In this guide, we\u2019ll walk through the key steps to writing a restaurant business plan\u2014and what to include \u2014 in 2026.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Branded Cover<\/span><\/h2>\nThe first part of your business plan is your branded cover page. In some ways, this is both the easiest and hardest piece to get right.<\/p>\n
On the one hand, the branded cover is completely formulaic: you need only include basic information like your logo, your business name, the title of the document, and your address.<\/p>\n
However, you also want to ensure that within these strict boundaries, you\u2019re able to make your business stand out with an appealing logo and catchy name. Branding is a big part of running a business, so you\u2019ll want to make sure you have a clear direction for your brand, and that it\u2019s clearly visible from the cover page.<\/p>\n
![\"Restaurant](\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Restaurant-Management-CTA.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span>Executive Summary<\/span><\/h2>\nAs the name implies, the executive summary serves as an overview of everything that will be covered in the rest of the business plan.<\/p>\n
The goal of your executive summary should be to get the reader to want to look further through the report. If the summary of your plan doesn\u2019t make sense from a business perspective or isn\u2019t intriguing for whatever reason, your reader will have no desire to dig further into the details.<\/p>\n
Your executive summary should include overviews of:<\/p>\n
\n- Your mission statement<\/a><\/li>\n
- The general idea for your business<\/li>\n
- The market opportunity you\u2019re looking at<\/li>\n
- How you plan to take advantage of that opportunity<\/li>\n
- Your business model<\/li>\n
- The target market<\/li>\n
- Expected costs<\/li>\n
- Expected ROI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Other elements can also be covered in the executive summary, but these are particularly important.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Description of Your Business<\/span><\/h2>\nThe business description section of your plan is a place to let your reader get to know you. It should start off by introducing the name of your business and continue to provide vital information about your restaurant, like its location and the general restaurant concept.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also a good idea to include information about the people who will be running the restaurant<\/a>. For example, who will the main chef be? What makes them qualified to be the head chef of a restaurant?<\/p>\nAnyone you have on board at the time of your business plan should be accounted for. Investors will want to see that you have a team of experienced people who understand how to make a restaurant profitable.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Description-of-Your-Business.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Sample Menu<\/span><\/h2>\nRestaurants are all about food, so it wouldn\u2019t make sense to draft up a business plan without making it clear what exactly your products will be. Namely, you need to provide a sample menu<\/a> to your potential investors so that they can get a better idea of what you\u2019ll be selling.<\/p>\nKeep in mind that your sample menu is a sample<\/em> \u2013 you\u2019re not setting anything in stone, and it\u2019s normal to adjust the items on your menu over time. The point of this part of your plan is just to give investors an idea of what kinds of food you\u2019ll be serving, and ideally, a few of the mainstays you’re sure will end up on the final menu.<\/p>\n<\/span>Market Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\nBusinesses can only be as successful as the markets they enter into. Even some of the greatest ideas of all time have fallen flat because the market just wasn\u2019t ready to accept them.<\/p>\n
Your market analysis should show investors that your market is<\/em> ready to believe in your business, or better yet, the market needs<\/em> your business. Essentially, you need to convince investors that you will be able to make a profit with your business.<\/p>\nThe market analysis<\/a> will typically comprise three parts: industry, competitor, and marketing analysis.<\/p>\nThe industry analysis will explain what customer demographics you want to target. The competitor analysis should cover what competition already exists, and the marketing analysis should describe the marketing strategies you\u2019ll use to bring your business to the public.<\/p>\n
Marketing is a big part of this. For instance, think about the different channels you will be using like email marketing for your restaurant<\/a>, SEO, local advertising, social media, etc. Possibly listing on online review sites or including a loyalty marketing program<\/a>. Generate foot traffic, deliveries and reservations on less busy days.<\/p>\n<\/span>Business Operations Summary<\/span><\/h2>\nThe business operations summary in your restaurant\u2019s business plan should cover everything that you\u2019ll need to implement to make your establishment function. This can include processes, like cooking and ingredient sourcing, as well as equipment, like dishwashers and ovens.<\/p>\n
Employees and other labor should be included as well.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Financial-Analysis-2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Management and Ownership<\/span><\/h2>\nThis section should give a detailed look into the experience of the proposed management and ownership. While this should be covered to some extent in the business description section, you can use this part to go further in depth and really sell your experience to your investors.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Financial Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span>Executive Summary<\/span><\/h2>\nAs the name implies, the executive summary serves as an overview of everything that will be covered in the rest of the business plan.<\/p>\n
The goal of your executive summary should be to get the reader to want to look further through the report. If the summary of your plan doesn\u2019t make sense from a business perspective or isn\u2019t intriguing for whatever reason, your reader will have no desire to dig further into the details.<\/p>\n
Your executive summary should include overviews of:<\/p>\n
\n- Your mission statement<\/a><\/li>\n
- The general idea for your business<\/li>\n
- The market opportunity you\u2019re looking at<\/li>\n
- How you plan to take advantage of that opportunity<\/li>\n
- Your business model<\/li>\n
- The target market<\/li>\n
- Expected costs<\/li>\n
- Expected ROI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Other elements can also be covered in the executive summary, but these are particularly important.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Description of Your Business<\/span><\/h2>\nThe business description section of your plan is a place to let your reader get to know you. It should start off by introducing the name of your business and continue to provide vital information about your restaurant, like its location and the general restaurant concept.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also a good idea to include information about the people who will be running the restaurant<\/a>. For example, who will the main chef be? What makes them qualified to be the head chef of a restaurant?<\/p>\nAnyone you have on board at the time of your business plan should be accounted for. Investors will want to see that you have a team of experienced people who understand how to make a restaurant profitable.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Sample Menu<\/span><\/h2>\nRestaurants are all about food, so it wouldn\u2019t make sense to draft up a business plan without making it clear what exactly your products will be. Namely, you need to provide a sample menu<\/a> to your potential investors so that they can get a better idea of what you\u2019ll be selling.<\/p>\nKeep in mind that your sample menu is a sample<\/em> \u2013 you\u2019re not setting anything in stone, and it\u2019s normal to adjust the items on your menu over time. The point of this part of your plan is just to give investors an idea of what kinds of food you\u2019ll be serving, and ideally, a few of the mainstays you’re sure will end up on the final menu.<\/p>\n<\/span>Market Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\nBusinesses can only be as successful as the markets they enter into. Even some of the greatest ideas of all time have fallen flat because the market just wasn\u2019t ready to accept them.<\/p>\n
Your market analysis should show investors that your market is<\/em> ready to believe in your business, or better yet, the market needs<\/em> your business. Essentially, you need to convince investors that you will be able to make a profit with your business.<\/p>\nThe market analysis<\/a> will typically comprise three parts: industry, competitor, and marketing analysis.<\/p>\nThe industry analysis will explain what customer demographics you want to target. The competitor analysis should cover what competition already exists, and the marketing analysis should describe the marketing strategies you\u2019ll use to bring your business to the public.<\/p>\n
Marketing is a big part of this. For instance, think about the different channels you will be using like email marketing for your restaurant<\/a>, SEO, local advertising, social media, etc. Possibly listing on online review sites or including a loyalty marketing program<\/a>. Generate foot traffic, deliveries and reservations on less busy days.<\/p>\n<\/span>Business Operations Summary<\/span><\/h2>\nThe business operations summary in your restaurant\u2019s business plan should cover everything that you\u2019ll need to implement to make your establishment function. This can include processes, like cooking and ingredient sourcing, as well as equipment, like dishwashers and ovens.<\/p>\n
Employees and other labor should be included as well.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Management and Ownership<\/span><\/h2>\nThis section should give a detailed look into the experience of the proposed management and ownership. While this should be covered to some extent in the business description section, you can use this part to go further in depth and really sell your experience to your investors.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Financial Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\n
Other elements can also be covered in the executive summary, but these are particularly important.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Description of Your Business<\/span><\/h2>\nThe business description section of your plan is a place to let your reader get to know you. It should start off by introducing the name of your business and continue to provide vital information about your restaurant, like its location and the general restaurant concept.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also a good idea to include information about the people who will be running the restaurant<\/a>. For example, who will the main chef be? What makes them qualified to be the head chef of a restaurant?<\/p>\nAnyone you have on board at the time of your business plan should be accounted for. Investors will want to see that you have a team of experienced people who understand how to make a restaurant profitable.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Sample Menu<\/span><\/h2>\nRestaurants are all about food, so it wouldn\u2019t make sense to draft up a business plan without making it clear what exactly your products will be. Namely, you need to provide a sample menu<\/a> to your potential investors so that they can get a better idea of what you\u2019ll be selling.<\/p>\nKeep in mind that your sample menu is a sample<\/em> \u2013 you\u2019re not setting anything in stone, and it\u2019s normal to adjust the items on your menu over time. The point of this part of your plan is just to give investors an idea of what kinds of food you\u2019ll be serving, and ideally, a few of the mainstays you’re sure will end up on the final menu.<\/p>\n<\/span>Market Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\nBusinesses can only be as successful as the markets they enter into. Even some of the greatest ideas of all time have fallen flat because the market just wasn\u2019t ready to accept them.<\/p>\n
Your market analysis should show investors that your market is<\/em> ready to believe in your business, or better yet, the market needs<\/em> your business. Essentially, you need to convince investors that you will be able to make a profit with your business.<\/p>\nThe market analysis<\/a> will typically comprise three parts: industry, competitor, and marketing analysis.<\/p>\nThe industry analysis will explain what customer demographics you want to target. The competitor analysis should cover what competition already exists, and the marketing analysis should describe the marketing strategies you\u2019ll use to bring your business to the public.<\/p>\n
Marketing is a big part of this. For instance, think about the different channels you will be using like email marketing for your restaurant<\/a>, SEO, local advertising, social media, etc. Possibly listing on online review sites or including a loyalty marketing program<\/a>. Generate foot traffic, deliveries and reservations on less busy days.<\/p>\n<\/span>Business Operations Summary<\/span><\/h2>\nThe business operations summary in your restaurant\u2019s business plan should cover everything that you\u2019ll need to implement to make your establishment function. This can include processes, like cooking and ingredient sourcing, as well as equipment, like dishwashers and ovens.<\/p>\n
Employees and other labor should be included as well.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Management and Ownership<\/span><\/h2>\nThis section should give a detailed look into the experience of the proposed management and ownership. While this should be covered to some extent in the business description section, you can use this part to go further in depth and really sell your experience to your investors.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Financial Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\n
Anyone you have on board at the time of your business plan should be accounted for. Investors will want to see that you have a team of experienced people who understand how to make a restaurant profitable.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Sample Menu<\/span><\/h2>\nRestaurants are all about food, so it wouldn\u2019t make sense to draft up a business plan without making it clear what exactly your products will be. Namely, you need to provide a sample menu<\/a> to your potential investors so that they can get a better idea of what you\u2019ll be selling.<\/p>\nKeep in mind that your sample menu is a sample<\/em> \u2013 you\u2019re not setting anything in stone, and it\u2019s normal to adjust the items on your menu over time. The point of this part of your plan is just to give investors an idea of what kinds of food you\u2019ll be serving, and ideally, a few of the mainstays you’re sure will end up on the final menu.<\/p>\n<\/span>Market Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\nBusinesses can only be as successful as the markets they enter into. Even some of the greatest ideas of all time have fallen flat because the market just wasn\u2019t ready to accept them.<\/p>\n
Your market analysis should show investors that your market is<\/em> ready to believe in your business, or better yet, the market needs<\/em> your business. Essentially, you need to convince investors that you will be able to make a profit with your business.<\/p>\nThe market analysis<\/a> will typically comprise three parts: industry, competitor, and marketing analysis.<\/p>\nThe industry analysis will explain what customer demographics you want to target. The competitor analysis should cover what competition already exists, and the marketing analysis should describe the marketing strategies you\u2019ll use to bring your business to the public.<\/p>\n
Marketing is a big part of this. For instance, think about the different channels you will be using like email marketing for your restaurant<\/a>, SEO, local advertising, social media, etc. Possibly listing on online review sites or including a loyalty marketing program<\/a>. Generate foot traffic, deliveries and reservations on less busy days.<\/p>\n<\/span>Business Operations Summary<\/span><\/h2>\nThe business operations summary in your restaurant\u2019s business plan should cover everything that you\u2019ll need to implement to make your establishment function. This can include processes, like cooking and ingredient sourcing, as well as equipment, like dishwashers and ovens.<\/p>\n
Employees and other labor should be included as well.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/span>Management and Ownership<\/span><\/h2>\nThis section should give a detailed look into the experience of the proposed management and ownership. While this should be covered to some extent in the business description section, you can use this part to go further in depth and really sell your experience to your investors.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Financial Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\n
Keep in mind that your sample menu is a sample<\/em> \u2013 you\u2019re not setting anything in stone, and it\u2019s normal to adjust the items on your menu over time. The point of this part of your plan is just to give investors an idea of what kinds of food you\u2019ll be serving, and ideally, a few of the mainstays you’re sure will end up on the final menu.<\/p>\n Businesses can only be as successful as the markets they enter into. Even some of the greatest ideas of all time have fallen flat because the market just wasn\u2019t ready to accept them.<\/p>\n Your market analysis should show investors that your market is<\/em> ready to believe in your business, or better yet, the market needs<\/em> your business. Essentially, you need to convince investors that you will be able to make a profit with your business.<\/p>\n The market analysis<\/a> will typically comprise three parts: industry, competitor, and marketing analysis.<\/p>\n The industry analysis will explain what customer demographics you want to target. The competitor analysis should cover what competition already exists, and the marketing analysis should describe the marketing strategies you\u2019ll use to bring your business to the public.<\/p>\n Marketing is a big part of this. For instance, think about the different channels you will be using like email marketing for your restaurant<\/a>, SEO, local advertising, social media, etc. Possibly listing on online review sites or including a loyalty marketing program<\/a>. Generate foot traffic, deliveries and reservations on less busy days.<\/p>\n The business operations summary in your restaurant\u2019s business plan should cover everything that you\u2019ll need to implement to make your establishment function. This can include processes, like cooking and ingredient sourcing, as well as equipment, like dishwashers and ovens.<\/p>\n Employees and other labor should be included as well.<\/p>\n This section should give a detailed look into the experience of the proposed management and ownership. While this should be covered to some extent in the business description section, you can use this part to go further in depth and really sell your experience to your investors.<\/p>\n<\/span>Market Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Business Operations Summary<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/span>Management and Ownership<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Financial Analysis<\/span><\/h2>\n