Starting a Restaurant: Learn How at the Library

In Daniel Miller’s “Starting a Small Restaurant: How to Make Your Dream a Reality”, Miller offers some great tips on becoming a successful small business owner. Owning a small restaurant is hard work and the food services business is often hyper-competitive.

Still, the rewards of owning a thriving small business are absolutely incredible. Whether it’s dry cleaning or selling burritos, any serious entrepreneur needs specific information on the business of interest. Daniel Miller’s book highlights many potential pitfalls for a restaurant owner. Knowing your way through an auction is crucial to getting deals on used equipment. For the uninitiated, he’s not talking about eBay. These are face-to-face auctions complete with an auctioneer talking a mile a minute. Generally speaking, you register in advance and really need to know what’s going on. Even for people who have frequented these auctions, they’re not something for the faint of heart. Speaking from personal experience, be careful when you raise your hand!

While the auctions can be intimidating, you’re often bidding along side some business owners. Essentially, it’s possible to get a wholesale price. It could be professional quality blenders or a nice gently used refrigerator or dishwasher. The key is to have a rough idea of what you’re actually considering to purchase. Miller touches on many other points with the restaurant business. From menu design to business plans and dining room décor, Miller’s book covers many of the bases.

Also check out “You Can Do it Too: The 20 Essential Things Every Budding Entrepreneur Should Know” by Rachel Bridge. This book highlights successes from small business owners and also shows how a new entrepreneur can distinguish his business from others. There are a variety of ways to make one’s business stand out from the crowd in any economic climate.

Speaking of starting your own business, there will be a talk on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30 pm on “Starting Your Own Business” with a special guest speaker from S.C.O.R.E. The talk itself will take place in the second floor auditorium at the Main Library on 625 Minnesota Ave.

In addition, we’ll be having another job hunting workshop on Tuesday, November 3 at 6 pm with special guest speaker Danica Rome from Workforce Partnership. The presentation will take place in the first floor computer lab in the Main Library. Please RSVP for these events in advance at 913.279.2064. Until next time, catch me in the library.