It’s pretty clear that you need to expand your culinary business when the money’s rolling in and you’re running out of things to do with it.
However, it’s important that you take a moment to think about which direction you want to go in and how you plan on keeping everything afloat once your plan is in motion.
Here are some tips to ensure that your expansion is as seamless as possible.
Don’t strain yourself
Expansion is a natural part of any good business, but quality is bound to drop if you take on too much too quickly. Be a part of every major decision regarding the future of your business, and keep all options open in case something better comes along.
Most importantly, don’t seal your fate by making a move when you shouldn’t have. You’ll know that you probably shouldn’t take on anything new when your free time is incredibly limited.
Always make sure your business is as efficient as possible before making your next move so that the only issues you’re dealing with are the new ideas you’re trying out.
Streamline processes with upgraded supplies
The reason your culinary business is successful in the first place is because of the quality of your dishes. Expansion means that you’ll be serving more people, but it doesn’t have to mean that you’ll be increasing your workload by too much. The key is to cut as many corners as possible without diminishing that original quality you’re known for.
First, invest in the supplies you need to help streamline your daily processes.
Rather than making those delicious chocolates by hand every time, use food grade silicone to make a mold that does the work for you; at that point, work becomes simple casting instead of painstaking hand-molding that takes hours on end.
Instead of hiring more staff to handle the influx of customers, consider investing in a tabletop e-waiter so that customers can checkout themselves. This way, you can reduce staffing costs, and ensure customers get the immediate help they need when they have a request or want to pay their bill.
Small investments like these can pay dividends in the long run and give your business the productivity boost it needs.
Cultivate a recognizable and accessible brand
Your creations might be delicious and unique, but no one will ever know if they can’t find you.
Within the last 10 years, maintaining a constant online presence has become paramount, and cultivating a strong brand is a must. Make sure you have a logo and that your business can be located through all major media platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and Facebook. Learn more about creating a great aesthetic for your brand and streamline your processes to ensure customers get the experience they expect from your company.
Keep your business active with reivews
Reviews are incredibly important, and a few good reviews could be the one difference between you and a competitor. Create a promo that celebrates customers who write a review for your business; it could be 10 percent off their meal for posting a review, or a BOGO deal.
Post on Facebook or Instagram in order to keep communication open between you and your customers. Thank people for their reviews on Yelp, or come up with a new special offer for the next holiday. At the absolute very least, just go online once or twice a week to post some pictures and improve your business’s image.
Invite customers to help you workshop your new ideas
It’s difficult to know if people will like a new recipe. Before adding more creations to your repertoire, have customers sample your next big hit. Not all feedback is helpful, and you should definitely stick to your own ideas, but if enough people think it’s too salty, then perhaps you need to go back to the drawing board.
Invest in your community
Your business might feel like an extension of yourself, but it’s actually one part of an intricate community with other businesses that are meeting other needs. Find out what other businesses are in your circle. Treat your business like it’s a person: interact with other businesses online and potentially team up with someone for next year’s local festival.
By meeting and interacting with other business owners, you’ll learn more about the business world and will be better informed as you expand. Also, you’ll be ready to jump on opportunities as they arrive. One year, you’ll join in on a trend happening in your community, but next year, you’ll be the one who others are following.
Expansion is difficult and requires a lot of decision-making, but as long as you keep these tips in mind, you’ll be able to move on to bigger and better ideas while your business grows.
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