Choosing to expand your business is a big decision that requires a lot of planning and foresight. It can be nerve-wracking, but opening a second restaurant can be a lucrative move for your business. Whether you’re looking to franchise or simply open a secondary location, here are a few tips for expanding your restaurant business.
Market your new location
Perhaps the most important tip for expanding your restaurant business is to thoroughly market your new location. After all, nobody will know you’re opening a new location if you don’t toot your own horn a bit. Hosting a grand opening for your new restaurant location is a great way to build buzz around your restaurant expansion. Whether you plan to host a full-blown bash or a more understated opening, a grand opening event is sure to bring dozens of diners to your new location. At your grand opening event, consider offering free samples to diners or hosting live entertainment from local musicians.
Carefully consider location
Location is crucial for any new business. When you open a second restaurant, however, the importance of location increases significantly. Your secondary location shouldn’t be too close to the original, as it may draw customers away from the original location and cause an uneven spread of business. However, opening the new location very far away from the original may also prove difficult. Choose a secondary location that still appeals to your established customer base but that’s far enough away to draw in new clientele.
Ask for customer opinions
Opening a new restaurant is the perfect time to assess what your original restaurant was doing right and to look for areas of improvement. Asking for customer feedback is a great way to see what changes your diners would like to see at the new restaurant location. The best way to get accurate customer feedback is by encouraging loyal customers to complete a survey about their past dining experiences and their hopes for the future. You can send out this survey via e-mail or offer it in-person to customers currently dining in the restaurant. Offering a discount for future meals is a great way to incentivize customers to complete the survey, and it will encourage them to give honest feedback.
