Start a Deli
If you want to know how to start a deli business of your own, you don't need to let a potential lack of food-service experience stop you. To get started, you need a good business sense, a quality menu, and customers who enjoy their experience in your store. Though starting a deli requires a sizable start-up investment, you may be able to make it profitable in no time.
Steps
- Write up your business and marketing plans. These 2 documents will help you lay out a road map for how you plan to handle everything. They will also include market research to show the demand for a deli in your area as well as how you will compete with other businesses. These documents will assist you to secure the funding needed if you do not already have the capital on hand.
- Secure all the necessary licensing, permits, and insurance to operate a food business as required by local, state, and federal guidelines.
- Depending on where you operate the deli, your employees may need special food-prep certifications. Certain areas may require all employees to hold this certification, while others may state that only one team member has it. The certification ensures that employees know about various food-safety issues, such as the proper technique to store raw meat.
- Create your menu. Build a menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, and other items you believe should be sold in your deli. Be creative and think of ways you can use the menu to draw in a strong customer base. When you create the menu, consider the costs of food, the refrigeration space you will need, and how you will store the food and waste. Construct the menu to maximize profit and reduce waste. If you don't have a lot of food storage, consider this during your planning phase.
- Secure the deli's location. Most often, leasing is the best way to go. If you choose to purchase the building, this may be a big risk since you may not know how well your business may perform. Choose a convenient location based upon your budget and where your customers are. If the location was previously used as a deli or eatery, you will likely have less equipment to buy.
- Purchase all the necessary kitchen and restaurant supplies. You'll need utensils, condiments, tableware, napkins, chairs, and other décor elements.
- Establish relationships with food vendors. These companies will supply the food for your menu. Consider paying more for higher-quality ingredients, as this will make a difference in your menu.
- Hire the necessary staff members to run the deli. Take applications, conduct interviews, and train the people you hire. For your own protection, you may want to consider running background checks on your potential employees. You may also want to make the hiring contingent on a clean drug test.
- Set up and prepare for any necessary inspections prior to opening for business.
- Open the deli for business, and start serving your customers.
