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Burger Restaurant Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Hospitality, Travel & Tourism » Restaurant » Burger Restaurant

Are you about starting a burger restaurant? If YES, here’s a complete sample burger restaurant business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE to get started .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a burger restaurant. We have analyzed and drafted a sample burger restaurant marketing plan backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for burger restaurants. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

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Why Start a Burger Restaurant Business?

Generally, burger restaurants are chain and franchised restaurants that mainly sell burgers but may also sell alcoholic and other beverages. Burger restaurant formats range from fast-food to full-service. Right from the beginning, burgers have been a staple American snack.

Burger restaurants don’t need to make anything other than really good burgers and really good fries. They are quite easy to make and don’t take much time to get ready. All you need is meat, buns, and fresh ingredients and you can make a wonderful burger in minutes, while other restaurants may need several minutes to prepare and serve their dishes.

Within the years, burger restaurants have improved. The days of simple cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and ketchup has long gone.

The industry is currently relishing an era of gourmet burgers and endless flavour profiles. So, just because you’re running a burger restaurant doesn’t mean that your food should be plain or simple. Most burger places today offer special sauces, gourmet toppings, and unexpected combinations.

This is indeed a business you should consider if you’re looking to venture into the food industry. With a burger business, you don’t have to worry about limiting your market to only meat lovers as there are many excellent veggie patties hitting menus everywhere that will please any veggie-lover out there.

In this modern age, it is very common to see lamb burgers, pork burgers, and even bison burgers. People who don’t eat beef can try a juicy chicken burger; if you’re pescatarian, you’ll love a salmon burger. Irrespective of your dietary restriction, there is a burger that comfortably suits your appeal. Read on as we put together a sample business plan for a burger restaurant.

A Sample Burger Restaurant Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The burger industry of this modern era is nothing near the industry some two decades back. Hamburger franchises have spread across the united states and have continued to explore innovative ways to turn their customers into loyal burger-fanatics.

But when it comes to a good hamburger, Americans are known to be very careful and selective. A report has it that 75% of burger-lovers rank the quality of the meat as the first or second most important attribute to their burger. Second in line were toppings, ranked either first or second place by 42% of consumers.

Although the price and affordability of the burger is considered, high-quality ingredients are still very important in producing a successful burger business. Americans to a very large extent live on burgers and are known to go for the best.

Statistics show that nearly 80% of consumers eat at fast food restaurants at least once a month, and 34% of kids in the US eat fast food every day – and that’s not including the massive number of people eating at fast casual restaurants.

Burger in the United States is now seen a food that represents patriotism and festivity. They are always present at large family gatherings, particularly Fourth of July and Memorial Day celebrations. Given the timelessness of this All-American classic, it’s no wonder that the hamburger stands as one of the few “recession-proof” foods in the United States.

But note that with America’s fight against obesity, e-coli concerns, mad cow disease, and the recent go-green campaign, the burger industry has its own share of challenges and threats. Yet statistics has it that Americans tastes are becoming more diverse and varied.

Burger has always remained top in the minds of Americans, and the reason for this longevity is most times attributed to its widespread appeal. Burgers are affordable, portable, and customizable and they can be served gourmet-style or as a rustic yet classic go-to food.

2. Executive Summary

Star Burger will offer the people of San Diego an exciting menu of burgers, sandwiches, salads, desserts and coffee beverages. We plan to make use of a system that is entirely new to the industry to provide excellent services and products in a convenient and time-efficient way.

Star Burger will provide its customers with the opportunity to drive up and place their order of well-prepared burgers and sandwiches of different flavours and toppings. We also plan to offer our clients well blended lemonade, coffees, teas, and other custom drinks to go down with our unique burger and sandwiches. We will also offer soft drinks, fresh-baked pastries and other confections.

We at Star Burger plan to reach our targeted audience by deploying Drive-through facilities and Mobile Restaurants to satisfy the various urge of the people of San Diego, California. We believe that these facilities will be designed to manage the two-sided traffic and dispense customer-designed, specially ordered burgers and sandwiches in less time than when they visit other businesses.

Star Burger hopes to provide the people of San Diego with quality products and an extensive menu of delicious items, to make sure we get our customers’ loyalty, as well as good publicity coverage and media support.

We decided to become a Drive-through cafe between the mountains, attracting several million dollars through an initial public or private offering that would allow Star Burger to open fifteen to twenty facilities per year in all metropolitan communities in the North, Midwest, and South.

Star Burger will be registered as a Limited Liability Corporation, but all membership shares for now will be owned by Sampson and Nicky Shepard, and we also plan to leverage a portion of the shares to raise capital. Our plan at Star Burger is to sell 100 membership units to family members, friends, and angel investors.

Each membership unit at Star Burger is priced at $3,087 with a minimum of five units per membership certificate, or a minimum investment of $61,740 per investor. We have plans to ensure that irrespective of the amount of share units bought, Sampson and Nicky Shepard will maintain ownership of no less than 51% of Star Burger.

3. Our Products and Services

Star Burger is a San Diego burger and assorted sandwich restaurant serving during lunch time hour as well as early evening. We would operate weekdays from 9-7 pm. Our bread is chosen for several reasons: it is unique, healthy, and versatile.

We have prepared a menu that will give each customer the choice to enjoy our burgers and never get tired. We will attract 35% new customers a year after the second year and will reach profitability by the end of year two. Below are the products we plan to offer to our customers:

• Classic Gourmet Burgers: Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, and Onion
• BBQ Bacon Burgers: BBQ Sauce, Bacon, Cheese, and Grilled or Fried Onions
• California Burgers: All the Classic Toppings and Avocado
• Hawaiian-Inspired Burgers: Lettuce, Tomato, Pineapple, and Sautéed Mushrooms
• Savoury Veggie Burgers: Veggie Patty, Lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onions, & Sautéed Mushrooms
• Super Spicy Burgers: Spicy Beef, Spicy Mayo, Jalapeños, and Your Choice of Cheese
• Salmon Burgers
• Sandwiches with filling options: tofu pate, falafel, hummus, baba ganouj, tabouli, turkey, ham, chicken, pesto, assorted vegetables and assorted cheeses Drinks: lemonade, coffees, blended teas, and soft drinks

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Star Burger’s vision is to establish a restaurant that will provide unique and assorted services to the people of San Diego and the State of California.
• Our mission at Star Burger is to provide the finest, healthiest and best tasting burgers and sandwiches in San Diego. Star Burger will offer the finest customer service; no customer will leave dissatisfied.

Our Business Structure

We at Star Burger plan to establish a business structure that is transparent and simple, since most of our personnel will be involved in production and there will be a relatively low headcount in management. We plan to establish three functioning units within Star Burger: Production, Sales and Marketing, and General and Administrative.

Star Burger Production unit will involve our Customer Service Specialists, who will be taking care of our Drive-through and Mobile Restaurants and attending to the needs of our customers. Our Sales and Marketing will take care of the promotion and scheduling of the Mobile Restaurant, as well as the promotion of the Drive-through and the Community Contribution program.

General and Administrative will take care of the facilities, equipment, inventory, payroll, and other basic, operational processes. Due to our goal to establish a unique burger restaurant in the United States, we took our time to lay out the various roles of our employees and what we need, and they include;

Chief Executive Officer

• Chief operating officer
• Chief financial officer
• Chief information officer
• Director of marketing
• District and facilities managers

Customer Service Specialists

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counselling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results and developing incentives
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Tasked with fixing prices and signing business deals
• Tasked with providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Tasked with signing checks and documents on behalf of Star Burger
• Evaluates the success of the organization

Chief Operating officer

• Tasked with overseeing the smooth running of the business
• Part of the team that determines the quantity of products that are to be produced daily
• Make lists and budget for all supplies
• Oversee the entire business process
• Map out strategy that will lead to efficiency amongst workers
• Tasked with training, evaluation and assessment of the workforce
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Ensures that the bakery meets the expected safety and health standard at all times.

Chief Financial officer

• Tasked with preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports
• Tasked with financial forecasting and risks analysis
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
• Tasked with developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Tasked with administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization

Chief Information officer

• Provide technological guidance within an organization.
• Supervise information system and communications network.
• Develop and implement a customer service platform to serve the organization in every aspect.
• Design, establish, and maintain a network infrastructure for local and wide area connectivity and remote access.
• Participate in vendor contract negotiations for all new computer equipment and software purchased for the corporation.
• Create a cost-benefit analysis as well as supporting a detailed definition of data requirements and departmental workflows.
• Oversee Internet and computer operations.
• Takes care of the day-to-day operations of the information technology department including directing staff, who support administrative computing, networking, user services, telecommunications and other information technology functions.
• Propose hardware/software solutions to accomplish Star Burger’s business objectives.

Director of sales and marketing

• Takes care of external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Model demographic information and analyse the volumes of transactional data generated by customer purchases
• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for increasing sales
• Represents the Star Burger in strategic meetings
• Helps increase sales and growth for Star Burger

District and facilities manager

• Monitor the P&L reports for each store and develop effective ways to fill in any gaps between actual performance and Star Burger projections
• Prioritize store performance issues to make certain that the issues most directly affecting profitability are addressed first
• Immediately address any lapses in compliance with corporate policies or local, state and federal laws
• Act as a coach to the store managers and as a resource to each store employee to help inspire success
• Ensures that all contacts with customer (e-mail, walk-In centre, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with customers on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the Star Burger ’s products
• Takes care of administrative duties assigned by the store manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on Star Burger, promotional campaigns etc. to make sure accurate and helpful information is supplied to customers when they make enquiries.
• Tasked with cleaning the stand at all times
• Makes sure that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
• Any other duty as assigned by the CEO.

6. SWOT Analysis

Our goal at Star Burger is to create a unique restaurant that sees to the need of the people. We also decided to get our SWOT Analysis, which brings to light our strengths and threats in the industry. We at Star Burger hired a business consultant to do this analysis for us because we believe an external firm will not compromise the information and chances of Star Burger in the Industry.

We were able to note our business strengths, weakness, opportunities and also the threats that we are likely going to be exposed to in the industry and our business location. Clearly summarized below is the result of our SWOT Analysis;

Our detailed SWOT analysis has identified three keys that will be instrumental to our success at Star Burger. First and foremost, our design and implementation of strict financial controls, which will be very crucial, since the restaurant industry is quite competitive.

Secondly, we will be offering high-quality fresh and healthy food to clearly stand out from our competition in San Diego. We have already put in place effective, targeted marketing campaigns to support the opening of the restaurant.

Our weakness according to the SWOT analysis will be the time it will take the people of San Diego to know where we are and what we offer.

People go about their daily activities and most times tend not to discover the new business in town unless the business establishes a direct marketing Plan. We at Star Burger plan to start advertising even before we open up our shops, at least to make sure that our brand is known.

• Opportunities

Indeed the opportunities available to Star Burger are limitless. The food and restaurant industry is a recession-proof industry that will always keep growing because people will always want food as it helps keep us alive and sane. People may no always have the time to cook due to their schedule, and will always decide to grab a burger and a cup of lemonade or coffee on their way to work.

Our threat at Star Burger is the fact that we are competing with already established restaurants in San Diego, California, and also there are other entrepreneurs who are likely going to launch similar business within the location of our business.

But with our unique workforce and plans, we have all it takes to dominate the industry and take up enough market share.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trend

Burgers in this new age are indulgent and upscale with a variety of toppings, including goat cheese, truffle oil, foie gras, aolis, marmalades, sautéed spinach, havarti, candied bacon and other healthy and exotic toppings. Burger blends are all the rage extending beyond traditional chuck, to include short rib, brisket, oxtail, rib eye, flank and much more.

A report has it that 2018 is the year for everything from giant, premium burgers to sliders and mini-portions, from bold Mexican and Asian flavours to Korean, Greek, Cajun, and more. International flavours are hot and growing, and the burger is the perfect vehicle to test drive and transport many flavours.

Report also has it that restaurants are beefing up menu language to highlight protein grams and adding protein topper boosters such as pastrami, bacon and pepperoni, as well as including lettuce wrapped options to increase the protein to carb ratio.

In line with the trend for more protein, eggs are topping off many burgers for 2018. Also the largest age segment of the American population is driving burger trends now and certainly into the future with their desire for global flavours, snack-sized portions (sliders), and healthy options and toppings.

From emphasizing and bolstering “protein” on menus, consumer geared messaging is also focused on other health oriented topics and features, including grass fed, organic, natural, gluten free, naked (no bun), and more.

We at Star Burger plan to always work with customers on additional blends, which can include anything. Burger epitomizes the perfect vehicle to adapt to new trends and international flavours. As a business’s that wants to become a market leader in the United States, we will focus our energy at working with customers to develop new blends and visions

8. Our Target Market

Our plan at Star Burger is to focus on two different market audiences: Commuters and Captive Consumers. We have taken our time to strategically design our business to access both of these markets. Commuters are defined as any one or more individuals in a motorized vehicle traveling from point “A” to point “B.”

Star Burger’s greatest concentration will be on commuters heading to or from work, or those out on their lunch break. While our Captive Consumers market audience would include those who are tethered to a campus environment, or in a restricted entry environment that does not give the right to free movement.

This will include high school and college campuses, where there is limited time between classes, and corporate campuses where the same time constraints are involved like special events–such as carnivals, fairs or festivals–where there is an admission price to enter the gate, but exiting would mean another admission fee, or where refreshments are an integral part of the festivities.

Our target market at Star Burger will also be the mobile individual who has more money than time, and excellent taste in choice of food, but no time to prepare them.

Our competitive advantage

Our competitions at Star Burger exist in many forms. They include fast food that takes the form of the traditional restaurants like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s, as well as healthier alternatives like Subway . There are also three different delis located in San Diego that serve deli style sandwiches. These delis serve very basic, standard deli fare; generally sliced deli meats.

But we at Star Burger know that with the unique offerings we bring, we can dominate the market especially with a business that can provide a substantial value proposition where a customer does not have to find a parking place, exit the vehicle, stand in line to order, wait for the burger to be produced, pay a premium price for average product, find a place to sit, clean up the previous customer’s mess, then enjoy their lemonade or coffee… That’s if they have much time to spend.

Star Burger business concept is to establish a restaurant that gives a customer the opportunity to drive up, place the order, receive a high quality product at a competitive price, and drive away, without spending much time and energy. We at Star Burger plan to provide an important community value for patronizing our business.

For every purchase a customer makes from us, we plan to donate up to 6% of the sale to the local charity selected by the customer.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Star Burger is a new restaurant with a unique plan to achieve success and become an industry leader. That is why we will be providing our products in the most convenient and efficient way available–either at one of our two-sided Drive-through shops, or at one of our Mobile Restaurant.

This will give us an advantage over our competitors because customers won’t need to find a parking place, wait in a long line, jockey for a seat, and clean up the mess left by a previous patron. Our goal at Star Burger is to provide enough income to be able to run our business and still move on with our charity aspect. We plan to generate income by offering the following products to the people of San Diego:

10. Sales Forecast

Star Burger will open its doors for business by having two Drive-through locations in operation. We plan to open our first location in the second month of this plan and be fully operational beginning on the 1st day of November, and our second Drive-through will open six months later.

We will also add two more Drive-through locations in our second year and, and an additional seven Drive-through facilities in our third year. We at Star Burger plan to deploy one mobile unit in the fourth quarter of the first fiscal year. Deploy a second and a third mobile unit within our second fiscal year.

Using our detailed research and analysis, we expect to boost revenue from the commerce portion of our website, where it will sell Star Burger t-shirts, sweatshirts, insulated lemonade mugs, pre-packaged coffee beans, and other premium items. Although we are not expecting this to be a significant profit centre immediately, but it is a major part of the marketing plan.

We at Star Burger estimate that our total first year sales should reach $399,678. Our second year will see sales increase to $1,085,430. The third year, with the addition of such a significant number of outlets, we will see sales increase to $3,765,215.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

With so many burger franchises and independent restaurants already open, marketing is one of the most important aspects of opening a burger restaurant. We at Star Burger understand this, which is why we will be placing our Drive-through stands in business locations of very high visibility and great ease of access.

Our Restaurants and stands will be located on high traffic commuter routes and close to shopping facilities so as to attract customers going to or from work, or while they are out for lunch, or on a shopping expedition. Our Drive-through will be very simple, astounding, and eye-catching.

We also plan to implement a low cost advertising/promotion campaign which could involve drive-time radio, but not much more. Star Burger will also establish good business relationships with schools, charities and corporations to provide significant free publicity because of our community support program.

We believe that if we give out charitable contributions to these institutions, they will get the word out to their students/faculty/employees/partners about Star Burger.

We also plan to leverage the use of word of mouth advertising method, which is the greatest advertising program any business organisation can use. The media in San Diego will be more than willing to promote the charitable parts of Star Burger and give us the opportunity for more exposure each moment Star Burger contributes to charity.

The internet is a powerful marketing tool we at Star Burger cannot afford to overlook. We plan to create an optimized website to capture local searches and also establish a strong social media presence to easily boost sales. When we first open, we plan to create a local press release, run grand opening specials to draw in potential customers, and even invite local food bloggers to come try a free meal in exchange for a review.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Our plan at Star Burger is to gather enough brand awareness to leverage the product line into other regions and gain inquiries from potential inventors. To achieve this goal, we plan to do the following;

• Star Burger will spend $1,200 per month on public relations services for the next year. We intended to build awareness and carry out product information insertions, reviews, etc. We believe that a school fundraising program or our other charity programs will generate a fair amount of publicity on its own and will, perhaps, minimize–or even eliminate–the need for a publicist.
• Star Burger will also spend $800 per month concentrating on drive time Radio advertising. We plan to experiment with different stations, keeping careful track of results. As with the school fundraising program, we expect the stand and signage to be a substantial portion of our advertising.
• List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

12. Our Pricing Strategy

We haven’t gone back on our promise to leave no stone unturned in our quest to achieve our business goal. We at Star Burger have put plans in place to boost our income, which may include posting specials on high-profit items at the drive-up window.

We also plan to give out free burger coupons to those who have purchased a certain number of burgers or something similar.

Our management have been able to develop window sales techniques such as our sellers asking if the customer would like a new flavour or toppings with any drink of their choice. We believe that our pricing will be comparable to the competition in the market, but with the value-added feature of immediate, drive-through service and convenience.

• Payment Options

Our payment options at Star Burger will be all inclusive and acceptable because we understand that different people prefer different payment options. Here are the payment options that we will make available to our clients;

• Payment by cash
• Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
• Payment via online bank transfer (online payment portal)
• Payment via Mobile money

We have also chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans with little or no issues. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for our service.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

First and foremost, many factors in our modern America will decide the amount we will need to successfully launch Star Burger. These factors may include our location, the size of the business we want to start i.e. the number of outlets/stands et al, and of course the state of the economy as at when we intend starting the business.

We at Star Burger have conducted an extensive research and have come up with how we intend to spend our startup capital, and they include;

• The Fee for registering the business in the United States – $750
• The budget for legal fees, insurance, permits and license – $30, 000
• The amount needed to build a two standard shop and renovation of the facility inclusive – $60,000
• The Cost for the purchase of kitchen / production equipment and gadgets (industrial ovens, fridges, smoke detector, TVs, microwave oven, mugs, Foils, Sound System, tables and chairs et al) – $25,000
• The Cost for supply of bread and other inventories for a month – $120,000
• The Cost of Launching a Website – $600
• The cost opening party – $5,000
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $100,000

Going by the report from our research and feasibility studies, we will need an average of $350,000 to start Star Burger.

• Generating Startup Capital for Star Burger

Star Burger will be established as a Limited Liability Company with Sampson and Nicky Shepard as its owners. This couple has a combined 25 years’ experience in the food and burger industry, and they hope to build a successful business. We hope to raise our startup fund through the following ways;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sell of stocks
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Generate fund from Angel Investors

Note : We have been able to raise $200,000 from the personal savings of our founders and we are almost at the verge of completing the money needed as capital from a reliable Angel investor with an eye for startup businesses.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

We at Star Burger believe that as time and seasons change, we will be offering products that will enhance sales and satisfy our customers’ desires. We also plan that during summer months, we will subsidize frozen drinks like lemonade, as well as soft drinks, and other cold beverages.

We at Star Burger have taken our time to research our local regulatory agencies and what licenses we need. These requirements we believe will vary by location, but we have a strong relationship through Mr. Sampson Shepard with the state chamber of commerce and health department and we plan to stay on the right side of the law.

We have put plans in place to get our business license, which legally allows us to make sales and collect sales tax, and a food handling certification, which we have acquired. We have also obtained the needed permits for construction and we are also expecting an inspection from the health department.

We at Star Burger also understand the importance of insurance for our business. We have contracted an insurance lawyer to help us get property insurance, which will help protect our building and surrounding property, providing coverage for fire, hail, or accidental damage.

We expect this type of policy to cover expensive commercial kitchen equipment , so we will be able to replace pieces damaged under covered circumstances.

We also plan to obtain liability insurance, as it covers legal fees and any damages that may be awarded as a result of a legal action against our business from any accidents or injuries. We will also offer worker’s compensation insurance to provide peace of mind to both the management and our employees, as it helps cover medical bills that may arise from employee injuries.

Our Drive-through stands will be manufactured by Lintel Construction. Our Mobile Restaurant and equipment will be supplied by Guarantee Savage.  Star Burger computer equipment and Internet connectivity will be provided by Nicklaus Communications.

Checklist/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Leasing, renovating and equipping our facility: Completed
• Generating part of the startup capital from the founder: Completed
• Applications for Loan from our Bankers: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging and Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed software applications, furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress

Burger Restaurant Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Writing a Successful Business Plan For Your Burger Restaurant Business + Template

If you’re looking to start or grow a burger restaurant business, you need a business plan. Your plan will outline your business goals and strategies, and how you plan on achieving them. It will also detail the amount of funding you need, and if needed, present a case to investors and lenders regarding why they should invest in your business.

In this article, we’ll explain why you should invest the time and energy into creating a burger restaurant business plan, and provide you with a burger restaurant business plan template that includes an overview of what should be included in each section.

Download the Ultimate Burger Restaurant Business Plan Template here >

Why Write a Business Plan For a Burger Restaurant Business?

There are many reasons to write a business plan for a burger restaurant company, even if you’re not looking for funding. A business plan can help you see potential pitfalls in your business strategy, as well as identify opportunities you may not have considered. It can also help you track your progress and adjust your plans as needed.

That said, if you are looking for funding, a business plan is essential. Investors and lenders want to see that you have a solid understanding of your industry, your customers, and your competition. They also want to know that you have a realistic view of your financial situation and how much money you’ll need to get started.

How To Write a Business Plan For a Burger Restaurant Business

While every business plan is different, there are 10 essential components that all burger restaurant business plans should include:

Executive Summary

Company description, industry analysis, customer analysis, competitor analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, financial plan.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to tailor this information to your specific type of burger restaurant business, but these 10 components should be included in every plan.

The executive summary is the first section of your business plan, but it’s often written last. This is because it provides an overview of the entire document.

In the executive summary, briefly explain what your business does, your business goals, and how you plan on achieving them. You should also include a brief overview of your financial situation, including how much money you’ll need to get started.

The next section of your burger restaurant business plan is the company description, where you’ll provide an overview of your business.

Include information about your:

• Company Overview
• Success Factors & Accomplishments To Date
• How & When Incorporated

With regards to the company overview, here you will document the type of burger restaurant company you operate. For example, a burger restaurant company description might look something like this:

At GrillMaster Burgers & Brews, our menu is designed with every palate in mind. From our classic cheeseburger that sets the standard for what a burger should be, to our veggie burger that offers a delicious alternative for our non-meat-eating friends, we’ve got something for everyone. Our chicken sandwich is a hit among those who prefer poultry, and our sides do not disappoint either. Our French fries are the perfect crispy companion to any meal, and our milkshakes provide a sweet ending or a delightful treat on their own. Each dish is crafted with care, using only the finest ingredients to ensure every bite is as satisfying as the last.

Located in the heart of Lawrence, KS, GrillMaster Burgers & Brews is more than just a restaurant; it’s a destination for burger enthusiasts and casual diners alike. Our prime location not only makes us accessible to locals but also places us on the map for visitors looking for an exceptional burger experience.

Our confidence in our success is not unfounded. GrillMaster Burgers & Brews stands out from the competition for several reasons. Firstly, our founder brings invaluable experience from previously running a successful burger restaurant, ensuring that our operations are smooth and customer-focused. Moreover, we don’t just make burgers; we elevate them. Our commitment to quality, variety, and innovation in our burger offerings places us a cut above the rest.

This is just an example, but your company description should give potential investors a clear idea of who you are, what you do, and why you’re the best at what you do.

The next section of your business plan is the industry analysis. In this section, you’ll need to provide an overview of the industry you’re in, as well as any trends or changes that might impact your business.

Questions you will want to answer include:

• What is the overall size of the burger restaurant industry?
• How is the industry growing or changing?
• What are the major trends affecting the burger restaurant industry?

For example, your industry analysis might look something like this:

One of the key trends in the Burger Restaurant industry is the increasing emphasis on quality ingredients and customization options. Consumers are becoming more conscious about their food choices and are seeking out restaurants that offer fresh, locally sourced ingredients and customizable menu items. This trend bodes well for GrillMaster Burgers & Brews, as the restaurant prides itself on using high-quality ingredients and allowing customers to build their own burgers with a variety of toppings and sauces.

This is just an example, but your industry analysis should give potential investors a clear idea of the overall industry, and how your company fits into that industry.

The next section of your burger restaurant business plan is the customer analysis. In this section, you’ll need to provide an overview of who your target customers are and what their needs are.

• Who are your target customers?
• What are their needs?
• How do they interact with your industry?
• How do they make purchasing decisions?

You want a thorough understanding of your target customers to provide them with the best possible products and/or services. Oftentimes, you will want to include the specific demographics of your target market, such as age, gender, income, etc., but you’ll also want to highlight the psychographics, such as their interests, lifestyles, and values.

This information will help you better understand your target market and how to reach them.

For example, your customer analysis might look something like this:

In summary, your customer analysis should give potential investors a clear idea of who your target market is and how you reach them.

The next section of your business plan is the competitor analysis. In this section, you’ll need to provide an overview of who your major competitors are and their strengths and weaknesses.

• Who are your major competitors?
• What are their strengths and weaknesses?
• How do they compare to you?

You want to make sure that you have a clear understanding of your competition so that you can position yourself in the market. Creating a SWOT Analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) for each of your major competitors helps you do this. 

For example, your competitor analysis might look something like this:

The Burger Stand offers a wide range of gourmet burgers, hot dogs, and fries. They also provide a selection of craft beers and milkshakes. Their price points typically range from $10 to $15 for a meal. The Burger Stand generates significant revenue due to its strong brand presence and popularity. They have locations in Lawrence, KS, and other nearby cities. Their customer segments include college students, young professionals, and families. Geographically, they serve primarily urban and suburban areas. Key strengths include a diverse menu and a strong emphasis on quality ingredients. A potential weakness is their higher price point compared to standard fast-food options.

Dempsey’s Burger Pub specializes in gourmet burgers, sandwiches, and craft beers. They also offer appetizers, salads, and desserts. Their price points are in the range of $9 to $14 for most items. Dempsey’s Burger Pub has built a loyal customer base, contributing to their steady revenue. Their primary location is in Lawrence, KS, with a few other establishments in the region. Their customer segments are diverse, including college students, local residents, and visitors. They predominantly serve the local and regional market. Key strengths include a cozy pub atmosphere and a strong reputation for quality. A potential weakness could be limited seating capacity during peak hours.

Your competitor analysis should give potential lenders and investors a clear idea of who your major competitors are and how you compare to them.

The next section of your business plan is the marketing plan. In this section, you’ll need to provide an overview of your marketing strategy and how you plan on executing it.

Specifically, you will document your “4 Ps” as follows:

• Products/Services : Here is where you’ll document your product/service offerings.
• Price : Detail your pricing strategy here.
• Place : Document where customers will find you and whether you will use distribution channels (e.g., partnerships) to reach them.
• Promotion : Here you will document how you will reach your target customers. For instance, burger restaurant businesses often reach new customers via promotional tactics including advertising and online marketing.

For example, your marketing plan might look something like this:

Products, Services & Pricing

GrillMaster Burgers & Brews offers a variety of delicious products and services that cater to a diverse range of tastes. One of the key offerings is the Classic Cheeseburger, which features a perfectly cooked beef patty topped with melted cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato, and their signature sauce. Customers can enjoy this mouthwatering staple for an average price of $9.99. This burger stands out for its high-quality ingredients and exceptional flavor profile, making it a must-try for burger enthusiasts.

For those who prefer plant-based options, the Veggie Burger is a fantastic choice. This burger is crafted with a hearty, flavorful veggie patty, complemented by fresh vegetables and a special sauce. It is priced at approximately $10.49, reflecting the care taken to provide a satisfying and healthy alternative to traditional meat burgers. The Veggie Burger appeals to vegetarians and health-conscious diners alike.

The Chicken Sandwich also makes a strong impression on the menu. Featuring a tender, juicy chicken breast that is either grilled or fried to perfection, this sandwich is enhanced with crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and a tangy sauce. This popular item is offered at an average price of $8.99. Its versatility and delicious taste make it a favorite among customers who enjoy poultry-based dishes.

No burger meal is complete without a side of French Fries. GrillMaster Burgers & Brews serves up golden, crispy fries that are seasoned just right. A side of French Fries comes in at an average price of $2.99, making it an affordable and essential addition to any meal. These fries are known for their perfect balance of crunch and flavor, providing a satisfying accompaniment to any of the main dishes.

To round out the dining experience, GrillMaster offers a selection of Milkshakes. These creamy, indulgent treats are available in a variety of classic flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Each milkshake is priced at around $4.99, providing a sweet and refreshing way to end a meal. The milkshakes are crafted with high-quality ingredients, ensuring a rich and enjoyable taste in every sip.

Overall, GrillMaster Burgers & Brews provides a well-rounded menu that caters to a variety of preferences and dietary needs. The combination of high-quality ingredients, flavorful recipes, and reasonable prices ensures a satisfying dining experience for all customers.

Promotions Plan

We will employ a variety of promotional methods and tactics to attract customers and establish a strong presence in Lawrence, KS. One of our key strategies will be Online Marketing. We will leverage social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to engage with our audience, share mouth-watering photos of our burgers, and announce special promotions. Additionally, we will create a user-friendly website that features our menu, location, and an option for online ordering.

We will also utilize Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to ensure our website ranks high in search engine results, making it easier for potential customers to find us. Email marketing campaigns will be another essential tool; we will collect email addresses through our website and in-store promotions to send out newsletters, special offers, and updates.

Furthermore, we will engage in local partnerships and sponsorships. Collaborating with local businesses, schools, and community events will help us build a strong local presence and attract customers who might not yet be familiar with us. In-store promotions, such as “buy one, get one free” deals or special discounts for students and first responders, will also be part of our strategy to draw in customers.

We will not overlook the power of word-of-mouth marketing. Encouraging satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Yelp and Google Reviews will help us build a reputable brand. Additionally, we will implement a loyalty program to reward repeat customers and incentivize them to refer friends and family.

As you can see, your marketing plan should give potential investors a clear idea of your marketing objectives, strategies, and tactics.

The next section of your business plan is the operations plan. In this section, you’ll need to provide an overview of your company’s day-to-day operations and how they will be structured.

• What are your company’s daily operations?
• How are your company’s operations structured?

Your operations plan should be detailed and concise. You want to make sure that potential investors have a clear understanding of your company’s day-to-day operations and how they are structured.

You will also include information regarding your long-term goals for your operations and how you plan on achieving them.

For example, your operations plan might look something like this:

Key Operational Processes

To ensure the success of GrillMaster Burgers & Brews, there are several key day-to-day operational processes that we will perform:

• Monitor and track inventory levels daily to ensure adequate supply of ingredients and beverages.
• Place orders with suppliers regularly to replenish stock and avoid shortages.
• Perform regular inventory audits to minimize waste and manage costs.
• Schedule staff shifts to ensure optimal staffing levels during peak hours.
• Provide ongoing training and development to ensure high service standards.
• Conduct daily briefings to update staff on any new policies, promotions, or menu changes.
• Greet and seat customers promptly upon arrival.
• Ensure that orders are taken accurately and delivered in a timely manner.
• Address customer complaints and feedback effectively to maintain satisfaction.
• Follow standardized recipes to ensure consistency in food quality and taste.
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the kitchen and food preparation areas.
• Perform regular quality checks on ingredients and finished dishes.
• Develop and implement daily and weekly specials to attract and retain customers.
• Utilize social media platforms to engage with the local community and promote the restaurant.
• Coordinate with local events and groups to host special events or offers.
• Track daily sales and expenses to monitor financial performance.
• Prepare daily cash flow reports and ensure accurate record-keeping.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising on quality or service.
• Ensure that the restaurant interior and exterior are clean and well-maintained.
• Regularly inspect equipment and schedule necessary repairs or replacements.

Your operations plan should give readers a clear idea of your company’s day-to-day operations, how they are structured, and your long-term goals for the company.

The next section of your business plan is the management team. In this section, you’ll need to provide an overview of your management team and their experience.

• Who is on your management team?
• What are their qualifications?
• What is their experience?

Your management team ideally includes individuals who are experts in their respective fields. You want to make sure that lenders and investors have a clear understanding of your management team’s qualifications and experience, and feel they can execute on your plan.

For example, your management team might look something like this:

Liam Hernandez, CEO

Your management team should give potential lenders and investors a clear idea of who is on your team and how their qualifications and experience will help your company succeed.

The final core section of your business plan is the financial plan. In this section, you’ll need to provide an overview of your company’s financials.

• What are your company’s projected revenues?
• What are your company’s projected expenses?
• What is your company’s projected growth rate?
• How much funding do you need and for what purposes? 

Your financial plan should give potential investors a clear understanding of your company’s financials. While you may include a summary of this information in this section, you will include full financial statements in the appendix of your business plan.

For example, your financial plan might look something like this:

This is just an example, but your financial plan should give potential investors a clear idea of your company’s financial projections.

Below is a summary of your financial projections. If/when you change the Revenue Assumptions, Cost Assumptions, and/or Other Assumptions, the results below will change.

The final section of your business plan is the appendix. In this section, you’ll need to provide any additional information that was not included in the previous sections.

This may include items such as:

• Full financial statements
• Resumes of key management team members
• Letters of reference
• Articles or press releases
• Marketing materials
• Product information
• Any other relevant information

By including this information in the appendix, you are allowing potential investors and lenders to learn more about your company.

In summary, writing a burger restaurant business plan is a vital step in the process of starting and/or growing your own business.

A business plan will give you a roadmap to follow. It can also help you attract investors and partners.

By following the tips outlined in this article, you can be sure that your business plan will be effective and help you achieve your goals.  

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Burger Restaurant Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their burger restaurants.

In this article, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a burger restaurant business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Burger Restaurant Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your burger restaurant as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Burger Restaurant Business Plan

If you’re looking to start a burger restaurant or grow your existing burger restaurant company, you need a business plan.  A solid business plan will help guide your business strategy, your investment strategy and your decision-making. It will also help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your burger restaurant to improve your chances of success. Your burger restaurant business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Burger Restaurants

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a burger restaurants are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for burger restaurant companies.

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How to write a business plan for a burger restaurant business.

If you want to start a burger restaurant business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. A strong burger restaurant business plan should include the following 10 sections:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of burger restaurant business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a burger restaurant that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of burger restaurants?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the burger restaurant industry.
• Discuss the type of burger restaurant business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of burger restaurant you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of burger restaurants:

• Fast Food Chains : These restaurants offer quick service and standardized menu items, often featuring drive-thru options.
• Fast Casual : These establishments offer higher-quality ingredients and a more upscale dining experience than traditional fast food. They often provide customizable options and a more relaxed atmosphere.
• Gourmet Burger Restaurants : These restaurants focus on premium ingredients, unique flavor combinations, and often provide a more refined dining experience. They might offer specialty burgers, craft beers, and artisanal sides.
• Diner-Style Burgers : These are typically found in classic American diners, offering a nostalgic atmosphere with burgers cooked on a griddle, often served with milkshakes and fries.
• Burger Food Trucks : These mobile establishments offer a variety of creative and gourmet burger options, often featuring locally sourced ingredients and unique recipes.
• Plant-Based/Vegan Burger Restaurants : These establishments specialize in plant-based burgers made from ingredients like beans, lentils, and other meat substitutes.

In addition to explaining the type of burger restaurant you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, reaching X number of burgers served, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the burger restaurant industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the burger restaurant industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your burger restaurant business plan:

• How big is the burger restaurant industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your burger restaurant business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your burger restaurant business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, families, and businesses.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of burger restaurant you operate. Clearly, older individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than families, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. Consider the specific demographics of target customers, including a discussion of the ages, occupations, locations and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other burger restaurant businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes other types of sandwich shops, other restaurants, or meals cooked at home. You need to mention such competition, as well.

For each direct competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of sides and options do they serve?
• What type of burger restaurant are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide vegan options?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a burger restaurant business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of burger restaurant company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide gourmet burgers, smash burgers, or made to order burgers, and sides such as fries and milkshakes?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially, in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your burger restaurant. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your burger restaurant located in a busy retail district, a business district, or is it a food truck? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your burger restaurant marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows:

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your burger restaurant business, including taking orders, preparing food, waiting tables, cleaning, ordering supplies, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to sell your Xth burger, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to open a burger restaurant in a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your burger restaurant business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing burger restaurant businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise.  Also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who act as mentors to your business. They  help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing or running a restaurant.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you serve 100 burgers per day, and will you offer other entrée options? And, will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to ground your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your burger restaurant business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather, it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately; that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit, but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets, be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a burger restaurant:

• Cost of equipment, ingredients, and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and point of sale systems

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your restaurant location lease or a detailed menu.

Putting together a business plan for your burger restaurant will improve your company’s chances of success. The process of developing your plan will help you better understand the burger restaurant market, your competition, and your customers. You will also gain a marketing plan to better attract and serve customers, an operations plan to focus your efforts, and financial projections that give you goals to strive for and keep your company focused.

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How to Start Your Own Burger Joint (The Cheap Way)

Want to open a burger joint on a budget? I’m here to help you take a bite out of this $100 billion dollar industry . In the US, there are nearly 50,000 burger joints nationwide.

If you want to start a burger joint without risking your entire life savings, continue reading as I explain the steps you’ll need to open.

Write Your Burger Business Plan

Want to sell burgers?

A business plan is the most important thing you need to work on before proceeding with the rest. Remember, a business plan is the heart of your business, and all your decisions should be backed data gathered in the plan. Do your research and be as detailed as possible.

Prepare an executive summary of what your business will be about. This part is where you introduce your business to potential investors so you need to include some basic information about the business. Next is your marketing plan. Let your investors know how you plan to market the business and compete with the already established brands. Aside from your marketing plan, you need to give an overview of your operating plan – how you plan to work with your staff to ensure that the burger joint will be up and running and that you are meeting the needs and wants of your customers.

Any business will need financial analysis. This is extremely important because in this part, you will explain how you will go about financing all the expenses to keep your business running. Explain in detail all the materials and products that need to be bought and taken care of, as well as how much you will be allotting for staff’s salary, and how much you need to sell to get back your profit.

Write a SWOT analysis so you know what to expect in terms of your business’ weaknesses, threats, and how you can maximize the strengths and opportunities to ensure it will turn out to be a success.  

How Much Can You Make with a Burger Joint?

You can expect to make $1,000 – $10,000 per day in gross sales operating a burger joint. The typical burger joint will bring in anywhere from $200,000 – $1.5 million in gross revenues. The gross revenue numbers will be determined by the number of customers you can bring in and how fast you can crank out patties. The establishments that hit the upper range of sales are usually franchise burger joints that have optimized their cooking and serving process.

Before you open a burger joint, I recommend working backwards and figuring out how many sales you’d need per day to make the venture worth the investment. I also want you to consider whether or not that number is feasible. Sure… I’d love to sell 10,000 burgers in a day, but the reality is that volume isn’t going to be possible in a small business.

Take a look at how much my friends burger joint Ancho Honey makes per unit: 

• Burger patty: $1.30
• Seeded Brioche Bun: $0.68
• 2 Slices of American Cheese: $0.22
• Caramelized onion, lettuce, tomato, burger sauce: $0.50 (approx.)

Total Cost Per Burger: $2.70

Menu Price:  $8.00

As you can see, if you were able to sell 200 burgers per day, you could generate $1,600 in gross sales and $1,060 in gross profit before expenses like labor, insurance, and rent. Keep in mind that most burger joints will boost their profits further by offering a side of French fries or a soft drink with every burger you sell. Adding a few appetizers or desserts like milkshakes is another smart option to boost average order values.

Burger to go.

The success of a burger joint isn’t solely dependent on good cooking. It’s a combination of different factors such as great location, quality service, outstanding marketing, and creativity.  

How Much Will It Cost To Open A Burger Joint?

Like any other business, opening a burger joint will cost you big bucks. Renting a space, purchasing furniture and kitchen needs, stocking burger ingredients, and putting your plans to life are just some of the things that are included in your list of total expenses when opening your burger joint.

Commercial space – If you don’t have your own space, you’re most likely to rent or buy one in order to open your business. Depending on the location and its proximity to the bus stop, train station, schools, and other important points, it can go up, or way higher. For example in Los Angeles, the average rent is $2.95 per square foot. So, for 2,000-square foot space, expect to pay up to $5,900 every month. Don’t forget that if you’re renting, you most likely have to pay a deposit the value of a three to six months lease. Keep in mind that lease payments vary significantly depending on region.

Related Reading: 201 Burger Slogans and Caption Ideas Perfect for Social Media Marketing 

Renovations and décor – Beautifying your place is going to cost you a lot but you can save by choosing less expensive materials. Depending on your burger joint’s concept, you can also save on décor by going for a minimalist design with less extravagant design pieces to fill up your space. Redoing the wall paint, tiles, and windows can go from $5,000 to more than $50,000.

Another way to save money on renovations is going for essentials only. Maybe you want to add a TV in your burger joint, but that can wait. Focus on what’s important and do the rest when there’s extra money. You can also save money by looking for a property that is already built for a food business. This way, having features like a customized kitchen can save you dollars instead of buying one that can cost as much as $250,000.

Hey ma! Look what I made.

Obtaining license and permits – Before you can get your business going, you must obtain legal permits and licenses. The costs of permits and licenses differ depending on what state you’re in but usually, it is between $50 to $100.

Ordering and payment technology (POS systems) – Keep track of orders, inventory, and payment by getting a Point-of-Sale (POS) system or something similar that costs about $20,000.

Signage and advertising – Once your burger joint is up, you’d want to make a splash and have signage and advertising materials to let everyone know your business is open. These things usually cost around $20,000 to $30,000.

Utilities – To keep your business open, you have to pay for utilities such as electricity, water, phone, and internet connection. You would be looking to pay $2,500 a month for these.

Food and beverage supply – The cost for food and beverage would depend on what you would be selling to your customers. Finding a local supplier that sells fresh ingredients can save you money since you will be going back and forth, buying from them almost every month, or depending on how often you need to restock your supply.

Burger Menu: What Type Of Burgers Work Best?

Whether you’re opting for a big, fatty burger or looking to offer vegan burgers, it all depends on your target market. Who do you want to attract? Do you want to go with the average target market of people who love big, fatty burgers, or do you want a more exclusive audience of healthy eating people who watch what they eat?

Both the big, fatty burgers and vegan burgers have their own target market. It’s up to you to decide what market you’re willing to go for. If you want to compete with McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s, then you have to make sure you are offering more than the usual big, juicy burgers they are already offering the market.

Related Reading: 250+ Creative Burger Shop Business Names

What’s great about vegan burgers is that there aren’t a lot of burger joints that offer them. This can be a good selling point especially since you also have an exclusive market to sell to. Either way, researching the types of burgers you will offer starts with knowing what your competitors are selling. What can you improve and what else is missing?

Start from there and work towards creating different burger types that you know will suit your market, whether it’s for the average people who love greasy, juicy burgers or the health-conscious, vegan lovers who are looking for better options for their lifestyle choice.

Get Your Ingredients, Supplies, and Equipment

Sourcing for ingredients, supplies, and equipment means doing a lot of research on good and efficient suppliers in the market. Allot time to go around and check out suppliers that can give you a good deal instead of rushing to purchase everything you need last minute.

Outside the Krush Burger truck.

Work in a timeline so you have a better idea of when everything must be set and final. Ask other business owners for tips or recommendations for markets and suppliers where you can save money without sacrificing quality and service. It’s okay to go back and forth and spend time meeting with distributors so know you’re paying for quality and won’t have any regrets in the future.

Because you are opening a restaurant, your main priority should be ensuring you are using quality ingredients not just for your customers but for your reputation as well. It is always best to buy ingredients in bulk to save money but avoid overbuying things and have ingredients spoiling by having an organized list of things you need for a specific time frame.

When it comes to equipment, purchase first those that are essential to keep your restaurant going. Anything extra can be bought later on. Invest in good equipment to avoid repairs or replacements in the future.

Find A Restaurant Location

Location is key to the success of your business. You need to find one where there is good foot traffic, at the same time, it should not be buried in a sea of competitors that are already serving the market. What you don’t want to happen is squeezing your burger joint in a busy business street where there are four to five other burger joints in place.

Depending on your location, some places cost more than others but you have to remember that you can always adjust your budget on some other things. A location for your business should be under the list of non-negotiables.

Franchise or Independent Restaurant? If you can’t decide whether to open a franchise or independent restaurant, know that the different risks and potential rewards vary. Although one is not proven to be more successful than the other, it all depends on how much control and freedom you want to have while running your restaurant business.

It boils down to the type of owner you are, what sacrifices you are willing to take and how much work you’re willing to fork out to make your business a success. Keep in mind that the possibility of failure whether it’s a franchise or independent restaurant is prevalent either way. But deciding which type of ownership you choose can give you better chances of success along the way.

Independent Ownership As an independent restaurant owner, all responsibilities fall on you. Your decision on all things about the restaurant can make or break your business. You may consider being an independent restaurant owner if you have researched everything you need about the concept of your business, you don’t want to undergo the tedious approval process, and you want to grow a brand of your own starting from scratch.

Franchise Ownership If you are buying a franchise restaurant, you are handed over a business that’s already proven to work. From branding to marketing, most of these franchise businesses have everything set and planned for you. Consider a franchise restaurant if you don’t mind waiting for franchise approval, corporate scandals that involve big franchise businesses, and want the branding, marketing, and reputation of the business to be set beforehand.  

Burger Truck or Restaurant?

Opting to open a burger truck will obviously cost you less than opening a restaurant, given that renting a bigger space is equivalent to spending more money. Obviously, there are pros and cons in choosing a truck over a restaurant and if you originally wanted to open a restaurant, downsizing to a burger truck can be difficult to accept. However, there are some good benefits to opting for a burger truck!

Ever consider a burger bus?

Operating a burger truck means you will need less staff to work for you because there will be limited space in your work area. This also means you have to pay fewer people, too! Some of the usual restaurant materials such as tables and chairs will also be out of the list as customers will only be getting their orders for take-out.

If you really want to open a burger joint but are not willing to spend too much money, I say go for the burger truck because either way, you will still be selling burgers! With a truck, you can also stay at a certain location for days, and drive out to a different one. All you have to do is ensure that your marketing plan will highlight the pros of having a burger truck where you can park and go anytime, anywhere!    

The Dining Area and Drive-Thru

Pre-pandemic, we are all about dining in and enjoying food outside of our homes. As the world adjusts to the pandemic, we realized the convenience of drive-thru and how it became the new norm not just in the fast-food industry, but independent restaurants have started setting up drive-thru areas as well. A report by Bluedot stated that three in four Americans are visiting drive-thrus more often than before the pandemic started.

If you can’t decide whether to have a drive-thru area for your burger joint, you might want to consider the following things:

Convenience – Drive-thrus are very convenient for the customers. They order, pay, and get their food without having to leave their cars, all completed within a span of a few minutes.

Increase capacity – Dining areas have limited capacity and although you can have a waiting area for customers, not everyone is willing to wait long lines just to dine in. Having a drive-thru area allows for customers to continuously line up, get served their food immediately.

Revenue stream – A drive-thru system is an added revenue stream for your business no matter how you look at it. As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to make more money, and with a drive-thru system in place, it will always be a good choice.  

Raising Money

Deciding to start or continue a business requires a chunk of money whether it’s a franchise or independent restaurant. If you think your budget is still lacking, here are some ways you can raise money to keep your restaurant growing.

Crowdfunding – GoFundMe is a popular crowdfunding website that is used by entrepreneurs, investors, and the general public. It is easy to operate and adding a nice description of what your business idea is or how the money can help grow your business, you can reach out to people worldwide and help raise money. You can also ask friends and family to help raise awareness of your crowdfunding efforts.

Related Reading: 57 Critical Fast Food Industry Statistics and Trends

Venture Capitalists – Venture capitalists are professionals who provide financial support to start-ups and emerging companies that show high potential for growth. Just keep in mind that venture capitalists provide financial help with high rates of return instead of taking a share of your company or business.

Angel Investors – Here’s a favorable option to raise money for your burger joint. Angel investors, those who helped in funding Google and Yahoo, provide capital for start-ups in exchange for ownership equity or convertible debt.

Microloans – Loans are some of the most common ways business owners can raise money for growing or expanding their businesses because they have medium to low interest rates, have shorter payment periods and come with fewer strings attached.  

Set Up Shop and Grand Opening

Inside a burger shop.

Setting up your shop involves working with professionals. If you want to make sure your shop looks great, opt to have an architect and interior designer to help you design how it will look from the inside out. Once everything is done, prepare your marketing materials and start advertising the grand opening. Social media is a good way to start making noise about your shop.

Post about the grand opening, your menu, what the shop looks like, opening hours, and more. Give a teaser on the burger menu so the people will know what to expect when they order. Some businesses offer discounts on opening day to attract more people too.

Marketing Your Burger Shop

Make a digital and traditional advertising plan to get the word out about your burger joint. If you operate a burger business, you’re serving a small market within only 2 – 4 miles of a location. How can you get in front of local consumers like this? You could accomplish this through targeted promotion on social like Facebook or YouTube. You could also get the word out through mailers, coupons, and special promotions that attract new diners.

Like I mentioned earlier, the success of your burger shop isn’t solely dependent on how good your burger tastes. How you market your business will affect how people see your brand and will help them decide whether it’s a good decision to make an effort to visit your shop or not.

Doing any type of business is always a risk and with how much money is needed to open one, you would want to make sure everything is well thought of and all your efforts will not go to waste.

Want to start your own food business?

Hey! ????I’m Brett Lindenberg, the founder of Food Truck Empire.

We interview successful founders and share the stories behind their food trucks, restaurants, food and beverage brands. By sharing these stories, I want to help others get started.

If you liked this story, sign up for our newsletter that includes our food business startup kit and most popular interviews sent straight to your inbox.

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About the Author: Brett Lindenberg

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Table of contents, how to kickstart your burger business.

• 30 March, 2024

Starting a Burger Business

If you’re passionate about burgers and dream of turning that passion into a profitable venture, starting a burger business may be the perfect path for you. However, it’s important to approach this endeavor with careful planning and strategy. Here are the essential steps to kickstart your burger business:

Crafting a Solid Business Plan

To set a strong foundation for your burger business, begin by crafting a comprehensive business plan. This plan should outline your concept, target market, menu, operating procedures, marketing strategy, and financial projections. A well-defined business plan serves as a roadmap, helping you stay focused and make informed decisions as you move forward. For more guidance on creating a business plan, refer to our article on burger business plans .

Choosing the Right Location

The location of your burger business plays a crucial role in its success. Look for a prime location with high foot traffic, good visibility, and easy accessibility to your target market. Consider factors such as nearby residential areas, office complexes, shopping centers, and entertainment venues. Conduct thorough research to identify the best location that aligns with your target audience. For more insights on choosing the right location, check out our article on opening a burger restaurant .

Conducting Market Research

Before diving into the burger business, conduct extensive market research. Identify your target market and understand their preferences, demographics, and buying behaviors. Analyze your competition to identify gaps and opportunities in the market. Study pricing strategies, menu offerings, and marketing approaches of existing burger businesses. This research will provide valuable insights and help you develop a competitive edge. For more information on conducting market research, visit our article on burger business ideas .

Financial Planning and Cost Considerations

Effective financial planning is crucial for the success of your burger business. Identify and estimate all the costs involved in starting and operating your business, including equipment, ingredients, staffing, licenses, permits, and marketing expenses. This will help you determine the startup costs and ongoing expenses, allowing you to develop a realistic budget and financial projections. For a detailed breakdown of startup costs, refer to our article on burger business startup costs .

Developing a Unique Selling Proposition

In a competitive market, it’s essential to develop a unique selling proposition (USP) that sets your burger business apart from the competition. This could be through specialty recipes, sustainable practices, locally sourced ingredients, or exceptional customer service. Identify what makes your burgers special and communicate that to your target audience. A strong USP helps attract customers and build brand loyalty.

By following these steps and putting in the necessary effort, you can turn your passion for burgers into a successful and profitable business. Remember to continually evaluate and adapt your strategies as you navigate the dynamic food industry. Good luck on your journey to burger business success!

Equipment Needed for a Burger Business

To start a successful burger business, it’s essential to have the right equipment in place. From grills to refrigeration, having the proper machinery can significantly impact the quality and efficiency of your operations. Let’s explore the key equipment needed for a burger business.

Grill Options: Flat-Top vs. Range

When starting a burger restaurant, one of the crucial decisions is choosing the type of grill that suits your needs. Two popular options are the flat-top grill and the range grill.

A flat-top grill is a versatile choice as it allows for cooking multiple patties simultaneously and grilling other foods like buns and onions. It offers the ability to customize heat on each section, allowing for precise cooking. This flexibility makes flat-top grills a preferred choice for many burger restaurants ( Texas Restaurant Supply ).

On the other hand, range grills provide separate grates or burners for each patty. This setup allows for individual control of heat, ensuring consistent cooking. Range grills are suitable for smaller operations or establishments with specific cooking requirements.

Ultimately, the choice between a flat-top grill and a range grill depends on the specific needs of your burger business, the volume of burgers you plan to cook, and the cooking techniques you prefer.

Refrigeration: Walk-in vs. Reach-in

Proper refrigeration is essential for storing and preserving ingredients in a burger business. Two common options for refrigeration are walk-in fridges and reach-in fridges.

Walk-in fridges offer ample space and are ideal for storing cold food items in bulk. With their larger capacity, walk-in fridges are suitable for businesses that require substantial storage for ingredients, condiments, and other perishable items.

In contrast, reach-in fridges are smaller and provide easier access to ingredients throughout the day. They are often used as “working” fridges, allowing staff to quickly retrieve items without having to enter a separate walk-in area. Reach-in fridges are a practical choice for burger businesses with limited space or those that require frequent access to ingredients during peak hours.

The decision between a walk-in fridge and a reach-in fridge should be based on the size of your business, the volume of ingredients you need to store, and the layout of your kitchen space.

Additional Essential Equipment

In addition to grill options and refrigeration, there are several other pieces of equipment that are essential for running a successful burger business. Some of these equipment items include:

• Ice Machine : An ice machine is necessary for providing ice for drinks, ensuring that your customers can enjoy refreshing beverages alongside their burgers.
• Commercial Fryer : A commercial fryer is crucial for making fries, onion rings, and other fried sides that often accompany burgers.
• Burger Press : A burger press helps shape patties uniformly, ensuring consistent cooking and presentation.
• Vegetable Slicer : A vegetable slicer allows for efficient and precise cutting of ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, ensuring uniformity in your burger toppings.
• Meat Grinder : If you plan to make patties from scratch, a meat grinder is essential for grinding and preparing the meat mixture.

Having the right equipment is vital for the success of your burger business. It helps maintain consistency, efficiency, and the quality of your final product. To ensure you have all the necessary equipment, consider working with reputable suppliers who specialize in restaurant equipment.

By investing in the essential equipment, you can set a strong foundation for your burger business and provide your customers with delicious, well-prepared burgers.

Menu Engineering for Burger Businesses

When it comes to running a successful burger business, menu engineering plays a vital role in maximizing profits and customer satisfaction. By analyzing dish popularity and profitability, highlighting high-profit and popular items, implementing a pricing strategy for maximum profit, and utilizing data and menu psychology, burger businesses can create menus that drive sales and meet customer demands.

Analyzing Dish Popularity and Profitability

The first step in menu engineering is analyzing dish popularity and profitability. This involves collecting data on menu items such as cost, popularity, and profitability through various sources like sales reports, customer feedback, surveys, and focus groups. By understanding which dishes are popular among customers and which ones yield higher profits, burger businesses can make informed decisions about their menu offerings.

Highlighting High-Profit and Popular Items

To encourage customers to order higher-profit items while balancing the cost and popularity of each dish, menu engineering involves highlighting high-profit and popular items more prominently on the menu. These items can be strategically placed, using techniques such as box highlights, borders, or eye-catching graphics. By drawing attention to these items, burger businesses can increase their sales and overall profitability.

Pricing Strategy for Maximum Profit

Setting ideal pricing for each menu item is crucial in menu engineering. It requires balancing the cost of ingredients and preparation with the perceived value to the customer. Burger businesses can establish competitive prices by analyzing data on customer spending habits and competitor pricing. By striking the right balance between affordability and profitability, businesses can ensure that their pricing strategy maximizes profit margins.

Utilizing Data and Menu Psychology

Menu engineering has evolved to become more data-driven, with burger businesses utilizing analytics to determine dish popularity and adjust pricing accordingly. Additionally, employing menu psychology techniques can influence customer choices and enhance profitability. Strategic item placement, descriptive language, and visual cues can guide customers towards high-profit items or promote specific menu offerings. By understanding the principles of menu psychology and leveraging data, burger businesses can create menus that optimize customer satisfaction and profitability.

By incorporating these menu engineering strategies, burger businesses can create menus that appeal to customers, drive sales, and maximize profits. It’s important to remember that a well-designed menu should not only be visually appealing but also easy to read and navigate. Regular analysis and adjustments based on customer feedback and market trends are essential to ensure the menu remains relevant and profitable.

Targeting Your Burger Business

To ensure the success of your burger business, it’s essential to identify and understand your target market. By doing so, you can tailor your strategies and offerings to appeal to the right audience. In this section, we will explore the key steps involved in targeting your burger business.

Identifying Your Target Market

Identifying and understanding your restaurant’s target market is crucial for success in the competitive restaurant industry. Without knowing your customers and how to attract them, it can be challenging to thrive. Start by considering the demographics, preferences, and behaviors of your potential customers. Are you targeting families, young professionals, or burger enthusiasts? Understanding who your ideal customers are will help you shape your branding, menu, and marketing efforts.

Analyzing Competitors for Insights

Analyzing your direct competitors can provide valuable insights into your own target audience. By examining their online presence, location, menu offerings, and customer base, you can gain a better understanding of the market niche you can serve. Look for gaps or areas where your burger business can differentiate itself from the competition. This analysis will help you refine your target market and make informed decisions regarding your business strategies.

Utilizing Data for Target Market Definition

To define your target market more precisely, consider accessing census and hospitality data for your area. By narrowing down the location around your restaurant and examining relevant datasets, you can gather insights into potential clients. The data can reveal demographic information like age, income levels, and population density, allowing you to make educated estimations about your target market. Utilize this information to further refine your target audience and tailor your offerings accordingly.

Creating a Buyer Persona

Creating a buyer persona based on the gathered data simplifies the process of targeting your restaurant’s audience. A buyer persona is an average imaginary profile that represents your target market’s common patterns and characteristics. This persona helps you visualize your customers and better understand their needs, preferences, and behaviors. By developing a buyer persona, you can tailor your marketing messages, menu offerings, and overall business strategies to align with your target market.

By identifying your target market, analyzing competitors, utilizing data, and creating a buyer persona, you can effectively target your burger business to attract the right audience. This targeted approach will help you tailor your offerings, marketing campaigns, and customer experience to meet the needs and desires of your ideal customers. For more insights on starting a burger business, check out our articles on burger business ideas , burger business plan , and opening a burger restaurant .

Marketing Strategies for Burger Businesses

To successfully promote and grow a burger business, it’s essential to implement effective marketing strategies that target your desired audience. In this section, we will explore several strategies that can help your burger business thrive.

Leveraging Social Media and Online Platforms

In today’s digital age, leveraging social media and online platforms is crucial for promoting a new burger business. Engaging with the community, utilizing targeted advertising, sharing visually appealing content, and encouraging customer reviews can help create awareness and attract customers to your establishment. Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your delicious burgers, engage with potential customers, and build a loyal following. Online platforms like Yelp and Google My Business can also help customers discover your burger business through reviews and ratings. By utilizing these platforms effectively, you can reach a wider audience and generate buzz around your burgers.

Burger King’s Marketing Strategy

Burger King, a well-known fast-food chain, has successfully implemented a marketing strategy that combines traditional and digital techniques to reach and engage customers. Their strategy involves television campaigns to increase brand visibility alongside active presence on social media platforms. By maintaining a consistent brand image across various channels, Burger King ensures that their marketing efforts resonate with their target audience ( Voy Media ).

Prioritizing Customer Experience

In an increasingly digital world, prioritizing customer experience is essential for the success of any burger business. Burger King excels in this area by implementing initiatives like mobile apps for ordering and personalized promotions. By enhancing convenience and engagement for their customers, they create a positive dining experience that fosters loyalty and encourages repeat visits ( Voy Media ).

Collaborations and Partnerships

Collaborations and partnerships with other brands can be a powerful marketing strategy for a burger business. Burger King, for example, has partnered with Uber Eats for delivery services, expanding their reach and accessibility. By meeting customers’ demand for convenience and variety in their dining options, Burger King strengthens its brand presence and attracts new customers ( Voy Media ).

Interactive Campaigns for Customer Engagement

Engaging with your target audience through interactive campaigns is an effective way to build brand loyalty and drive sales. Burger King’s “Whopper Detour” mobile app promotion is an excellent example of a creative and engaging campaign. By offering customers a special deal when they were near a McDonald’s location, Burger King encouraged them to visit their own restaurants instead. This campaign generated significant buzz and showcased the importance of creativity and customer engagement in the competitive fast-food market ( Voy Media ).

By leveraging social media, implementing innovative marketing strategies, and prioritizing customer experience, you can effectively promote your burger business and attract a loyal customer base. Learn from the successful marketing strategies employed by Burger King and adapt them to suit your own business needs. Remember to stay creative, engage with your target audience, and continuously evaluate and refine your marketing efforts to ensure long-term success.

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Starting a burger business requires following almost the exact same steps as starting a pizza or fried chicken or Tex-Mex eatery. In fact, you’ll use the same “4 Ps” you would use to launch a shoe or pet sitting or gift basket business.

A review of the marketing mix components of Product, Price, Place and Promotion will help you apply them to a new burger business so you can decrease your risks and increase your chances for success.

Develop Your Product

Depending on where you plan to launch, consumers might have dozens of hamburger choices, from national fast-food chains to boutique burger restaurants to at-home burger making. With easy food delivery services, people have even more access to a burger 24/7.

To be successful, you’ll need to create a unique selling proposition or differential, which gives people a reason to buy your burger instead of the competition.

Taste isn’t enough. Many consumers buy food because it’s cheap, conveniently located, has other menu items people want or offers adult beverages. Some eateries with average food and boring decor are wildly successful because they offer customers a chance to watch sporting events, meet with friends and have a good time. Quick, courteous service is another selling point for many restaurants.

Start with your burger’s ingredients. What type of beef will you use? If it’s high-end, that might be your hook, but you need to make sure people can taste a unique difference with your beef and be willing to pay for it. What type of buns will you use? How about condiments? Will you have many different burger combinations or just a few basic choices, along with other menu items?

Make sure to test your product with objective potential customers. Don’t ask friends and family what they think – they’ll want to be supportive and tell you everything’s fantastic. In addition to serving testers your burgers, serve them other items you might not even be selling, just to keep them objective about their feedback.

If you will primarily rely on sit-down customers, rather than deliveries and pickups, remember that location and decor are part of the product.

Price Your Product

Once you’ve come up with a burger and menu you think is unique, figure out what it will cost to make your burgers. This means contacting suppliers of all of the ingredients you plan to use for your menu items to learn your cost to make each meal.

You’ll need to have a budget for running a restaurant completed before you can set prices, because the customer’s cost for a meal will have to cover your overhead (e.g., rent, insurance, marketing, labor) and desired profit, explains RestaurantReport .

Learn what your competitors are charging to see what you can likely charge for your burgers, sides, drinks and meals. Add your food, overhead and profit costs to determine what prices you’ll need to set. Compare them to your competition. If your prices are higher, do you have a unique enough product people will want to pay extra for? Can you serve 1/4-pound patties instead of 1/2-pound patties? Can you buy cheaper beef?

Remember, the more orders you sell, the lower your overhead cost for each order. Create three different sales scenarios (optimistic, realistic and pessimistic) to see where you might need to set your prices.

Choose Your Place

Location used to be, by far, the most important aspect of the restaurant business. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on dining out, more people are having food delivered. This means you might not have to locate in a high-rent district to compete. You’ll still want to locate near your target customers, however, to make it easy for them to pick up and cost-effective for you to offer delivery.

You also have the option of starting out with a food truck, which offers a lower commitment than signing a multiyear lease. This would allow you to move to different high-traffic locations, do further testing on new products, and start to build a name for yourself.

Create a Promotions Plan

Decide how you’re going to promote your burger business. Your options can include social media, local print publications, using coupon packet companies, local radio and TV and outdoor advertising, such as billboards. Look at where and how your competition is advertising. Don’t necessarily assume you should follow what McDonald’s and Burger King are doing – people who buy your burgers might be choosing you for different reasons than when they buy fast food.

Other Things to Consider

Make sure you thoroughly understand your state’s health rules and regulations for food establishment. Write a detailed business plans that helps you spot and eliminate and potential problems, recommends SmartyCents . Use resources like the blog at KaTom Restaurant Supply, which provides detailed equipment and cost breakdowns for opening a burger joint. Meet with an attorney to help you cover your legal liabilities, which will include incorporating, buying the right insurance and following all local, state and federal laws pertaining to your business.

• SmartyCents: How to Write a Business Plan the Right Way
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Steve Milano is a journalist and business executive/consultant. He has helped dozens of for-profit companies and nonprofits with their marketing and operations. Steve has written more than 8,000 articles during his career, focusing on small business, careers, personal finance and health and fitness. Steve also turned his tennis hobby into a career, coaching, writing, running nonprofits and conducting workshops around the globe.

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How to Start a Burger Business That Stands Apart

The restaurant world has given way to unlimited streams of brands and offerings. Certain brands stand out by making a “better burger.”

Eighty-five percent of customers love or like burgers, according to foodservice industry research firm Datassential, QSR Magazine reports . And, get this: this recent research also found that burgers outrank 99 percent of the thousands of other foods in the firm’s FLAVOR database. It is no wonder, then, that over the last several decades, the restaurant world has birthed a seemingly limitless cavalcade of brands and offerings. And for some time now, certain brands have sought to stand out from the crowd by making a “better burger.” It’s a trajectory that makes a burger restaurant more competitive not only against lower-quality burger places but also casual dining restaurants with better-quality fare.

This trend continues in earnest, making it more challenging to create a signature identity . But the good news for the consumer is heightened variety, with everything from blended patties to higher quality plant-based burgers to exotic varieties of toppings and flavor profiles. Today’s dining public is open-minded and hungry for variations. And that means major opportunity for creative burger purveyors who can offer something exciting and different.

First-time entrepreneurs with a sizzling vision for quality burgers may have the food pictured in their minds, but the learning curve to making it happen, as a moneymaking burger business, can be steep. In addition to the patties and buns, there are plenty of nuts and bolts, so to speak. Let’s take a look at how to turn burger business building dreams into reality.

What Are My Options?

Deciding on the type of concept for a burger business may start with two threshold factors: (1) an entrepreneur’s available budget/capital and (2) a determination of what unique twist on burgers the market in question needs. A third important factor is whether the entrepreneur wants to create a new concept out of thin air or open a franchise location with an existing brand.

The options available most likely will range from fast food burger joints to fast-casual — or maybe even a food truck. If you decide to go with a franchise, rather than attempt to go it on your own, both fast food and fast-casual categories include a wide range of franchises at initial investment costs from relatively inexpensive to pretty pricey.

The business model will be important in setting the establishment apart in the market. Study the landscape of competition in the area and what they offer—and what they don’t. Perhaps fast food chains are everywhere, but higher quality, more creative options may be harder to find. That presents a window of opportunity. A thriving burger business succeeds with not only a fresh-to-market brand but a fresh product, which is of crucial importance in establishing a real point of difference.

If you open a franchise location of an existing chain, you’ll get a ton of assistance in site selection, construction or lease guidance, and more. But if you go it on your own as an independent, you’ll have several decisions to make, such as determining the best location. If you’re in a bad location, you may be cooking your burgers in a vacuum.

A food truck could be a viable choice if you want to move from one spot to another and compare — and combine — success in a variety of locations. The initial investment is less, though licensing can be very tricky, depending on the municipality, and ordinances may vary from spot to spot within the same town as you truck around. And if you develop loyal customers, they may have to figure out where you are from day to day.

If you do elect to open a brick-and-mortar business, you’ll have to decide whether to lease or purchase. Obviously, less investment on the front end is necessary for a lease, as opposed to buying, but leasing may be more restrictive as to how extensively you’re allowed to modify to the building. If you lease a space that was another restaurant previously, you may not have to modify it as much as you would if converting from a different business format.

When you’re a first-time burger restaurant operator, you may get up and rolling and hone your operating system to a science, only to realize another location would be more beneficial and give you more traffic. This is when leasing could be advantageous. If you’ve signed a short-term lease of five to ten years, you could have the option to move to a shiny new location sooner rather than later. This is especially favorable when the real estate market lulls; if you own the building, you may be stuck there a lot longer than you’d like.

If you are an independent operator finding your way on your own, make sure you work with a trustworthy commercial real estate broker. If you open a location of a franchised brand, you will be able to take advantage of the company’s relationships with brokers who are familiar with the particular business model and can better find just the right property for your needs.

What Type of Equipment, Space, and Other Stuff Do I Need to Get Started?

It’s a big advantage to have a focused culinary theme such as burgers; because the operator can produce most menu items using a relatively small arsenal of versatile equipment. In the June 2019 issue of Restaurant Startup & Growth magazine, commercial kitchen expert Stephani Robson, a senior lecturer in the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, describes a pizza restaurant she visited, which is a great analogy for burger operators. The pizza business would finish most of its menu items — including chicken breasts and much more — in its pizza oven. This versatility saved space in the kitchen and equipment costs.

Whether your burger business uses a char-broiler or griddle (whether gas-powered or electric) for its patties, chances are you’ll be using that same cooking surface for a number of other menu items. Other equipment you’ll likely need, KaTom Restaurant Supply advises , may include commercial refrigeration and freezers, a commercial dishwasher, a vegetable slicer, a French fry cutter, a commercial fryer, a hamburger press, and more. And depending on your business model, you may need furniture for guest dining as well as soda machines and front-of-house equipment for presentation of napkins, condiments, etc.

Space is something to think about during the site selection phase; when you are choosing your venue. In her advice in Restaurant Startup & Growth, Robson shares a rule of thumb: the back of the house in a table-service, non-fine-dining concept should not consume more than a third of the total restaurant space. The kitchen could take up more of the total space if the chosen concept is heavily drive-through-centric, with less need for in-store dining.

Should I Open a Franchise Location or an Independent Burger Business?

If you decide to open a franchise location instead of an independent concept, the cost of entry may be quite low or very high, depending on the chain brand with which you opt to partner. The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) enables you to evaluate any franchise, with a breakdown and range of the initial investment costs under Item 7. According to the 2019 Entrepreneur list, the initial investment amounts for the top five restaurant franchises range from $229,000 to $4.7 million, making the average initial investment for a single unit around $2.5 million.

But there is an ever-growing number of better-burger brands out there that cost a lot less upfront than the biggest franchise chains do. For example, fast-casual chain Wayback Burgers — whose menu attracts guests with several delectable cooked-to-order specialty burgers, sandwiches, chicken, hot dogs, hand-dipped shakes, and more — looks for franchise candidates with at least $100,000 in liquid capital. The company grew tremendously in 2018 and keeps expanding, as QSR Magazine reported .

Going independent and becoming a franchisee each have pros and cons. If you start a business yourself, you call all the shots — but those calls may not come from a strong foundation of wisdom, market insight, and support. Especially if you don’t have a background in restaurant ownership or management, you’ll make honest mistakes along the way. You will have learned a lot, but at a cost, with a steeper learning curve.

And while you may believe you have some idea who your biggest competitors will be, a franchise brand has methods to strategically determine their biggest competitors.

A franchise relationship with an existing brand enables you to capitalize on growth trends and get running more quickly and smoothly . And this ties in directly with another question:

How Can My Burger Business Stand Apart From Others?

Let’s circle back to the type of food and service you decide to go with. As mentioned earlier, most burger business concepts are fast food or fast-casual. The latter is a balance of the traits of quick-serve restaurants (QSR or “fast food”) and full-service casual dining. This type of restaurant combines the convenience of fast food with an elevated atmosphere and typically higher quality ingredients. Fast-casual concepts are leading growth in the restaurant industry, according to industry research firm Technomic, as reported by Restaurant Business. In fact, fast-casual is the only restaurant segment to grow traffic in the past five years , per QSR Magazine. Especially if you are a millennial entrepreneur, a fast casual-franchise may be a good fit .

And what better way to stand out than to introduce your area to a new fast-casual brand that is a break from the norm? Continual creativity will keep a burger restaurant relevant to customers, giving them reasons to keep coming back. Not just for familiar menu favorites but for special limited-time-offer (LTO) items and on-trend burger variations. In recent years, burgers have been one heck of a culinary canvas, with no artistic limits, drawing from culinary trends and flavor profiles outside of what one used to think of as a simple cheeseburger.

Wayback Burgers’ had a bona fide hamburger hit with an LTO in early 2019. The Cajun-themed Big Easy Burger was topped with a remoulade sauce, bacon, and cheese. And later this year, Wayback Burgers will introduce a German-inspired pretzel bun. The chain also realizes the importance of trends such as offering the freedom of customization — a big demand of today’s consumers — and quality plant-based options. The Wayback Burgers Veggie Burger combines both those trends, allowing guests to start with a Gardenburger patty (made with natural vegetables and grains) and customize it to their liking. The same option is available for beef burgers and chicken sandwiches.

Little differences add up to big motivation for people to take their business to unique burger restaurants. Wayback Burgers is deft at creating innovative, enticing tweaks on familiar concepts and, for example, even has its own special condiment , Wayback Gold sauce — a blend of barbecue sauce and mustard — for dipping chicken tenders, beer-battered onion rings, house-made chips, French fries, and more.

But standing out is about more than the flavors of the menu; it requires ongoing innovation. Wayback Burgers has introduced a special delivery vehicle with on-site cooking capabilities for a uniquely fresh delivered product. And the brand’s app allows customers to purchase cooked-to-order burgers and other items — and monitor rewards points and more — much more conveniently.

Certainly, a 100 percent new, independent burger business stands a good chance of standing out from the pack, but opening a location of a fast-rising chain such as Wayback Burgers — which has already honed points of difference in the burger world and continues to evolve, based on research and experience — puts the franchisee on a powerful path to success. This is especially so when the concept’s offering is new to consumers in your market but already crafted into an attractive brand package, backed by marketing and promotional programs .

If you are a first-time business owner looking for guidance, systems, and support, or a seasoned entrepreneur looking for your next investment opportunity, check out Wayback Burgers.

About Wayback Burgers

Founded in 1991 in Newark, Delaware, Wayback Burgers is a Connecticut-based fast-casual franchise with a reputation for cooked to order burgers and thick, hand-dipped milkshakes, served in an environment that hearkens back to a simpler place and time — when customer service meant something and everyone felt the warmth of the community.

The burger franchise brand offers qualified candidates the opportunity to open and operate a business in the highly sought-after fast-casual sector with a small footprint and a big upside. Wayback Burgers currently operates in 30 states with over 166 locations nationally and internationally in Argentina, Brunei, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Malaysia. Wayback offers initial training and ongoing support for all its franchisees and works diligently on finding innovative ways to offer franchisees the opportunity to increase revenue while adding value to the customer experience. For more information on how to get started, visit https://waybackburgers.com/franchising/ .

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Burger Restaurant Business Plan and SWOT Analysis

Burger Restaurant Business Plan, Marketing Plan, How To Guide, and Funding Directory

The Burger Restaurant Business Plan and Business Development toolkit features 18 different documents that you can use for capital raising or general business planning purposes. Our product line also features comprehensive information regarding to how to start a Burger Restaurant business. All business planning packages come with easy-to-use instructions so that you can reduce the time needed to create a professional business plan and presentation.

Your Business Planning Package will be available for download after your purchase.

Product Specifications (please see images below):

• Bank/Investor Ready!
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• Three SWOT Analysis Templates
• Easy to Use Instructions
• All Documents Delivered in Word, Excel, and PDF Format
• Meets SBA Requirements

People love burgers, and burger restaurants have remained one of the most popular forms of eatery within the United States over the past 100 years. In fact, many bar and grill restaurant and related types of eateries often feature burgers as their primary item. It is embedded in the American culture. These businesses typically remain popular even during times of economic recession given the moderate pricing points associated with the sale of this type of cuisine. The startup cost associated with a new burger restaurant can vary greatly but usually these businesses have a startup cost ranges anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 depending on the location, whether or not real estate will be purchased in conjunction with the business launch, and how many employees will be at the restaurant at the onset of operations. The gross margins generated from the sale of a burger is typically around 70% and beverage sales typically range anywhere from 70% to 90% depending on whether or not alcohol is served on the premises. One of the ways that many burger restaurants will seek to have their revenues expanded greatly is by offering an expansive bar. A qualified attorney should be consulted as it relates to the acquisition of a liquor license in any given state given that these prices can vary greatly. It is not uncommon in certain jurisdictions that have a liquor license cost more than $200,000, although in some places the fees can be as little as $2,500.

Given the economic security as well as the large amount of assets that are purchased in order to develop a burger restaurant, most financial institutions are willing to provide a small business loan for this type of venture. Of course, a burger restaurant business plan is going to be required. This business plan should feature a three-year profit and loss statement, cash analysis, balance sheet, breakeven analysis, and business ratios page. Among restaurants within the United States, more than $700 billion of revenue is generated each year among more than 2 million businesses. The industry employs 14 million people.

An expansive demographic analysis should be developed in order to specifically target people that frequently go to restaurants. Although the vast majority of Americans enjoy a hamburger from time to time, it is imperative that the entrepreneur develop this profile so that can be used in conjunction with the company’s marketing plan. Frequently, his full-scale competitive analysis is also developed in order to ensure that the business is not launching its operations in a heavily saturated market. One of the things is often discussed within the competitive analysis is how the burger restaurants operations will be different from that of other companies within the target market. Given the ubiquitous nature of this type of cuisine, most entrepreneurs that want to start this type of business typically need to find a way to differentiate themselves from other restaurants within the target market.

A burger restaurant SWOT analysis typically developed as well. As it relates to strengths, burger restaurants are always able to produce high-margin revenues from the sale of hamburgers to the general public. The low pricing point provides for a substantial amount of economics thing power.

For weaknesses, there are always a substantial number of competitors in any given market that provide very similar products. There are often unofficial competitions among these restaurants to determine who has the best burger. As such, a strong marketing plan needs to be developed for this type of company.

For opportunities, many burger restaurants will develop an associated mobile food truck that allows the business to make sales from outside of their retail location. This can be a very strong investment for these types of businesses given the fact that they will frequently attend food fairs, tradeshows, and other events worth thousands of people will see the signage affixed to the mobile food truck on a regular basis. Is not only increases sales but also boosts the visibility of the business significantly. Some burger restaurants will also develop on-site catering operations.

A major economic recession could impact the amount of sales that are made given that people may pull back on enjoying food from outside of their homes. However, the low pricing point associated with burgers, fries, and related beverages is low and only a severe economic recession would cause an issue for this type of business.

A burger restaurant marketing plan should also be developed in order to ensure that people can find business quickly. Foremost, most people at start this type of restaurant frequently will seek to acquire a highly visible retail location it will be seen by thousands if not tens of thousands of people on a daily basis. Most importantly, expansive signage should be attached to the burger restaurant in order to drive initial traffic. Prior to the onset of operations, many entrepreneurs will distribute flyers for free or heavily discounted food in order to have people come to location to try the offerings.

A presence on the Internet is absolutely mandatory for this type of business has many people especially tourists will seek to use their mobile devices and computers to find eateries. The company should have a mobile friendly website that is listed among all major search engines. Additionally, many entrepreneurs will seek to have e-commerce driven functionality implanted into the website so that people can place orders directly for food through the Internet. This is especially important if there’s going to be a substantial amount of volume during busy lunch and dinner hours. This type of e-commerce functionality, while slightly expensive, can provide users with a great degree of convenience as it relates to placing their orders. The company’s website should be listed among the social platform as well including FaceBook, Twitter, and Instagram for photos. Many of these social media platforms now allow for reviews to be left for any restaurant that they have been to. Over time, a strong number of reviews can drastically boost the reputation of the business. Many burger restaurants will also maintain profiles on popular food review websites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor.

Burgers are a ubiquitous form of cuisine within the United States. These types of food products will continue to remain popular and an entrepreneur that has extensive experience in the food service industry can develop these businesses to enjoy a substantial degree of profitability. These businesses can be readily expanded by not only integrating mobile food operations and catering operations, but also by establishing subsequent locations in other target markets.

• Resources for Entrepreneurs > How to Start a Business > Opening a Business

How to Start a Burger Restaurant

Opening a Business

Launching a burger restaurant is your ticket to owning a good, stable business as long as you separate yourself from the competition. Here are a few secrets that instructs you on how to start your business.

Wondering how to start a burger restaurant? We take you step-by-step from start to success.

Burger Restaurants: A Growing Business Concept

Burgers are a quintessentially American menu item. The success of fast food franchising confirms not only Americans' hunger for great-tasting burgers, but also the ability hamburgers, cheeseburgers and related menu items have to anchor a profitable food service enterprise.

The U.S. restaurant industry is extremely active. Yet despite the prevalence of burger joints in the marketplace, the outlook for burger-based restaurants is good. Younger generations of consumers who have been raised on burgers have become adult consumers who often prefer burger restaurants over other dining options.

Potential Business Models for a Burger Restaurant Startup

Early in the strategic planning process , you will need to choose a business model for your burger restaurant startup. Like it or not, your startup won't be capable of serving the entire marketplace, so you'll need to evaluate your options and choose the business model that is the right fit for your business model and entrepreneurial objectives.

• Independent Fast Food. Most Americans immediately associate fast food with franchising. But there are more and more examples of independent fast food and burger restaurants that can compete with the franchises and even leverage their brands to become regional franchises. However, as an independent fast food, burger joint, you'll need to study the business models of McDonalds, Wendys and other fast food legends to learn how to design an efficient and profitable fast food operation.
• Gourmet Burgers. Gourmet burger restaurants may be the fastest growing segment of the burger marketplace. Rather than focusing on price and convenience, gourmet burger restaurants give diners premium burger experiences, often providing an extremely diverse burger menu in a sit-down restaurant environment. The key to opening a gourmet burger restaurant is to differentiate your startup based on menu and atmosphere, while still giving diners value for their dollars.
• Food Cart Burgers. Street food is growing in leaps and bounds, from major metropolises like NYC to smaller cities like Madison, Wisconsin . They don't dominate the food cart scene, but burger carts do have an active presence on America's sidewalks, with burger carts catering to gourmet diners drawing large crowds and positive reviews from critics.

Business Plan Mechanics for Burger Restaurants

Haven't created a business plan for your burger restaurant yet? You could be in big trouble.

At Gaebler, we advise new business owners to keep your business plan simple . Ultimately, your business plan is intended to be a resource for you, the business owner.

If your time is limiting, outline the essentials of your burger restaurant's business plan now and make a commitment to come back to it later.

How Many Local Customers Can You Acquire?

How many potential customers will be within a fifteen-minute drive of your business? How many will be within an hour's drive of your business? It's important to run the numbers to understand how many customers might be interested in doing business with your local burger restaurant.

Assess the Competition

Prior to launching a burger restaurant in your area, it's a smart move to find out what the competition looks like. Try our link below to generate a list of competitors in your city. Simply enter your city, state and zip code to get a list of burger restaurants in your town.

• Find Competing Burger Restaurants

It's important to be aware of what the competition is doing. Take the time to visit the competition to properly assess their strengths and weaknesses.

A Good Source of Advice

After you've evaluated your local competitors, it's a wise move to have a conversation with someone who is in the business. If you think owners of nearby burger restaurants will give you advice, think again. What's in it for them?

On the other hand, an individual who has a burger restaurant in another town may be willing to share their entrepreneurial wisdom with you, after they realize you reside far away from them and won't be stealing their local customers. In fact, they are often very willing to share startup advice with you. In my experience, you may have to call ten business owners in order to find one who is willing to share his wisdom with you.

Where can an aspiring entrepreneur like you find a burger restaurant entrepreneur in another city who you can speak with?

Here's one way to do it. Just use our link below, find somebody and call them.

• Search for Burger Restaurant Owners

Advantages of Buying an Established Burger Restaurant

Spurred on by dreams of a future big money buyout and an undeniable entrepreneurial impulse, many would-be burger restaurant owners are driven to pursue startup strategies.

Yet a healthier and safer strategy may be to purchase an existing burger restaurant.

When you buy an existing company, you get a functional (and presumably profitable) company from day one. As an added bonus, you'll also gain the ability to headaches and hassles of startup trial-and-error .

Don't Forget About Franchising As an Option

Choosing to partner with a franchisor means you get access to great ideas that were developed by experienced entrepreneurs who know your industry inside and out.

If your goal is to start a burger restaurant, it's worthwhile to assess whether franchise opportunities in your space might be worth investigating.

The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.

• How to Own a Franchise

Related Articles on Starting a Company

These additional resources regarding starting a business may be of interest to you.

How to Get a DUNS Number

Starting a Business

Consideration Before Buying a Franchise

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How to Prepare a SWOT for a Burger Restaurant

• January 5, 2024
• Business Plan , SWOT

Creating a business plan for a burger restaurant involves a crucial step: a SWOT analysis . This strategy assesses the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats affecting the business, both inside and out.

Internally, strengths might include a varied menu and quick service, while weaknesses could be inconsistent food quality or limited marketing. Externally, there are opportunities like new food trends and growing markets, but also threats such as stiff competition or economic downturns.

This article will provide detailed examples of each aspect to help you shape your business plan. Let’s dive in!

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Burger Restaurant Business Plan

Fully editable 30+ slides Powerpoint presentation business plan template.

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• Example : Introducing a monthly special burger that incorporates exotic ingredients can generate buzz and draw food enthusiasts.
• Example : Sourcing locally-grown produce and using premium meat cuts can enhance the flavor and reputation of your burgers.
• Example : Decorating the restaurant with vintage burger-themed memorabilia can add a unique touch to the ambiance.
• Example : Implementing a digital order management system can reduce wait times during peak hours.
• Example : Offering competitive wages and employee benefits can help retain skilled staff.
• Example : Adding vegan and gluten-free burger options can expand your customer base and cater to a wider audience.
• Example : Implementing a robust online presence and offering delivery services can overcome this limitation.
• Example : Promoting seasonal burger specials and hosting themed events can counteract slower periods.

Opportunities

• Example : Running targeted Facebook and Instagram campaigns featuring mouthwatering burger photos can attract more customers.
• Example : Partnering with local festivals and events can introduce your burgers to a wider, diverse audience.
• Example : Highlighting your commitment to sustainability in marketing materials can attract eco-conscious diners.
• Example : Co-hosting “Burger & Beer” nights with nearby breweries can attract beer enthusiasts to your restaurant.
• Example : Offering a loyalty program with discounts and rewards can encourage repeat business.
• Example : Introducing a “Build Your Own Healthy Burger” option with lean protein and fresh vegetables can cater to health-conscious customers.
• Example : Offering budget-friendly burger combos and promotions during tough economic times can maintain customer loyalty.
• Example : Establishing backup suppliers and building strategic ingredient reserves can mitigate supply chain risks.

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Marketing plan for a burger joint establishment (examples).

Get a watermark-free, fully customizable marketing strategy in our business plan for a burger joint establishment

Developing an effective marketing strategy is essential for any burger joint looking to stand out in the bustling fast-food landscape.

Whether it's harnessing the power of social media influencers or creating a signature burger that gets people talking, this article will guide you through the essentials of crafting a brand identity that resonates with burger aficionados everywhere.

Gain the insights you need to devise a marketing plan that not only captures the appetite of your target market but also turns them into raving fans of your burger haven.

And, if you're searching for a ready-to-use marketing strategy that you can customize to your needs, be sure to check out our business plan template designed specifically for burger joint ventures .

What is exactly a "marketing strategy"? Should you have one for your burger joint establishment?

A marketing strategy for a burger joint is essentially your blueprint for attracting burger enthusiasts and turning them into repeat customers.

It involves pinpointing who your ideal patrons are, figuring out the best ways to reach them, keeping them coming back for more, and effectively conveying what makes your burgers and your joint stand out from the rest. Imagine it as a well-rounded plan that not only gets customers to walk in but also delivers an experience that makes them crave your burgers again and again.

Why do people develop a marketing strategy? Simply put, without one, you're tossing burgers into the void, hoping they'll land in someone's hands.

A deliberate marketing strategy means that every penny and minute you spend on promoting your burger joint has a clear purpose, whether that's to amplify your presence in the community, increase the number of dine-in customers, or ramp up takeout orders. For a burger joint, this might mean selecting the perfect combination of Instagram foodie posts, engaging with local food bloggers, sponsoring community events, or creating a punch card loyalty program tailored to your target audience.

The advantages of a robust marketing strategy, similar to what you'd find in our business plan template designed for a burger joint , are numerous. It helps you use your resources wisely, focusing your marketing efforts where they're most effective. It distinguishes you in a crowded market by clearly showcasing what's unique about your joint—maybe it's your secret sauce, your locally sourced ingredients, or your commitment to sustainability. A solid strategy also gives you the tools to track your progress and tweak your approach as necessary, ensuring that your marketing initiatives keep pace with your business and the industry.

So, should you craft a marketing strategy if you're flipping the sign to 'Open' on a new burger joint? Absolutely.

Launching without a marketing strategy is like grilling without a timer. You might end up with a few decent burgers, but you'll waste a lot of time and ingredients along the way. Starting with a clear strategy means you're making informed choices that draw in burger lovers from the get-go.

Is it useful for you? Without a doubt, especially if you're keen on making sure your burger joint doesn't just attract guests for a one-time taste test but builds a community of devoted fans.

A marketing strategy enables you to get to know your customers better, adapt your menu to satisfy their burger cravings, and communicate with them in ways that resonate. It's not only about getting them to bite into your burger once; it's about forging a brand that they trust, enjoy, and eagerly tell their friends about.

How to develop a strong marketing plan for your burger joint establishment?

Developing an effective marketing strategy for your burger joint is crucial to attracting customers and standing out in a crowded market.

It's important to be strategic, authentic, and interactive in your approach. Here's a 10-step guide to help you create a marketing strategy tailored to your burger joint.

What are some examples of marketing initiatives for a burger joint establishment?

Here's a handy guide we've put together, featuring 20 targeted marketing strategies that you, as the proud owner of a new burger joint, can roll out to bring in the burger aficionados and casual diners alike.

Examples of marketing strategies for a burger joint establishment

Below are three different (very concise) examples of marketing strategies tailored for a Classic Burger Joint, a Gourmet Burger Restaurant, and a Plant-Based Burger Bar.

If you need something more developed, go check our business plan template for a burger joint .

Classic Burger Joint Marketing Strategy

Gourmet Burger Restaurant Marketing Strategy

Plant-Based Burger Bar Marketing Strategy

You can also read our articles about: - how to fill a Business Model Canvas for your burger joint establishment - how to segment the customers of your burger joint establishment - how to make a competition study for your burger joint establishment - how to open a burger joint (guide)

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• Best Burgers in St. Petersburg FL 2024
• Restaurants
• Best Places in St. Petersburg

• Jun 13, 2024

Best Hamburgers / Cheeseburgers in St. Petersburg FL 2024

Here’s our dozen best burgers (in no particular order) in st. petersburg florida for 2024..

• June 13, 2024
• Kevin Godbee
• Best Burger Joints in St Petersburg FL , Best Burger Joints St. Pete , Best Burger Joints St. Petersburg FL , Best Burger St. Petersburg FL , Best Burgers In St Pete , Best Burgers in St. Petersburg FL , Best Cheese Burger in St. Pete , Best Food St. Petersburg FL , Best Hamburgers in St. Pete , Best Hamburgers in St. Petersburg , Best Local Food St Petersburg , Best Lunch Downtown St Pete , Best of St Petersburg Florida , Best Places to Eat in St Petersburg FL , Best Restaurants St. Pete , St. Petersburg Restaurants

Written by Kevin Godbee

Publisher & Co-Founder of St. Petersburg Foodies

Kansas City Barbeque Society Certified BBQ Judge #112881 Certified Level 1 Sushi Master with the Master of Japanese Cuisine Academy World Food Championships Certified Food Judge #1541 Certified Chili Judge #62 by the International Chili Society Certified Steak Judge #1562 by the Steak Cookoff Association Certified Pizza Judge #14 by the Pizza Cookoff Association Rouxbe Culinary School Enrollee Culinary Institute of America "DISH" Member America's Test Kitchen Recipe Tester

I've always loved cooking. When I was 6-years old I wanted to cook. When my mom said that she was just running to the neighbor's and would be right back, I climbed onto the kitchen counter and found Lipton Instant French Onion Soup Mix. By the time my mom returned, I was stirring the pot on the stove, and proclaimed; "Look Mom! I'm cooking!"

In High School, I took three different cooking classes and got an A in each. After getting my first apartment, I used to cook 5-nights a week, and go out two nights. An old girlfriend from decades ago had a brother-in-law that was a CEO of a trucking company, and he used to entertain in Manhattan quite a bit ... and he started taking us along.

This was when I learned about gourmet food and fine wine. For a couple of years, Lori and I went out about 4-5 nights a week, but now we have a better balance of 50/50 between cooking at home, and going out to the amazing restaurants we are so lucky to have in our beloved St. Petersburg.

View all posts by: Kevin Godbee

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5 Responses

How could this list not include the Chattaburger from the iconic Chattaway!? I plan to have one tonight and I will transmit my enjoyment to you via brainwaves!

It was one of the most bland burgers I ever had. Zero seasoning, and over cooked.

Have you tried The Joint in west St Pete? The Big Gooey is a delicious burger topped with melted Velveeta cheese! Come on! Who wouldn’t like that?

It’s on my list, but I haven’t got to it yet. Thanks for the recommendation.

I saw some people hating on El Cap on a Facebook page last week or so and I was wondering if there was something wrong with me? I’ve been there 3 times since I moved to St. Petersburg exactly one year ago and I’ve enjoyed it every time. [Only thing I ever ordered was cheeseburger and fries.] Thanks for backing me up on this Kevin!

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Fresh Corn Polenta with Pickled Shrimp brings together the sweetness of summer corn and the tangy notes of pickled shrimp.  This recipe offers a brighter twist on traditional comfort food. This take on polenta acts as an idyllic canvas for the zesty shrimp which are pickled and marinated in a myriad of ingredients which include, but are not limited to: rice wine vinegar, citrus, crushed red pepper flakes and garlic. It’s a perfect dish for highlighting popular ingredients that are used a lot in summer cooking. Creating the fresh corn polenta could not be more simple and only requires a few ingredients that you probably already have on hand. I first made this polenta a couple of weeks ago after I picked up some corn from a farmer’s market in the area. I was told that the corn had just been harvested the day prior from a farm here in Florida. The method for making the fresh corn polenta was something that I had been wanting to experiment with. It all starts by peeling the corn and then grating it with the large holes on a boxed grater. From there, the grated corn mixture is then simmered with a couple of pats of butter and some salt until the polenta thickens a bit. This process only takes about ten minutes. The polenta is then finished with a squeeze of fresh lime. Initially, I had planned to top the fresh corn polenta with poached lobster and some chive butter (which I will be trying soon), but then I found some inspiration for pickled shrimp from a recent episode of a food-related show on television (The Lost Kitchen, for those interested). The shrimp are first poached in some water, lemon and salt. Then, they are placed in a pickling mixture in the refrigerator for a few hours (and up to 24 hours). The pickling mixture makes for tangy and flavorful shrimp that not only work well on this polenta, but also with many other things. These shrimp would work well on some toasty sourdough, tossed in a salad, nestled in some rice or simply on their own as an easy appetizer. For the shrimp, I always strive to use wild caught, but use whatever you can find. Rollin’ Oats has great quality frozen shrimp by Baywinds and Wixter Seafood. Simply thaw the shrimp and devein them with the shells on if they aren’t already deveined (this is easier to do than you think – use a wooden skewer or toothpick, poke it through the side of the shrimp in the middle towards the top and slowly thread and pull the vein out – give it a google for a tutorial). You can also use shrimp that are already peeled and deveined too, but cooking the shrimp with their shell on adds to the flavor and prevents overcooking of the shrimp. Fresh Corn Polenta with Pickled Shrimp Recipe Put summer's fresh corn to good use with this fresh corn polenta recipe. The pickled shrimp add a zesty zing when served atop the creamy polenta. glass bowl or glass Tupperware Poaching the Shrimp12 shrimp (medium to large in size – shell on, but deveined (optional, you can use peeled shrimp if you prefer))6 cups water6 cups ice1 lemon (cut in half)2 1/2 tbsp saltPickling the Shrimp3/4 cup rice wine vinegar2 tbsp sugar2 garlic cloves (peeled and smashed)1/2 tsp crushed red pepper1 dried bay leaf1/2 cup olive oilt tsp worcestershire 1 tsp salt1/2 tsp hot sauce (use your preference – I usually opt for Diamond Crystal)1/2 lemon (sliced into small wedges)1/4 cup red onion (sliced thin)Fresh Corn Polenta4 ears corn (husk and silk removed)2 tbsp butter1/2 tsp salt (plus more to taste)1/2 limeDish Assemblymicro-greens (for garnish – fresh dill would work well too (optional)) Pickling the ShrimpAdd vinegar, sugar, garlic, crushed red pepper and bay leaf to a microwave-safe bowl or glass measuring cup. Heat mixture for two minutes, stir to combine and cool completely in the refrigerator (30 minutes to an hour).When mixture is cool, stir in olive oil, worcestershire, hot sauce and salt. Then, mix in lemon wedges and sliced onions. Set aside until poached shrimp are ready.Poaching the ShrimpAdd water, juice lemon and lemon halves and salt to a medium pot and bring to a boil.Add deveined shrimp, remove pot from heat and allow shrimp to poach for 5 minutes (or until they turn pink).Add in ice and allow to sit for another 10 minutes.Remove shrimp from pot and discard water and lemon. Peel shrimp (leave tails on if desired, optional) and place into glass bowl or Tupperware for pickling.Pour prepared pickling mixture over the shrimp. Cover shrimp and place in the refrigerator for at least three hours and up to 24 hours.Fresh Corn PolentaGrate corn on the cob with the large holes of a box grater over a medium-size bowl.Heat grated corn, butter and salt over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until corn mixture thickens – about ten minutes. Taste and season with more salt as needed (polenta should now taste a bit more rich). Remove from heat and stir in juice of 1/2 lime.AssemblyTo plate, add 1/4 corn polenta mixture to each bowl, top with pickled shrimp and garnish with micro-greens or fresh dill. Appetizer, Dinner, Main DishAmericanFresh Corn Polenta, Pickled Shrimp

It’s the weekend and time to treat yourself to a terrific brunch, but where should you go? We have compiled a list of the best brunches in St. Pete to help with your decision. Before we get into the list, an important thing you should be aware of is that there are other publishers of “best of lists” that do not actually go to the establishments, or actually eat the food. We absolutely DO. (How can anyone recommend something they never experienced?) Unfortunately, we’ve seen it a lot—from national and local publishers. We are also aware of a local publisher that offers paid placement in best-of-lists. There is no paid placement here. WE PERSONALLY ATE ALL OF THIS FOOD, AND WENT TO ALL OF THESE PLACES, AND THESE ARE ALL OUR PHOTOS. Best Brunch Spots in St. Pete Chosen by Locals 2024 Wild Child 2710 Central Ave St. Petersburg, FL 33712 (727) 954-7425 Wild Child Website Wild Child was overwhelmingly recommended in our Facebook Group, and now we know why. All of the food was so astoundingly delicious that it seems like they are working with some type of special magic over there. The Potato Latkes with crema, dill, chives and an added caviar bump was incredible. The crunchiness and texture along with the flavor, and contrast with the crema made this an experience in eating. The Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich is one of the stars of the show at Wild Child. It consists of kimchi mayo, shredded cabbage, house dill pickles, and comes with fries. Note that the photo has a brioche bun, but it is actually a Martin’s potato roll that it comes on now. At this point we were so full, but we had to try the BEC – bacon, egg, American cheese, English muffin, chili lime crema and home fries, and we couldn’t stop eating it.   Social Roost 150 1st Ave N St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 202-6113 Social Roost Website Social Roost is one of our top three favorite brunches in St. Pete. Lori said, “Brunch today at Social Roost Kitchen and Bar was beyond phenomenal! I must say that they have the most inventive and incredible menu for brunch that I have ever seen. So much more to go back for. We didn’t get it this time but they have shakshuka…wow! We started with bubbles and three hours later we finished with bubbles. But in between you will see the most incredible food!”   Sauvignon Wine Locker & Trattoria 241 Central Ave St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 827-7896 Sauvignon Website Sauvignon Wine Locker opens for brunch on Sundays at 10:30. They have some spectacular Italian and American dishes on the regular menu that can be ordered during brunch, and the brunch items will blow you away as well. Two of my favorites are the Biscuits & Sausage Gravy and the Oxtail Hash. Biscuits & Sausage Gravy –  house made pork sausage, creamy sausage gravy poured over flaky biscuits. If I was making biscuits and gravy, this is how I would do it, though I’m not sure I could do it this well. So many times when I order biscuits & gravy at other places, I’m reminded of the old Wendy’s ad with the old lady shouting, “Where’s the beef!?!?!” – except it would be “where’s the sausage?”. That’s not the case at Sauvignon. This is packed with delicious chunks of sausage, and the biscuits are to die for. Oxtail Hash – braised oxtail, pan fried with potatoes, onions & sweet peppers. This one is one of the real stars of the show. We were told it has become a crowd favorite and we know why. It has everything going for it – deep, rich flavors of slow-cooked meat – crispy, crunchy and unctuous at the same time – and then you mix in the runny egg yolk. It’s eyes roll back in your head foodie heaven. Sauvignon Full Review of Brunch   Good Fortune 260 1st Ave S #100 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 287-3881 Good Fortune Website Good Fortune is just a couple of weeks shy of one year old, and we have been loving them since day one. If you know me, you know I LOVE all Asian food, and I can certainly eat it for breakfast, or brunch in this case. There is a specific Sunday brunch menu for Seoul Sunday with a festive atmosphere provided by a live DJ, and a Tigress dancer. They also offer the entire regular menu as well. I went with a couple of brunch items and Lori was feeling like sushi and sashimi. For me and Lori, every brunch starts with a Mimosa and a Bloody Mary. It’s obvious that the Bloody Mary recipe is a house creation, as it tastes great, and unlike any other Bloody Mary I’ve ever had. The Prickly Pear Mimosa is quite sweet, so if you like candy-coated drinks, this one is for you. It was too sweet for Lori, but she soldiered on, drank some out and had the bartender add more bubbles to lighten it up. I started off with Shrimp Toast with Avocado – classic shrimp toast topped with avocado, togarashi, pickled shallots, and micro greens. This one is pure comfort food for me as I grew up eating it at the sit-down Chinese restaurants I frequented as a kid in New Jersey in the 1970s. Good Fortune has elevated it and updated it by marrying it with avocado toast, which is brilliant. It was some of the best shrimp toast I have ever had. I wasn’t done yet. Next up was Bacon and Eggs – glazed pork belly, chili crisp eggs, Japanese sweet potato hash, milk bread toast. This dish was spectacular. The “bacon” as you see from the description was glazed pork belly. Unfortunately, they are hidden under the milk bread in the photo. I wish I had thought to get a shot of them. There were three pieces about 2½ inches long and about […]

It’s only natural that Florida visitors, and locals alike are interested in where they can get the best seafood. The state is surrounded by water with the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the west. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida fishermen catch more than 84% of the nation’s supply of grouper, pompano, mullet, stone crab, pink shrimp, spiny lobsters and Spanish mackerel. Some of the most popular fish to eat in Florida are Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Hogfish, Snapper, Grouper, Cobia, Swordfish, Mahi-Mahi, and Kingfish. Of course, warm-water lobsters, stone crab, and Key west Pink Shrimp and Gulf Shrimp are also quite popular. Best Seafood Restaurants in St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach 2024 Sea Salt St. Pete 183 2nd Ave N St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 873-7964 Sea Salt Website Sea Salt is an upscale eatery in downtown St. Pete at the Sundial Shopping Center. They always have a great selection of oysters. This assortment consisted of Chef’s Creek (British Columbia), Fiddler’s Cove (Massachusetts), Evening Cove (British Columbia) and Lucky Lime (P.E.I.). They were all sublime. The Chef’s Creek were creamy with a high brininess and sweet flavor. The oysters from Fiddler’s Cove had the perfect balance of salty and sweet, with a silky, buttery finish. The Evening Cove oysters had a fresh, clean, mildly briny flavor and a watermelon finish. Finally, the Lucky Lime bivalves had a balanced flavor of seaweed, with a silky citrus-tone finish. The Mediterranean Tuna with quinoa and hummus is another favorite of ours. The hummus utilizes the Moroccan spice blend Ras-el-Hanout with Calabrian chili oil on top. It has such great flavor and is different than any other hummus I’ve had before. The perfectly seared tuna has a rub of Szechuan peppercorns and paprika that is wonderful, and the quinoa with grain mustard was a delight. Some people think that Szechuan peppercorns are spicy since Szechuan cuisine is spicy, but they are not. They are floral in taste and aroma. There’s not enough here to cause the numbing or tingling of your lips and tongue that they are famous for. They provide flavor and color on the tuna.   Trophy Fish 2060 Central Ave St. Petersburg, FL 33712 (727) 258-7883 Trophy Fish Website Trophy Fish is a casual outdoor only space in the Grand Central District, but the vibes and decor make you think you’re at the beach. They have delicious creative drinks, with the Fin & Tonic being our favorite. We always get the smoked fish spread when we go to Trophy Fish. It’s one of the best in town, and smoked right there. You can see and smell the smokers going. With a jalapeño slice and a squeeze of lemon it’s the perfect bite. Whatever comes in fresh off the boat is what’s on the menu that day. They usually have mahi-mahi and grouper amongst other fresh Florida seafood. The crispy rosemary potatoes are addictive.   Snapper’s Sea Grill 5895 Gulf Blvd St Pete Beach, FL 33706 (727) 367-3550 Snapper’s Website Owned by a local fisherman, Snapper’s Sea Grill on St. Pete Beach is a local hotspot with a casual atmosphere and elegant seafood. (Please note that they do not take reservations.) As you walk up to Snapper’s there are lit tiki torches and mature palm trees lining the walkway bringing you to the front doors, which are made of beautiful stained glass in the shape of fish swimming in the ocean. When you walk inside dark wood and etched glass artwork continue the sea life theme. Snapper’s signature Stuffed Gulf Grouper comes prepared with a shrimp, scallop, and crabmeat stuffing over a locally caught Grouper filet and finished with a Champagne cream sauce. While the dish sounds heavy… and is heavy, the Champagne sauce and fresh Grouper added a lightness to the dish that rounds out the heaviness of the cream and stuffing. The puff pastry potato is a glutton’s dream, with creamy chopped potatoes cooked inside a golden puff pastry. The Risotto Oceana comes with a roasted garlic, creamy Parmesan risotto topped with pan seared diver scallops, jumbo shrimp, lemon-basil oil, diced tomatoes, and leeks. The risotto, scallops, and shrimp were flawlessly cooked. The risotto creamy and cheesy, and the scallops beautiful and golden. All the flavors came together to create the perfect bite.   Hookin’ Ain’t Easy 3660 22nd Ave S St. Petersburg, FL 33711 (727) 592-1388 Hookin’ Ain’t Easy Website Hookin’ Ain’t Easy is a seafood market with a food truck, bar and live music in the back outdoor area. The ambiance is relaxed and friendly, neighborhood-like as you order from a food truck and listen to live music either on a picnic table or at the tiki bar. Matthew, the owner is passionate, friendly and welcoming. Also he’s hilarious as he was showing us around and telling us that he catches the majority of the seafood on the menu and knows where everything comes from, he called himself a “busy hooker”.  Funny. Some of their menu items include Smoked Mullet, Fish and Chips, Shrimp Basket, Grouper Nuggets, Grouper Sandwich, and more.   I.C. Sharks Seafood Market 10020 Gandy Blvd N St. Petersburg, FL 33702 (727) 914-4087 I.C. Sharks Website I.C. Sharks Seafood Market has been a staple in St. Pete since 2004. They are a seafood market with an outdoor bar and seating area offering a succinct seafood menu. They provide fresh-off-the-boat grouper, snapper, mahi, hogfish, oysters, scallops, clams, blue crab, stone crab, and more.   Sea Worthy Fish + Bar 1110 Pinellas Bayway S Tierra Verde, FL 33715 (727) 623-0468 Sea Worthy Website At Seaworthy Fish + Bar they serve top tier cuisine. Chef Jason Ruhe is known to go fishing in the local gulf waters in the morning, breaks down the fresh catch himself, and serves it up for dinner. Speaking of the Gulf of Mexico, Sea Worthy sits right on the water in Tierra Verde with great sunset views. Most of the […]

Nestled in the heart of Tampa Heights, Rocca stands as a beacon of culinary excellence, proudly boasting a coveted Michelin star. This elevated Italian eatery seamlessly blends traditional flavors with contemporary techniques, offering diners a premium gastronomic experience. From the moment you step inside the establishment, Rocca’s idyllic ambiance and impeccable service set the stage for a memorable dining journey. With a menu that celebrates Italian cuisine, complemented by an impressive wine and cocktail selection, Rocca is the ultimate destination for those seeking a taste of Italy in Tampa. The restaurant is located on the ground level of the The Pearl apartment complex on Palm Avenue which is across the street from Armature Works. Rocca was brought to life in October of 2019 by the talented executive chef and owner/partner Bryce Bonsack. Bryce attended the Culinary Institute of America and spent time working in some impressive kitchens. Before Rocca opened, Bryce traveled to the Piedmont region of Italy for a year where he trained in a celebrated restaurant which is operated by the Rocca family (the inspiration behind the restaurant’s name). The chef’s different experiences and vast culinary knowledge shines through immensely throughout Rocca. From the astonishing food and awe-inspiring wine and cocktails to the spirited atmosphere and extraordinary service, every piece of  Rocca is exceptional. At Rocca, the attention to detail is remarkable in every sense. When you first enter the establishment, you’re greeted at the host stand and the energy of the dining room immediately strikes you. It is then that you know that you’re in for an unforgettable restaurant experience. The dining room is fairly large and almost always filled to capacity. Invigorating music can be heard from the speakers which adds to that spirited vibe that can be felt throughout the restaurant. The bar area is very lively and upbeat and seats in this part of Rocca are available on a first come first serve basis. If you’re looking to dine in this section, simply put your name in at the host stand and they will send you a text when seats open up. This is always where my husband and I prefer to dine as we enjoy watching the action behind the bar. While waiting for seats to open up here, we typically head across the street to Armature Works to grab a drink while we wait. When the text arrives, you then have ten minutes to head back to the host stand to claim your seats. The wait time for us on average is usually only 30 minutes to an hour and this is usually on a Friday or Saturday night between 6-7:00PM. Because reservations at Rocca are tough to come by, this is a great alternative. Rocca nails a lot of things and one of those things is the service on all levels. It starts at the host stand and carries over to the service throughout the entirety of the meal. Every person who touches the table is attentive, knowledgeable and always the utmost pleasant. This, I’m sure, was one of the many factors that went into Rocca landing their first Michelin star in 2023. Rocca is one of only three total restaurants in the Tampa Bay area that has landed a highly sought after star. As I briefly mentioned earlier, Rocca has an outstanding wine and cocktail program. The wine cellar can be seen on display in the dining room and it holds a large array of delectable wines. If you’re having a difficult time landing on a selection, Rocca’s knowledgeable and well-versed wine experts are happy to help guide you. While wine is always an excellent selection for a meal at Rocca, the cocktails should not be overlooked. There’s something for everyone on their cocktail menu – you’ll find both interpretations of the classics and new and inventive concoctions. Rocca also has some non-alcoholic options on the menu, like an Aperitivo Spritz  and The Lime in the Coconut with lime cordial, giffard coconut and carbonated water. One of my favorites from the cocktail menu (which has a rotating selection of seasonal options) was the Grilled Dirty Martini which was served with these delicious grilled olives, though it is not on the current menu. A great substitute for that currently is the Salted Tomato Martini with tomato water, sea salt and vodka. The menu at Rocca is pasta-focused and all of the pastas are made in house at this highly-celebrated restaurant. Every pasta dish is composed in such a beautiful way. Some favorites on my list are the Agnolotti with salame calabrese ricotta filling, cherry tomato and garlic bread crumbs, the Tagliolini al Ragu with beef ragu, basil and 30 month parmigiano and the Raviolini del Plin with veal filling, demi glace and rosemary. Over the years, this Italian eatery has had an array of other wonderful pastas on the menu. Below you’ll find pictures of a few outstanding examples. You can’t possibly go wrong with any of the pasta dishes or menu items, in general. Currently, there are eight pasta dishes on Rocca’s menu and they don’t change too much for the most part. Though, there are some pastas that make their way onto the menu based on the seasons and ingredient availability. The Gnocchi is a great example of this. Right now, the current gnocchi dish is Gnocchi alla Norma with eggplant, tomato and ricotta salata. Last month when I visited Rocca, the Gnocchi was served with spring garlic pesto, gorgonzola and walnuts. Another one of Rocca’s gnocchi variations that I had the pleasure of enjoying in August of 2022 was comprised of brown butter, asparagus, trout roe and garlic cream. This rendition of their gnocchi was the first of the three mentioned that I ate (and is perhaps my favorite, thus far). There are a few pastas that can be ordered that are off-menu items – one of those pastas is the Cacio e Pepe. It’s the best preparation of the dish that I have ever had and […]

The Sourdough Co. is located in the former Baum Ave Market building in the vibrant Edge District, and adjacent to Intermezzo. The Sourdough Co. is a bright, airy haven for food lovers. With its high ceilings and abundant natural light, this charming eatery creates an inviting atmosphere that draws you in from the moment you step through the door. I visited on a busy Saturday at 11:30 am, and nearly every table was occupied—a promising sign of the culinary delights to come. The menu at The Sourdough Co. is a tribute to the art of simplicity and freshness. From breakfast and lunch sandwiches made with their signature house sourdough bread to wraps, soups, salads, and an array of baked goods, there’s something for everyone. And let’s not forget the excellent coffee and teas from Teabella to complement your meal. One of the standout features of this place is the commitment to using fresh, never frozen ingredients. The portions are generous, ensuring you leave fully satisfied. Most dishes are straightforward, allowing the quality of the ingredients to shine.   Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich This was a winner! The sourdough bread was perfectly toasted, creating a delightful crunch with every bite. The grilled chicken was juicy and bursting with flavor, and the bacon was crisped to perfection. The sharp cheddar, mixed greens, tomato, and onion added a fresh, vibrant touch. My only (minor) gripe? I could have used a bit more ranch. But that might just be my love for the creamy dressing talking. Sourdough Italian Sandwich Another home run. This sandwich featured a delicious mix of ham, salami, prosciutto, provolone, mixed greens, tomato, onion, mayo, and a housemade Italian sub sauce, all enveloped in that fantastic toasted sourdough. Each bite was a combination of flavors that left me craving more. English Muffin Sandwich A delightful breakfast option. The sourdough English muffin was light yet satisfying, holding together a perfectly fried egg, cheddar cheese, mayo, and bacon. It’s a simple combination, but when the ingredients are this fresh, simplicity is all you need. Baked Goods Galore The Sourdough Co. boasts an impressive range of baked goods, all with a sourdough twist. Here’s a quick rundown of what I tried: Crumb Cake: Perfectly sweet with a delightful crumb topping. Cosmic Brownie: A high-quality version of the classic kid’s treat. Chewy and chocolatey. Chocolate Chip Cookie: Almost cake-like in texture. Very soft, but I wished for a bit more texture. Excellent when combined with the brownie in their Brookie. Brookie: The perfect marriage of brownie and cookie. Blueberry Lemon Loaf: Light, fresh, and bursting with citrusy flavor. Cinnamon Pop Tart: Nostalgic and delicious with a modern twist. While the pastries were enjoyable, the sandwiches truly stole the show for me. The balance of fresh, flavorful ingredients, generous portions, and the unbeatable sourdough bread make The Sourdough Co. a must-visit. Whether you’re there for a hearty lunch or a sweet treat, you’re in for a delightful experience. I’ll definitely be back to explore more of their menu!

Picture this: a warm summer evening with a sizzling grill and the aroma of a perfectly cooked steak wafting through the air. These grilled steak and avocado tacos combine the smoky and rich character of grilled steak with the contrast of the lightly seared, yet smooth and creamy nature of the avocado. Though, the true star of the show is the gochujang-tahini sauce. It adds a unique and spicy kick to each bite. If you’ve never experience grilled avocado, welcome! It’s a summer dream. We eat at least one avocado per day in our household, mostly in smooth or salad from, so this expression of the fruit is a delight. If you’re really into spice, feel free to add more gochujang; though, you may need to thin the sauce out with more water. Street-style tacos (the smaller almost bite-size tortillas) are our preference, but you can use whatever tortillas you like. Rollin’ Oats has a supreme selection of both corn and flour tortillas that range in size. Additionally, you can also find grain-free tortillas that are made with almond flour, etc. from brands like Siete (a favorite of ours). When it comes to steak, everyone has their own preference. For this steak taco recipe, you can use whatever you like and prefer to cook. My preference is a New York Strip or a Ribeye, but if you prefer the latter, fret not – the cook time is the same. One non negotiable for me when it comes to steak, no matter the cut, is if it’s organic/grass-fed – that’s a requirement. Luckily, that is something that Rollin’ Oats also takes into consideration. They offer quality grass-fed and organic meats from brands like Thousand Hills and Dakota. Grilled Steak and Avocado Tacos with Gochujang-Tahini Recipe This is a less traditional take on a taco, but the combination of ingredients fully deliver with flavor. If you're really into spice, add as much Gochujang to the tahini sauce as desired. Gochujang-Tahini Sauce1/4 cup tahini1 1/2 tbsp gochujang2 tbsp water (plus 1 tsp, if needed)1 1/2 tsp salt (plus more, to taste)1 tsp rice wine vinegar1 lime (juice only)Steak & Taco Assembly1 avocado (ripe but still semi firm – cut into half moon slices)1 steak (New York strip or Ribeye)8 tortillas (for 2 tacos per person (use more if desired))1/4 cup white onion (diced)1/4 cup cilantro (roughly chopped (optional – scallions would also be great))2 tbsp olive oilsaltlime wedges (to serve, optional) Gochujang-Tahini SauceWhisk all ingredients together until smooth but drippy. Season with more salt as needed. Set Aside until ready to assemble tacos.Steak & Taco AssemblyOne hour (at least) before you plan to cook your steak, salt it heavily all over and place it on a plate. Refrigerate for one hour. Take it out to sit at room temperature 20 minutes before grilling.Heat grill to high for 15 minutes. Brush steaks all over with 1 tbsp olive oil and salt both sides. Grill steaks for 5 minutes, flip and grill for another 3-5 minutes for medium rare. Remove steaks from the grill, tent with foil and allow them to rest for 5-7 minutes. While the steaks rest, brush avocado slices with remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil and season with salt on both sides. Grill avocado slices for 5 minutes, flipping halfway through.After steak has rested, slice it against the grain. To assemble the tacos, top with 1-2 pieces of steak, avocado and onion. Drizzle the gochujang-tahini sauce on top and garnish with cilantro or scallions. Dinner, Main CourseAmerican, MexicanGrilled Steak & Avocado Tacos with Gochujang Tahini  

Elevate your next dinner situation with crispy chicken cutlets topped with charred sweet peppers, homemade hot honey and a shower of minced chives. It’s a crunchy, hot, sweet, tangy dish that is chock-full of flavor and certain to leave you full of happiness and content after consumption. This recipe takes classic chicken cutlets to a new level, offering a crispy and golden exterior that encases juicy and tender meat. The charred sweet peppers perfectly complement the sweet heat from the hot honey and make for the perfect cutlet accessories. Minced chives assist in making these crispy cutlets next level with their fresh and vibrant characteristics. If you can’t be bothered with making your own hot honey, Rollin’ Oats carries Mike’s hot honey which is superb. I promise you though, making your own hot honey is a breeze. I suggest making it with honey that is raw and/or organic. Each stovetop is different, so the cook time for the chicken will vary. Keep a close eye on the chicken while in the oil as they do brown and cook quickly. Our cutlets took approximately 1 1/2 minutes to cook on each side on our stove. If you’re looking for an additional side to pair with the cutlets, I recommend a light and fresh side like an arugula salad dressed in lemon and olive oil. Crispy Chicken Cutlets with Hot Honey Recipe Savor this delightful combination of crispy chicken cutlets, hot honey with a punch and charred mini sweet peppers for your next easy yet crowd-pleasing dinner. Hot Honey1/2 cup honey (preferably raw and organic )1 jalapeno (sliced into thin rounds)1 1/2 tbsp crushed red pepper1 tsp red wine vinegar1/4 tsp saltCharred Sweet Peppers1 cup mini sweet peppers (sliced into thin rounds)1 tbsp olive oil1/4 salt (I always use pink Himalayan )Chicken Cutlets2 chicken breasts (each one split to make 4 total chicken breast cutlets)1/2 cup olive oil (or other oil of choice)1 cup all purpose flour1 cup panko breadcrumbs1/3 cup parmesan cheese (finely grated)2 eggs1 tsp salt (plus more for seasoning)pepper1/4 cup chives (minced) Hot HoneyCombine honey, jalapeno and crushed red pepper in a small pot. Place the pot over medium heat. As soon as the pot comes to a gentle simmer, remove the pot from the heat and allow the chilis to infuse the honey for 15 minutes. Strain the honey mixture through a fine mesh sieve. Set aside until chicken is complete. Leftover honey can be stored in a container in the refrigerator for one week. Charred PeppersHeat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium high heat (this will be the same pot that you will fry the chicken in). Add the peppers and salt and saute for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pepper rings are charred. Remove peppers from heat and place in a bowl until ready to serve.Chicken Cutlets & PlatingOne at a time, place each cutlet between two pieces of plastic wrap. Pound them out until they are 1/4" thick. Season each cutlet with salt and pepper on both sideslPlace the flour, whisked egg and panko-parmesan-salt mixture into three separate bowls.Dredge each pounded cutlet in the flour, followed by the egg (allowing excess to drip off), followed by the panko mixture. Place on a clean plate.Heat oil in the pot or dutch oven and heat over medium high heat. One at a time, fry each chicken cutlet for four minutes (1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side – keep a close eye on them), until cutlets are golden, crispy and cooked throgh.Place them on a wire rack that is stacked on a parchment-lined baking sheet.To serve, place a cutlet on a plate, top with some peppers, drizzle with hot honey and garnish with lots of chopped chives. Dinner, Main CourseAmericanCrispy Chicken Cutlets with Hot Honey

Indulge in this spring/summer recipe delight of Grilled Shrimp Tostadas with Mango & Papaya Salsa. The spice-coated shrimp are kissed by the flames of the grill and are accompanied by a refreshing mango & papaya salsa, creamy avocado sauce and zesty lime-dressed watercress. All of these components are layered atop a beautifully crisped organic corn tortilla. While there are a few different elements to assemble for this tostada recipe, don’t let them intimidate you. Each one comes together in no time with very minimal effort. The only step that may be a bit demanding is the peeling and deveining of the shrimp. However, this can be avoided by purchasing shrimp that are already peeled and deveined. For your convenience, Rollin’ Oats carries two types of frozen ready to cook shrimp – a 12oz bag by Wixter and a 32oz bag by Baywinds. The quality of both products is top notch. In this recipe, I have included two different ways of transforming the corn tortillas into crunchy tostadas. Feel free to prepare them in whichever way feels more comfortable to you. The first way is perhaps the most popular – on the stove by frying with some canola oil or another oil with a high smoke point. The second method is the easier of the two and requires less steps and ingredients and this is by utilizing the grill. If you choose to go this route, just make sure to keep an eye on the tortillas as they can burn quickly (I did this my first try). Make sure to have each part of the grilled shrimp tostada recipe prepped and ready before heading to the grill to cook your shrimp. The salsa, avocado sauce and tostada shells should be ready for assembly and the shrimp should be tossed in their oil and spices and threaded onto skewers. Grilled Shrimp Tostada with Mango & Papaya Salsa Recipe This grilled shrimp tostada recipe is bursting with lively flavors and in season ingredients. Prepare your salsa, avocado sauce and tostada shells before you head to the grill. The cook time is quick and assembly is a breeze. large bamboo skewers Papaya & Mango Salsa1/2 cup papaya (diced into small pieces)1 mango (ripe, diced into small pieces)1/2 cup red onion (diced)1/2 cup frozen sweet yellow corn (cooked per package instructions and cooled)1/4 cup cilantro (chopped)1 jalapeno (minced)1 lime1/2 tsp salt (plus more, to taste)Avocado Sauce1 avocado (ripe, discard pit and skin)1 lime1/4 cup water (plus more for a thinner sauce)1/4 cup cilantro (roughly chopped)1/2 tsp salt (plus more, to taste)Shrimp & Tostada Assembly12 shrimp (peeled and deveined)1/2 tsp smoked paprika1/2 tsp garlic powder1/2 tsp salt1/4 tsp cayenne1 tsp olive oil4 corn tortillas1/2 cup canola oil2 cups watercress1 lime (divided – use 1/2 for watercress and cut the remaining half into small wedges for serving)cilantro (optional, for serving) Papaya & Mango SalsaCombine all ingredients in a medium bowl, season to taste with salt and refrigerate until ready to assemble tostadas.Avocado SauceCombine all ingredients in a high-powered blender like a Vitamix. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Add water, 1 tsp at a time, to thin the sauce as much as you'd like. Season to taste with salt. Refrigerate until ready to assemble tostadas.TostadasThere are two ways to turn your tortillas into tostadas – frying in oil or simply on the grill. To fry in oil, heat oil in a medium pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Line a plate with a paper towel. Fry one tortilla at a time for about 3.5-4 minutes, flipping halfway through, until tortilla's are crisp and begin to take on some golden color. Place on paper towel-lined plate and repeat with remaining tortillas.To grill, heat the grill over medium-high heat to about 350F. Add tortillas and grill for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until tortillas begin to crisp and take on some color. Keep the grill on for the shrimp.Shrimp & Tostada AssemblySoak bamboo skewers in water for at least 10 minutes. Toss shrimp in a bowl with olive oil and spices. Thread three shrimp onto each skewer.Place skewers over medium hight heat and cook for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until shrimp are cooked through. Remove shrimp from grill and skewers and prepare to assemble tostadas.Toss watercress with juice of 1/2 of lime. Begin tostada assembly by spreading a dollop of avocado sauce on the tostada shell.Top sauce with lime-dressed watercressSpoon over some salsaTop each tostada with 3 pieces of shrimpGarnish tostadas with cilantro and serve with lime wedges (optional) Dinner, Main DishMexicanGrilled Shrimp Tostadas

This zero-fuss bacon and spinach quiche recipe should be your new weekend go-to brunch. The effort required to craft this crowd pleaser is minimal and the reward is quite high. Additionally, you can transform this quiche into anything you want with the mix-ins. In my opinion, the bacon and spinach combination are fantastic, but feel free to get creative. I recommend limiting the mix-ins to just two and be sure not to exceed two cups in total. Sausage, onion, asparagus, ham and bell pepper would also work well in this quiche recipe. Another customizable component to this quiche is the cheese. The recipe calls for one total cup of grated cheese, but that’s the only guideline that you need to follow. I used a 50/50 blend of sharp white cheddar and a creamy fontina and it turned out better than expected. I initially planned to use gruyere in place of the fontina, but the fontina is what I came across first at Rollin’ Oats and I simply couldn’t resist it. They carry both cheeses though – they have Finlandia and Emmi brand gruyere and Belgioso fontina. Other types of cheese I suggest using are feta, swiss and even mozzarella. If you’re up for it, you can absolutely make your own pie crust; however, store bought frozen crusts will make your life much easier. Just make sure to allow for 20 minutes or so of thawing time. Rollin’ Oats carries a set of two organic pie shells by Wholly Wholesome brand and they’re delicious. They also have gluten free shells available by the same brand and they’re equally as good. Bacon and Spinach Quiche Recipe Use this quiche recipe as a base for making any quiche. Feel free to get creative with the mix-ins, but don't use too many (I wouldn't go beyond three). 1 pie crust (store bought, thawed)4 eggs1/2 cup heavy cream1/2 cup whole milk1/2 cup bacon (cooked and crumbled)1 1/2 cups spinach (fresh)1 cup cheese (shredded, plus more for serving/topping before baking – I used sharp cheddar and fontina, but feel free to use what you love. )1/2 tsp salt1/4 tsp black pepper Heat oven to 375F. Place a piece of parchment paper on the thawed pie crust and weigh down with pie weights (or small oven-safe utensil – I used a small skillet). Bake for 15 minutes. Remove parchment and weights and poke holes all over the bottom of the crust with a fork. Bake for another 6 minutes or until the crust begins to turn golden.Reduce oven heat to 350F. Combine eggs, heavy cream, milk, salt and pepper in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high for one minute.Stir in cheese, crumbled bacon and spinach.Carefully pour quiche mixture into partially baked pie crust. Top with more grated cheese (optional).Bake quiche for 45-50 minutes, or until quiche is set and no longer jiggly and crust is crisp and golden. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Slice quiche into 4 even pieces and serve. Breakfast, Brunch, Main DishAmericanBacon and Spinach Quiche

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Tesco vegan burger recall: veggie Plant Chef burgers removed from UK supermarkets - Food Standards Agency

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• Tesco has recalled its 240g Tesco Plant Chef 2 Meat-Free Burgers with Melting Middle
• The recall is due to a potential burn risk as the burgers' centre may remain excessively hot after cooking
• The recall is a precautionary measure to prevent potential burns when biting into the burgers
• Customers are advised not to eat the burgers and to return them to any Tesco store for a full refund
• For questions or further assistance, customers can contact Tesco Customer Service

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A major UK supermarket has issued a recall for its “melt in the middle” meat-free vegan burgers due to a potential burn risk.

Tesco has recalled the 240g Tesco Plant Chef 2 Meat-Free Burgers with Melting Middle, following concerns that the product might remain too hot for safe consumption after cooking.

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The box describes the burgers—made from fava bean and pea protein—as “succulent and tangy” with an “American style mustard and gherkin melt.” The recall, issued on Friday (16 August), states: “Tesco are taking the precautionary step of recalling Tesco Plant Chef 2 Meat-Free Burgers with Melting Middle because the centre of the burgers may maintain a high temperature once cooked. This may result in a burn risk to customers.”

Customers are advised not to consume the burgers and to return them to any Tesco store for a full refund - with no receipt required - or contact Tesco Customer Service on 0800 505 555.

According to a Food Standards Agency alert , “the melting middle could potentially cause a burn risk to consumers when biting into the burger.”

It's unclear when the product first appeared on shelves, but a blog posted a photo of the burgers on Facebook at the end of June, with commenters noting the centre was like “lava.”

While food is typically hot when cooked, the issue here is that these particular burgers might retain excessive heat in their centre, posing a burn risk when bitten into.

This means that even if the burgers are cooked according to the instructions, the middle could remain too hot, which could cause burns.

The recall is a precaution to ensure customer safety and prevent potential injuries; all types of burgers, whether meat-free or meaty, would face a recall if they posed a similar risk.

There have been previous instances where food products were recalled due to burn risks.

Some frozen meals or pizzas have been recalled because they could remain too hot in certain areas, and products that require microwave cooking can sometimes be recalled if the packaging or cooking instructions result in uneven heating.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this recall. Have you encountered similar issues with food products, or do you have any questions about the recall process? Share your experiences and insights in the comments section.

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Breaking news, top ceo bashes kamala harris price-fixing plan: put the ‘last nails in the coffin of this economy’.

The CEO of Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, reacted to Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic proposal last week, saying the government has “no business” controlling prices. 

Bob Unanue told Fox News guest host Will Cain on “Jesse Watters Primetime” that the Biden-Harris administration has “started a war” against the middle class from fossil fuels to green energy since “day one.”

“They’re using a nail gun to put the last nails in the coffin of this economy and this country,” he said. “From day one, they put in executive orders that set this country on a disastrous path.”

“You know, when I was a kid, if you had a lemonade stand and it cost $0.10 for the glass, the straw, the product to go to the store to get it, and then the government comes along and says, I want you to sell that lemonade for a penny. You know, you just got to fold up your lemonade stand and go home,” he said. 

“And the grocery business, which does make 1 to 2% and hires a lot of people, those people are forced to… we’re going to put them out of business by controlling pricing.”

Former President Trump took aim at Harris for her economic proposal at a rally in Pennsylvania, saying her plans would cause “rationing, hunger and skyrocketing prices.”

“Comrade Kamala announced that she wants to institute socialist price controls. You saw that never worked before. Never ever worked,” he said.

In a post on his Truth Social platform Sunday, Trump said Harris is a “communist.”

“Comrade Kamala Harris is terrible for our Country. She is a Communist, has always been a Communist, and will always be a Communist,” he wrote. “Under her ‘leadership,’ the USA will fail, and fail quickly. We will not let that happen!!!”

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331 Swiss International passengers get stranded 20 hours in Kazakhstan after plane goes off runway

Swiss international air lines flight makes 'stopover,' gets stuck during attempted takeoff.

Lufthansa Airlines Boeing 747 seen bouncing off LAX runway

Lufthansa Airlines Boeing 747 makes hard, bouncing landing at Los Angeles airport on Tuesday, video shows. Courtesy: Airline Videos Live via YouTube

Hundreds of air passengers had to wait nearly a day to carry on with their travels after their plane got stuck in the mud attempting to take off after a "stopover" in Kazakhstan on Saturday.

Swiss International Air Lines Flight 161's intended travel route was from Tokyo to Zurich. Instead, it stopped at Astana International Airport due to a medical incident, the airline confirmed to FOX Business.  

"The passenger concerned was handed over to medical personnel on site," Swiss International Air Lines said in a statement.

When the Boeing 777 prepared to take off again, Astana's taxiway was closed, which meant the pilots had to try to turn the plane around 180 degrees while still on the runway. 

LUFTHANSA CONFIRMS 'ROUGH LANDING' BY BOEING 'TRAINING FLIGHT' CAUGHT ON CAMERA BOUNCING OFF LAX RUNWAY

A Swiss International Air Lines Boeing 777-300ER arrives at Los Angeles International Airport at the start of the Labor Day holiday on Aug. 31, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images / Getty Images)

"The aircraft's nose wheel got caught in the grass," according to one user on X. Post pictures show the plane stuck in mud. It was towed back onto the runway before being checked for any damage.

As for the passengers, Austrian Airlines stepped in to help its "sister airline," the company confirmed to FOX Business.  "Austrian Airlines sent a Boeing 777-200 aircraft to the Kazakh capital Astana to transport the passengers of SWISS to Vienna," a statement reads. The 331 passengers took off 20 hours after their first plane landed in Kazakhstan. 

After that, Swiss International Air Lines dispatched another 777 to take them from Vienna to Zurich. 

Both Austrian and Swiss International Air Lines are part of Lufthansa group. 

SWISS AIR FLIGHT TAKEOFF FROM NYC TO ZURICH ABORTED AFTER 4 JETS CLEARED TO CROSS RUNWAY: REPORT

Swiss Air Boeing 777 at Los Angeles International Airport on June 18, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images / Getty Images)

"We thank all our passengers for their understanding and patience in this exceptional and unforeseen situation," Swiss told Business Insider. "We apologize once again for any inconvenience caused. A big thank you also goes to all the employees involved for their tireless and outstanding efforts."

No passengers were injured, and the plane that got stuck was cleared to return to flying after being checked out by airline technical specialists in consultation with Boeing, local and Swiss authorities. A new Swiss International Air Lines crew will transfer the aircraft to Zurich as soon as possible, the airline said.  

In this photo illustration, the Swiss International Air Lines logo is displayed on a smartphone screen.  (Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Back in April, a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Los Angeles had a "rough landing" at Los Angeles International Airport. 

The Boeing 747-8 was caught on camera by LA-based Airline Videos Live, bouncing off the runway and attempting to land again before taking off, circling around the airport and then finally landing safely after its second attempt. 

Days prior, a Swiss International Air Lines flight traveling from New York City to Zurich had to abort takeoff, averting a "potentially dangerous situation," the airline confirmed.

Flight LX17 from John F. Kennedy Airport left the gate at 4:21 p.m. April 17, according to FlightAware. The aircraft was cleared for takeoff at the same time an air traffic controller on another frequency cleared four other jets to cross the runway, according to audio obtained by NPR. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS  

"Due to the high level of situational awareness and quick reaction of our crew, a potentially dangerous situation was quickly de-escalated," Swiss International Air Lines said in a statement to FOX Business.

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