Open a Vegetarian Restaurant
Vegetarians are dedicated to living a meat-free life. There are varying levels of vegetarianism. Some people won't eat any meat, some only eat eggs and milk and some only eat fish. Then, there are vegans, who avoid all animal products. It's hard for these people to find a restaurant with a good selection of vegetarian choices. You can target this niche by opening a vegetarian restaurant.
Instructions
1. Research the different dishes that vegetarians eat. You'll want to have something to offer everyone.
2. Work with a professional chef to create your menu. You can meet with a chef that runs a vegetarian or vegan restaurant that isn't in competition with you (in another state, perhaps). He can consult with you on food cost, popular dishes and ease of preparation.
3. Find sources of food products that can supply your restaurant. There aren't many large distributors serving vegetarian restaurants, so finding one in your area could be difficult. You may be able to find your products at local health food stores or farmer's markets, although they will most likely be pricey. See if you can talk the owner into giving you a discount if he becomes your sole supplier.
4. Scout out a location for your restaurant. Many vegetarians and vegans are very environmentally conscious and if you choose a location next to a factory that dumps toxic waste into a local stream, you're not going to attract any customers.
5. Determine what kind of style you want your restaurant to have. You can have a more relaxed cafe-type atmosphere with bright colors and lots of natural light, or you could go upscale and use dark woods, booths covered with luxurious velour upholstery and nice lighting fixtures to provide indirect light. Remember that your style should reflect your food and can have a huge impact on your prices as well as your customers' expectations.
6. Get your dining room and kitchen set up. Hire your staff and train them. Print out your menus. Buy china, glasses and flatware as well as any small wares you need in your kitchen.
7. Put out ads for your new restaurant. Buy advertisements in local magazines that target folks who lead alternative lifestyles, like "Natural Awakenings." Talk to owners of health food stores and see if you can put up a poster in their front windows. Set a date to open your restaurant and invite your friends and family to attend your first dining service.
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