You’ve got an enterprising mind and a passion for food. But a number of questions arise when you decide to go for it and start your own restaurant. First and foremost, "How much does it cost to open a restaurant?" Or maybe you’re wondering, "How much does it cost to open a pizza shop or start a deli?" Or "How much it may cost to start a high-end restaurant with unique fare?" The answers to these questions vary. The average restaurant startup cost is $275,000 or $3,046 per seat for a leased building. Bump that up to $425,000 or $3,734 per seat—if you want to own the building.
Our restaurant startup cost checklist breaks down all the costs you’ll need to consider to make your dream a reality.
Opening a restaurant comes with its own specific set of cost considerations. Remember, the average restaurant startup costs vary depending on size, location and the range of choices you’ll make when parsing through the smaller details. For instance, the cost of opening a sandwich shop, pop-up restaurant, or other type of takeout restaurant will be much less than the cost involved in opening a 200-seat eatery in an upscale neighborhood. Some restaurant startup owners have tested their concept as a pop-up restaurant before opening a full-fledged restaurant.
Regardless of the type of restaurant you want to launch, at first, it’s helpful to break down the costs into two categories: one-time costs and recurring costs.
There’s a lot to navigate when calculating restaurant startup costs and strategies—it’s easy to get bogged down by preconceived notions of what is and isn’t necessary. So we’ve compiled the most common mistakes new restaurant owners make to help you avoid the headache or unnecessary costs.
Hindsight is 20/20, so take note of these insights from restaurant owners who have been through the ringer and you’ll be ready for anything as you open your own restaurant.
Our restaurant startup cost spreadsheets are simple and intuitive to use. Once downloaded, they’re fully customizable to fit your needs.
The startup costs shown here by industry are merely guidelines and average estimates based on information pulled from a variety of sources. While we have attempted to present the most accurate information available, please be aware that startup costs can vary greatly according to a number of factors, including but not limited to state and local fees and contractor quotes. The information presented here is intended to help guide prospective business owners in the search for information on starting a business within a given industry, but should not be interpreted as an exact quote.
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