Restaurant Opening Checklist with Timeline & Task Lists for Restaurant Startups & New Openings

This Timeline/Task list is used to successfully open all size and type restaurants including chains and franchises. It is a solid guide and will help keep you on track with a suggested timeline, tasks, and phases of your new restaurant opening.

This proven tool serves as a schedule, punch list, and calendar. It includes a six-month timeline with specific task lists to be completed prior to your restaurant opening. The actual full document contains more than 200 tasks to be completed. Some of the franchise-related tasks can be disregarded if you are a company-owned business.

The below document shows a sample portion of the Timeline/Task list with specific task lists recommended to be completed: 1) Six months prior to the restaurant opening and 2) Sixty days prior to the restaurant opening. This digital document can be customized and adjusted if your timeline is more or less aggressive than what is listed in this document.

Company and Franchise Initial Tasks

Task	Assigned To Person	Notes	Complete ( V )
Speak with a restaurant professional who specializes in openings to learn the costs and restaurant opening expectations
Prepare a budget
Qualify for franchise program (i.e. by completing applications, questionnaires, interviews, etc.)
Receive documents/agreements (i.e. UFOC, developmental/region, etc.)
Receive franchise ownership approval/acceptance based in qualifications/credentials
Sign documents/agreements & return to company
Render initial deposit
Receive site criteria info.
Receive company's standard architectural blueprints/plans
Submit appropriate info. for necessary checks (i.e. credit, background check, etc.)
Submit personal/business references
Begin site selection
Submit site locations to company for consideration
Conduct site analysis of potential locations to determine a healthy market/location
Schedule site evaluation with company

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60 Days Prior to Opening

Task	Assigned To Person	Notes	Complete (V )
Continue receiving bids from suppliers
Order supplies, small wares, products, services, & equip. that have a 45 day delivery window
Schedule & record ETA for deliveries on timeline for supplies/equip. deliveries
Receive furniture, fixtures, equip. supplies (have a crew on hand to help move items)
Record all received deliveries
Inventory all equip., supplies, & products ensuring all products are received (physically open containers)
Hold weekly meetings with mgmt. team/Chef to update them. Assign workable task lists to each person (while in training) by breaking down each area (i.e. lounge, kitchen, dining room, etc.) & departments (HR, Training, Marketing, etc.) of the restaurant.
Design marketing campaign/materials for print, radio, internet, etc (i.e. post cards, grand opening announcements). Confirm marketing vehicles & timeline.
Identify & prepare advertising media for crew hiring (flyers, newspaper, signs/banners). This will also serve to publicize the new restaurant opening.
Assign GM to report to new restaurant (45-60 days before Day One Training)
Determine estimated restaurant volume & begin sales/financial projections
Target a realistic opening date based on both the timeline to receive certifications, permits, permits, licenses, equip., & the construction progress.
Hire a maintenance person or retain an existing hourly employee for odds/ends, handy chores, & running errands
Assess individual training of Assist. Managers & assess training progress
Rent/Reserve a seminar facility if not all training will take place at the new location
Install/mount first aid kit(s)
Install/mount fire extinguishers
Arrange for restaurant cash handling (i.e. bank deposits, Wells Fargo/Brinks, credit cards, etc.)

See additional tasks with purchase

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*Downloadable Digital Materials: Our digital materials are formatted in MS Word. If needed, you can make changes to the forms. The forms can be printed straight from your computer.