How To Open a Grocerant: 3 Simple Steps
Opening a grocerant – a grocery restaurant – can be a lucrative and unique business idea that offers your customers a modern and efficient way to purchase food. However, creating a business that straddles two purposes is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution.
If you’ve already raised the capital and pinpointed your employees, but are stuck on next steps, read on to learn more about the steps involved in opening a grocerant, and how using a point of sale (POS) system can simplify the process.
1. Obtain Grocery and Restaurant Permits and Licenses
When you open any small business, you will need to obtain a variety of permits and licenses to operate. These include business licenses, a food service permit, proper insurance (from general liability to worker’s compensation) and health department inspections to ensure that your grocerant complies with local regulations.
If your grocerant serves beer, wine, or liquor, you will also need to obtain a specific license to sell alcohol. Keep in mind that license requirements vary per state, so be sure to research your locale’s necessary inspections and permits.
2. Purchase Inventory and Equipment
A key component of a grocerant is the inventory and equipment needed to run a successful operation. This includes purchasing grocery items, kitchen equipment, and other necessary supplies. Below are just a few of your grocerant’s must haves:
- Commercial freezers and refrigerators
- Shelving and other furniture
- Cash registers and POS systems (more on this later!)
- Scales
- Label printers
- Shopping carts
- Signage
- Paper and plastic bags
- Industrial cleaning supplies
- Your starting inventory
- Office supplies
- Serving equipment
- Customer seating
3. Implement an Industry-Specific POS System
A POS system is an essential tool for any grocerant: Who wouldn’t want software that can help you manage sales, inventory, and customer data all in one place? And, of course, a POS system will also simplify the process of accepting payments, managing purchase orders, and tracking inventory.
When choosing a POS system, it’s important to consider your specific business needs, including the type of products and services you offer, the size of your operation, and your budget. Look for a system that offers features such as smart reporting, employee management, and integration with other business tools, like accounting and security hardware.
Remember, integration isn’t just limited to business features, though – a grocerant point of sale solution, like Markt POS, can integrate with other hardware, like your scale and label printers, optimizing your grocerant’s operations.
3. Market and Launch Your Grocerant
Finally, you will need to market your new business to attract customers and build a loyal customer base. This includes creating a marketing plan, launching a website and social media presence, and hosting events or promotions to generate buzz around your new business.
A great way to establish your grocerant’s brand and keep your new customers coming back for more is to establish a customer loyalty program. Once again, your POS system will come in handy. Many POS solutions — Markt POS included — offer users a baked-in customer loyalty program, allowing return customers to rack up reward points. This also makes it easy for you to discount their transactions and send out customized, delicious deals.
Opening a Grocerant: Your Unique Journey
Opening a grocerant will be both challenging and rewarding, but by following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your grocerant is set up for success.
Perhaps our best piece of advice? Implement an industry-specific POS system with all of the features you need included. By doing so, you can streamline all your business operations, from store security to inventory management.
At the end of the day, a powerful point of sale like Markt POS will be an invaluable piece of your grocerant launch preparation.
So, don’t wait a day longer. If you’re ready to run a successful and efficient grocerant, schedule a demo with our team today!
