Economical Resources for the Independent QSR

Dream of a lifetime or living nightmare? Running a small independent quick-service restaurant can bring satisfaction, pride and the fulfillment of a longtime aspiration. But with the pleasure and excitement of being your own boss comes many responsibilities: hiring and firing, advertising and marketing, retaining legal counsel, obtaining payroll services and advocating for your rights – just to name a few.

Even though the list of tasks is long, a variety of options – some no or low-cost – are available to lift some of the burden and allow you to compete with large chains that have in-house resources. Your link to help is just a click or phone call away.

Hiring and Firing

Nothing beats the Internet for free information. Monster.com offers a host of informative articles related to the restaurant and hospitality industries. Anyone is welcome to use the information on the site, according to Fernaryai Peterson of Monster Global Customer Service. Some recent articles include hiring forecasts for 2010, details on training programs, skills needed to become a banquet manager, how to deal with irate patrons and using technology in your restaurant. And of course, QSR owners looking to hire staff will find more résumés online than they’ll ever need.

Finding and hiring the most appropriate candidate for managerial positions in your quick-service restaurant can consume precious time and holds no guarantees. Firms like Gecko Hospitality can make the process easy as pie.

Dean Seese, CPC, Gecko franchise partner for the state of New York, knows the business intimately having been in restaurant operations for 23 years. Seese has a database of more than 25,000 résumés and takes the time to learn what clients are looking for and sources accordingly. “When restaurants contract to us, we don’t throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks,” he says, adding that Gecko works on contingency. “It’s a free process to interview our candidates. You don’t pay us unless you decide to hire one of our candidates.” Generally, Gecko guarantees hires for 90 days. “If a candidate doesn’t work out, leaves or gets fired, we will do a one-time free replacement.”

Gecko also sponsors one-day, lower fee management open houses with a two-week pre-event marketing and advertising campaign to seek prospective employees. “The client sees many candidates and can hire as many as they want for that one low fee,” says Seese, pointing out that these candidates undergo a less intense screening process and Gecko offers no guarantees.

"When it comes to advocacy, your state restaurant association has the “horsepower” to fight City Hall." Richard A. Grotton, Maine Restaurant Association.

Marketing and Advertising

While sometimes relegated to the back burner, getting the word out about your restaurant helps to keep your doors open. Your local chamber of commerce offers several ways to gain exposure, get referrals and increase business in a cost-effective manner. For instance, in Massachusetts the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce emphasizes its online marketing opportunities. With a Web site that gets more than 45,000 page views per month, a business listing there – a member benefit – could attract more customers.

Every chamber holds regular networking events and after-work meetings at which restaurant owners can meet vendors and feature their fare by sponsoring the affairs. The Greater Boston Chamber conducts bimonthly Best Practices Seminars that cover a range of topics pertinent to operating a successful business.

Advocacy

One of the most logical places to find support and access to a number of resources can be found in your state restaurant association. Richard A. Grotton, president and CEO of the Maine Restaurant Association (MRA), notes that many members who own small QSRs tend to take advantage of the resources that are part of their membership fee. “We have a standing legal firm who will answer basic human resource and regulatory issue questions on a first-call-is-free basis,” he says. “We also have financial experts available and recommend services in that regard from time to time.”

When it comes to advocacy, your state restaurant association has the “horsepower” to fight City Hall, according to Grotton. “Someone has to be at the beck and call of Mom and Pop stores. We’re grassroots, ground level, and advocate for all our members,” he says. “We look at labor issues, such as operating hours, paid sick leave, menu labeling, minimum wage and unions.”