Culinary Business Tips in Young Age

As we know, the culinary business is a type of endeavor that will never fade away over time. The reason, of course, is because food is everyone's primary need.

That's what fuels the spirit of business enthusiasts. Not only the elderly, but young entrepreneurs are also now involved in the culinary business, with new entrepreneurs emerging every year.

This fierce competition forces entrepreneurs to continuously innovate and evolve to become the best. So, it's no wonder that the culinary business is always evolving, both in terms of service and the menu offered.

Therefore, for beginners, especially those who are still young, they must pay attention to every detail before starting their culinary business journey. Of course, to be better prepared to face business competition.

So, what should be considered before opening a culinary business?

Here are some tips that can be applied by beginners who are still young:

1. Business Plan

Before focusing on the culinary products themselves, a business plan must be prepared thoroughly. Concrete steps that need to be decided upon include branding, target market, brand identity, types of culinary products, and operational systems.

This business plan will serve as a guideline for the initial steps in running the business.

2. Product Ideas & Uniqueness

The intense competition in the culinary business requires entrepreneurs to highlight the uniqueness of their products.

Therefore, it is essential to identify the uniqueness and specialization (Unique Selling Points/USP) of the products to be sold. The uniqueness can vary, such as taste, price, portion size, etc.

3. Target Customers

The next crucial step is to determine the target customers. Entrepreneurs can identify potential customers based on demographics, such as age, gender, income level, occupation, background (ethnicity/religion), etc.

4. Competitor Research

Compete healthily with dozens or hundreds of culinary entrepreneurs out there by conducting research.

Before starting a business, it is advisable to know the strengths and weaknesses of competitors, so that the business can be better than theirs. Meanwhile, the right way to compete is to know the price, taste, and packaging.

5. Business Location

Choosing a business location cannot be arbitrary. Entrepreneurs can choose a strategic location to make it more known to the public.

Additionally, if selling products directly, it is advisable to provide a dining area and parking space for customers. However, if preferring a home-based business, it is better to provide a store or warehouse to store raw materials and finished products.

6. Find Suppliers/Vendors

When running a culinary business, entrepreneurs will surely collaborate with various parties, including kitchen equipment vendors and food suppliers.

Here, entrepreneurs must be very careful in choosing suppliers and vendors who can provide the best products at competitive prices.

However, it is advisable not to rely on only one vendor and supplier, so that production does not stop when the supplier cannot meet the demand.

7. Financial Planning

The next crucial step is to prepare and determine the budget needed, including the source of funds for purchasing raw materials, operational costs, and short-term and long-term financial planning.

8. Promotion Strategy

One of the simplest and proven effective promotion strategies is word of mouth. However, of course, entrepreneurs must be able to attract customers and make them taste the offered menu. If they are satisfied, it is not impossible for them to return and recommend the product to others.

In addition to offline promotion as mentioned above, entrepreneurs can also maximize social media and websites. Here, entrepreneurs must be adept at practicing social media marketing. Starting from planning promotional content to sharing it on social media.

9. Establish SOPs & Recruit Employees

The next step is to establish a series of rules and procedures so that all teams in the business can carry out their tasks well, consistently, and according to standards. This will greatly affect the business in terms of food quality and service.

After having Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), entrepreneurs can improve business productivity by recruiting employees. Of course, entrepreneurs must choose candidates who can collaborate and carry out SOPs well.

10. Monitor Product Quality & Service

After the business is running, entrepreneurs need to control and monitor the business regularly. Aspects that need attention include raw materials, equipment, production processes, as well as presentation and delivery to customers. So, make sure the food or drinks served have high quality.

11. Always Scale Up Business Knowledge

The last tip is to always scale up or improve your business knowledge so that you can face business challenges with the right steps.

In addition to reading, watching, and exchanging ideas with fellow entrepreneurs, you can also scale up by attending webinars and seminars.

So, those are some tips that can be applied by young entrepreneurs. What needs to be remembered is to carry out all the steps carefully and precisely so that the business can run smoothly, and customers can feel satisfied when enjoying the products served.