23/09/2026
Thinking about opening a hospitality business? Before you sign the lease or buy the equipment, there are a few numbers you really need to understand.
1. How much money do you actually need to open? Opening costs can go far beyond the obvious expenses. Think fit-out, equipment, deposits, licences, professional fees & initial stock.
2. What will it cost you to run every month? Rent, wages, utilities, insurance, rates, & suppliers.
3. Are you pricing for profit? Your prices need to account for more than the cost of the ingredients or product. Labour, overheads, VAT and your desired profit all matter.
4. How much cash will you need in the early months? A new business rarely reaches full trading capacity immediately. You need to understand how much cash you'll need while sales build.
5. What happens if sales are lower than expected? A cash flow forecast can help you see how different scenarios could affect the business - before they happen.
6. Do you understand your numbers? You don't need to be an accountant to run a hospitality business. But you do need to understand the financial information well enough to make informed decisions.
And you don't have to figure it all out alone! We created the Finance Foundations course to help hospitality business owners get to grips with these exact numbers.
Designed for new restaurant, pub, and cafe owners starting their business journey. This course gives you essential financial knowledge, systems and strategies to avoid those pitfalls, so you can start with confidence, and build a business that is both profitable and sustainable. Head to our website to sign up!
