How to Start a Family-Style Restaurant Business in 2024
Last Updated: 12/17/2023
So You Want to Open a Family-Style Restaurant? Here’s How to Make It Happen
I get it — you have a passion for cooking up big batches of delicious, hearty meals and want to share them with your community. Who doesn’t love lingering around a table filled with platters of comfort food meant for sharing? If opening your own family-style restaurant sounds like a dream come true, this guide will walk you through how to turn that dream into reality.
First Things First: What’s Your Concept?
Before scouting locations or drafting menus, you need to define what kind of family-style experience you want to create. Are you envisioning a down-home spot serving up plates of barbecue ribs, fried chicken, and buttery mashed potatoes? Or an Italian-style trattoria with huge bowls of pasta, giant pizza pies, and family-size antipasto salads? Whatever cuisine and vibe you pick, make sure it comes from an authentic place and is something your community will be excited about. Once you’ve nailed down the concept, come up with an inviting name and start planning your branding.
Need a Family-Style Restaurant Business Plan?
Create a custom business plan with financial projections and market research in minutes with ProAI’s business plan generator.
Do Your Homework
I can’t stress enough how important market research is before diving in. You don’t want to invest time and money into a concept no one is looking for! Start by surveying your area to see if there’s demand for a family-style restaurant, and what competitors you’d be up against. Check out the foot traffic and parking situations of different locations. Look at census data and neighborhood demographics to get a sense of who your potential diners would be. All this will allow you to really tailor your menu and ambiance to local tastes.
Show Me the Money
Let’s talk numbers. Opening any restaurant requires major capital. We’re talking tens of thousands for leasing a space, renovations, kitchen equipment, inventory, payroll, and operating expenses before you even open the doors. Start researching funding options now like small biz loans, taking out a second mortgage, hitting up Uncle Marty, or crowdsourcing. Having a solid business plan is key to getting any investors or lenders on board.
Location
Scout spots with heavy foot traffic and visibility, like near shopping centers or family attractions. You’ll want lots of parking too for when the whole crew comes out to dine. proximity to highways or busy streets is great, but don’t sacrifice ambiance by signing a lease right next to an eyesore. Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each potential location. Remember this is a long term commitment!
Design Your Home Away From Home
You want guests to feel like they’re having dinner in your own dining room, so make it warm and inviting! Think comfy wooden booths, antique farmhouse tables, rustic or vintage decor. Painted murals are a fun way to reinforce your family-friendly vibe. Make sure seating arrangements encourage big groups to mingle. Maximize every inch for functionality too — optimize back-of-house and kitchen workspace.
Don’t Skip the Paperwork
Before your doors open, get all your licensing, permits, and legal ducks in a row. Register your business, get a tax ID number, and get certified by your local health department. Contact the fire marshal to ensure you’re up to code. You’ll also need a liquor license if you plan on serving alcohol. Cross all your Ts and dot your Is — skimp on this and you may face big fines down the road.
Gear Up with Commercial Equipment
To churn out dinner for dozens of guests at once, you need serious equipment that can endure heavy, frequent use. We’re talking commercial grade stoves, ovens, refrigerators. Stock up on pots, pans, and smallwares in bulk. Design your kitchen for high-volume prep and efficient workflows. Make sure you have enough inventory space. Vet suppliers you can rely on for consistent ingredient deliveries.
Menu Magic
Your menu is key to any successful restaurant. Develop a mix of shareable individual dishes (like chicken pot pies or meatloaf platters) along with OMG-sized options for the whole crew, like entire roast chickens or pans of cheesy baked ziti. Balance out the comfort food with healthier sides and veg options. Offer an irresistible dessert menu! Source top-notch ingredients. Change up daily specials to keep things fresh.
Assemble Your (Dream) Team
Every great restaurant needs an A+ team supporting it. Seek out talented chefs and skilled cooks to crush it in the kitchen. Front-of-house pros who deliver outstanding service are essential too. And you’ll need hosts, bartenders, dishwashers — you get the idea. Write clear job descriptions then hire accordingly. Invest time and money into thorough training for all. Pay fairly and show appreciation — it goes a long way.
Spread the Word
Start creating buzz a few months before opening through social media, local ads, and word-of-mouth. Plaster enticing photos of the food everywhere. After opening, focus on engaging reviews, influencer visits, and tempting giveaways. Make an effort to interact personally with diners and the community. Consistency in providing top-notch food and hospitality will be what makes customers regulars.
Fine Tuning Your Restaurant Ops
Work out any kinks in day-to-day operations and processes. Inventory management, staff scheduling, cleaning routines — these may seem mundane but they’re what keeps the business running smoothly. Use POS and accounting software to stay organized. Stay on top of equipment maintenance. Keep an ear open for staff and customer feedback to continuously improve. Pay close attention to sales data and margins.
Grow Your Success Over Time
Your grand opening is just the beginning! Stay current on food trends and generational shifts that may impact your biz. Be open to innovating and pivoting your concept down the road. Offer catering or branded merchandise for additional revenue streams. Reward loyal regulars through membership perks. By keeping what guests love while also evolving with the times, your family-style gem can become a cherished community fixture.
And that’s the recipe for launching your very own family-style restaurant! With passion, smart planning, amazing food, and hard work you can bring your cozy eatery dreams to life. Just take it one step at a time. Before you know it, you’ll have a bustling restaurant filled with the clatter of happy diners sharing platters and making memories. Now that’s worth raising a glass to. Cheers!
Need a Family-Style Restaurant Business Plan?
Create a custom business plan with financial projections and market research in minutes with ProAI’s business plan generator.
Family-Style Restaurant Financial Forecasts
Startup Expenses
Monthly Operating Expenses
Revenue Forecast
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some tips for choosing a family-style restaurant concept?
Focus on comfort foods, home-cooked dishes, and cuisines meant for sharing. Choose something unique to your heritage or interests. Make sure there is demand for what you want to offer based on market research. Pick a name and brand that conveys your theme.
How much space is needed to open a family-style restaurant?
Plan for about 2,000–3,000 square feet to accommodate a dining room, full kitchen, storage, restrooms, and staff areas. Make sure the layout supports an interactive, communal dining experience.
What are the most important kitchen appliances for a family-style restaurant?
Invest in high-quality commercial ranges/ovens, refrigeration, and dishwashing equipment to handle large batches. Also key are prep tables, high-volume pots/pans, and plenty of storage space.
How large should the staff be for a new family-style restaurant?
Estimate needing 2–3 servers, 1–2 hosts, 1–2 cooks, and 1 dishwasher per shift. Start with core roles, then add more FOH and BOH staff as needed when business grows.
What should a family-style restaurant’s hours be?
Most family-style places open from around 11am — 9pm since they attract a daytime/dinnertime crowd. Adjust hours based on your target customers’ habits. Closing earlier on slower nights saves on labor costs.
How soon before opening should marketing begin?
Start promoting your restaurant about 2–3 months in advance through social media, local ads, and press releases. Generate buzz leading up to opening day.
What are ways to control costs when starting a family-style restaurant?
Buying in bulk, tracking inventory carefully, eliminating waste, building vendor relationships, negotiating leases/loans, and not overstaffing can help manage startup and operating costs.
How can restaurateurs adapt their concept over time?
Stay current on food and dining trends to add new menu items. Expand into catering or event hosting. Renovate to enhance ambiance. Listen to customer feedback and observe what brings in more business.
Does a family-style restaurant need a liquor license?
Alcohol sales can boost revenues but require extra licensing. Carefully consider your target customers — some families may prefer a non-alcoholic environment.
What basic paperwork does a family-style restaurant need?
Business registration, employer ID number, sales tax license, food permits, and any required business insurance or licenses for your local jurisdiction.
