Practical Moneysaving Tips for Fledgling Restaurateurs

Going into the restaurant business represents a tremendous challenge. No matter where your eatery is based, attracting clients, cultivating a favorable reputation and promoting the business can be an uphill battle. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of restaurateurs operate at a loss during their first year in business. That being the case, any moneysaving measures you can enact during this time frame are sure to help out.

Use Social Media to Your Full Advantage

In any locale, promoting a restaurant can be expensive. Buying ad time on local television and radio outlets and purchasing ad space in local newspapers and circulars is liable to cost a pretty penny. Conversely, promoting your eatery on social media can help you connect with thousands of prospective diners without costing you a dime. With this in mind, create accounts for your restaurant on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media mainstays and start posting. 

Keep an Eye out for Discount Equipment

Purchasing used or refurbished equipment for your kitchen can effectively save you tens of thousands of dollars. Furthermore, finding places that sell discounted refrigerator freezer parts can help keep your refrigeration system up and running without putting a strain on your finances. Anyone on the hunt for heavily-discounted refrigerator, freezer, oven, grill, broiler or toaster components would do well to pay a visit to O-Reps.com. 

Limit Freebies

Many restaurants provide diners with assorted freebies, like fresh-baked bread and chips with salsa. While this is a great way to show customers your appreciation, it isn’t exactly conducive to saving money. As such, consider placing limits on these freebies. For example, each customer — or group of customers — should only receive one basket of bread or bowl of chips. You may also consider only offering such freebies to diners who specifically request them. 

Restaurant ownership requires a heightened degree of fortitude and an unwavering passion for your craft. In light of all the money lost during their respective first years, a staggering number of restaurateurs have no choice but to close their doors within the aforementioned time period. To prevent your eatery from becoming just another failed restaurant, put the previously-discussed pointers to good use.   

Maintaining an Energy-Efficient Restaurant Kitchen

Over the last decade, a growing number of businesses have begun rethinking their approach to energy consumption. As the effects of global climate change become increasingly difficult to ignore, businesses of all sizes have started looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Fortunately, going green is much easier for restaurants than other types of establishments. As an added bonus, taking a few eco-conscious measures can save you a considerable sum in energy costs. To help your eatery do its part for the environment, consider the following tips.

Keep Track of Energy Consumption

The first step in whipping your kitchen into shape is keeping track of energy consumption. Use specialized meters to record how much water, gas, and electricity various pieces of equipment consume. After your findings have been recorded, make note of which tools need to be updated and which are consuming acceptable amounts of energy.

Invest in Energy-Efficient Parts

Replacing every piece of equipment that consumes too much energy isn’t exactly economical, nor does it help your financial bottom line. For example, stove apparatuses and walk-in refrigeration units are often easier to retrofit than outright replace. This entails keeping old equipment but outfitting it with new components, such as energy-efficient cooler door gaskets.   

Get Behind Eco-Friendly Dishwashers

Although updating your dishwashers may strike you as a large expense, it can save you a tremendous amount in both water and power costs down the line. Dishwashers equipped with heat-recovery condensers and smaller wash-tanks eat up less energy and clean dishes more expediently than their bulky old-school counterparts. 

A push for increased environmental awareness has swept the globe in recent years. Rather than remain mired in the past, it’s in your best interest to get with the times — and see that your restaurant does the same. If you’re determined to bring your kitchen up to snuff, keep an eye on energy consumption levels, engage in retrofitting as needed and invest in eco-friendly dishwashers.