Congratulations! You’ve taken the leap of faith to finally open your dream restaurant; now what? Here are the top three investments for new restaurants to be successful.

As a new restaurant owner, you’re likely juggling hundreds of tasks, like perfecting your menu, hiring, and managing the construction and design. Plus, you are in a race against time–trying to bring in income ASAP and figuring out what tools and services to invest in to provide the best return on investment (ROI). While opening your new restaurant is exhilarating (and probably something you've been dreaming about for years!), it can also cause analysis paralysis. But do not fret: I’m here to help you examine the top three investments for a new restaurant so you can start making a profit ASAP. Take a deep breath; you’ve already made 1,463,257 decisions, so let Propel take the guesswork out of your next investments.

Three key areas that can significantly enhance your restaurant’s success are implementing a robust Point of Sale (POS) system with online ordering and delivery, hiring a professional photographer, and securing an experienced website designer. Here’s why these investments are critical and how they can dramatically improve your ROI.

1. Implementing a Robust POS System

A Point of Sale (POS) system is more than just a cash register. Modern POS systems streamline operations, provide valuable data insight, and enhance customer experiences. According to a study by Software Advice, 82% of restaurant owners reported an increase in sales after implementing a POS system. The automation and efficiency provided by a POS system reduce human error, improve order accuracy, reduce food waste, and speed up service, leading to higher customer satisfaction and repeat business.

Plus, POS systems offer detailed analytics on sales trends, inventory management, and customer preferences. This data-driven approach lets you make informed decisions about menu adjustments, staffing needs, efficient forecasting and ordering, and marketing strategies. A well-integrated POS system can also facilitate online orders and delivery services, tapping into the growing trend of food delivery—which is booming and is projected to keep growing, increasing from $3.7 billion in 2023 to $90.3 billion by 2030. If you need an easy way to increase your sales by over 20% each year, the restaurant-to-consumer segment for online food ordering reached 760 million users, providing a 20% increase year-over-year.

Lastly, are you looking for a quick and effective way to increase your profit without needing to reach more consumers? Offer delivery through your POS integration on your website. Customers who opt for delivery typically spend 20% more at a restaurant than those who pick up their orders.

2. Hiring a Professional Photographer

First impressions matter, especially in the restaurant industry. Hiring a professional FOOD photographer is essential (and one of my favorite reasons for creating restaurant websites). Food is a love language best told through professional images. These images help potential customers fall in love with your atmosphere and, more importantly, your food (and keep coming back!).

High-quality, enticing photos of your dishes can significantly influence potential customers. About 45% of users search for food pictures when they visit a restaurant’s website, with 36% refusing to visit a restaurant due to poor or a lack of food photography. In the context of a restaurant, this translates to food photography that can captivate and attract diners, which increases revenue.

You will find hundreds of professional photographers, but make sure you find one with food photography experience and the skills and equipment to showcase your dishes in the best light, literally and figuratively. Their expertise in composition, lighting, and styling can turn your menu items into visual delights that appeal to customers on your website and social media and contribute to your brand’s identity. Good photography can increase engagement on social media platforms, where visual content is 40 times more likely to be shared than other types of content (Buffer).

restaurant web design for different devices

3. Securing an Experienced, Professional Website Designer

In today’s digital age, a restaurant website is non-negotiable—but that doesn’t mean creating your own Wix or another DIY website that ignores SEO (appearing in search results). A professional website designer will drive the customer behaviors that make a website worthwhile to your business (aka make you money!). Plus, find an experienced website designer who uses a platform where you can easily update and maintain your restaurant’s hours and menu offerings (like Squarespace) to save on future website maintenance costs.

Your restaurant’s website is often the first interaction potential customers have with your brand, and it allows owners a chance to market their restaurant before a customer visits. You usually have 10-15 seconds to engage a website visitor before they leave, so a professionally designed website will ensure the site is easy to navigate with the most helpful information readily available. They can also enhance user experience, improve search engine rankings, easily organize form submissions and orders, and provide easy access to features that help increase your marketing efforts and profit.

A website designer ensures your site is visually appealing, functional, and optimized for appearing in local search results (SEO). This increases your visibility in local searches and helps attract a broader audience of potential customers and staff. When you consider that 60% of customers look up local cafes or restaurants on Google before heading to one, features like SEO, online reservations, menu displays, easily accessible directions, and customer reviews make it easy to attract new customers to your restaurant (and keep them coming back).

A professionally designed website will help organize your form submissions, display your amazing food offerings 24/7, provide quick access to information, and continually increase restaurant sales by up to 3–5% year after year. If you are still on the fence, look at two recent websites and the ROI they are experiencing from Propel’s professionally designed website: Cafè Alma ROI and Chef’s Cafe ROI.

Conclusion

Investing in a POS system, professional photography, and a professionally designed website are strategic moves that can significantly increase your restaurant’s profitability. The three investments provide substantial ROI by improving operational efficiency, attracting and retaining customers and staff, and building a strong online presence. For example, one of my restaurant clients experienced an ROI where every $1 spent on their website made $27.16 in profit! As you embark on your journey as a restaurant owner, prioritizing these three areas will set a solid foundation for long-term success.

By leveraging technology and professional services, you can focus on what you do best: delivering exceptional dining experiences. Remember, these initial investments can lead to substantial financial returns (ensuring your restaurant survives and thrives in the competitive food industry. Reports indicate that 77% of diners check a restaurant’s website before ordering. Do not miss out on 77% of potential customers—contact Propel today for a free quote!

Request A Quote