Are there any mentors for restaurant startups in or near Savannah, Georgia? I was a cook in the military and now I want to start my own restaurant. I have a business plan and I need funding. All the help is appreciated.
Answers
I did some research for you and found that you are not going to get it from the bank. You will have to find financial backing from investors in order to obtain the funding you need. I would also tell you to work for someone else to get the behind the scenes knowledge you need to be successful. You are looking at 60+ hours a week, just to stay open and then you have the paperwork to do. Restaurants are tricky, so tread slowly and carefully. If you have any specific questions, my daughter Meaghan Wolfe is a chef and she can help you more than I can. blue_pine_needles@yahoo.com She can at least double check your plans, your menu, your kitchen design etc to make sure you are on the right track.
Thanks for your help. I will call my local score chapter and see what they advise. I would love to work with those 2 mentors to start my own business. Thanks for the links as well.
Nicole,
Your local SCORE.org chapter has 2 mentors with experience in the restaurant industry. Also, are there local industry or trade groups related to your industry (in this case, food & beverage, restaurants) that you can join and where you can request advice and mentorship?
Out here in California, high-end food-trucks, "pop-up" restaurants, and shared commercial kitchens and "culinary incubators" have become popular. These might be ideas to also explore.
Good luck, and please keep us informed, and share your menu and perhaps recipe. I'm sure many of us would love to visit!
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http://savannah.score.org/node/145418
http://www.garestaurants.org/
http://www.nraef.org/
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http://www.culinaryincubator.com/maps.php?state=GA
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https://www.google.com/search?q=Savannah%2C+Georgia+restaurant+association
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https://www.google.com/search?q=restaurant+mentoring
I am in Arkansas, not Georgia. But I went to my local college and took a one day class on business. The instructor took me and my business plan to the bank and presented it to them for approval. You might check with any local colleges to see if they have the same service available. If not, go to a S.C.O.R.E. meeting. They are all experienced business owners that teach what you need to know; they will be able to direct you to the right sources in your area.
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