Opening a restaurant comes with its own specific set of cost considerations. The average restaurant startup and operating costs, plus associated expenses, will also vary depending on size, location and a range of other choices you make.
For instance, the cost of opening and running a sandwich shop or pop-up restaurant will be much lower than the cost involved in opening a fine dining 200-seater in an upscale neighborhood. Some owners have tested their concept as a pop-up before opening a full-fledged restaurant.
Regardless of the type of business you want to launch, it’s helpful to break down your restaurant startup 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.
Running a restaurant is hard work. Don’t get bogged down tracking expenses—consider upgrading to online accounting software with Sage 50 Accounting to save time and money.
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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