The purpose of this blog is to clarify essential areas of operations, that are crucial to the success of your business, using simple and understandable language.
To navigate your journey successfully, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the various professionals you may encounter and interact with. Professionals like your Suppliers, Accountant, Landlord, Trades people, and Councils.
Then there are areas where you do not need to communicate with anyone, but you need to understand the moving parts within your business in order to make better decisions. These areas are Stock Control, Procurement, Menu Planning, Point of Sale Systems, Inventory Management, Rostering, Time Management.
We will examine a bit more in depth, into all these areas to get a full understanding of each segment, then we will create templates and worksheets so that we can monitor these areas at a glance. The key benefit here therefore is to ultimately free up your time.
Imagine dedicating only 5-10 hours per month to monitor and update your business operations, having access to real-time information about its performance.
Think about the advantage of being able to swiftly adapt and modify procedures based on this information, making informed decisions with ease.
Picture the peace of mind that comes with actively managing your business, rather than just working on it – without knowing what truly impacts its success.
We do not plan to fail, but we fail to plan
I remember days when I was so engulfed in the day-to-day operations, I felt I could not get my head up above the trenches to see what was happening.
I was so busy putting out little fires that I was too exhausted to gather my thoughts and change things. Sometimes this went on for weeks, where my focus was on areas that should have been set up and managed.
I guess what I am saying is we need to set up our businesses, like we are ready to franchise. Have all the policies and procedures in place so that every time when we fail, we can revert back to status quo, gain control and move forward.
So, what we are going to unveil, are a few tips and tricks that require a bit of your time now, so that you do not have to revisit them on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
The sole purpose of reviewing them is simply to update the information and to assess the progress of things.
I want you to appreciate that knowledge and understanding is key.
Thinking cap time
Do not think that some information and data that is available to you is trivial and that you do not need to know.
Do not think it will not happen, or have a blasé attitude towards something you do every day and hope it works out well. Ask questions to keep the mind open, to new opportunities.
Take the knowledge you have surrounding you, and use it to make informed decisions, so that your staff, and your customers, can go home saying that today was a great day at your business.
10 Questions to get the brain stimulated.
- Do I have the knowledge to do this?
- Can this task be delegated?
- How can this be streamlined for efficiency?
- Are there professionals I can outsource this to?
- If this was on a To Do list, what priority number would I allocate?
- Will this build me efficiencies, save me money, or will it build my sales and income?
- Does this keep me up at night?
- What are the potential risks and benefits of doing this task?
- How does this task align with my personal and professional goals?
- Are there any alternative approaches to achieving the same outcome?
Figure easy solutions to big problems. Use simple forms to get an understanding and accurate picture of what is happening in your business.
Systems and Automation
Have very strong solid systems in place. Do one thing well then document and systemize it, then you do not need to be part of that system anymore.
Document systems and automate those systems to remove yourself from the day to day, so you can focus on the things that matter.
You are probably reading this and thinking that you got into this business because you enjoy cooking, or your love for making great looking and tasting coffees. If you have that passion and enthusiasm then that is great.
All I am trying to say here is that the business needs to operate exactly the same if you were there or not. Customers need the same attentive service, quality, and experience every time they visit. If you got sick or had an accident, your business needs to function just the same. Everyone knows what to do in your absence without any questions.
To put it another way, when it is time to sell your business, the ultimate outcome that the buyer would prefer is a business where the staff can handle the operations independently without the owner’s involvement, rather than a business where the owner is working 70 hours a week and the staff appear to lack direction and management.
Take what you want
I have identified in my previous post “Knowledge changes the game,” that there are eight key areas that need to be managed in order to have not only a successful cafe, but a success for any business.
We will over time break these areas down, and work them over for the best possible outcome for your business. I understand that every business is different, but if you can pluck out a few ideas for yourself and implement them within your business, then that is a win for us both.
My blog posts and ideas are developed from my own experiences, and learnings, good and bad. I will endeavor to break my knowledge down to simple language and explanations. I am by no means a guru that will tell you how it has to be, but rather a guide to encourage you to contemplate the benefits of trying.
If you are comfortable – you will not grow, unless you try different things. A small change in your business every day could make a 1% improvement, which over time would have a greater impact on your operations and financials.
Everyone who enters this industry has a passion and wants to be a success, and unfortunately for various reasons some will not realize that dream. It is my intention to offer my knowledge to help others, to provide inspiration and confidence. The Hospitality industry is fun, exciting, and can also be rewarding if you understand a few key areas of operations. With systems and procedures, you can help your business achieve a level where it may not need you for a few days. If that sounds appealing to you, I look forward to providing as much content for you, as I can…