How to Open a Business

Starting an Irish Restaurant

We've collected some good advice that is ideal for those of you who want to open an Irish restaurant. Read this before you begin your venture.

Wondering how to start an Irish restaurant? We take you step-by-step from start to success.

Core Characteristics of Irish Restaurant Business Plans

Every business plan is unique, yet the most effective plans share a handful of essential traits.

The mandatory components of an Irish restaurant business plan include an executive summary, mission statement, strategic overview, financial plan, marketing plan and timetable. Without these elements, your plan will have limited use to lenders, investors and other stakeholders..

Although it will need to be incorporated into the flow of your plan, we strongly recommend considering a PEST (Political, Economic, Social & Technological) analysis for inclusion in your Irish restaurant's business plan.

Site Selection

For the most part, Irish restaurants target local customers. You may think you know your community well, but it's worth doing some additional homework on your area. What types of people live nearby? Does the community have the right demographics to support your new business? Visit the library when you get a chance. Local reference librarians have computer databases that can give you access to the demographic information you need.

Don't Ignore Competitors

Long before you open an Irish restaurant in your town, it's essential to determine how strong the competition is. We've provided the link below to help you generate a list of competitors nearby. After following the link, enter your city, state and zip code to get a list of Irish restaurants in your area.

If there's too much competition, it may be wise to consider starting the business in a less competitive marketplace.

Finding a Non-Competitive Business Mentor

Once you've finished assessing the competion, it's a smart move to learn as much as you can from somebody who is already in the business. It's very unlikely that the local competition will talk to you. What's in it for them?

However, an entrepreneur who owns an Irish restaurant in another town can be a great learning resource for you, after they realize you reside far away from them and won't be stealing their local customers. In that case, the business owner may be more than happy to discuss the industry with you. Our estimate is that you may have to contact many business owners to find one who is willing to share his wisdom with you.

What's the best way to find an entrepreneur who is running an Irish restaurant on the other side of the country to talk to?

Simple. Let your fingers do the walking by using the link below.

Advice for Acquiring an Irish Restaurant

Without a doubt, it usually makes more sense to acquire an Irish restaurant than it does to pursue a startup.

Yet for many entrepreneurs, financing represents a major hurdle to buying an Irish restaurant. The good news is that it's easier to finance an existing company than it is to finance a startup business. However, there is still some distance that needs to be traveled before you can secure enough funding to put your name on the letterhead.

Our Business Acquisition Financing Tips have the information you need to successfully navigate the challenges of financing your new business.

Consider Franchising

If you don't have much business experience, you should consider whether there are good franchise opportunities that would be right for you.

Prior to making the decision to open an Irish restaurant, it's worthwhile to assess whether franchise opportunities in your space might make your life much easier.

The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.

More Advice for Startups

These additional resources regarding starting a business may be of interest to you.

Coming Up With Good Business Ideas

How to Find Start-Up Capital

Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs

Share this article


Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary