Thinking of opening a sushi restaurant? Sushi is one of America's fastest-growing food trends, and it is here to stay. Opening a sushi restaurant isn't easy, but with hard work you can be well on your way to operating the most successful sushi bar in town. Consider these five steps for opening a sushi restaurant from the experts at ACityDiscount:
1. Business plan
Smart small-business owners know a strong plan can serve them well for years to come. Make a business plan, secure funding, decide on your target audiences and determine what makes your establishment different from the competition.
2. License and permits
Check with your local city about required licenses and permits. Keep in mind there may be special considerations for serving raw food and alcohol.
3. Equipment
Stocking your kitchen with proper restaurant equipment is key to opening a sushi restaurant and seeing it succeed. Proper refrigeration is important for most sushi ingredients, so make sure your kitchen has the right refrigerators and coolers. Sushi chefs require sharp sushi knives, bamboo sushi mats and rice cookers to refine their craft, and serving requires sushi trays, soy sauce bottles, sake bottles, chopsticks and more. Picking the right equipment without forgetting anything can be tricky. For a full list of equipment necessary to open a sushi restaurant, call the ACityDiscount experts at 404-752-6715.
4. Experience
Making sushi well takes skill. When hiring a chef, look for one with experience who can help you make the most in-demand rolls while providing guidance on new creations for the future. A good sushi chef can literally make or break a restaurant, so be sure you stand behind yours.
5. Marketing
Now that you have all the main components, it's time to market your grand opening! Whether you choose direct mailing and coupons, or opt for online promotion and strive to build social media momentum, getting the word out will help drive traffic to your new sushi restaurant. From there, the food can speak for itself and keep patrons coming back for more.
