If you can build a patio, do it - but start getting ready ASAP.
A patio license can drastically change the revenue that your restaurant is able to bring in during the warmer months. It’s a selling point - groups of people are eager to sit outside when the weather permits. It also gives restaurant owners the opportunity to increase- even double- their available seats.
A patio cannot just be built overnight. As much as it seems like it may just take a few weather-resistant tables and patio chairs, there is licensing involved. All licensing is different based on where your establishment is. Contact your local government to figure out how to obtain the license.
Adjust your staff accordingly.
Summer break always means that there is a change in staff. Employees might leave the area to go home if they’re in college and away from their parents. Or, more employees might enter the area, if their families spend summers there. Think ahead and remind your employees to inform you of what their availability looks like in the warmer months.
Building off of our first tip, if your restaurant is looking forward to additional seating thanks to patio availability, you definitely will want to bring on new hires. Don’t wait to do this. Get a head start on estimating the amount of employees you’ll need. Check out our additional blog post here to learn more about how to hire for your small business's open roles.
Promote a more pleasant atmosphere in the warmer months.
No one wants to be uncomfortable when they’re paying for a nice experience at your restaurant. Be sure to remind customers to stay hydrated all year round. It is best to keep your guests at the bar staying cool. An easy way is to have iced water ready to go, especially for anyone drinking alcohol. You don’t want anyone on your property to be in danger.
Another way to promote a more pleasant atmosphere is to make sure your AC system is good to go. You can do this by having an electrician check in on the system prior to customers needing it in order to be comfortable. You also can have an electrician check on your ceiling fans, and be sure to dust them off before they’re used. Again, make sure this is done in early spring so you don’t face surprises (and limited availability) once the heat picks up.
Figure out what you need
These are all potential items that you may want to consider investing in.
Umbrellas
Heating lamps
Music and tv continues to outside
Games at breweries
Block views of traffic - physical structure - plants
Dog friendly if able — consider it! While you’ll want to lay out some strict rules for diners with pets (no barking, must be leashed, etc), it’s a solid selling point. Plus, you can feature pups on the patio on your social media.
If you’re able to, add a couple unique, COOL items to the menu.
In the warmer months, customers need items to help them chill out. It’s a great time to add a fun, cold treat to the menu. Your customers would also love anything that they can flex on social media. If you’re selling homemade churros, you can look into adding vanilla ice cream, and put up pamphlets on the table, encouraging customers to share photos of your food and tag your social media accounts. This opens up the amount of people who can get a glimpse into your dishes.
Check out some inspiration for cool summer treats that your restaurant can provide.
An espresso martini topped with ice cream.
A vanilla latte that has ice cream in it.
Shaved ice.
Add a cotton candy topping on a shirley temple.
Grab some funky straws and add them to the drinks you already have.
What can Mainvest do for your business?
Mainvest allows you to raise capital from your community, without giving up any ownership or control in the process. By running a Mainvest campaign, you can engage the community and get buy-in from local stakeholders. If you are ready to take the next step as an entrepreneur, reach out to us here.
Written by Abigail Sullivan, Community Manager @ Mainvest