The Plan

Here is my outline of the many tasks and subtasks I must complete before Opening Day at Linea.
There's a lot to do!  Please let me know what I am forgetting...

THE PLAN:

• Networking
• Need assistance/advice from other owners and restaurant professionals throughout the process
• LinkedIn - DONE!
• Contact spreadsheet - names, phone #s, emails
• Business Plan (STARTED, ongoing)
• Obtain a good restaurant business plan rubric DONE!
• Contact SCORE, schedule weekly business plan assistance sessions
• Complete all areas of business plan that are not dependent on location
• Do market analysis for each potential location
• Finalize business plan after a location is found (before lease is signed)
• Find/Secure Capital
• Private investors
• Throw dinner parties and invite potential small private investors
• Apply for government stimulus $$ for small businesses (SOON)
• Apply for SBA loan (SOON)
• Apply for bank loan (hopeless?)
• Look at spaces for Linea (start soon)
• Bring spreadsheet and take notes so I can compare physical location, square footage, rent, street visibility, foot traffic, ect.
• Look at leases/meet landlords of spaces with actual potential
• Have the following in place well before doors open (preferably before lease is signed):
• Employee policies
• Employee manual
• New employee package (tax forms, manual, ect.)
• Reservation policy
• Bookkeeping program/process
• Master To Do List
• Job descriptions
• Prepared job posts
• Staff scheduling process, rubric
• Meeting schedule
• Marketing schedule/plan
• Restaurant contact spreadsheet
• Linea Website
• Linea Facebook Page
• Add to this list
• Go to Italy for a month (if not more)
• Sign a Conditional Lease on a space
• Find builder
• Go through licensing process (help! - order of tasks, tricks, advice, ect)
• Secure a conditional beer and wine license from town hall
• Get Linea approval from town's residential bureau
• Get Linea approval from town's business bureau
• Get whatever licenses I need
• Initial visits from Fire, Health, Building inspectors - dictates design
• Design restaurant with builder
• Dining room
• Kitchen
• Bathrooms
• Storage
• Start buildout
• Begin Hiring process
• Have new hires help with buildout
• Get equipment
• Restaurant auctions are fun!
• Train staff
• Inspections
• Get occupancy
• Fire
• Health
• Building
• Initial marketing for opening - local newspaper advertisement, social media blitz
• Three Friends and Family dinners
• First night - 20-30 guests spread out (donations only)
• Second night - Restaurant mostly full, all night (donations only)
• Third night - Full with a line (free food!)
• Close for a day or two, fix issues found in F&F dinners
• OPEN THE DOORS!