Operating a quick service, or fast food, restaurant offers its share of potential rewards. There is no doubt about that. However, it is a mistake to dismiss or overlook a few serious risks restaurant owners in this industry must consider as well. These are a few of the high-profile risks quick service restaurant owners’ face in today’s marketplace.
Power Outages
Power outages are frustrating at any time. However, when you’re the owner of a fast food restaurant, it can mean bad things for your business. Refrigeration units and freezers require electricity to keep food at the proper temperatures to avoid spoilage. Stoves and warming equipment require electricity to keep foods properly warm so that they don’t spoil either. And that’s simply a few of the short-term problems associated with power outages. For outages that last several hours or even days, you’re looking at lost revenue on top of food spoilage costs.
Equipment Breakdowns
In addition to breakdowns being inconvenient, they never happen right before you’re going to close for a few days or anything like that, they can also be quite expensive. However, most restaurants don’t purchase frivolous equipment. This means that if it’s broken down, it’s needed and must be prepared right away. This brings about additional labor costs for the repairs because they’re always emergencies.
Food Spoilage and Contamination
In a perfect world, food would never spoil or become contaminated. Despite your best efforts, as a restaurant manager, to follow proper safety protocols in relation to the foods you serve, spoilage and contamination are part of the business. It’s a normal risk and one you must be prepared to deal with when the need arises. Whether it’s a nationwide recall from the manufacturer, human error somewhere along the supply chain, or the result of equipment failure in your own restaurant, food spoilage does happen. Dealing with it properly makes a world of difference for the success of your quick service restaurant.
Employee Injury
Employees are injured in restaurants each and every day. Slips, trips, falls, burns, and more are part of the restaurant business. Make every effort to avoid and prevent injuries, but deal with them quickly and efficiently when they occur.
Violating Food Safety Laws
It’s important to follow laws about food safety for the safety of your customers and the continued existence of your business. Learn what they are and follow them closely. First offenses generally result in expensive fines. However, repeat offenders to local health code policies may find themselves out of the quick service restaurant business.
Fire Safety
One common problem leading to fire risks is cooking foods at temperatures that are too high. Restaurant employees want to rush orders to get people in and out faster. However, this leads to a huge fire risk. Adopt company policies that strongly discourage this act and you will significantly reduce your fire risks.
The rewards of a quick service restaurant that’s well run, are abundant. Pay attention to the little details in the day-to-day operation of your fast food restaurant and you’re sure to have a successful restaurant ventures on your hand, at least one that has fewer risks than the competition. However, adding the right kind of insurance coverage, such as: equipment breakdown insurance, food spoilage coverage, workers’ compensation insurance, and general liability insurance can help mitigate the damage to your business when bad things do happen.
