How to Write an Action Plan for a Failing Restaurant

How to Write an Action Plan for a Failing RestaurantHow to Write an Action Plan for a Failing Restaurant

Restaurants can get themselves into hot water for any number of reasons, be it the wrong location, a poor reputation, unfamiliarity with the industry, or a lack of marketing. If your restaurant is headed down a path to ultimate closure, you likely need to know how to write an action plan  for a failing restaurant in order to salvage it. Today, we’ll look at the key items your action plan needs in order to be successful—and hopefully save your business.

Simply defined, an action plan is just a series of specific tasks assigned to either an individual or multiple people. Usually the tasks themselves have a targeted due date, however they can be ongoing as well. Regardless of the reason for your action plan, it should consist of reasonable and measurable goals and be spearheaded by a dedicated leader who has the restaurant’s best interests at heart. Keep these things in mind as you draft your plan. Here are the items you should be considering:

  1. What’s your issue?

The key to creating an action plan is to first determine why your business is failing. Are you catering to the right demographic? Is your menu outdated or overly complicated? Are your servers turning around tables too slowly? Do you need to revisit your hours of operation? Getting to the root of the problem is an essential first step toward creating an effective action plan.

  1. What’s your goal?

Going hand-in-hand with your problem (from above), the goal of your action plan is fairly simple to determine. Yes, you ultimately want to turn your restaurant around. But more specifically, how do you want to realize that success? Do you want to appeal to the proper age group? Create a more appealing menu? Turn over tables faster? Increase traffic?

  1. Who is responsible?

Every piece of your plan should have a designated person in charge—and that person should be qualified for and on-board with his or her task. Is there a role that’s not really suited to anyone within your business? Don’t be scared to reach out to external resources, be they financial planners or marketing professionals.

  1. What steps are needed?

Determine exactly what needs to be done in order to reach your goals. Since your action plan needs to be part of the day-to-day operations of your restaurant, it’s critical that you let each employee know what has to be done. Be sure to detail each step so there is no question about expectations.

  1. What resources are needed?

A well-crafted action plan is worthless if you’re not equipped with the resources you need to attain your goals. As you’re going through the above exercise, take into account whether you’ll require additional equipment, staffing, ingredients, etc.

Action plan templates can easily be found online, or you can simply create one of your own. Regardless of the way it looks, be sure to keep the above tips in mind when drafting your first action plan. And remember to reach out to the industry experts at ARF Financial if you’re in need of a financial life raft. We offer many loan options, and none of them require collateral. Approvals can take as little as 24 hours. Funding can happen in just 3 days. Come fill out an application form today and learn how much you qualify for! There’s no risk—and your credit score won’t be affected. APPLY NOW!