Starting a Food Business

If you’re cooking up plans to start a food business, follow these guidelines to get your business off to a sizzling start!

如果你正在筹划启动食品业务，那么遵循这些指导方针，让你的生意有一个火热的开始吧!

Decide what type of food business you want to run. There are many options, such as a retail restaurants, wholesale food stores, mobile food facilities, caterers, and vending machines. The type of business you ultimately choose will determine the training and permits needed. Also, keep in mind that different businesses require different capital and time commitments. You can browse through Franchise Direct’s directory of food Franchise opportunities for various food Franchise options.

决定你想要经营何种食品业务。选择有许多，例如零售餐厅、食品批发店、移动食品设施、承办酒席和自动贩卖机。你最终选定的业务类型将决定所需的培训和许可证。同时需记住，不同的业务需要不同的资本和时间投入。你可以浏览连锁加盟直击(Franchise Direct)的食品连锁加盟机会目录，了解各种食品连锁加盟选择的信息。

Create a business plan and obtain capital. You will need to include important details in your business plan, such as a description of your business, an overview of the food industry, a financial forecast, growth projections, the marketing plan and the required starting capital. This will all require some research, although if you are a food business franchisee, your franchisor may already have information available for you. Restaurant industry sites are a great source of information on the industry itself. These sites give you access to articles and publications that will help you start a successful food business.

制定商业计划，获取资金。你的商业计划中需要包含重要的细节，例如你所经营业务的说明、食品行业概述、财务预测、增长预测、市场营销计划和所需的启动资金。虽然你是某食品业务的受许人，你的连锁加盟特许人有可能已经向你提供了一定信息，但是制定商业计划还是需要开展某些调查。餐饮行业的网站是有关行业本身信息的巨大来源。你可以通过这些网站获得一些文章和出版刊物，帮助你成功开展食品业务。

Find out which licenses and permits you need. Depending on the type of food business you have chosen to run, you will need to obtain licensing from different government agencies. Generally, the important ones to contact are your local zoning office, consumer protection or services office, the health department and the department of agriculture. The zoning office will help you determine where you can set up food businesses. The laws will differ from state to state and even amongst municipalities. Depending on what type of food business you wish to operate, the consumer affairs offices may give you your city permit license and approval. There are more approvals required for full service restaurants, and less for a food business like a coffee shop, where food is not prepared on-site. The department of agriculture in your state may also license businesses, such as bakeries, candy stores, groceries or food processing plants. Further, the health department licenses other food businesses, like restaurants, bars, catering operations, coffee shops mobile food services and vending machines. If you are working with food in any capacity, especially preparing and serving it, a health permit is important. Often, it will require an annual fee, typically based on both the type of food business and its physical size. Note that licensing requirements are no different for previously existing food businesses that were purchased, and in fact you may be required to make upgrades to the facility. If you plan to make any changes to existing operations (e.g. changing the menu, putting new equipment in, etc), you will need a plan review before these changes can be made. Contact your respective state or local government agencies to understand more about the licenses and permits you need to start your food business, and comply with all the codes established in your area.

查明你需要哪些许可证和执照。你需要根据你选择经营的食品业务种类，从不同的政府机构获得相关执照。一般而言，需要联系的重要机构有你所在地的分区办事处、消费者权益保护或者服务办事处、卫生部和农业部。分区办事处会帮助你决定设立食品业务的地点。各州之间的法规有所差异，就算是直辖市之间也有不同。消费者事务所会根据你希望经营的食品业务种类授予你城市许可证和批函。全方位服务餐厅所需要的许可证比较多，而像咖啡店这类不需要现场制作食物的食品业务所需要的许可证则比较少。你也可能需要你所在州的农业部的有关某些业务的许可证明，例如面包店、糖果店、杂货店或者食品加工场。此外，需要卫生部授予许可证的食品业务包括餐厅、酒吧、承办酒席经营、咖啡店、移动食品服务和自动贩卖机。如果你以某种身份致力于食品经营，尤其是涉及制作食物和上菜，则卫生许可证非常重要。这类许可证通常需要缴交年费，主要根据食品业务的类型以及实际规模来决定。请注意，如果你目前经营的是以前购买的食品业务，那么取得许可证的要求并无不同，事实上，你可能需要更新设备。如果你计划对目前经营做一些改变(例如，改变菜单和安装新设备等)，你需要在做出这些变化之前接受计划审查。欲了解更多有关你需要开展食品业务所需的许可证和执照的信息，请联系你所在州或者地方政府机构，遵守你所在地区已制定的所有规范准则。

Know the food safety requirements for your state. Every state will have a different set of requirements for food safety and you must be aware of what they are. For instance, most states require that you have someone who has passed an approved and accredited food safety certification exam in employment at your facility. You can check the National Restaurant Association’s website for US regulatory requirements by state. Often, that requirement can be met with a ServSafe examination. If you need more details on requirements, you might want to contact your local health department or state restaurant association.

了解你所在州的食品安全要求。各州对于食品安全的要求都会有所不同，你必须了解这些要求。例如，大多数州要求，你必须雇用已经通过公认的经认证的食品安全资格证考试的人员在你的店里工作。你可以点击进入国家餐饮协会的网站，搜索美国各州的规范要求。通过服务安全考试的人员通常也满足这一要求。如果你需要更多有关这类要求的详细信息，你可以联系你所在地当地卫生部门或者州餐饮协会。

Purchase equipment. Depending on the type of food business you choose to open, you will need to purchase different types of equipment. This may include food preparation stations, hand washing stations, sinks, ovens, refrigerators, vents, bathroom equipment, as well as seating and tables. Also keep in mind important preparations, such as pest control. In the case of a food Franchise, the franchisor may provide you with a discount for the equipment by wielding their purchasing power.

购买设备。根据你选择开设的食品业务类型，你需要购买不同种类的设备。这其中或许包括食物料理台、洗手台、水槽、烤箱、冰箱、排气阀、盥洗设备以及座椅和桌子。同时需要记住重要准备措施，例如害虫防治。就食品连锁加盟而言，连锁加盟特许人会运用他们的购买力让你享受一定设备折扣。

Hire necessary employees. If you choose to run a restaurant or retail food establishment, you will probably need to hire employees, typically cashiers, hosts and hostesses, waiters and waitresses, chefs, busboys and other employees. Make sure you have a clear plan outlined for staffing your business, including hiring policies, wages and job qualifications. Employees in the food industry often have high turnover rates, so be prepared to regularly recruit new employees. You may want to write an employee manual so you have a good foundation for difficult issues, such as wages , employee conflict , and employee termination. Also keep in mind there are important OSHA workplace safety rules that must be enforced as well.

雇佣必要的员工。如果你选择经营餐厅或者零售食品机构，你有可能需要雇佣员工，例如出纳、男招待和女招待、男服务员和女服务员、大厨和杂工等等。确保你有清晰的计划，列明你的雇佣细则，包括雇佣政策、薪酬和岗位要求。食品行业的人员流动性通常比较大，所以准备好定期招聘新员工。你有可能想要撰写一份员工手册，以便为不同的问题，例如工资、员工矛盾和雇佣终止等奠定好基础。同时请记住，也必须执行职业安全和健康署颁布的工作场所安全条例。

Open your business. You are now ready to open your food business. If you have chosen a food Franchise, you can begin filling the built-in demand that may exist for your well-known brand name.

开业。现在你已经准备好启动你的食品业务。如果你已经选择了某个食品连锁加盟，则你可以开始满足你所投资的知名品牌本身存在的内在需求。

If you need further guidance on opening a restaurant, it may be helpful to peruse some books on the topic.

如果你需要关于开设一家餐厅的进一步指导，熟读一些有关该主题的书籍或许会有帮助。

为何启动食品连锁加盟?

The food and beverage industry is a permanent fixture in the US’s economy. The average American spends approximately $6,133 a year with almost half of this being spent outside the home.

食品和饮料行业是美国经济中的常青树。美国人每年的平均支出约为6133美元，其中将近一半都花在家庭以外的地方。

Starting a food Franchise has many considerations to it, including picking a great location, making sure you meet health codes and getting potentially pricey equipment. However, the rewards outweigh the costs. Here are some of the benefits people tout when they start a food Franchise business:

启动食品连锁加盟有许多事情需要考虑，其中包括选择好位置、确保你符合卫生规范以及获得价格可能比较高昂的设备。然而，回报高于成本。以下是开展食品连锁加盟业务的人会获得的一些好处：

• Recession-proof industry: In uncertain economic times, Food Franchises rarely have to worry. They will have a steady flow of customers who still enjoy treating themselves to a night out or a fast food meal every now and then. Even if consumers cannot afford luxury products, they will still be able to eat out – and that makes your business secure.

• High market demand: With little time available to cook an elaborate meal, more and more people are choosing to eat out. They are finding that spending the money to go eat is worth the time they save, especially with all the fast food places and healthy alternatives that are springing up. US consumers enjoy eating out and the demand won’t be going down anytime soon!

市场需求大：由于抽不出时间精心制作一日三餐，越来越多人选择在外面吃饭。他们发现，花钱在外面吃饭，省时省力非常值得，尤其是在所有快餐店和健康选择层出不穷的时代。美国消费者喜欢在外用餐，因此这一需求近期不会出现下降!

• Popularity of different food options: The food industry is full of trends that continue to be on the uptick. Here are some of the ones that continue to thrive:

不同食品选择的名气：食品行业到处都是处于不断上升阶段的趋势。以下是一些仍会继续蓬勃发展的选项：

o Fast Food: The fast food Franchise sector is a versatile industry, performing especially well during difficult economic times, but also thriving when the economy is growing. As a quick, easy option for eating out, consumers love fast food! Since many fast food places are also adopting healthy ingredients, the sector’s popularity is exploding.

快餐：快餐连锁加盟部门是一个多元化的产业，其在经济艰难时期发展的尤为好，但是在经济增长时期其业绩也是蒸蒸日上。作为一种快捷、方便的外出吃饭选择，消费者热爱快餐!由于许多快餐店也开始采用健康食材，该部门的受欢迎程度正极速增加。

o Pizza: The US pizza Franchise Industry is one of the biggest food industries in this country, as pizza is popular amongst consumers. The US leads in its consumption of pizza.

披萨饼：美国披萨饼连锁加盟行业是全美最大的食品产业之一，因为披萨饼很受消费者的欢迎。美国披萨饼的消耗量居领先地位。

o Asian takeaway: Takeaway is a popular option for the hungry consumer that’s looking for a quick meal. These can be both healthy and tasty, and people have been spending over $1 billion on this takeaway in recent years.

亚洲的外卖食品：外卖食品在饥饿难当迫切寻找快餐食物的人们之中非常受欢迎。这类食品可以既健康又美味。近年来，人们在这类外卖食品上的花费已经超过了10亿美元。

o Smoothie and Juice Bars: The health food craze is kicking in, as more people in the US struggle with obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. Smoothie and juice bar franchises offer an alternative to traditionally unhealthy foods and snacks by offering something that not only tastes good, but is good for you.

冰沙果汁饮料吧：随着越来越多美国人与肥胖和不健康生活方式作斗争，健康食品热正如火如荼地延续着。冰沙和果汁饮料吧连锁加盟供应可作为传统不健康食物和零食的替代选项，不仅美味，而且对身体有益。

o Coffee Shops: With the rise of Starbucks and other well-branded coffee chains, people are craving their morning lattes. The profit margin on these drinks can be high, and you can make a considerable profit with this Franchise option.

咖啡店：随着星巴克和其他知名品牌咖啡连锁的兴起，人们正逐渐形成早上喝咖啡的习惯。这些饮料的利润非常高，选择这类连锁加盟会让你获得可观的利润。

• Largest Franchise Industry: The food Franchise Industry is the largest sector of franchising and has an established history of success. When you’re entering into the food marketplace with a food Franchise, you can rest assured that this is a well-traveled path with rewarding results for franchisees who are willing to put the time and effort into building their own successful food business.

最庞大的连锁加盟行业：食品连锁加盟产业是最庞大的连锁加盟部门，而且已经有多年的成功历史。当你凭借食品连锁加盟进入食品市场领域时，你大可以放心，这是一条畅通无阻的道路，愿意投入时间和精力创建自己成功食品业务的人们必定会获得回报。

• Lucrative opportunities: With the high volume of traffic Food Franchises see in one day, there is opportunity for growth with a food Franchise. You can start out with a very small staff and hire more employees as demand ramps up. As long as you pick a good location that is easily accessible and in close proximity to the workplace or popular retail outlets, Food Franchises can be highly rewarding financially

赚钱的机会：食品连锁加盟一天内的流通量较大的，食品连锁加盟便有机会迅速发展起来。刚起步时，你可以只雇佣少量员工，然后随着需求的增加，会逐步增加员工的人数。只要你的地点选得好，交通方便而且接近工作地点或者受欢迎的零售店，食品连锁加盟就能让你获得丰厚的经济回报。