8 things to know before you start your F&B business

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Singapore’s food and beverage scene is known for its diverse range of cuisines. From Asian to western, we have it all. Restaurants and food businesses are popping up everywhere. You might be one of these entrepreneurs that are looking to set up your own food and beverage business.

Before diving headfirst into setting up shop, there are some important aspects that you must know. Here are 8 things that you should know that could save you thousands of dollars.

Getting the right licences

To set up your food and beverage business, you need the right licences. However, information is not very easily found, and different people may give you varying information on what licences to apply for. Here is a government website that may help in your F&B license application.

https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/licences/foodservices

Labour is scarce, and expensive

Manpower has always been a common challenge for food and beverage businesses. Ask any experienced F&B owner, and he will tell you about his struggles with scarcity, and the rising cost of manpower in Singapore.

Locals are demanding higher work pay and are unwilling to work the long hours that F&B requires and part-timers come and go often. On top of that, the quota for hiring foreigners is tightening up, making labour a major headache for F&B owners.

A quick fix for this is to use digital tools like iMakan, to reduce heavy manpower dependence on order taking staffs by digitalizing your ordering process. Food establishments like Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant, BBQ box, Song Fa Bak Kut Teh, etc, have also adopted iMakan to help with their manpower hurdles.

Marketing Strategy

Before setting up shop, it is important to define your unique selling point and come up with a plan on how to get customers. Opening up a shop and praying that customers find you seldom works.

Test out your marketing strategy and see what works for your business before dumping your life savings into your shop, securing your road to bankruptcy. Look to some F&B establishments and get some ideas from their marketing strategy helps as well.

Getting the right location

Before committing to a location, decide on your target audience demographics. Spend some time on surveying different locations to see if your target demographic frequent the area you intend to set up shop.

Avoid rushing into decisions when choosing a location. It is easy to to make the mistake of compromising on location due to rent or impatience, which will be regretted eventually.

The chef

Did you know that some restaurants that were doing well close down overnight when their chef decides to leave? It is important to not depend on a sole person that knows how to cook.

Either learn it yourself, or take up preventive measures like legal agreements, giving equity as ownership and documenting cooking techniques along the way. Hiring someone to replicate the taste of your previous chef is not an easy task.

Service standard

Good food and good service go hand in hand. Even if you have really good food, but provide poor customer service, customers may not return, and returning customers are very important to an F&B business.

Getting a trusty POS system

Running an F&B operation can be complicated. Therefore, investing in a trusted POS solution is essential. A POS solution not only acts as a billing terminal but also helps in your operation management. For example, table management, inventory management, promotion management, and kitchen printing management as well.

Many food business owners have made the mistake of getting a cheap POS but eventually grow out of it. Investing in a trusted POS solution like MEGAPOS helps you manage your operations effectively and does not trouble you with technical difficulties. In the long run, saving you extra money.

Look out for grants in Singapore to save you cost

There are grants put up by the government to help businesses defray the cost of acquiring equipment or solutions that boost productivity through digitalization. For example, the Productivity Solutions Grant subsidises up to 80% pre-approved equipment and solutions, and the Digital Resilience Bonus gives a payout of up to $10,000 to help businesses defray the cost of adopting digital tools.

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7 Tips to Optimize Operations at Your Takeaway Food Kiosk in Singapore

By Liang Wei Liaw • 09 May, 2024

Takeaway food kiosks in Singapore generally serve the demographics of Singaporeans that are looking for quick, convenient and tasty meal options. Hence, optimizing operations at your takeaway food kiosk is essential for delivering exceptional service and maximizing profitability. With the increasing demand for quick and convenient dining options, implementing strategies to streamline processes and enhance efficiency can set your kiosk apart from the competition. Here are seven tips to help you optimize operations at your takeaway food kiosk in Singapore, leveraging self-ordering technologies and online platforms to meet customer demands and drive success. Embrace Self-Ordering Solutions Invest in self-ordering kiosks or QR code ordering systems to empower customers to place their orders independently. By offering self-service options, you can reduce wait times, minimize order errors, and improve overall efficiency at your kiosk. Emphasize user-friendly interfaces and intuitive navigation to ensure a seamless ordering experience for customers. Implement Online Ordering Platforms Extend your reach and cater to digital-savvy customers by implementing online ordering platforms for takeaway and delivery. Utilize mobile apps or web-based ordering systems to enable customers to place orders remotely and schedule pickup times at your kiosk. Provide incentives such as exclusive discounts or loyalty rewards for online orders to encourage adoption and drive sales. Optimize Menu Selection and Layout Streamline your menu selection to focus on popular and high-margin items, reducing complexity and speeding up order processing. Organize your menu layout logically, grouping similar items together and highlighting best-sellers or promotional offerings. Utilize digital menu boards or signage to display menu options clearly and attractively, guiding customers towards their desired selections. Invest in Efficient Kitchen Equipment Equip your takeaway food kiosk with efficient kitchen equipment and tools to expedite food preparation and assembly. Invest in high-quality appliances, such as commercial-grade grills, fryers, and ovens, to ensure consistent quality and timely service. Implement workflow optimizations and station layouts to minimize bottlenecks and optimize throughput during peak hours. Streamline Order Fulfillment Processes Develop streamlined order fulfillment processes to ensure orders are prepared and delivered promptly. Implement order tracking systems or digital ticketing solutions to monitor order status in real-time and prioritize tasks accordingly. Train your staff to work efficiently and communicate effectively to minimize wait times and maintain customer satisfaction. Prioritize Hygiene and Safety Measures Uphold stringent hygiene and safety protocols to ensure a clean and safe environment for both customers and staff. Implement regular cleaning and sanitation routines for all surfaces, equipment, and utensils to minimize the risk of contamination. Provide hand sanitizer stations and encourage proper hand hygiene practices among your team members. Monitor Performance and Seek Feedback Continuously monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as order processing times, customer satisfaction scores, and sales metrics to identify areas for improvement. Solicit feedback from customers through surveys, comment cards, or online reviews to gain insights into their experience and preferences. Use this feedback to iterate on your operations and enhance the overall customer experience at your takeaway food kiosk. By implementing these seven tips, you can optimize operations at your takeaway food kiosk in Singapore, delivering fast, convenient, and high-quality service to your customers. By embracing self-ordering technologies, leveraging online platforms, and prioritizing efficiency and hygiene, you can position your kiosk for success in the competitive F&B landscape. iMakan Apart from looking to value add F&B owners in Singapore through information sharing articles, iMakan also provides self ordering solutions such as self ordering kiosks, qr ordering, and online ordering solutions for F&B businesses. If you are looking for such self ordering solutions, WhatsApp us or click here to drop us an enquiry.