Operating multiple restaurant locations can be complicated. But it is feasible. It means customers love the food you serve so much that one location is no longer enough to satisfy your customer base and a readily accessible location would be the best.
However, you will have to develop solutions for certain challenges because you get to serve more customers and meet new people, it will also help in generating more revenue, and serve as an expansion opportunity for your business.
To successfully operate numerous restaurant locations, you need to place great emphasis on communication and technology systems.
This article will guide you on how you can effectively manage different locations for your restaurant business.
Replicate primary concepts and guest experience
Most people consider a new branch because they are thriving in their business and have a need to expand so their customers and new guests can easily access their unique services.
It is important to note that just because a restaurant thrives in one area doesn’t mean it will be as successful in another. You should carry out detailed market research to see if your business will work as well in the area of your choice.
When opening a new restaurant branch, it is important to maintain the pre-existing consistent guest experience across all locations. For restaurants with the same name and outlook, guests want a nearly identical experience at one location as they would get at another. This requires shared hiring, training, and supplier management. This will result in uniformity – similar food taste, served by a polite and efficient staff at every location. Even if operating in different locations you can still unify all of your restaurants under the same ideals.
Improve your communication
Operating a restaurant in many locations requires extensive communication on your end.
Take advantage of technology for efficient communication tools. There are so many user-friendly, cost-effective systems such as Whatsapp, Zoom, telegram etc. You could use it to allow virtual check-ins when you can’t make it to other locations. Hold sincere, open, and ongoing discussions with your staff and management team to promote a healthy workplace culture.
Also, allow your manager to have the flexibility to make decisions and suggestions so your team can feel more relatable.
Make use of Technology
Successfully managing your restaurant across multiple locations and carrying out your day-to-day operations can be a tedious task that would wear you down and impact the company’s health negatively. You’d have to concern yourself not only with sales across multiple locations but staff schedule, Coupon management and lots more.
Apart from open communication which would help, restaurant technology is proven to assist single and multi-location restaurant owners to run their operations better. These tools ensure a consistent and simplified approach to operating a restaurant where necessary.
The key takeaway here is to make use of restaurant technology that simplify your operations like Waive Menu. Waive Menu is an effective and easy to use restaurant management software with everything you need to manage your growing business chain.
The features include and are not limited to – staff and coupon management, payroll, email automation, menu management, QR code generation, order processing and payment collection solutions.
Use a POS system
Invest in a POS that automates business processes and that is equipped for multi-location functionality.
Your POS should allow for easily-accessible sales data and key performance metrics for any of your restaurant locations, this spares you from the alternative of having to source reports from each of your locations and means you can act on any key learnings sooner rather than later. Your POS should also integrate with the rest of your tech stack, so data flows freely between them.
Conclusion
It’s the goal of every restaurant owner to oversee all their restaurants from a sole system effectively. Use this guide for the successful management of your multiple restaurant locations.
Start using WaiveMenu today
Enroll your restaurant to access all our amazing features.