Would you like to open your own poké bowl restaurant, but don't know where to start? In this guide, we'll give you all the tips you need to successfully launch your restaurant and treat your future customers to the signature dish of Hawaiian cuisine. Discover the essentials for setting up your own poké bowl restaurant.
1. Think your concept through
You've already got the concept: a poké bowl restaurant. Now take it a step further and think about the type of poké you want to create. Do you want a traditional poké, faithful to traditional Hawaiian cuisine, or more of a fusion poké to mix the flavors of world cuisines, or an all-vegetarian and vegan poké?
The choice of concept will depend on a number of factors, including your experience, target market and available resources. To make the best choice, take into account your desires, your skills, your vision of food and those of your colleagues.
2. Conduct market research
To stand out from the crowd and get to know your target clientele, you'll need to carry out in-depth market research. Analyze trends, needs and expectations in a specific geographical area. Your market research will then help you fine-tune your concept.
3. Drawing up the business plan
The business plan is the basis of your project to open a poké restaurant:
- It enables us toassess the financial viability of your project.
- It helps define a clear strategy for attracting and retaining customers.
- It effectively guides the operational management of your business by identifying potential challenges and developing appropriate solutions.
- The business plan for your future poké bowl restaurant will help you convince investors, financial partners and obtain a loan from a bank.
👉 To find out more: 7 steps to a restaurant business plan
4. Legal procedures
Legal procedures are as numerous as they are indispensable.
- Choose the legal status of your business: company (SARL, SAS or EURL) or sole proprietorship (EI).
- Register your company with the relevant authorities, such as the Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (CFE) or the Clerk of the Commercial Court. This involves providing information about your company, such as its name, address, legal structure, etc.
- Make sure you comply with the health and safety standards in force in your region (in terms of food hygiene, food safety and premises sanitation).
- If your restaurant has an outdoor terrace, apply to the town hall or prefecture for a terrace permit.
- Set up an accounting system to keep track of your finances, and make sure you meet your restaurant's tax and accounting obligations.
5. Find financing
Self-financing and bank loans are the traditional financing solutions for opening a restaurant. If you're having trouble getting a loan from your bank, you should know that there are other ways of obtaining financing: honor loans, fund-raising, microcredit, investment funds...
👉 To find out more: Creating your restaurant, how to finance your project?
6. Find the ideal premises
Finding the ideal location is crucial to the success of your poké restaurant. It will influence visibility, accessibility and customer appeal, as well as the operational efficiency and profitability of your establishment. Your poké should be located in a high-traffic area, easily accessible and in the geographic area of your target clientele.
You may need to buy an existing restaurant. If this is the case, you'll have to buy the business and probably modernize the equipment. This is a very common solution for running a restaurant.
7. Obtain compulsory licenses
In France, to open a poké and offer alcohol to customers, you'll need different licenses depending on the type of alcohol and how you want to serve it.
If you wish to sell alcoholic beverages at the same time as meals, you need a restaurant license (for all alcohols) or a small restaurant license (for only alcohols with an alcohol content of 18° or less: wines, ciders and beers).
If you also sell alcohol outside mealtimes (bar-restaurant), you need a license III or IV. In this case, you don't need a restaurant license or a small restaurant license.
Planning to open a poké bowl food truck? Be aware that you're not allowed to sell alcohol over 18°.
8. Setting up your poké bowl
The ambience of your restaurant is the first thing your customers notice, so make sure it reflects the fresh, vibrant spirit of poké bowls. Bright colors, light tones, tropical patterns and lively music can transport your customers straight to Hawaii, even if they're thousands of miles away!
A well thought-out layout can also maximize space and optimize customer flow, guaranteeing a smooth and pleasant experience for all. So don't underestimate the power of a beautiful layout: it's the cherry on the poké bowl of your success!
9. Promote your poké restaurant
The opening is approaching? Congratulations! Now's the time to promote your poké bowl restaurant. Here are a few ideas for raising the profile of your poké bowl restaurant:
- Be present on social networks: Facebook, Insta, TikTok...
- Create a Google My Business listing.
- Launch an advertising campaign with Google Ads.
- Use food influencers.
👉 To find out more: Discover how to boost your restaurant's visibility
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Are you opening or taking over a restaurant? Contact an Innovorder expert to get personalized advice for your restaurant!
