4 Things You’ll Need to Successfully Franchise a Restaurant
The restaurant industry is fiercely competitive. As a result, you need to make sure you bring your A-game to the table if you plan to run your own franchised restaurant. Ultimately, dedicating 100% of your passion and energy is the only way you’ll see the business succeed. In this piece, we break down the top four things you absolutely must have to guarantee success in your franchise restaurant.
1. Franchise Management System
Restaurant management systems (RMS) are essential for keeping your business up and running. They help you track employees, inventory, and sales all in one convenient software platform. An RMS will usually include some hardware equipment as well, such as a cash register and receipt printer.
A franchise management system is a specific type of RMS designed for franchises. They facilitate management processes and procedures across several locations. They ultimately aid in ensuring that all business operations are uniform, on-brand, and repeatable at any and all franchise locations.
2. Social Media Presence
When it comes to promoting your restaurant’s deals, social media is your greatest gift. As of 2021, there are roughly 4.14 billion active social media users worldwide. If you’re not taking advantage of this prolific resource, you’re missing out on incredible marketing opportunities.
Embrace social media by creating a Facebook or Instagram profile for your restaurant. Add photos of the venue, menu items (including beloved dishes, cocktails, and wines), and maybe even of the staff. Doing so will allow social media users to become more familiar with your service offerings and with your brand itself. In turn, they’ll be more likely to grow increasingly loyal to your brand and provide you with their business.
3. Quality Equipment
Your customers are your top priority. As a restaurant franchise owner, you need to do everything in your power to optimize their experience. Part of that process is investing in the best equipment possible to take the quality of their experience to the next level.
From glassware to furnishings to cooking materials, you’ll want to invest in the best equipment possible when stocking your restaurant. These small touches may feel slightly trivial and unnecessary, but in a dining environment, even the small things contribute to the overall atmosphere. Taking extra care in selecting these items for your restaurant won’t go unnoticed by your customers.
4. The Right Team
Your team is integral in securing your restaurant’s success. They are the face of the brand, the liaison between you and your customers. Clearly, you want to make sure you have a team you can trust, with members who share the same passion for achieving success.
Aim to hire staff with experience in the hospitality industry, particularly at the managerial level. Having an experienced manager for your franchise will enable you to be a bit more hands-off as an owner without compromising on your peace of mind.
Running your own franchise restaurant is no easy feat. With so many moving parts in such a competitive industry, it can be tough to know what components to prioritize. Hopefully, with the help of this handy guide, you have a better idea of where to shift your focus in order to set your restaurant business on the path to success.
This article has been published in accordance with Socialnomics’ disclosure policy.