How to Start a Family Style Restaurant

Family style restaurants are those that design their menus and decor to attract families. Restaurants like Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, and Chili’s all fall into into this category. Meal portions are typically on the larger side so everyone can share and taste a variety of flavors. Family restaurants are likely to become community gathering places where people can take their children and meet other families who are looking for some wholesome fun.

Learn how to start your own Family Style Restaurant and whether it is the right fit for you.

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Start a family style restaurant by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Family Style Restaurant
  2. Form your Family Style Restaurant into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Family Style Restaurant for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Family Style Restaurant
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Family Style Restaurant
  7. Get Family Style Restaurant Insurance
  8. Define your Family Style Restaurant Brand
  9. Create your Family Style Restaurant Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your family style restaurant. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Family Style Restaurant Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state's business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your family style restaurant?

Business Name Generator

What are the costs involved in opening a family style restaurant?

Standard costs include health inspection fees, rent or mortgage bills, cost of supplies/equipment, and employee salaries. If you hope to start a franchise, your costs will be all-inclusive, and the headquarters will typically supply what you need.

What are the ongoing expenses for a family style restaurant?

Family style owners may have the following ongoing expenses:

  • Food/drinks
  • Rent costs
  • Advertising material
  • Employee salaries
  • Equipment maintenance/replacement

Who is the target market?

Generally family style restaurants market to people who want to get out of the house more than they want to eat gourmet food. The average family is looking for dishes with which they are familiar. Parents especially have to make a lot of decisions throughout the day, and may not want a challenge when they walk into the restaurant. The decor should not be upscale. Families will be bringing in children who may not always be on their best behavior.

How does a family style restaurant make money?

Family style restaurants will mark up the cost of their food and beverages to turn a profit. Profit margins on checks are generally low, between 2 and 3% regardless of the type of restaurant you run. Generally, family style restaurants will serve alcohol though, which is an excellent way to make additional profit off each check.

How much can you charge customers?

Meals at family style restaurants are generally kept as affordable as possible. A single entree may cost between $12 and $18. Those that offer organic, farm-to-table options can charge between $20 to $30, depending on the type of food being offered. Specialty alcoholic drinks are generally sold at between $8 to $10 at family style restaurants.

How much profit can a family style restaurant make?

Profits are generally low. Assuming you make 2.5% profit per check, your profits will be $5,000 for every $100,000 worth of business you do. However, you will likely make enough to cover your costs (and your own yearly salary).

How can you make your business more profitable?

Owners can consider offering catering options for families and businesses who have special events. Owners can also consider participating in community events, or even opening up their own food truck with scaled-down offerings.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your family style restaurant is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services. You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

  • Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
  • Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

Federal Business Licensing Requirements

There are federal regulations regarding what can and cannot be added to, sold as, and processed with food. Attached is a resource from the Food and Drug Administration detailing the process of starting a food business: How to Start a Food Business

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a family style restaurant. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

A family style restaurant is generally run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a family style restaurant.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your family style restaurant will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Food Regulations

When selling food, you will need licensing from a local health department; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspections

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Family Style Restaurant needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Family Style Restaurant.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended: Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a family style restaurant

Restaurant owners can use social media, print, television, and radio ads to get the word out. Your goal is to show (and tell) customers that they can get their favorite comfort foods in a quality setting. If you choose to offer something slightly less conventional, your mission is still the same, but you can throw in a little more flair. Show your customers why you’re not just the standard casual restaurant, but how you can still accommodate the youngest members of the family. For example, you can show long, rustic wood tables where multiple families can sit and eat. It's a slightly more eclectic decor with the same vibe as a regular family style restaurant.

How to keep customers coming back

Customers will come back when they start to associate your restaurant with comfort and quality. Your ideal customer should be able to walk in on a Friday night to a bustling enterprise and see at least one or two people they already know (even if it’s just the wait staff). The most successful family style restaurants are ones that offer warmth and community every day of the year.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Owners should have a deep understanding and respect for what American families want today. They should also have a knack for bringing people together, and a desire to create a strong sense of community in the restaurant.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a family style restaurant?

An owner of a family style restaurant has the following responsibilities:

  • Managing employees
  • Checking/ordering supplies
  • Selecting menu items
  • Marketing/advertising
  • Performing quality control/safety inspections

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful family style restaurant?

The owner should have experience in the restaurant industry, preferably participating in operations management of a family style restaurant. It takes organizational skills to be able to keep everything in order, and people skills to let others help when they can.

What is the growth potential for a family style restaurant?

Restaurants like Applebee’s and Buca di Beppo grow because they serve good food in a clean, friendly setting for reasonable prices. Trendier places may be more fashionable, but they tend to attract a far more fickle crowd. A trendy restaurant will need constant innovation to hold customers’ attention, but a family style restaurant can grow big by delivering consistent quality to busy families.

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Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a family style restaurant?

Your budget is going to be extremely important—especially if you choose to franchise. You'll need to open in a fairly busy area of a city if you want to succeed, but it will cost you. A single TGI Friday’s can cost up to $6 million to get it up and running. The good news is that you’re already starting with a trusted name that needs very little outside advertising to get people to come try.

There are ways to keep your budget low if you know where to look. Small restaurants can be opened for as little as $13,000 with the right ingenuity. There is plenty of space available across the US that can be snapped up at a lower price. Used or leased equipment can cut costs down as well, as can buying the raw materials on your own (e.g., tile, wood, etc). Also, consider foregoing certain costs, like a fancy coffee maker or even a soda machine until you know you’ll definitely need them.

Ensure that you have kid-friendly choices on the menu, and don't skimp on the quality of these dishes. Children tend to adopt their favorites from a young age, and have an influence on where their parents take them. In addition, if you choose to open up a family style restaurant with large, sharable portions, remember that profits can be extremely small on these particular offerings. For example, a whole chicken generally takes a long time to cook, and yields very little in the way of profit margins. Many owners offer these dishes in hopes of hooking customers and creating a loyal clientele rather than making money (at least at first).

How and when to build a team

Family style restaurants rely on creating real relationships with their customers, so look for people who intend to invest in the restaurant, and who want to be an integral part of their neighbor’s lives. You’ll need to build a team as soon as possible to ensure your restaurant has a cohesive vibe.

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