Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting Your Own Restaurant

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The restaurant business is not easy. Howard Cannon makes that very clear in his book. Yet he shows you how, in step-by-step fashion, to make your dream come true if you are willing to work hard enough and plan things out. From the beginning, as he helps you analyze whether the business is for you, through the various stages of planning what kind of restaurant you want to how to buy silverware, Cannon delivers the goods. Perhaps the best thing he does is identify the things that can derail your dream so that you can be on the lookout. He points out that most restaurants fail, but he has turned around enough failures to know how to avoid the common pitfalls. More than that, though, he is enthusiastic about the business while being realistic about the work involved. The restaurant business is not for the timid, but this book takes you through all the steps, including a calendar of when to do things, so that you will be able to be seating customers soon in your very own restaurant. This is a great book and it will help you a lot.

Considering the expertise that the author brings to this book, one would expect or at least hoped for him to have given a more indepth treatment of this subject. Most of what he says (80%) is common business sense and anyone who has had some experience in any kind of business could probably figure out. There are some really good tips in here but they are very few and far between. Perhaps part of this has to do with expectations - I was looking for a book to lay out more specific issues involved with this industry. What I got was a Business 101 book. It's clear that Mr. Cannon has the experience to deliver something more - if he comes out with an advanced book on the subject I'd buy it. Warning: only buy this book if you have no prior experience in business.

For someone coming in with no knowledge at all of the restaurant business, this is not a bad general guide.
I was a little disapointed however at the terse treatment the author gave to money processing in the restaurant.
There are many types of restaurant computer systems(POS) and lots of systems to accept checks and credit cards. Since in most restaurants these payment forms far outdistance cash, it would be helpful to include some of the basic credit card processing provisions and information about terminals. Merchants are misguided and ripped off all the time on check and credit cards sytems that are not proper for the specific restaurant. The topic deserves a chapter, not just a few paragraphs.

It works. Really. I am more amazed than anybody that an Idiot's Guide would work but this guy knows what he is talking about.. There's plenty of detail here and I've got a restaurant to prove it.

This was the most helpful and honest book I have read on opening a restaurant. It's realistic but also gives you hope and help. Anyone thinking of opening a restaurant this is a must have!. It's easy to ready and understand. This is the only book you need! don't waste your money and time on any other book!

I have been wanting to open a restaurant for several years now. I work in a seafood restaurant in a northern Mississippi town, and I don't know, I guess serving people is just in my blood.

I am a big Howard Cannon fan. I do wish that the book was a little more detailed, but I believe he really loves the business. If you want to open a restaurant, buy this book.

I'd also recommend Running a Restaurant for Dummies.

I have no links of any kind to any party involved in producing or selling this book. I came to this book with only low-level restaurant work knowledge, but with the idea I might set one up. So far it's only an idea. Though I have run businesses, the management and ownership side of the restaurant business is new to me.

I know that if I go into restaurants I will be competing with experienced operators. I will need to try and catch up quickly (or lose money and make errors). One important lesson my business experience has taught me is that advice from those in the know is pure gold.

So, considering a restaurant business, I bought this book.
In my opinion it is first-class. It's well-written, clear, comprehensive, quite entertaining, and the points he makes are good solid management points. It's just what I was looking for.

I was expecting a little more detail than what this book delivered. It mostly goes through basic business information that can be found on the internet. I thought the timeline, forms, and employee scheduling sections were useful. However, I guess since it is a "Complete Idiot's Guide," I should not have expected it to be more than basic.

to all out there this book is just a corner stone of learning for your restaurant this book will help you build and start you plan to open a store from the menu up to the first coustomer i am still reading it but it has helped me define a better plan and menu and floor plan so far good leaning tool for the person who is not sure if they want to or not

Well-organized, thorough practical guide, and an entertaining read. Seasoned with quick-hint sidebars that keep the reader's attention. An indispensable handbook for neophytes and a handy reference for veterans.