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The Ultimate Resource Collection

The information on this page will be useful to you as a quick guide to the problems you may face while running your business, and how to solve them. Every business has problems but what makes the outcome a success is seeing it as an opportunity and a challenge not an obstacle. If you stay positive you will find the solution to any problem you may face while running your business.

Money Problems.

Let's face it everyone encounters money problems in some shape or form at some time. It must be the single most stressful thing managers and operators have to deal with, but there are ways to ease the stress from financial matters arising in your business.

• Can you get a better deal from a different bank? Are interest rates more beneficial or the business services offer you more choice with a new account? Have a look around, some banks are very good for business accounts.

• Can you increase your turnover by lowering your prices? If you charge £20 for a meal and get 10 customers you've made £200 turnover-right! If you charge £15 for the same meal more customers are likely to come because it is a better deal for them, so let us say you double the number of customers you get through your deal, that would generate £300 turnover. Obviously your profit margins will be reduced but if you are in need of a boost and want people through the door then this is a good option to choose.

• Can you get a better deal from your suppliers? Shop around, compare the prices of the products you buy from other suppliers. Say you spend £1000 on meat each week, you are a good customer as your account would make the supplier £52,000 a year. Contact different suppliers and tell them what you require each week and what deals they can offer you, or if you prefer to stick with your present supplier inform them that you can get abetter deal elsewhere and see if they are prepared to match it. Let's say you managed to reduce your weekly meat bill to £900, you would save £5,200 a year! If you could save £100 off 5 of your suppliers each week it would save you a massive £26,500 a year!

• Do you keep control over what you are spending each week? If not then you should, it may be worth using a weekly cost breakdown spreadsheet.

Staff Problems.

There are various headaches associated with employing people, for a detailed look at this go to our human resources section.

Image Problems.

Does the restaurant or pub you have just taken over have a bad reputation? Is it dirty, tacky or run down? Don't worry this can be fixed. You won't attract the right customers of you don't have the right image, our industry is very competitive and our customers demand the best, so below are some things to consider about the image of your business:

• What is the exterior of your restaurant, pub or hotel like? Is it clean? Is it welcoming? Is it well maintained? Is it tastefully decorated?

• What is the interior of your restaurant, hotel or pub like? Is it well laid out? Is it tidy and clean?

• How good is your customer care?

• Do you offer value for money?

• How do you treat your staff?

Menu Problems.

If you don't serve what people want then how are you going to get customers? The following is a list of things for you to consider when you create or revise your menu:

• Is your menu easy to read and understand?

• Do you offer options for dietary requirements?

• Do you provide decent vegetarian/vegan options?

• Do you have a children's menu?

• How much do you charge?