⚠️ 10 Common Mistakes When Starting a New Restaurant – and How to Avoid Them with FOOD GUIDE

Keyword: restaurant startup mistakes

📊 1. Not Conducting a Real Feasibility Study

One of the most common mistakes is opening a restaurant without understanding the local market or demand. FOOD GUIDE recommends a feasibility study covering costs, competition, and target audience.

📍 2. Choosing the Wrong Location

The location plays a major role in success. Opening in a quiet side street or away from your target customers can quickly lead to failure.

🎯 3. Lack of a Clear Restaurant Identity

Many restaurants try to serve everything from burgers to sushi! Specialization attracts customers and makes marketing easier. Choose a clear concept from day one.

🧰 4. Cutting Costs on Equipment

Buying cheap or overly used equipment often leads to breakdowns and higher long-term costs. FOOD GUIDE advises smart investment in quality tools.

📣 5. Ignoring Marketing Before and After Launch

Many owners believe customers will come automatically. Reality? Without strong marketing, even the best restaurants stay empty.

👥 6. Hiring Randomly or Without Training

Untrained staff can damage your reputation and slow down service. Proper team training before launch is essential, not optional.

📜 7. Overly Long and Complicated Menu

Huge menus confuse customers and increase costs. Start with 10–15 standout dishes, focusing on quality and speed.

🎵 8. Ignoring the In-House Experience

Ambience, lighting, music, and cleanliness all matter. Don’t focus only on food and neglect the overall dining experience.

💸 9. Poor Cost and Expense Management

Uncontrolled expenses like waste, overstaffing, or unpaid bills can shut down a restaurant even with good sales numbers.

🗣️ 10. Ignoring Customer Feedback

Negative reviews are often ignored or argued with instead of being used for improvement. FOOD GUIDE recommends embracing constructive feedback to grow.