Anyone who wishes to enter the highly competitive restaurant business will have a hard time attracting and retaining customers. This is because there are hundreds of amazing restaurants in every major city. Each restaurant has its own strength, which keeps customers coming back time and again. For some, it’s the great-tasting food that keeps customers coming back. For others, it’s the ambiance. Other reasons why customers may prefer one restaurant to others include; affordable meals, quality customer service and strategic location. Since all the commercial space in strategic locations are already taken, you will not have the advantage of location. The good news is that you can control everything else.
For instance, you can hire the best chef in the city, invest in professional restaurant design, hire an interior designer and ensure your staff are properly trained on how to take care of customers. If you get this right, you may be able to attract and retain many customers.
Hiring a Restaurant Design and Fitout Company
There are many companies that design and fit restaurants in any given city. Therefore, you will not have a hard time finding qualified contractors. However, it is important to note that all these firms are not the same. Some are great while others only offer basic design services. Below are some of the things to look for when looking for a firm to design or fit your restaurant:
i) Experience
The number of years a firm has been in business and the number of restaurants they have designed in the city are two of the most important factors to consider. You want a firm that has designed dozens of restaurants over the last couple of years. This is because they have proven to be competent, creative and reliable.
ii) Quality of Service
You should not make a decision before you take a look at the portfolio of a company. Portfolios normally contain pictures of previous projects. Therefore, you can learn a lot about the quality of service offered by a company by simply looking at some of their previous works. Only firms that have designed restaurants that meet your needs and expectations should be hired.
iii) Licensing
Contractors are required by law to have a valid contractor’s license to offer services to the public. Therefore, you should check whether or not the firms on your list are licensed to offer building design services in the city. The ideal firm should also be insured and bonded.
iv) Cost
The cost quoted by all the firms on your list should be checked. This is because some firms will charge exorbitant rates while others charge reasonable rates. A simple comparison of quotes will save you a lot of money.
