The Owner's Notebook
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Opening a Restaurant

The decisions that decide whether a restaurant works are mostly made before it opens. Concept, budget, location and lease, in the order you will actually face them.

Start here

Read these 5 in order if the subject is new to you.

  1. How to Choose a Restaurant ConceptHow to choose a restaurant concept that fits your market, budget, and skills - a practical framework for picking an idea that can actually make money.
  2. How Much Does It Cost to Open a Restaurant?A realistic breakdown of what it costs to open a restaurant in 2026 — by concept, line by line, plus the working capital and hidden costs first-timers miss.
  3. How to Create a Startup BudgetHow to create a restaurant startup budget - every cost category to include, how much cash cushion you need, and a worksheet to total it all up.
  4. Choosing the Right Location for Your RestaurantHow to choose the right restaurant location - the traffic, demographics, rent, visibility, and lease factors that decide whether a spot will succeed or sink you.
  5. How to Negotiate a Commercial LeaseHow to negotiate a commercial lease for a restaurant - the terms that matter, what's negotiable, and the clauses that can sink you before you open.

Tools for this section

All 35 guides in this section

01 How to Set Up Utilities, Trash and Grease Trap Service for a New RestaurantSet up electric, gas, water, trash and grease trap service before opening day, with a timeline, deposit estimates and a monthly utility budget worksheet. Worksheet4 min 02 How to Get an EIN and Open a Business Bank Account for Your RestaurantGet your restaurant's EIN free from the IRS in minutes, then open a business bank account. Documents needed, account types to compare and mistakes to avoid. —5 min 03 How to Build a Restaurant Construction Budget and Buildout TimelineBuild a realistic restaurant construction budget and buildout timeline. See cost per square foot ranges, a phase schedule and how much contingency to hold. Worksheet5 min 04 How to Open a Pop-Up RestaurantLearn how to open a pop-up restaurant: pick a host space, get permits, budget the event, price the menu and test your concept before signing a lease. —4 min 05 How to Open a Restaurant in a Food HallThinking about a food hall stall? Learn the real costs, lease terms, and menu and tech choices that decide whether a food hall restaurant makes money. Worksheet5 min 06 How to Get a Certificate of Occupancy for a RestaurantNeed a certificate of occupancy to open your restaurant? Learn the steps, inspections, typical costs and timeline, plus mistakes that delay opening. —3 min 07 How to Get a Food Manager Certification for Your RestaurantLearn who needs a Certified Food Protection Manager card, how to pick an accredited exam, what it costs and how to stay compliant after you open. —4 min 08 How to Open a Second Restaurant LocationHow to open a second restaurant location - the readiness test, how much cash you really need, picking the site, and the systems that keep both stores running. Worksheet7 min 09 How to Get a Liquor License for Your RestaurantHow to get a liquor license for your restaurant - license types, real costs by state, the 3-9 month timeline, quota workarounds, and mistakes that get you denied. Worksheet7 min 10 How to Add a Food Truck to Your RestaurantA food truck can extend your brand and your revenue - or drain both. Here's the real startup cost, the break-even math, and how to run it off your existing kitchen. Worksheet6 min 11 Your First 90 Days: A Restaurant Opening RoadmapA week-by-week roadmap for your restaurant's first 90 days open - what to fix in month one, what to measure in month two, and what to change in month three. Worksheet4 min 12 Setting Up Vendors and Suppliers Before OpeningHow to set up restaurant vendors and suppliers before you open - who to line up, when to call, what credit terms to ask for, and how to avoid opening week shortages. Worksheet4 min 13 Restaurant Naming and Branding BasicsHow to name and brand a new restaurant - picking a name that's searchable and legally clear, plus the brand basics you need before you print a single menu. Worksheet4 min 14 How to Set Up Your Restaurant's Technology StackHow to set up restaurant technology before you open - what a POS should already include, what you can skip, realistic costs, and the order to install everything in. Worksheet5 min 15 How to Plan a Soft OpeningHow to plan a restaurant soft opening that finds your problems before the public does - timeline, guest list, limited menu strategy, and what to measure each night. Worksheet4 min 16 How to Pass Your First Health InspectionHow to pass your first restaurant health inspection: the violations inspectors actually write up, the temperatures to memorize, and a week-before walkthrough. Worksheet4 min 17 How to Buy an Existing RestaurantHow to buy an existing restaurant safely - what to pay, the due diligence documents to demand, lease assignment traps, and the first 30 days after closing. Worksheet5 min 18 Franchise vs. Independent: Which Is Right for YouFranchise vs independent restaurant: real costs, fees, control, and failure rates compared, plus an honest way to decide which fits your money and temperament. Worksheet4 min 19 Common Mistakes First-Time Restaurant Owners MakeThe most common mistakes first-time restaurant owners make - undercapitalization, menu bloat, bad lease terms, and no numbers. Worksheet4 min 20 Building Your Restaurant's Financial ProjectionsHow to build restaurant financial projections lenders believe: a covers-based sales forecast, realistic cost percentages, and a month-by-month cash plan. Worksheet4 min 21 Restaurant Equipment Buying GuideA restaurant equipment buying guide - what to buy new vs. used, how to prioritize your budget, and the gear a new kitchen actually needs to open. Worksheet3 min 22 Pre-Opening Marketing ChecklistA pre-opening marketing checklist for restaurants - the steps to build buzz, capture a launch-day crowd, and open to a full room instead of an empty one. Worksheet3 min 23 How to Negotiate a Commercial LeaseHow to negotiate a commercial lease for a restaurant - the terms that matter, what's negotiable, and the clauses that can sink you before you open. Worksheet4 min 24 How to Hire Your First Restaurant TeamHow to hire your first restaurant team - which roles to fill first, where to find good people, and how to staff your opening without over- or under-hiring. Worksheet3 min 25 How to Handle Restaurant InsuranceHow to handle restaurant insurance - the coverage types every restaurant needs, what they protect against, and how to buy the right policies without overpaying. Worksheet3 min 26 How to Create a Startup BudgetHow to create a restaurant startup budget - every cost category to include, how much cash cushion you need, and a worksheet to total it all up. Worksheet3 min 27 How to Choose a Restaurant ConceptHow to choose a restaurant concept that fits your market, budget, and skills - a practical framework for picking an idea that can actually make money. Worksheet3 min 28 Designing an Efficient Restaurant LayoutHow to design an efficient restaurant layout - the space ratios, kitchen flow, and seating math that let a small footprint serve more covers and cut labor. Worksheet3 min 29 Choosing a Business Structure (LLC, S-Corp, etc.)How to choose a business structure for your restaurant - LLC, S-corp, sole proprietorship, and partnership compared on liability, taxes, and paperwork. Worksheet3 min 30 Building Your Opening MenuHow to build your opening menu - right-sizing the item count, pricing for profit, and designing a menu your new kitchen can actually execute on night one. Worksheet3 min 31 Licenses and Permits You Need to OpenThe licenses and permits you need to open a restaurant - business license, food service, liquor, health, fire, and signage - plus how to sequence them. Worksheet3 min 32 How to Write a Restaurant Business PlanHow to write a restaurant business plan that actually gets funded - every section explained, with the financial projections lenders and investors look for. Worksheet3 min 33 How to Get Restaurant Financing and LoansHow to get restaurant financing - SBA loans, equipment financing, lines of credit, and investors compared, plus what lenders want and how to qualify. Worksheet3 min 34 Choosing the Right Location for Your RestaurantHow to choose the right restaurant location - the traffic, demographics, rent, visibility, and lease factors that decide whether a spot will succeed or sink you. Worksheet3 min 35 How Much Does It Cost to Open a Restaurant?A realistic breakdown of what it costs to open a restaurant in 2026 — by concept, line by line, plus the working capital and hidden costs first-timers miss. Worksheet6 min
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