“A Restaurant Business Needs a Restaurant Business Plan,” Says CEO of Restaurant Consultants of America

Birmingham, AL, March 18, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Restaurant Consultant, Restaurant Expert Witness, and CEO, Howard Cannon, advises the would-be restaurant owner to write a detailed business plan; stating, "The journey from your wonderful and exciting restaurant idea to serving your first customer is a trek that requires commitment, stamina, willpower, and creativity. It also requires a plan. This journey can be one of the greatest learning experiences of your life, but it can also be difficult; and, if you don’t have a plan, it will most likely be painful as well.”

Many aspiring entrepreneurs have great ideas and set out on their journey without a road map. They open up shop without preparing themselves for the many aspects of business ownership. Then, often times, something they didn’t expect destroys them, causing them to close. Those with a plan end up in much better shape.

Building the restaurant of your dreams requires a sound plan, but creating a business plan is not an easy task. The best way to approach it is to write down everything you want to accomplish with your restaurant, then proceed from there. Treat the business plan as a road map to your business. Cannon says, "When you write down your intentions, you'll know what you expect of yourself and your business, and you'll make decisions accordingly. If your plan is well done, you will be able to use it to make the right decisions for your business."

Your attitude has plenty to do with the effectiveness and efficiency of your business plan. If you understand why you need a plan, you will have a better chance of making it work. If you don’t understand why you need a plan, keep studying until you do. "A business plan is not the great American novel," advises Mr. Cannon. "You're writing a plan to run your business, so the audience is small and specific. Remember, the business plan is a living, changeable document. As times change, as costs change, as you change, so does the plan. Keep the reality of change in mind when you put pen to paper."

Howard Cannon is a highly-recognized restaurant expert witness, consultant, analyst, and speaker. He is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting a Restaurant© - found in 76 countries around the globe. Mr. Cannon is the CEO of Restaurant Consultants of America and Restaurant Expert Witness, and can be reached at 800-300-5764 or via the web at RestaurantConsultantsOfAmerica.com or RestaurantExpertWitness.com.