Culinary arts schools are a great place to learn about all aspects of the food and service industry. But is formal education from a cooking school really necessary to pursue your dream of owning your own restaurant? According to industry experts, it is definitely helpful if economical. While a degree from a cooking school is not required to open a restaurant, the benefits of earning a degree or business certificate are enormous.
It is important to note that owning a restaurant and managing a restaurant are different things, entirely.
Anyone can own a restaurant and never participate in its day to day operations. But if your dream includes starting your own, unique eatery and taking part in how the business operates, it is most beneficial to know some things about this type of business before embarking on that journey.
A successful restaurant is described a bustling, fast-paced, and high-pressure place to be for even the most vetted restaurateurs. Understanding all of the aspects of running or managing a restaurant are integral to success.
There are two ways to really learn how to run a successful business in this industry: formal education or experience. (Preferably, both.)
“Restaurant and Culinary Management is unique in the culinary world in that most entry-level employees in the field have at least a Bachelor’s degree. While the degree isn’t always required, it does demonstrate an educational background with the right amount of business training required for supervision in the high-transaction businesses of restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and even casinos.” – The Reluctant Gourmet (Read more: Restaurant and Culinary Management Career – A Recipe for Success)
Cooking classes are great if you intend to become a chef, but a culinary arts school offering business programs for aspiring restaurant owners can help you get our bearings. So if you don’t have the benefit of working in a commercial kitchen or helping to manage a restaurant, culinary arts schools can help you learn the tricks of the trade that will help you start your business with your best foot forward.
There are many aspects to running a successful business in general, but restaurants are unique in that they face tough health codes and other regulations. To run a food business successfully, you will need to know all local health codes and be prepared to meet them. Your kitchen and dining room will have to meet local and federal safety requirements, zoning requirements, and be prepared at all times for an inspection by a federal, state, or local food safety official.
“A career in Restaurant and Culinary Management combines the best of business leadership with the bustling pace of the culinary world. Ideal for those with a love of food but a desire to move beyond the kitchen, as well as those who want to navigate the scenes behind the top food service businesses, Restaurant and Culinary Management takes a good deal of education and hard work.” – The Reluctant Gourmet (Read more: Restaurant and Culinary Management Career – A Recipe for Success)
There are also typical business matters to attend – from start up and planning to purchasing kitchen equipment and hiring employees that are going to make the business look good to your customers. Other items include human resources issues, marketing and advertising, taxes, inventory, vendors, customer relations, and how to handle public criticism. So before spending your own money to start your first restaurant, it would be beneficial to explore options at a cooking school in your area.
