Where are you?

Ready to go, your business plan sorted; suppliers in place; you know what look and feel you want and your menu pretty much there?

Now you just need to make it all happen!

You’ll have heard the horror stories of businesses suffering huge delays, confusion and costs at this stage. You know you need to keep your wits about you, but this is probably one of the most complex things you have ever done.

How are you going to avoid unnecessary costs and delays to get from now to opening day successfully?

In short, knowing precisely when to take what action. But how do you know that when there are hundreds of things to take care of? This is probably where we can most help you…

How we can help

From my own experience, I know that the build and launch ‘project’ is the most taxing and potentially most costly stage.

The most crucial thing we can help you with is to make sure that there are no undue delays. Actually avoiding delay is the ONLY thing you need to get right at this stage!

Each day of delay in opening costs you revenue - many hundreds of pounds daily in most cases - whether you’re borrowing or using your own funds.

Delays not only affect your revenues, but also increase your costs. Whether it’s staff starting before you are ready; contractors who find they have an extra week or two to work (and charge you for it!) or food stock purchased too early and going to waste.

A launch project includes a huge number and variety of elements, from the decorating and shop fit through to equipment ordering; staff training; trial runs of the menu etc.

We know from experience what these elements are, and the kind of plan which avoids problems. A plan that can remain flexible , but show you all the time how you are doing and what needs to be done next. A plan that recognises what needs to be done first. A plan to make sure you hit your opening date. We’d love to help you create it.

What you’ll get

The first step is to review the key things that need to be done to make sure your business launches on time. We do this using a proven process that helps you hit the deadline as well as highlighting where you need to focus when.

You get your project plan, (based on a GANTT chart), setting out what and when every little thing needs to be done. That makes for a super-motivated team focused on delivering what’s required on time.

As one of our team put it, ‘you get to see the knock-on consequences if you got one day behind!’

This will become your ‘reference’ point for the project, something to pin on your wall and be able to see on a daily basis how things are getting done. It’s quite fun to see your progress (especially when you’re ahead of the game!)

It’s inevitable that things will change. The model and approach we use accommodates that and help you to understand the impacts with minimal time on updating, maximising your time doing…

Recognising this is a journey, we’ll do three reviews between putting the plan in place and your opening to update.

Reviewing your plan with you gives you the best possible chance of opening on time and on budget.