Owning and operating a restaurant can be one of the most joyous and frustrating types of businesses to run. The National Restaurant Association reports that sales from the restaurant industry top $709 billion but that increase in sales is only about 1.5% when adjusted for inflation. This means that there is plenty of financial opportunity available but you must ensure that you have a rock solid marketing and advertising plan in place to be successful. If you want to surpass the average increase in sales figures, you must be willing to think outside the box and make sure that your income does more than just exceed your operating expenses.

Join the Social Scene. It is not enough to simply own a restaurant and cater to your existing book of business. You must get the word out about your location and decide what type of clientele you wish to appeal to. For example, if you want to be seen as hip and cool, you can cater to more of a younger crowd and focus less on dinners and more on appetizer and cocktail specials. Create advertising that sends the message to people wishing to relax after a long day at the office or on the weekends. Cultivate an atmosphere of dim lighting, and decorations which can act as a conversation starter. You can also hold mixers including commercial networking events. These types of activities may even bring in additional income if you charge a fee to the organization hosting the event. Creative marketing and social media can assist you in procuring these types of events and customers on a repetitive basis.

Re-vamp Your Menu Offering. These days traditional dishes are still sought after by restaurant patrons but with a bit of a different twist. Natural, organic, and locally sourced ingredients are being utilized in many restaurants and therefore may drive prices up. If you wish to compete on this level, you may alienate a few long time customers who are not willing to pay extra but you may attract a whole new customer following. Gluten-free is also gaining national attention and may again force an increase in pricing to utilize healthier, fresher ingredients. These changes need to be affordable for your restaurant to put into place and if you choose to adopt them you will be better prepared for the changing social trends.

Create the Right Ambience. What does your restaurant need? When you take a look around, what renovations jump out at you? Now is the time to take advantage of sprucing up the place and making some much needed changes. The flooring, tables, chairs, walls, ceiling, signage, parking lot, and waiting area are all places that could be updated to become more comfortable and visually appealing for your patrons. What about offering a valet service if you do not already? This will instantly add to the luxury and prestige of your restaurant. Part of the ambience is embodied by the friendliness and receptiveness of your staff. They must be well-trained to ensure that customers enjoy their meals and want to come back and give you repeat business.

Fast Funding for Your Restaurant. If you’re looking to implement some changes right now and need to get cash quickly, you can apply for a merchant cash advance with a company such as Quikstone Capital Solutions. The process is simple and easy and you can get the fast funding that you need to make your restaurant an even bigger success. It can take as little as 48 hours to see if you qualify and repayment terms are flexible and convenient. You would utilize your future credit and debit card sales for payment and there are no application fees.