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How to Start an Indian Restaurant Business


Starting an Indian Restaurant Business


Summary: Food is something one can't stay away with; we also love to taste variety of food around the world. Indian foods are widely popular in an around US and UK, Indian dishes are healthy and spicy too. Looking into current needs one can easily say this business has lots of scope to grow.

Fact: Food, no one person can live without it. Ergo, there is a need.
Fact: In the US alone, people outnumber food establishments by no less than seven digits. Ergo, the demand is way beyond great.

So then, if the need is basic and demand is considerable, how come quite a number restaurants end up folding after a bad run? What went wrong? The answer to this conundrum is quite simple and can be summed up with just one word--expectation. Simply put, the successful restaurant meets the expectations of its target market while the unsuccessful restaurant does not.

How does a wannabe restaurateur avoid this pitfall then? The answer to this can again be summed up with just one word--homework. Sufficient preparation and thorough market research is a must in starting a restaurant business.

Another fact, no one restaurant has a universal appeal. It is impossible to grab hold of the full 100% of the market. Attempting such a mammoth goal will only result to failure. The market’s taste and preference is as diverse as it is wide. Realistically speaking, a restaurateur can only tap around five to ten percent of the total consumer population pie.

Undaunted? Good. That’s a big chunk as it is so there’s no cause for alarm. Now the next step is for you to think of a restaurant concept. Nothing comes to mind? Here’s a suggestion. Why not try Indian cuisine?

Indian food has been in existence for several centuries and has evolved through time to uphold the symbol of Indian culture. It is known for its intricate blending of exotic spices, veggies, and meat to create one truly delectable dish. History and flavor, that’s pretty hard to top. It’s no wonder Indian restaurants have grown in popularity over the years.

    If you’re not familiar with the cuisine, here’s a rundown of some interesting bits that you can use as a selling point:
  • The spices used in Indian dishes are meant to enhance the main ingredient and not the other way around. A complete Indian meal consists of at least two main course dishes. These are complimented with staples such as rice and bread (roti).
  • Curry is not the be all and end all of an Indian dish. Other favored spices include, chillies, saffron, ghee, tamarind, coconut, mustard. Collectively, these spices are called Garam Masala. This is distinct to every household and restaurant and serves as the backbone of the dish.
  • Not only is Indian cuisine flavorful and delicious, it is healthy and nutritious as well. Most dishes are made up mostly of fruits and vegetables. The idea that Indian cuisine is fatty, rich, and oily is a definite misconception.
  • The spices used in Indian cuisine are not as exotic as it seems. In other words, they are not hard to find. This could be the case before, but no longer. Indian spices are readily available in most supermarkets. Further, most Indian dishes do not require special cooking equipment so setting up your kitchen can be done easily enough.

54 Responses to "How to Start an Indian Restaurant Business".

1. gerald on 7/14/2008

Your last para mentions cooking equipment. What sort of equipment is required for an Indian restaurant? g.quinn@live.com

2. vipul on 9/28/2008

article is fine.. not so good mail me some more good ideas of starting it. vpul.gupta@yahoo.com

3. Vyoma on 10/22/2008

Your article puts light on Indian Cuisine, then I feel you should mention some of famous delicacies found in India, veg, non veg both. And more over ambiance and location plays an important role in success of any restaurant.Please give some inputs on that too.

4. mohanamuthukumar.k.p.k. on 1/4/2009 10:01:37 PM

i need to start the business in home in the night time please give the details in my email address thankyou.

5. SATHEESH KUMAR on 1/19/2009 4:06:36 AM

I WANT TO BECOME AN ENTREPRUENER,SO PLS SEND ME ALL RHE BUSINESS IDEAS U HAVE GOT SO THAT I CAN IMPLEMENT IT.....

6. Shwetabh Varma on 1/20/2009 8:07:24 AM

Do the PE firms readily finance a startup? what are the other sources of getting a startup food business financed? If i go ahead with a make shift trolley to be stationed in front of a office, does that need some sort of license.

7. Vijay on 1/25/2009 1:14:44 PM

I want to start a catering business (Indian cuisine) from home. Please send me the details to my e-mail address. Thank you.

8. wasim on 1/30/2009 3:38:55 AM

I want to establish a soup outlet particularly in the alps for ski-goers who can savour soups from india particularly kashmir while running down the alps. please provide me details

9. priyadarshini on 2/9/2009 5:54:58 AM

article has a general idea. can u tell how more efficiently a less invested restaurant that would function only at night times can be started.. how to cover and sustain the customers?

10. p.suman on 2/11/2009 7:56:54 AM

hai, i want to become a business man send me some small business ideas..

11. Ranjan Sethi on 3/13/2009 11:41:46 AM

I want to start Indian restaurant business in UK. Please guide in the matter as to how I can proceed in this matter. Waiting for the response Ranjan Sethi

12. Ragini on 3/15/2009 5:58:01 PM

I'm planning to start Indian Restaurant in US (North Carolina). I need all the input and suggestions. Please help. Many thanks.

13. faraz anwer on 3/16/2009 1:26:18 PM

hi i want to start a resto business i have bit of idea about it but need more information regarding the same.

14. Book Worm on 3/17/2009 4:46:04 AM

What about the legal formalities? Please do send me info about it.

15. K.V RAAMANA on 3/20/2009 7:37:19 AM

I'm planning to start Indian Restaurant in in india and kuwait, Middle East. I need all the input and suggestions. Please help. Many thanks. kvenkataramanaiah@yahoo.co +965 67746294, +965 99235157

16. sikander.ahsan on 3/26/2009 9:33:39 AM

hi, i would love to start up an indian garment/jewellery and shoes business. Also i'm working for a comp and would like to provide packed indian meals. I have been complimented about my cooking a few times. Would i need a hygiene/health and safety certificate working from home? please supply info for both businesses. Thank you.

17. Suryaprakash kothari on 3/28/2009 7:33:21 AM

I STARTED A RESTUARANT BUSINESS FIRST TIME IN RAMJHULA RISHIKESH 3 MONTHS AGO. IN MY MENU CONTINENTAL, INDIAN, CHINESE FOOD ITEM. I WANT SUGGESTION ABOUT THE HOW CAN I GET GOOD RESPONSE & GOOD PROFIT.

18. Ajay on 4/3/2009 11:59:35 AM

Hi i would like to start an indian restaurant business(Like TOGO Type and evening snacks and like biriyani point). What are the legal formalities? any ideas how to build a kitchen(how much it cost) and all. please help me.

19. Kiran S on 4/12/2009 9:16:40 PM

Please provide us with all information related to opening an Indian Restaurant/Grocery Store. Reply will be appreciated.

20. Piravinson Mailavaganam on 4/17/2009 10:13:24 AM

What are the legal aspects for creating a restaurant?

21. Rajesh on 4/20/2009 9:15:41 AM

Hi i want to open a restaurant in Singapore, basically i am an Engineer, Give me some idea to process..

22. Brenda Mailavaganam on 4/24/2009 10:22:28 AM

Hi, my brother has legal problems playgirizing? any help?

23. Brenda Mailavaganam on 4/24/2009 10:22:54 AM

Hi, my brother has legal problems plagiarizing? any help?

24. D Shah on 4/26/2009 4:06:41 PM

You have some comments regarding the indian cuisine, how ever Can you provide information regarding how to start up the Indian restaurant. I mean expenses, investment etc. Thanks

25. pell on 5/27/2009 8:40:13 AM

i want to start a restaurant regarding italian, thai, mexican, punjabi. so which type of equipments we needed, and what is the budget of it?

26. lakshminarayanan on 6/4/2009 6:09:11 AM

content in the site is good. But i would like to know the basic formalities to start the business, like (Rights, Permission, basic needs). if you could give this i will be very much thankful

27. RK on 6/4/2009 12:14:39 PM

if any one interested in starting indian restaurant in Limerick, PA I have space. send me an email at allark@yahoo.com

28. amit on 6/16/2009 1:11:36 PM

Hi, i would like to start an indian restaurant business. What are the legal formalities? any ideas how to build a kitchen(how much it cost) and all. Your last para mentions cooking equipment. What sort of equipment is required for an Indian restaurant? please provide me details on my email.......i.e. amitmodel17@gmail.com

29. La Dawn Di Mascio on 6/19/2009 2:01:06 PM

We've moved here from the UK and before that, Africa and we love indian food. Impossible to get here in a restaurant, but there are three shops here that sell indian ingredients. There is quite a large expat UK population here that is dying for indian food and we're interested in investing the entire fiasco that might be involved in starting up a restaurant here. We're in Northern italy, and there are loads of UK pilots (and families), EU commission and american families here, so it might be quite a good venture - as we all love italian food but crave something different as well. We would not, quite frankly, appeal to italians, but rather to all the expats that live here. Any advice???

30. Prabhat on 6/26/2009 1:28:53 AM

Hello, Please provide me detailed information for opening an Indian restaurant outside India. I have already lost my job and need to settle down life. Please help me.

31. KHALEEQ AHMAD on 6/30/2009 4:44:06 PM

I want to start a catering business (Indian cuisine) from home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. How much cost will be incurred. Please send me the details to my e-mail address. Thank you

32. Shaji.D on 7/1/2009 9:01:51 PM

Sir, thanks for your article. i have a plan to start a restaurant in kerala, india. please provide some details and advices, thank you.

33. gurpreet singh on 7/2/2009 8:34:17 PM

i want to open indian take in small town, What sort of equipment is required for an Indian restaurant? and how much investment in euro..? please reply..gcooll@ymail.com, regards, gsingh

34. kavita on 7/6/2009 4:39:27 AM

hi... i want to start an indian restaurant in kuwait but i want to start a take away business. i dont know if a take away business for an indian restaurant will be good or not? and can you guide me in what i have to do to start this business... i appreciate if you could assist me. thank you

35. sneha on 7/7/2009 6:09:21 AM

i am keen to start restaurant business. but i wanted information from you. what are the basic requirements like legal formalities, initial cost involved, profit margin, tips to efficiently running it, what if business fails. any back up plans? thanking you in anticipation, for your help. regards, sneha

36. Shilpa on 7/9/2009 1:45:15 PM

Hi.. I am interested in opening a restaurant, can you let me know what is needed for it like:
1. How to get funding 2. location 3. chef/cooks 4. menu planning etc. My main concern is how to get financial help and do banks give loans for this? What is the general expense for initial setup. These questions make me take a back seat and that's why I have not been able to pursue it much. thanks.

37. Daljit Sahota on 7/13/2009 9:22:16 AM

HI, I want to open Indian restaurant in upstate NY. Need further information. Otherwise I always get compliments for my cooking and suggestions that I should open up restaurant. Please guide me some regarding this matter. What is starting cost? Expenses? Thanks

38. Manik Pandey on 7/17/2009 6:10:47 PM

I want to open an Indian restaurant in Markham(sub-urban of Toronto, Canada). Where I can find detail of equipments required. Thanks, Manik, mkpandey_1999@yahoo.com

39. KA MAL on 7/23/2009 12:47:45 PM

I WANT TO OPEN INDIAN RESTAURANT IN MARY LAND(USA)

40. Syed Ali on 7/27/2009 8:05:24 AM

We are in hospitality and Travel business in India and our group want to open Indian restaurant in ABERDEEN, U.K and would like to know what are the legal aspects and formalities, permissions needed for the same.

41. mythili_jb on 8/8/2009 8:02:13 AM

HI, I'm mythili here. i also a college student doing diploma in business. I WANT TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR. I'm interested to open Indian restaurant in Malaysia. Need further information. Otherwise I always get compliments for my cooking and suggestions that I should open up restaurant. Please guide me some regarding this matter. Thanks

42. mythili_jb on 8/8/2009 8:03:05 AM

my email add mythili_jb@hotmail.com

43. sagar on 8/16/2009 9:13:23 AM

your information regarding indian restaurant is pretty good but i want to know the license policy for starting the restaurant and the approx or the exact cost that i'll incur for the same.

44. Samuel Rajkumar on 8/18/2009 1:36:54 PM

I want to sell my Indian Restaurant which is making good business and profit. Please contact me if interested and need more information.

45. rakesh on 8/26/2009 5:20:47 PM

hello, i am planning to start a multi-cuisine restaurant, i need to know all the details regarding setting up a kitchen to hiring cooks, waiters, concepts. i am planning to target medium and upper medium customers. so please send me the details on my mail id, my email id is trakeshsingh@gmail.com

46. Mayur sharma on 8/27/2009 7:14:02 AM

hi, La Dawn Di Mascio. I read your comment, if we can talk we can get some ideas interchanged. here is my email address mayursharma3@rediffmail.com.

47. Arif on 8/28/2009 12:11:56 PM

As a US citizen, what are the formalities for starting an Indian restaurant in UK? Would UK allow me to bring cooks/employees from India? What are the immigration requirements for that? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

48. Ramessh on 8/31/2009 11:39:45 AM

Hi, Thanks for your advises. I would like to start a french fries stall in india. Could you help me with the setup as to how much would it cost, what equipments are required etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated

49. ninad on 9/2/2009 6:36:27 AM

I want to start a restaurant in small investment. I have a nice big place, so can you please give me details. send me a mail

50. kushal chouhan on 9/4/2009 4:11:58 AM

i want to start a restaurant in my city. i want some guidelines for how to go ahead with it.

51. Dhaval on 9/5/2009 12:52:54 AM

I want to start a Indian restaurant (South Indian). I am wondering about business plan and details. Also how much experience does it take to make the indian restaurant? Please e-mail me.

52. Imtiaz on 9/9/2009 8:38:10 PM

Hello guys, I am a catering consultant in London with experience particularly with Indian cuisine. If you would like any advice or help contact me I will be glad to help you out and tell you about:
- Location Scouting/acquisition (restaurant premises)
- Equipment sourcing (commercial kitchen equipment, furnishings)
- Hiring workforce (chefs, cooks, waiters, managers)
- Fresh produce supplies
- Marketing concepts
- Legal matters/ Licensing etc.
- Financial costs
No problem, I have already helped set up a 200 seater Indian tapas bar and restaurant in the heart of Central London (West End) working with former Taj Group managers.

I have helped in the set up a trendy cafe milkshake bar in prominent Essex, England and a grill restaurant takeaway in the same area, as well as a Latin American catering this year.
Kind regards, you can email me anytime on grandcanapes@gmail.com. Imtiaz

53. Sudeepta on 9/15/2009 9:55:49 AM

15 years experience in Food & small Businesses, I am part of a Highly Cost Effective, Efficient & Excellent Value for Money–Committed Team that's available to run an Indian Restaurant. We are a team of 3 with a total experience of more than 25 years in managing, individually running & operating F&B Operations in Hotel, Cruises and other small businesses. Ideal for anyone interested to start an Indian restaurant & later interested to diversify into ready to eat/ ready to cook Indian foods, Eco Friendly handicrafts and Organic Spices & Condiments. Our Specialty – Vegetarian Cuisine. We offer our services at extremely competitive rates. Please send a mail to acsbhubaneswar@gmail.com and we can discuss & proceed with your dream project.

54. sunil on 11/3/2009 5:13:08 PM

Hi, I'm a student in usa and about to complete my course and interested to start my own restaurant business in usa? Can any one help me out... is it illegal? Need suggestions... sunisam@ymail.com Regards, Sunil

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