A Japanese Steakhouse tends to be a high end restaurant that serves Asian or Japanese cuisine. Typically, you will find sushi on the menu along with steak and other food choices. In many Japanese Steakhouse restaurants, you will find a sushi bar where customers can watch sushi being prepared. Learn how to start your own Japanese Steakhouse business and find out if it is right for you.
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Start a japanese steakhouse business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Japanese Steakhouse Business
- Form your Japanese Steakhouse Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Japanese Steakhouse Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Japanese Steakhouse Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Japanese Steakhouse Business
- Get Japanese Steakhouse Business Insurance
- Define your Japanese Steakhouse Business Brand
- Create your Japanese Steakhouse Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your japanese steakhouse business. 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 very important. Read our detailed guide on how to name your business. We recommend checking if the business name you choose is available as a web domain and securing it early so no one else can take it.
What are the costs involved in opening a japanese steakhouse business?
Your start-up cost will depend on your location. If you are going to lease, the cost will be lower. If you want to buy the property, your cost is going to be higher. It also depends on if you are buying an existing building or building something new. If you start from scratch, it could cost you close to $300,000 to open your Japanese Steakhouse. You do not want to forget about licenses, insurance, and permits. You will need to hire staff and purchase food.
What are the ongoing expenses for a japanese steakhouse business?
Your ongoing expenses will differ based on the size of your restaurant. You are going to have to pay for utilities, food, and employees. That will most likely cost an average of $20,000 per month. Then you have insurance and lease or loan payments to consider.
Who is the target market?
While this may be an obvious target market, it does not make it any less true. Your target market is those that love sushi and Japanese cuisine.
How does a japanese steakhouse business make money?
A restaurant makes money by charging customers for the food you prepare and serve to them. The menu may vary along with the price you charge per item. You can also make money by selling alcohol.
How much can you charge customers?
The prices of your dishes are going to vary. You can expect the price of a sushi roll to range from $6 to $13. Steak prices vary based on the type of steak, but they can start around $18 and go up to $60 from there. Alcohol also varies based on drink and brand of alcohol, but you can expect drink prices to start around $5.
How much profit can a japanese steakhouse business make?
The average profit of a restaurant is about $80,000. Your restaurant can have a higher profit based on how many customers you serve and the options you offer.
How can you make your business more profitable?
A great way to make your business more profitable is to update your menu options. You can create a seasonal menu and signature dishes. You can also throw parties or host special events throughout the year. You can also offer pickup orders or curbside to go orders. You can also partner with delivery services to expand your customer base.
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 japanese steakhouse business 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 japanese steakhouse business 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.
Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?
Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
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.
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.
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 japanese steakhouse business
You want to market yourself as much as you can on social media. You want to get yourself on all social media platforms. Create a professional website. When customers are looking for restaurants, they want to see a website with a menu listed. You should list your location and hours on your site.
How to keep customers coming back
The best way to retain customers is with the quality of food and service. You should get local ingredients, if possible, to connect your restaurant with the community. Use apps like Open Table to allow people to make reservations. You can create some type of loyalty program for customers to encourage them to come back.
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 ideal for someone that enjoys steak and sushi. It may also be ideal for someone with restaurant management experience. You do not have to have this experience, but it can be helpful for you to run your business.
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 japanese steakhouse business?
Regardless of the type of food your restaurant sells, they all have some of the same basic daily activities. You will spend your day ordering food, receiving food, and preparing it. You will manage your employees, serve your customers, and ensure your restaurant is clean. You will spend time paying bills and marketing your business.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful japanese steakhouse business?
While you do not need to be skilled at preparing the specific type of food for your restaurant, you should be skilled at hiring the right people. You want to create an authentic environment, so you should have some knowledge of Japanese culture.
What is the growth potential for a japanese steakhouse business?
The growth for restaurants, no matter the type, is modest. It is most likely to hold steady for another year or so and then may improve. There has been an increased appetite for steakhouses and sushi restaurants.
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 japanese steakhouse business?
You want to hire the best chef(s) you can find and afford. The food you serve will create your reputation. Your sushi chef is important, especially if you have a sushi bar. The sushi chef will be who your customers see the entire time they are in your restaurant. You want to make sure your restaurant is in a good location, one that is easy to access. You want to make your restaurant stand out from any competition you have in the area.
How and when to build a team
You are going to need to build a team before you open the doors to your restaurant. You are going to have to have a full team to operate this business.