20 Jun, 2018
Sandwich Shop Business Tips
Starting a small sandwich shop is a rewarding venture. It isn’t complicated, but it takes a lot of work. Finding the perfect location, completing all of the government requirements, getting equipment and supplies and creating the menu takes a lot of time. No special skills are necessary for opening a sandwich shop, but starting a business requires a small amount of start-up capital for building rent, utilities, equipment and supplies.
Find a good location. Sandwich shops do well in heavily-populated areas, especially near colleges, hospitals or large business districts. Try to find a small shop with enough room for a small kitchen and seating area. Smaller shops cost less, and the electric bill runs lower than in large buildings.
Check with your local tax office, and get a sales tax license. Learn what types of licenses you need to start your business. Most areas require a sales tax license and a business license. In some areas, both local and state business licenses are required.
Get equipment for your sandwich shop. Get a microwave for heating small items. You need a cold bar with a refrigerator underneath. Bins are placed in the top of the cold bar, so the actual refrigerator is not opened often. If you want hot rolls or other heated items, get a hot bar. All restaurants require a three-compartment sink for cleaning dishes, and a second sink for washing hands.
Find suppliers for your restaurant needs. Sandwich shops require breads, fresh vegetables, meats, cheeses, beverages, wrapping paper, salad containers, cups, lids and utensils. Request a drink dispenser and drinks from your chosen company at least a month in advance. Some companies are slow about installing their machines.
Create a menu using the work processing program of your choice, and include prices for everything your shop offers — sandwiches, salads, side dishes, beverages and desserts. Also create a price list for party trays and catering options.
Scrub down the whole building, and make sure everything is spotless. Make sure the walls are a smooth, easily-wiped surface. If something looks dingy after washing, repaint it, so it will look neat. Schedule a health department inspection. You want a perfect score the first time, so you will start off well with the people who inspect your shop.
Put tables, chairs or booths in the restaurant. Leave plenty of space between tables, so the restaurant is wheelchair-accessible.
Hire any employees needed for the sandwich shop, and train them. Train employees on the cash register, sanitation procedures and food preparation techniques. Have a practice day where employees invite friends or family members, and let each person order one free entree. Staff members should practice ringing up orders, making the food and serving the customers. This gets the employees ready for opening day, and people who like the food will spread the word.
Start advertising your business in advance. Hand out fliers to people in stores, parking lots and to friends. Post fliers in businesses, and give fliers to local businesses. Set up a page on Facebook for your restaurant. Go on Twitter, and send out Twitter announcements to all of your friends telling them about your business. Make a web page online, and put a printable coupon on your website. There is plenty of free web space available, and most of them offer easy-to-use web page builders.
Also, consider this 5 important points below:
1. Study Your Customers
The customers are the lifeblood of a sandwich shop, so think about them with every move you make. This is especially important before you pick your location, because where your franchise is located is directly related to the customers that come in. Before you sign a lease, make sure you have thought about how the location may impact how your business runs.
2. Work with a Great Team
Your employees are critical to running a sandwich shop well. It goes without saying that everyone needs to have the proper licenses and permits to handle and serve food, but there is more than that. Hire people who are comfortable working with customers to make a visit to your restaurant a pleasant one. Train your employees to make sandwiches that look as good as they taste and keep strict standards on cleanliness. Finally, make sure that you work with a team of people you can trust to run the shop in your absence because you certainly cannot be there all day, every day (and why would you want to?).
3. Focus on Your Menu
Sandwiches are delicious and not exactly difficult to find, so make sure that you have something special to set your sandwich shop apart. You don’t want your restaurant to blend in with others but you also want to avoid being too gimmicky so find what works for you. Focus on creating delicious, high-quality food that customers will love to come back for.
4. Pay Attention to Customers
After you have opened for business, make a point to listen to your customers to improve your shop. Ask customers for feedback on your food, atmosphere, employees, and service and then take their suggestions to heart (within reason). Customers appreciate when you take the time to follow through on their suggestions. Create a loyal fan base by giving your customers what they want.
5. Choose a Franchise
Owning an independent sandwich shop might sound like a good plan, but there is a lot of work and risk involved in starting a business from scratch. Joining a sandwich franchise lets you skip ahead several steps — finding a name and logo, choosing a menu, writing operations manuals, deciding policies and procedures, etc. — so you can jump right in to running a sandwich shop. In addition, you can choose a franchise system that has a culture of support to help its franchisees build strong businesses.