway business startup.

If you are looking to limit your startup costs when starting up a Meal Takeaway small business in the UK, this free business plan builder tool will be it.

Starting a Meal Takeaway business is only one of the ways others have used this free business plan tool. There are hundreds of different ideas you can start, and if you need guidance, do reach out to a UKStartups expert to get the needed assistance and guidance.

Step 1. Your business information

To develop a proper Meal Takeaway business plan with the free business plan builder template, it is important to answer each of the questions about your business to the best of your abilities.

What is your business? What are the products/services you provide? Who are your customers? What are your goals…etc?

Having a clear explanation will help you create a in-depth business plan that you can actually use to start the Meal Takeaway business and to apply for needed funding to cover your startup costs.

Step 2. Projecting your revenues/income

The Meal Takeaway industry can have great results. Planning and projecting the financial figures to approximate what you will make each year is crucial to building a strong business plan.

What do you think your business will make from each of its products/services? Simply list your products/services, enter the appropriate financial figures (costs and expenses).

If you don’t have the figures, in many cases it is recommended to do a a bit more research on other Meal Takeaway businesses locally and within your own region to get an idea of potential revenue. You can do your best to estimate the figures and growth potential.

If you need assistance in projecting, you can always contact UK Startups funding experts for the help.

Step 3. Your business market

As a Meal Takeaway business, having a clear explanation of the market and industry that you are in will help you plan for the figure and will ensure you can take the business to the next level.

Explain your location of business, share specifics about your customers, showcase your competition and explain the advantages you have over your competition.

Step 4. The future plan

Starting your own Meal Takeaway business and getting it off the ground is important to you.

No matter if you’re planning on applying for government funding for your Meal Takeaway business or not, it is important to plan out the future and provide an explanation of how you will grow the business. This means explaining your marketing plan, your sales strategy and clearly outlining a growth plan for the next few years.

Be sure to break this down step by step to show how you intend on making sure your Meal Takeaway business can grow each year.

Keep in mind that often business plans are focused on key people. Be sure to discuss yourself, your role and any other key figures in the business as well.

Step 5. The financials

In the end, it all comes down to the financials. If you are seeking funding, or not – the business plan you develop needs to have clearly defined financials or projections. The business plan builder tool makes it easy to develop your financial charts by simply entering your expected revenues per month and year. If you don’t have the figures as it’s a new business be sure to project the figures based on your expectations. If you need help with this, ask the UK Startups experts .

A clear breakdown of your funding needs is also recommended in case you are seeking funding and this free business plan template will help you with exactly that. When developing your Meal Takeaway business plan using this free template, the above 5 steps are recommended in order to succeed. While there are other key points that will assist you in starting your business, finding funding...etc, the free template will help put you on the right path

Be sure to request a professional to review your business plan , to answer any questions you may have and to help you with the funding search once you’ve done the initial free template. You can request this directly via UKStartups.org and through the Small Business Startup Platform as a member.

If starting a Meal Takeaway business is just one of your ideas, perhaps considering other options, here are some popular small business’s others have chosen to startup

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Coffee Shops: How To Build Your Takeaway Business

Blog > Coffee Shop & Restaurant Operations > Marketing , Layout & Design

Picture the perfect coffeehouse. It probably includes comfortable seating, free wi-fi, and even a patio or small soundstage for live music.

But if you can’t afford or accommodate all of these accouterments (with the exception of wi-fi, which is practically mandatory), you don’t have to suffer. In fact, you may even be more profitable than your full-service competitors.

Some of the most profitable coffee shops have a limited number of bench seats and bar stools to make the place look lived in and loved, so they can concentrate on takeaway business. Your takeaway customers pay the same price as the sit-down crowd without any of the occupancy costs—which means you can serve 10 of them by the time one couch surfer is halfway through their first cup of coffee.

How to encourage takeaway business:

• Set up a couple of vacuum pots and to-go cups in a prominent location, away from the crowded queue area. Place a jar alongside them with a sign that says, “Self-serve coffee to go: $1.50. Provide exact change here and get your caffeine without having to wait in line.” You’ll shorten your lines and increase your takeaway business.
• Keep you queue moving quickly. Schedule adequate staff for the morning rush and provide the most ergonomic workspace possible. (More on this in an upcoming article.)

 A word on wi-fi

Customers who camp out and Facebook chat won’t pay your rent. Of course, you want your café to be inviting with good lighting and quality furniture. But if you’re having a real problem with limited seating during your rush hours, consider setting up the kind of wifi that requires a new purchase every two hours in order to stay connected. (Do it only during peak hours, if you want to continue to be perceived as hospitable.) Your regulars will still appreciate your coffee and level of surface. They should understand that you can’t stay in business if your tables are turning over every four hours.

Check out What’s Your Wi-Fi Policy for more tips on managing your neighborhood’s near-constant need for broadband.

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Starting a Fast Food Restaurant Business in South Africa – Business Plan (PDF, Word & Excel)

Posted by BizBolts | All Articles , Business Ideas , Business Plans , Retail Industry

Fast food is a lot more affordable than fancy dishes or five-course meals, and it takes less time to prepare than a meal prepared at home. This is the reason why a lot of people, especially those in the working class, buy it often. Due to the increase in the number of people in the middle class, South Africa has been experiencing a rise in the demand for takeout. South Africa’s fast food industry has been experiencing growth in revenue from year to year. A fast food restaurant business is a very profitable business venture to start in South Africa. Fast food does not take long to prepare, and you can serve customers in a matter of minutes. This is so convenient for students, professionals, or anyone who doesn’t have the time to prepare a whole meal. The demand of restaurant foods in South Africa is very high. The increased urbanisation and disposable incomes is leading to increased demand for restaurant foods. Increasing numbers of South Africans want to dine out or take prepared food home. Fast food restaurants are built on three main values: taste, consistency and convenience. Taste alone encompasses other elements i.e. freshness and quality. Consistency is the most important value because that’s how you ultimately gain the trust of your customers. This article will outline how to start a fast food restaurant business in South Africa, and the fast food restaurant business plan – PDF, Word and Excel.

Business Model

A fast food business model should define what your products and services are, as well as your service style, menu offerings, type of meals, as well as your value proposition. While planning your business, there are several types of fast food business models you can consider. You can offer meals such as fries, fried chicken, burgers, pizza, and pies, to name a few, that can be prepared in a short period of time. This type of food is usually convenient, and it is offered at lower prices. Another model you can consider is offering fast casual food. With a fast-casual or quick-casual model, your food service can upgrade to higher-quality food ingredients while still delivering meals in a shorter space of time than traditional business models. Also known as “casual dining,” family-style fast food restaurants offer table service and affordable meals that are prepared in a short space of time. You can also offer a pop-up fast food model that uses temporary spaces to prepare and serve meals, such as another restaurant, a chef’s home, or even a park.

Market Research

The restaurant industry in South Africa is highly competitive, thus its important that you carry out proper market research before starting the business. If you can find someone who is operating or once operated a fast food restaurant business, that can be very advantageous. Find out what works, what doesn’t, and get advice from those who are already in the restaurant industry. Try to find out why some restaurants fail.

When it comes to researching your market, you need to determine who you are offering your services to. It’s always best to narrow down your potential clients in order to determine who they are, what their buying habits are like, and what they like. This is where market research comes in. Market research helps you understand who your potential customers are, what their needs and wants are, and how you can meet them. People’s preferences are always changing, especially when it comes to food. Both globally and locally, there has been an increase in the demand for plant-based meals. This continues to gain momentum across all age groups, especially as consumers become more health-, environment-, and sustainability-conscious. With such information, you are able to prepare meals with the ingredients your potential clients want. Conducting a market assessment can also help you find out who your direct and indirect competitors are. You can get to know what attracts clients to your competitors’ fast food restaurants and what their weaknesses are. There are a lot of cafes, coffee shops, fast food restaurants, and food trucks that offer similar products and services. Market research will allow you to have an idea of what makes them tick.

Be specific about the target market and niche you are going to provide your products to. You can never capture the whole market as people have different wants. What is the specific segment of the restaurant industry which you are going into? Who are your targeted customers?  What products are you going to offer? What is the competition in your proposed location? What is the demand for your products in your proposed location? How are you going to price your products and how sensitive is the demand to your prices? A proper market research will increase the chances of your success in this business.

Location & premises

This is an important decision to make before you start a restaurant business. It’s important that you locate your restaurant close to your target market. Consider the amount of road traffic, find an easy accessible location where people can stop and quickly get food. There are several possible locations, including shopping centres, malls and the CBD. In the fast food restaurant business you don’t have to overly concern yourself with trying to find a location that’s not too close to your competition. It’s common to see four or more fast-food restaurants operating close to each other or operating in the same shopping complex. As long as you keep serving food that people want to eat and you have done your market research, being close to your competition shouldn’t be a problem. The more options available for the customers, the better.

There isn’t really a standardised size for fast food restaurants, some restaurants still manage to operate smoothly in small spaces and small kitchens.  In general, they are economical when it comes to space. The size of the premises you require will depend on the kind of restaurant business you are operating. A take-away fast food restaurant will require less space than a sit-in restaurant. If you don’t have your own premises, you will have to rent.  Consider walking around your targeted location to see if there are any obvious empty properties that may be suitable for your fast food restaurant business. Your fast food restaurant business plan should cater for the costs of renting or buying premises.

Equipment for fast food restaurant business

You need various equipment for your fast food restaurant business. The equipment you will need for a restaurant/fast food outlet will largely be contingent upon the type of restaurant you want to start, and the products you want to offer. The equipment needed includes refrigerators and freezers, ovens, stoves, cookers, food preparation counters, slicers, mixers, shelving, pots, pans, various cookware, tableware, cutlery etc. Buying the kitchen equipment and fitting out your restaurant will probably be your biggest expense when starting up a restaurant. You may consider buying second hand equipment in-order to lower the startup costs. Your restaurant business plan should cater for the costs of purchasing equipment.

Licenses, Insurance and Business Bank Account

The Business Act of South Africa requires every business that offers food and beverages to have a license. It is therefore important that you apply for a fast food restaurant business license for your enterprise. You will also need a certificate of acceptability where you provide information about the nature and type of food you prepare on your premises, together with a description of how you handle the food. You must present how you prepare, pack, process, and store your meals for a certificate of acceptability. Insurance is also critical when you set up your fast food restaurant. You must have property insurance, which will cover your fast food restaurant’s premises, inventory, and equipment. You should also have general liability insurance that will cover legal expenses in the event of an accident involving your employees or clients. Insurance is important when you need to cover equipment breakdowns or damage. You must have insurance to protect your fast food business and yourself from physical loss due to accidents, faults, or natural disasters. When it comes to business finances, keep separate bank accounts. Your businesses’ cash flows, and taxes must not mix with your personal expenses. Mixing business finances with your personal transactions can put you at risk. If your business experiences any difficulties and you do not have separate bank accounts, you could lose your personal assets if the company gets sued or has to file for bankruptcy.

Products/Menu

All the comfort food you can think of is sold at fast food outlets. Ranging from combo meals, single meals, family meals, kids meals etc. Fast food restaurants normally specialise in certain foods opposed to selling everything that’s available on the fast food market. The important thing is to provide a variety of products for customers to choose from, which are healthy, well prepared, delicious, affordable and attractive. Your menu will depend on your target market. It is of great importance to consider the profit margins of your products, as this is a business and it has to be profitable.

Examples of foods you can sell:

• Burgers, Sandwich, Rolls
• Meat Dishes (Chicken, Beef, Pork, Lamb, Mutton, Sausages, Fish etc)
• Rice and Pasta Dishes
• Baked goods, bread, toasts
• Tea, Coffee , Alcoholic drinks
• Chicken meals
• Traditional Dishes
• Soft Drinks, Juices, Milkshakes, Icecreams, Yorghuts

Burgers are popular with many fast-food restaurants. As a result, you might conclude that the market is too saturated and you don’t want to invest in it. If that’s where your passion you should go ahead with it! Taste and many other factors can set you apart from the rest!

Chips & Chicken

Competitive Analysis

With the increase in demand for fast food restaurants, a lot of restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops have opened in South Africa. In order to be competitive, you need to know your rivals. As such, conducting a competitive analysis is important because it can help you find out what other restaurants are doing right and wrong. Take time to visit their establishments so that you understand what their clientele looks like and how they draw customers. After a competitive assessment, determine your fast food restaurant’s competitive advantage. A competitive analysis is important because it will help you figure out your place in the market.

Staff & management

The day-to-day operation of the fast foods restaurant business involves:

• Operating the cash register
• Preparing the food
• Managing the staff
• Keeping premises clean at all times
• Cash flow management
• Liaising with suppliers
• Customer service

It’s part of the culture of fast food restaurants to have the manager present at all times to attend to client complaints and to ensure that the business run smoothly. If you want your restaurant to operate independently without you having to pop in everyday, you can hire an experienced person to manage your business. Depending on the type of menu you serve you can hire a chef who will oversee the food preparation process. This will ensure that there is more consistency in quality and taste. The number of required staff will vary depending on the size of your restaurant business. Required staff include cooks, waiters, cashiers, logistics personnel, and management. Your restaurant business plan should cater for the salaries of your employees.

Sales And Marketing Strategies

When you market your fast food restaurant, you can go about it in many ways. One of them is offering meal bundles and combos. You can offer a burger and fries combo and some juice. You can even offer discounts or make the juice or soda free to boost sales. Offer kids’ menus with some collectibles. Consider adding some healthier options and food shaped like animals or popular cartoon characters to your kids’ menu. Consider delivering meals to your clients’ offices or homes for convenience. Take advantage of social media marketing and be sure that you are active. You can also engage your clients with contests and giveaways to attract new ones.

PRE-WRITTEN FAST FOOD RESTAURANT BUSINESS PLAN (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL): COMPREHENSIVE VERSION, SHORT FUNDING/BANK LOAN VERSION AND AUTOMATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For an in-depth analysis of the fast food restaurant business in South Africa, purchase our fast food restaurant business plan. We decided to introduce the business plans after noting that many South Africans were venturing into the restaurant business without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the business, the risks involved, profitability of the business and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of their businesses.

Our business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run a restaurant business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the fast food outlet business plan will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the restaurant business. The business plan is designed specifically for the South African market.

USES OF THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS PLAN (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

The fast food restaurant business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your restaurant business
• As a fast food restaurant project proposal
• Assessing profitability of the fast foods outlet business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

CONTENTS OF THE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT BUSINESS PLAN (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

The business plan includes, but not limited to:

• Market Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• 5 Year Automated Financial Statements [ Income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, monthly cash flow projections (3 years monthly cash flow projections, the remaining two years annually),break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortisation]
• Marketing Strategy
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements (e.g. equipment required e.t.c.)
• Operational Strategy
• Why some South Africans in the fast foods business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your fast food restaurant business in South Africa
• Directory (Contact details of restaurant equipment suppliers)

The Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan package consist of 4 files

• Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – 89 pages)
• Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – 89 pages)
• Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan Funding Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – 45 pages)
• Fast Food Restaurant Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)

Testimonial 3

The business plan has a highly professional look and feel. The research really helps me look deep into the market that I am targeting, it’s well suited for the South African market. The business plan clearly outlined everything I need to start the business and the costs. It’s now easier to budget and plan. Thank you very much.

Testimonial 2

I am extremely pleased with the business plan and financial statements. The business plan is very detailed & it meets my requirements. I feel better equipped with tools that can help me secure funding.  I would have no hesitation of recommending your business plans to other people.

Testimonial 4

The business plan was very helpful, you did a great job of taking ideas and putting them into words as well as pointing out other aspects of the business plan I wouldn’t have thought of. I got funding using your business plan and it’s now 4 months since I started my poultry business, and everything is going well.

Testimonial 1

Many thanks to the BizBolts team for putting together a fantastic business plan, I could not have done this business plan on my own. I managed to get funding from investors to start my butchery business using your business plan.

Testimonial 5

The BizBolts poultry business plan led us down the path from start to finish. Contact details of suppliers of key requirements were included in the business plan. It helped us crystallize our strategy, and the business plan was well received by the bank.

Testimonial 7

Thank you BizBolts for the business plan. I received the business plan immediately after payment, it was money well spent ! I was able to easily edit the business plan. After using the BizBolts business plan, I can wholeheartedly recommend their products and skills.

Testimonial 6

It is with excitement and pleasure to inform you that I have been successful in securing a loan from my bank. This would not have been possible if not for the BizBolts Business Plan. Thank you for your help, my dreams are now coming true.

GET THE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT BUSINESS PLAN (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL) - R500 Only.

We decided to make the business plan affordable to anyone who would want to start the business, and the price for the pre-written business plan is only 500 Rand.

We have several payment methods which you can use.

Payment Method 1 (Visa card, Mastercard, Credit card, Debit Card)

Click  Buy Now  below to purchase. After you have purchased, you will instantly see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. We will also email you the download link. Get instant access to the business plan now!

If you want to purchase multiple business plans at once using Visa Card/MasterCard then  click here: Business Plans Store

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

Payment Method 2 (Instant EFT - FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, CapitecBank, Investec, TymeBank and African Bank. )

If you want to purchase multiple business plans at once using Instant EFT then  click here: Business Plans Store

Other Payment Methods

• Cash deposit into our FNB Company Bank Account
• EFT Transfer to our FNB Company Bank Account

Call/Whatsapp us on +27606334830 for the other payment methods. (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/27606334830 ). Email: [email protected] .

About The Author

BizBolts (Pty) Ltd is a business research company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. We sell prewritten business plans for various industries including livestock production, crop farming and retail businesses. BizBolts also publishes articles on business ideas, business news, business tips, personal finance, and entrepreneur profiles.

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Watch CBS News

Store closures are surging this year. Here are the retailers shuttering the most locations.

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: May 13, 2024 / 1:33 PM EDT / CBS News

The retail industry is going through a tough time as it copes with inflation-weary consumers and a rash of bankruptcies, prompting chains to announce the closures of almost 3,200 brick-and-mortar stores so far in 2024, according to a new analysis. 

That's a 24% increase from a year ago, according to a report from retail data provider CoreSight, which tracks store closures and openings across the U.S. Although some retailers are planning to expand this year, major chains have announced 4% fewer openings compared with a year earlier, the analysis found. 

Blame changing consumer habits, as well as retailers' management struggles and bankruptcies, with the latter impacting companies including Rite Aid and Rue21. The largest number of store closures stems from Dollar Tree's announcement earlier this year that it plans to close more than 600 Family Dollar locations in 2024, with the discount store citing the impact of inflation on its customers as well as an increase in shoplifting.

"A lot of this year's closures are related to bankruptcies of chains that have been in trouble for a while, like Rite Aid and Rue21," Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, told CBS MoneyWatch. "We're also seeing several retailers, like Family Dollar, take action to weed out underperforming locations." 

Although consumer spending has remained solid this year, there are "pockets of softness creeping in, and retailers want to ensure they are in good financial shape to weather any challenges" Saunders added. "That means optimizing store portfolios."

Brick-and-mortar retailers are also struggling with ongoing competition from online rivals such as Amazon.com. 

By contrast, some companies blundered strategically, such as Express, which filed for bankruptcy last month and announced plans to close 100 of its 500 locations. The clothing chain, known for its workplace fashion, failed to connect with consumers after the pandemic ushered in working from home, Saunders said.

That put the company "firmly on the wrong side of trends and, in our view, the chain made too little effort to adapt," he said in a recent research note. 

Are consumers cutting back?

Recent data shows that Americans are still opening their wallets. Consumer spending in March  rose 0.8%  (the most recent data available), which economists say represents solid growth.

But some signs consumers are starting to fade amid a modest economic slowdown. On Friday, the University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumer sentiment index for May dropped to 67.4, the largest monthly decline since mid-2021. Confidence is dipping because of expectations for higher inflation and softer growth, said Jeffrey Roach, chief economist for LPL Financial, in an email.

"Uncertainty about the inflation path could suppress consumer spending in the coming months," he noted. 

Consumers have also spent down any remaining extra money they socked away during the pandemic, when federal stimulus checks and other benefits bolstered their bank accounts, Roach said in an earlier report.

"[T]here are potential risks to consumer spending," he said. "When households exhaust these accumulated savings, it could lead to a decline in discretionary spending."

Even so, some retailers are planning to open hundreds of new stores, CoreSight found. Dollar General, a rival of Dollar Tree, said it will add more than 800 locations this year, putting it at the top of the list of retailers opening new stores this year, according to the research firm.  

In second place is 7-Eleven, which plans to open more than 270 U.S. locations this year, followed by discount store Five Below, with plans to open 227 outlets, the analysis found.

• Family Dollar
• Dollar Tree

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

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Nickel-rich Indonesia pitches EV battery plant plan to Elon Musk

Indonesia’s top investment official says the government has proposed building an electric vehicle battery plant to Tesla CEO Elon Musk

DENPASAR, Indonesia -- Indonesia’s top investment official said Monday that the government has proposed to Tesla CEO Elon Musk the construction of an electric vehicle battery plant in the nickel-rich country.

The official spoke after Musk met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo while attending a water conference on the island of Bali.

“We made an offer, is it possible to build an EV battery factory, precursor to cathodes, here. And he said he will consider it,” Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, told reporters.

Indonesia is keen to build up industries to exploit is rich natural resources, which include the world’s largest nickel reserves. Nickel is an important material for EV batteries and solar panels.

The billionaire head of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of social platform X was visiting the Indonesian resort island to launch a Starlink satellite internet service there.

He also spoke to officials and experts attending the conference on global water challenges, saying he believed that desalination could solve water shortages if enough energy was provided.

Indonesia supplies 40% of the world’s nickel and has the potential to increase this to 75% by 2030, according to the government data. The government has set a goal of producing 600,000 electric vehicles by 2030, and will require EVs and related components produced in Indonesia to contain of 60% local content by 2027.

The country has been trying for years to secure deals with Musk’s Tesla on battery investment and for Musk’s SpaceX to provide fast internet access for remote areas of the sprawling archipelago.

Pandjaitan, a powerful cabinet minister and close ally of Widodo, said the president also asked the billionaire to invest in an AI center and for SpaceX to build a launchpad in Biak, an island in Indonesia’s easternmost Papua province.

Musk did not make any formal announcements related to his investment plans in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

“Well, I think it’s likely that we will be investing,” Musk said in replying to a journalist's question about his plans for Indonesia at a news conference on Sunday after the ceremonial launch of the Starlink service alongside Indonesian government dignitaries. “But I think it’s quite likely that my company will invest in Indonesia.”

Back in the United States, federal highway safety investigators are asking Tesla to explain how and why it developed a fix in a recall of more than 2 million vehicles equipped with the company’s Autopilot partially automated driving system.

Investigators with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have concerns about whether the recall remedy worked because Tesla has reported 20 crashes since the remedy was sent out as an online software update in December.

Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia

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The Sunday Read: ‘Why Did This Guy Put a Song About Me on Spotify?’

The answer involves a remarkable — and lucrative, and ridiculous — scheme to game the way we find music today..

By Brett Martin

Read by Eric Jason Martin

Produced by Adrienne Hurst and Aaron Esposito

Narration produced by Tanya Pérez and Krish Seenivasan

Edited by John Woo

Original music by Aaron Esposito

Engineered by Sophia Lanman and Devin Murphy

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Have you heard the song “Brett Martin, You a Nice Man, Yes”?

Probably not. On Spotify, “Brett Martin, You a Nice Man, Yes” has not yet accumulated enough streams to even register a tally. Even Brett Martin, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and the titular Nice Man, didn’t hear the 1 minute 14 second song until last summer, a full 11 years after it was uploaded by an artist credited as Papa Razzi and the Photogs.

When Martin stumbled on “Brett Martin, You a Nice Man, Yes,” he naturally assumed it was about a different, more famous Brett Martin: perhaps Brett Martin, the left-handed reliever who until recently played for the Texas Rangers; or Brett Martin, the legendary Australian squash player; or even Clara Brett Martin, the Canadian who in 1897 became the British Empire’s first female lawyer. Only when the singer began referencing details of stories that he made for public radio’s “This American Life” almost 20 years ago did he realize the song was actually about him. The song ended, “I really like you/Will you be my friend?/Will you call me on the phone?” Then it gave a phone number, with a New Hampshire area code.

So, he called.

There are a lot of ways to listen to ‘The Daily.’ Here’s how.

We want to hear from you. Tune in, and tell us what you think. Email us at [email protected] . Follow Michael Barbaro on X: @mikiebarb . And if you’re interested in advertising with The Daily, write to us at [email protected] .

Additional production for The Sunday Read was contributed by Isabella Anderson, Anna Diamond, Sarah Diamond, Elena Hecht, Emma Kehlbeck, Tanya Pérez, Frannie Carr Toth and Krish Seenivasan.

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