Have you started a sandwich shop business

[businessinmind]

Im really keen to open a sandwich shop in my local area, ive found a potential shop but its to lease. Has anyone opened a sandwich shop and could you give me any pointers that I would need to consider.

Thanks

No experience but i guess its important to consider location, location to offices , route of traffic and potential customers, parking facilities.Hope all goes well

I have worked in one from start up (a long time ago). what do you want to know specifically? Do you have experience working with food? Have you done a hygene course? Have you got a business plan? Does the building have A3 permission?

Ive heard about A3 today briefly from the land lord of the premises, so need to look into that more. I will do a hygiene and health and safety course, have not got a detailed business plan but have the money to start up. I am working on a business plan though. I do have limited experience of working with food.

how do you get A3 permission? Would you apply to the local council?

you have to decide what sort of trader you will be, sole trader or limited company and whether to register for VAT

will the trade be an extended lunch period or into the early evening

will you deliver

will you take orders

will you do any hot options

insurance, bank charges, professional fees

staff costs

packaging/

coffee styles

thanks Zippi - does it matter what kind of trader you are? are there any benefits to being one particular type, I would be a sole trader,

Do you have to register for vat?

Will trade to approx 3.00pm

posibly deliver

will take orders

would like to do hot options

will have to sort out insurance, bank charges, professional fees

no staffing costs at the start just me and sister

coffee styles - will keep it simple to start re the coffee

will do Fiofio - one bad sandwich and you would not go back.

you don't have to register for VAT unless you reach the threshold which is something like 56k Or so, but if you anticipate that you would in the foirst twelve months then you might find it advantageous to register from the start..it does however mean you are obliged to submit VAT accounts every 3 months or there is a scheme for small traders called cash accounting or something

it is probably simpler to be a sole trader for a sandwich operation, but you would need to ask advice from bank/accountant/business link

depending on your age and circumstances there may be grants available but unlikely if you have money already

the planning department will advise on A3 consent, taking into account various factors

it's also important to have a business plan even if you don't need loaned money as otherwise there is a danger you will never make any and won't spot where yoiuare going wrong

your business plan must include a salary for you and your partner in the business (even if you don't take one ), or the figures will look far too optimistic

the most important factor is location as fio said and consistency

You will need to pass the Food Hygiene and Safety Requirements for Catering and Other Food Preparation Facilities. You can find out information from your local college.

I will beg steal and borrow to get the money together but becuase I am over 30 I doubt I qualify for any grants / cheap loans.

I doubt very much I would make anywhere near £56k but how fantastic if I did.

What essentials for the kitchen would I need? I will have to keep costs down at first with a view to buying better and more things as I go along

what are the key recognisable points of knowing you have a good location?

Don't sign a lease agreement until you have checked out whether you can get A3 permission.

any other tips anyone?

With regards to tax you will have to register straight away even if you don't think you will make enough profit to start with.

Have you got in touch with the business advice place, in Scotland it is Business Gateway in England I think Business Link. I went on a four day course where they go through the basics of start up. You can go back for advice and support anytime. ther might be a branch of the business womans network near you too.

If you don't know what equipment you need you will have to do some serious research, good excuse to visit every sandwich bar you can find . First thing you will have to do is find out about consent though and exactly what the environmental health will expect with regards to fitting out.

I nearly went for a shop it cost me £127 for solicitors fees and £300+ for a survey that was for a lease. I don't know if I can do it with out using these professionals or not. The survey was basic stuff like listing broken tiles and broken door handles I could have done that FGS. Whatever you do make sure you get someone with a bit of knowledge to check out the lease agreement and you record/photograph the state of the property at the time of you starting the lease as they will expect you to return it to this when you finish your lease.

Tell you what why don't you just invest in my amazing Toy shop/ Party Venue, I have it all worked out I just need an investor .

check the wiring in the unit you want to lease

stand outside and count the passersby on different days of the week and realistically assess whether any of them would be likely customers (it is very easy to fool yourself on this)

assess the competition and stop people and ask them where they get lunch from at the moment

remember that you will be (hopefully)working your socks off for the hours open, how many customers can the two of you serve in that lunch time window (this where encouraging pre orders comes in to some extent)

would soup and bacon rolls go down well and if so does it make adifference to the lay out and ventilation?

the lease needs to be looked at by a professional and if it's more than three years get a break clause

Thanks for all your advise. Does anyone know how you go about finding out more about A3 and how you apply for it?

Thanks all

If you telephone your local council planning office they will advise you. You will need to make a planning application for which there will be a fee, you will probably need a plan of the premises.