There is a certain romanticism attached to owning a restaurant for many. For others, a restaurant is simply part of a way to drive visitors to a venue.

Whatever the case, any restaurant represents a major investment of time and dollars. This is the case for a hotel, a resort, or even a strip mall. Unfortunately, many owners of restaurants, nightclubs, and resorts put adequate time and attention into the installation and startup of their establishment; then, they will often let things ride after that initial investment of effort.

However, as any restaurant expert will quickly explain, the real work with maintaining a successful restaurant comes after the launch. In fact, it often takes several months for a new dining establishment to refine its menu, find and properly train the right staff, and build a good repeat and word-of-mouth business.

The Importance of Ongoing Oversight

Any experienced restaurant operator knows the meaning of the saying, “It’s hard to drain the swamp while fighting off the alligators.” The simple reality is that effectively managing and growing a profitable restaurant is an extremely demanding task, leaving little time to sit back and evaluate operations or strategies.

On the other hand, it is important and possible to find a qualified and experienced restaurant expert to help provide that all-important oversight. Such professionals have the ability to look at operations and financials and identify potentially dangerous trends before they create catastrophic results. For example, the right restaurant expert will assist you to:

• Identify potential or actual weaknesses in the area of shrinkage and inventory control. Too many great restaurants have been destroyed from the “death by a thousand cuts” tolerated in this vital area of management.
• Evaluate your social media presence. This is yesterday’s word-of-mouth on steroids and is vital to success.
• Watch your financial performance. Too many learn too late that revenue is not profit and profit is not cash flow.

If you don’t have total peace of mind about these and other areas in the restaurant you own or manage, it’s time to turn to a qualified restaurant expert for assistance.