* The calculations use average data for Russia
from 940,000 ₽ Starting investments
1,170,000 ₽ Revenue
350,000 ₽ Net profit
6-30 months Payback period
Do you dream of opening your own bar? We offer you a guide with an analysis of all the key points of opening a dream business that can bring a profit of 4 million rubles in a year.
Main features of a fast food cafe
1. Speed of service. Perhaps the main advantage of this format of establishments over other catering establishments. The menu is usually bright and clear (light box), the client is served through several cash desks. The shape of the tables and chairs, as well as their location, do not allow you to stay in the cafe longer than necessary to eat.
2. Most dishes are prepared in a matter of minutes through the use of semi-finished products or preliminary preparations.
3. Limited range of dishes. Often the menu is represented mainly by one product (hot dogs, burgers).
4. Simple and convenient serving. Use of disposable tableware, packaging bags and paper.
5. The cooking technology is so well developed that it allows you to spend a minimum of time on training unqualified employees.
6. There is no waiter service for visitors - the main responsibility is only to clean tables.
7. Low cost of the dish. Achieved through low ingredient prices and an emphasis on high sales volume.
Permission to enter
Permission will be required before any signs can be put up to attract attention to the cafe. Specifications around what is acceptable in terms of size, location and lighting vary by city. If you are renting a building, it is also helpful to obtain written permission from the landlord in addition to the official registration permit.
How to obtain permission to enter:
- Often outdoor signs must be approved by the local municipality. For example, aspiring business owners should hire a contractor to design and install a sign. Then bring the design ideas to the mayor's office for approval.
- Cost: A sign permit can cost anywhere from $20 to $50.
Equipment
When opening a cafe from scratch, you will need to purchase a lot of equipment. So much that a separate article could be devoted to it. About half of the establishment's area is allocated to the kitchen and, at a minimum, there should be a hot shop, a dispensing room and a cold shop adjacent to them. The hot and cold shops should be strictly separated, and somewhere next to these zones there should be a washing room, which also has access to distribution.
In total we have: heating equipment (stoves, ovens, ovens, kebabs, pancake makers, deep fryers), refrigeration equipment (refrigeration cabinets, bar refrigerators, wine displays), as well as dishwashers, bathtubs, meat processing equipment, mixers, slicers, vegetable cutters, coffee grinders, coffee makers, juicers, ice makers, filters and water softeners. A simple cafe can get by with disposable tableware and save on dishwashing equipment and water consumption. But saving on tables and chairs is not recommended.
List of documents for opening a cafe
What documents will you need first to open a cafe? For all catering establishments, a mandatory condition is that their owners have the status of an individual entrepreneur or LLC. In the first case, you will need to pay a small state fee for registration. In the second, prepare the authorized capital (at least 10,000 rubles). It’s worth checking in advance what documents are needed for opening. The list of required papers will definitely include:
- accounting log - you will have to create several of them, including for the misinformation used. drugs;
- contracts for the maintenance of ventilation systems, air conditioning, sanitary, pest control, and deratization treatments;
- production control program;
- contracts for the removal and subsequent disposal of household and industrial waste, hazardous waste;
- papers confirming the availability of opportunities for regular washing and processing of linen and uniforms.
What additional documents are needed?
Regardless of the cadastral value of the property - if we are talking about opening a summer cafe, the amount of rent is usually calculated from it, each catering establishment must comply with certain sanitary standards. Moreover, to conduct business you will need to obtain a number of other documents. Contacting the services of the SES will help you clarify what documents are needed to start work. But even in this case, you shouldn’t count on a quick opening. Before starting business, the business owner must obtain licenses - if retail trade or sale of alcoholic beverages is planned.
Sanepidemstantsiya.com service specialists recommend:
Do not forget that conducting trading activities in Moscow and the Moscow region requires obtaining a patent. All documents necessary for opening a cafe will need to be completed in parallel - in this case, the approval period will be about six months. If you do not meet the allotted time, you will have to go through all the procedures again.
Resale permission
Cafe opening documents such as resale permits allow you to make certain tax-free purchases. For example, purchasing wholesale food supplies. If these items are purchased for use in the production of products for resale (food). Thus, resale certificates prevent the business from being taxed twice. Instead of collecting sales tax on a product when you buy it, it is collected when the customer buys it. The business then provides regular reporting of sales tax and payment to the government.
Trade permit
How to obtain permission to resell a cafe:
- The need for a sales permit varies by location and annual sales volume. First, find the resale numbers in your area and the specific office to apply to. There is also a provision for applying in person.
- Cost of resale permit. Can cost from 0 to 50 dollars.
Fast food menu
The fast food menu depends on its concept, so first you need to decide which one you want to open. Four main types can be distinguished.
Western-oriented fast food establishments: KFC, McDonald's
The menu of such cafes includes fried wings, French fries, burgers, village-style potatoes, and soft drinks. These establishments are very popular among visitors to the shopping center, but often cannot withstand the competition.
Based on national cuisine
The menu consists of 20-30 items of national dishes of Caucasian, Russian, Ukrainian and Asian cuisine. Alcoholic beverages such as cocktails and beer may be served.
“One product” establishments
The menus of single-product cafes are based on the main product. This could be pizza, hot dog, pancakes, pastries with different fillings. Pizzerias remain the most popular food court format in this segment.
Healthy fast food
Quite a rare occurrence. It was replaced by fast-casual establishments with a slightly different approach. However, this format of fast food is still found. Its menu: fresh juices, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, etc. The main thing is that all products should be fresh, healthy, nutritious and low-fat. Often all servings are packaged in plastic containers to reduce service time.
Usually they try to leave no more than 30 items on a fast food menu, so it is important to choose each dish correctly.
It is imperative to exclude from the menu what is not in great demand among consumers. For example, if during the week onion rings were ordered the least or 3-4 times less than cheese sticks in the same price category, then the former should be abandoned.
It is also worth updating the menu from time to time, offering seasonal dishes.
Implementation of a business idea: how to start?
What do you need to start your own restaurant or bistro? In addition to desire, you will also have to use all your available communication skills. After all, it doesn’t matter whether you are filling out paperwork for a cafe or another establishment, you will have to go through the first checks at the approval stage. And for public catering that sells alcoholic beverages, you will need a full license.
What is needed to open a cafe? You should start by purchasing or renting vacant space. The location for opening a summer cafe will have to be agreed upon with the district or city administration, depending on how large the settlement will be. To do this, you will have to submit an application to the relevant department and wait for a decision. If you already have a lease agreement in hand, you will have to take into account the status of the property. Not every room can be used for preparing hot dishes or using an open fire. All this will have to be taken into account to avoid disappointment.
Before we begin
The first thing to start with when opening a cafe is to think over the concept of the establishment, that is, who it will be aimed at, what menu it will have and pricing policy. And at the same time, how will it differ from other similar establishments: the competition in the field is simply wild, so it is important to have your own flavor, individuality, something that can attract and interest your potential guests.
The cafe can be safely registered both as an individual entrepreneur and as an LLC. Opening an individual entrepreneur is easier and more profitable; moreover, you can simplify your accounting and work under a simplified taxation system. However, remember that an individual entrepreneur does not have the right to sell alcohol, in addition to beer, cider, mead, etc. This is why many people do this: they open a cafe as an individual entrepreneur, and use a separate LLC to sell alcohol.
The optimal taxation system is UTII, but in order to fall under it, the area of the hall should be no more than 150 square meters. m. Note that this area must be structurally separated from the rest of the cafe premises and recorded in inventory documents, otherwise problems may arise. At the same time, accounting and tax accounting can be outsourced or carried out independently, for example, using various online services.
Main risks: a lot of competition, relatively high startup costs, the wrong concept, location blunder, poor quality of food or service.
“Step-by-step instructions on how to open a cafe from scratch”
Selection and renovation of premises
An important point is to focus on how you see the future interior of the establishment. Again, it all depends on the concept. This should be the starting point for the interior decoration of the bar.
In the future interior, it is advisable to take into account that the tables should be located quite independently from each other so that each group feels privacy and comfort.
In addition to the above, the interior creates the corporate style of the bar; this is not only a beautiful aesthetic step, but also an assistant in promotion, and is remembered by visitors. To create a good interior, you can turn to professional designers. Then you will be able to realize your idea and create an author’s space where people will want to come and subsequently return.
Equipment for fast food at the food court
Since fast food cafes have a small area allocated, one of the important criteria for choosing equipment is compactness. The design of such equipment is also important, because the kitchen is open and the guest can assess its condition. Remember that everything must comply with fire safety and sanitary standards.
The set of equipment for fast food primarily depends on the menu. For example, this is a special oven for pizza or a roller grill for sausages.
But there is also a standard set:
- refrigeration equipment: cabinets for drinks and desserts with glass doors;
- freezer;
- grill;
- microwave;
- deep fryer;
- rack;
- special cabinet for defrosting semi-finished products;
- coffee machine;
- working surface;
- washing.
The peculiarity of fast food is the lack of a full-fledged kitchen. Everything is prepared from semi-finished products, hence the high speed of service.
The main kitchen or work shop is usually located outside the shopping center. The food court only supplies semi-finished or ready-to-eat packaged meals. At a fast food outlet, you do not have a full food preparation cycle, but simply warm it up.
