Neighbourhood sit-down restaurant

Local residents, office workers, couples and families, plus groups booking for birthdays and small celebrations.

Sales of food and drinks to seated guests. Profit depends on keeping food, labour and rent costs under control. Alcohol, if you are licensed, and group bookings can lift the average bill.

• Cooking at volume with consistent quality
• Managing food costs and staff rotas
• Welcoming customers and handling complaints
• Basic bookkeeping

• These cost estimates assume taking over a unit with an existing restaurant kitchen and dining room. Building out an empty unit from scratch usually costs well above this range, so get contractor quotes early
• Food premises permit and inspections from your local public health unit, check their layout and equipment rules before building out
• Food handler or food safety certification requirements in your province (Quebec has its own rules, check with MAPAQ)
• A liquor licence is separate and run by your province, check timelines and rules for your province
• Lease terms, personal guarantees and fit-out costs can be large, have a lawyer read the lease
• Margins can be thin and slow months happen, especially in winter, so keep cash in reserve
• WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire staff (rules differ by province)
• In Quebec, check French-language requirements for signs and menus

Estimates are typically around $150,000 to $300,000, assuming you take over a unit with an existing restaurant kitchen and dining room. Building out an empty unit usually costs well above this range, so get contractor quotes early.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $30,000 to $75,000, depending on seats, location, menu and opening hours. Margins can be thin and slow months happen, especially in winter, so keep cash in reserve.

Check the food premises permit and inspections from your local public health unit, including layout and equipment rules before build-out. Also check food handler certification in your province (MAPAQ in Quebec), the separate provincial liquor licence, and WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire.