Our members are always asking, "How much does if cost to open a restaurant?"

As part of our ongoing effort to answer this question, we responded by asking

each of our members to share their unique experiences with regard to their startup

costs. We received more than 700 responses from a variety of restaurants. Of course

no two restaurants are the same, and the cost per square foot to open a restaurant

varies greatly depending upon a litany of factors such as service style, decor,

size, and location. Nevertheless, we were able to uncover a number of statistics

that can be useful when planning your startup.

In an earlier survey,

"How

Independent Operators Finance Their Restaurants", the focus was on the various

methods that restaurateurs employed to raise money for their startup, irrespective

of service style, theme, size, or location. This segment of our Industry Surveys

reveals more detailed statistics.

The report below shows the collective responses for all respondents. While this

information is beneficial, more meaningful comparisons can be made by reviewing

the results of only those restaurants that more closely resemble your own concept.

To help you, we have filtered the responses and prepared summary reports for the

following areas:

	Service type (full service, limited service, bar, etc.)
	Geographic region
	Tenant space vs. Free-standing building
	New construction vs. remodel

We have other tools to help you determine the cost of opening a restaurant. They include:

• Restaurant Startup Checklist

• Business Plan Templates and Articles

• Business Plan Financial Projections