A fusion restaurant combines two distinct types of cuisines to create a new style. For example, a Korean-Mexican restaurant may serve barbeque tacos dressed up with kimchi and jalapenos. Fusion restaurants serve to expand the culinary tastes of those in a community and can inspire everyday cooks to take more creative license with their own culinary approach.
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Start a fusion restaurant by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Fusion Restaurant
- Form your Fusion Restaurant into a Legal Entity
- Register your Fusion Restaurant for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Fusion Restaurant
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Fusion Restaurant
- Get Fusion Restaurant Insurance
- Define your Fusion Restaurant Brand
- Create your Fusion Restaurant Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your fusion restaurant. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Fusion Restaurant Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a fusion restaurant?
Costs can be extremely high to start a restaurant. The median price is about $275,000, which includes equipment, supplies, and rental costs, as well as licensing fees you’ll need for the building. However, what you pay is highly dependent on where you open and how big the place is. A hole in the wall with only space for a few seats may only cost $100,000, though you will limit your profit potential by limiting the seating.
Considering fusion restaurants do best in large cities, you’ll likely need to budget for closer to $500,000 if you’re planning to set up in a highly trafficked area. You may wish to consider starting a food truck before opening a restaurant if you want to keep your costs down.
What are the ongoing expenses for a fusion restaurant?
Ongoing expenses can include the following:
- Employee salaries
- Cost of food
- Rent
- Advertising
- Equipment repair
Who is the target market?
You want customers who are interested in trying new things when it comes to how they eat. You may have a difficult time finding a major market in smaller cities and towns in the US, so you should concentrate on the major tourist areas or large cities. You also want your clientele to be those who understand different types of cuisines separately. If they’ve never had Korean or Mexican food before, then their first experience likely shouldn’t be at a fusion restaurant because it may turn them off from both cuisines entirely.
How does a fusion restaurant make money?
Dishes are generally priced at a significant margin over the cost of what’s on the plate. Ultimately, an owner can charge whatever the market will allow, but most restaurants will triple the price of the ingredients on the plate to cover the labor costs, rents, etc. of the restaurant.
How much can you charge customers?
Customers understand that they’re paying for innovation and expertise as much as they are what’s on the actual plate. Certain chefs can create flavors so complex that a home chef could never hope to compare. Once people are hooked, this type of one-of-a-kind taste can net up to 10 times the cost of ingredients. However, you should research other restaurants in the area before determining specific price points.
How much profit can a fusion restaurant make?
Fusion restaurants can become hugely profitable, especially if they choose to franchise. However, owners can expect relatively modest gains. Restaurants usually net a profit margin between 2 and 3% of each check. So if the restaurant does $400,000 of sales in a year, that’s between $8,000 and $12,000 in profits.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Owners can consider franchising their business, or opening up a smaller, less expensive sister restaurant (e.g., take-out only.) If a business has a signature dish with a special sauce, consider selling the sauce on the website or at the physical restaurant location.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your fusion restaurant is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your fusion restaurant were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
Federal Business Licensing Requirements
There are federal regulations regarding what can and cannot be added to, sold as, and processed with food. Attached is a resource from the Food and Drug Administration detailing the process of starting a food business: How to Start a Food Business
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a fusion restaurant. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
A fusion restaurant is generally run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a fusion restaurant.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your fine dining restaurant will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
Food Regulations
When selling food, you will need licensing from a local health department; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspections
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Fusion Restaurant needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Fusion Restaurant.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a fusion restaurant
Owners need to show people why their food is different. Use social media and Yelp ads to generate interest in what you’re doing, and give out free samples so people understand what they can expect from the cuisine. Roy Choi created an empire of his Korean/Mexican fusion foods based on just a few Twitter alerts, a food truck, and a lot of hard work.
How to keep customers coming back
Excellent food and service need to be the lowest standards at your restaurants. No matter which cuisines you choose, you need to create unique flavors that can’t be found elsewhere. The best way to keep your business afloat is to listen to your customers’ feedback and then make adjustments based on what your clientele wants to see.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
This business is excellent for a foodie who enjoys introducing new flavors to people’s palates. The ideal owner should be obsessed with different combinations of foods, and familiar with how different foods, textures, and spices pair together. Owners also need to be passionate and persistent. The restaurant industry is incredibly competitive and has a low profit margin, so a solid attitude will go a long way toward succeeding at the beginning.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a fusion restaurant?
A fusion restaurant owner has a variety of tasks to complete throughout the day:
- Overseeing employees
- Ordering supplies
- Maintaining cooking equipment
- Ensuring health standards are met
- Reviewing and adjusting menus
- Advertising and marketing tasks
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful fusion restaurant?
Restaurant owners need to be organized to keep up with the many details of running a business. Ideally, the owner will have management experience in a restaurant of similar size. They’ll also need to be excellent at hiring and managing employees. Everyone from the chef to the busboy needs to be invested in order for the restaurant to succeed.
What is the growth potential for a fusion restaurant?
Growth potential is defined by a variety of factors, though it is possible to experience major growth in fusion food. Fusion restaurants are often seen as trendy due to their uniqueness, which means you have the potential for major social media proliferation as well as general word of mouth. Roy’s is a California cuisine/Hawaiian chain restaurant that has managed to achieve a very steady clientele offering fresh foods that satisfy.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a fusion restaurant?
You’ll need to see what type of need there is in any given area, and then begin to develop your ideas from there. The good news is that people (especially in large cities) are always looking for something new and different to be their next favorite take-out or sit-down restaurant. The bad news is that you may be entering an already saturated market, which means you’ll have little room for error.
Owners also need to be careful with the nuts and bolts of food preparation. Local inspections from the health department need to be treated with the utmost respect. You may want to consider having employee salaries be dependent on how well they adhere to the rules. You’ll also need to know the guidelines of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) backwards and forwards before getting started. Keep in mind that the FDA’s regulations may change as new information comes out about foods.
How and when to build a team
You should preferably be building a team as early as you possibly can — especially when it comes to management. The more people have a chance to learn about and prepare for their position in a fusion restaurant, the more likely they are to actively promote and sell both the food and experience to customers.