Kill it or Fill it ?

Regardless of how you got yourself into this position, there is a process that will help you see your way out, and ad in making the right decision for you and your business. The following steps if followed will properly direct your steps:

1st – You Must conduct an honest evaluation of your business. Remove the emotion from the table, brutal honesty?

2nd - Get Honest feedback from Guests! DON'T get defensive, thank them for their honest feedback Ask Guests- What they think of your restaurant? How are you perceived? What is needed to increase the number of visits? Why do they choose to come to your restaurant? Ask what they think about your location? If you are blaming your Employees remember Employees reflect leadership.

3rd - Are you consistently executing the basics? Consistency with Food Quality, Guests Service, Is your restaurant consistently clean and organized? Is your restaurant a good value for guests? When guests first walk in is there a positive feeling? Guests want restaurants to be predictable. Consistent - Food Quality, Guest Services, and Cleanliness Organization are the Big 3.

4th - Are you making money? Are you paying your bills without pulling funds out of your savings account?

These 4 steps will allow you to better evaluate your situation; they are not the end all save all questions but should give you a much clearer picture of your business. Again take the emotion off the table this is business.

In Fort Worth, Texas a Restaurant Cafe was burdened with high debt and overhead costs which was leading the business to bankruptcy. They hired a restaurant consultant, hired a restaurant accounting firm. Renegotiated their lease, restructured the corporation. Restructured their debt and put in place management systems and controls. End Result improved profitability within six months.

Another example was a Las Vegas India restaurant struggling with consistency in revenue. They hired a restaurant consultant, wrote a business plan and implemented the plan. Additionally they hired a marketing staff member, implemented management systems and controls and restructured some debt obligations with creditors then paid others off in full. Result improved top line sales, controlled flow through to make the business a reasonable investment.