The process of opening a fast-food restaurant involves a series of administrative steps that are critical to the success of your project. To ensure you don’t overlook anything, we’ll guide you through the four main steps: defining your fast-food concept, developing your business plan, complying with the legal requirements specific to restaurant owners, and budgeting your expenses.
These are all factors that you can influence and that will maximize your chances of success.
Opening a fast-food outlet can be a profitable business, but it depends on many factors such as location, concept, management and operational efficiency. According to a study by the FFF, the fast-food sector in France generated annual sales of over €10.39 billion in 2024. This figure shows the continuing popularity of fast food options, especially in urban areas where demand for fast, affordable meals is high.
To maximize profitability, owners need to invest in efficient technologies, maintain high service and product quality, and above all, understand and respond to the preferences of their target customers. The study also recommends keeping a close eye on operational costs, and being wary of the impact of seasonal variations on revenues.
The initial budget for setting up a fast-food outlet can vary considerably, depending on whether you're starting from scratch, taking over an existing establishment or joining a franchise. According to the Hospitality Insights report, the average initial cost of starting up an independent fast-food restaurant in France is estimated at around 250,000 euros. This amount includes the cost of renting or buying premises, purchasing kitchen equipment and supplies, start-up marketing costs, as well as legal and administrative fees.
Costs can be significantly reduced if you opt for a franchise, although this also involves royalties and contributions to national advertising campaigns. For a franchisee, initial costs can vary between 100,000 and 200,000 euros, depending on the brand and franchise model.
Hamburgers, sandwiches, pizzas, sushi, and tacos are particularly well-suited to the fast-food industry. However, to meet the growing demand among French consumers, restaurants offering healthier and more natural menu items (salads, poke bowls, juices) have carved out a niche in the fast-food market. Before making a decision, explore the six most profitable fast-food models to choose the concept that best suits your situation.
That said, your choice should also be guided by the desire to set yourself apart from your competitors while meeting the needs of your target audience. To do this, consider the theme, the market, the service (dine-in, takeout, bar, buffet), the atmosphere, the setting, the food served, as well as the music and the name of your establishment.
Opening a fast-food restaurant doesn't happen overnight; it requires a significant investment of time, money, and energy, and involves, among other things, developing a business plan.
Before opening any restaurant, the first step is to conduct a comprehensive and detailed market study of the target sector.
Make sure your restaurant offers a unique experience and that it will find its audience. There’s no point in launching your business if the market is already saturated. To do this, you’ll need to gather information about your competitors and future market trends.
In short, gather as much information as possible about the market and your potential competitors. This will help you determine whether there is still room in the market for your concept, especially if you're targeting the same audience.
You own and manage your own restaurant and you alone make the decisions. To embark on this adventure alone, it is best to have a sharp entrepreneurial mind.
By joining a franchise network such as La Mie Câline, Amorino, or Chamas Tacos—which we at Innovorder know well—you benefit from an established brand image, expertise, guidelines, and support from the franchise. In exchange, you must pay operating and advertising fees.
👉 To go further: opening a fast food franchise
Another option for opening your restaurant while remaining in charge is to team up with a partner who shares your vision and values. Someone whose skill set complements yours would be a plus!
To create your fast food business, you will have to define its legal status:
The formalities to be completed to create your company depend on this step.
Part of your business plan should be devoted to your financial projections (expenses and revenue). Once this is complete, you and the various stakeholders should be able to determine whether your project is profitable, sound, and financially viable.
The following information should be included in your document:
To start your restaurant, you must provide proof of a personal contribution equal to at least 30% of the total investment. You can then apply for a bank loan.
You may also want to consider crowdfunding. This involves raising funds from your community through social media campaigns or events.
Raising funds from potential investors is also an option, but more complex to set up.
Finally, take the time to evaluate the various forms of financial assistance offered by the government. Depending on your situation and your business plan, you may be eligible for the New Support Program for Business Creation or Takeover (NACRE) or the Women’s Entrepreneurship Guarantee Fund (FGIF).
A marketing plan is used to identify the needs and expectations of consumers and to offer a product or service in line with this target audience. It is composed of 4 elements.
Your first mission is to determine the specificities of your offer: dishes, packaging, quality, etc.
Will you position yourself as a specialty restaurant or a general-interest restaurant? Will you change the menu regularly to reflect the seasons, focus on premium and organic quality, and source ingredients from local suppliers?
Do you plan to offer starters, main courses, desserts, children's menus, vegetarian menus, etc.?
What customer journey do you want to offer your customers?
Your prices must take into account a number of internal and external criteria.
Internal constraints:
External constraints:
Your communication should help build your brand awareness and attract new customers, which is why it's so important.
It must be in line with the positioning of your restaurant and the target audience.
Finally, don't overlook any promotional channels, whether digital (social media, Facebook Ads, website) or more traditional (flyers, posters, kakemono, etc.).
You must also define the distribution channels on which your commercial strategy will be based.
To do this, we recommend that you answer the following questions:
Also, be sure to consider how you will manage inventory and how your products will be transported (labor, packaging).
When choosing a location for your restaurant, make sure it aligns with the concept, the food, and the clientele.
As a restaurant owner, you are subject to a whole host of legal obligations. But what exactly are we talking about?
To start your business, you must register your restaurant, in other words: declare its existence and your activity. Once your establishment is registered and recorded on the Trade and Companies Register, you will receive your Siren number and your Kbis.
You must also register your business and provide the name of your restaurant with the city hall in your area at least 15 days before opening.
👉 Learn more: How to Register with the Commercial Register
Your restaurant is subject to a number of health and safety regulations. These cover food preparation, staff and equipment, the storage of your goods, and water.
Please note that at least one person on your team must have completed the HACCP food safety training (which lasts about 14 hours).
Also, be sure to file the required declaration (Form 13984*06), which authorizes you to handle food products of animal origin.
Since your restaurant falls under the category of establishments open to the public (ERP), you must also comply with the regulations in effect for this type of building. This will provide you with valuable information regarding fire safety and accessibility standards.
Do you plan to serve alcohol at your restaurant?
In that case, you’ll need to fill out Form Cerfa 11542*05. You’ll then have to complete a mandatory 20-hour training course, after which you’ll receive a professional license, also known as an operating permit.
To play music on your premises, you must pay copyright fees to Sacem (Society of Authors, Composers, and Music Publishers). The amount depends on your business type and the size of your restaurant.
Within your restaurant, certain information must be clearly visible to customers:
The first expenses to consider are those related to starting your business. First, there are the fees for the professionals who will assist you with the process (lawyer, accountant, or business registration specialist).
In addition, there are the costs of publishing a legal notice (between €150 and €250).
Finally, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of registering your company with the appropriate registry office. To form an SASU, SARL, or EURL, the registry fees range up to €41.50.
The premises represent a significant expense in your budget.
Unless you purchase it with your own funds, you will inevitably have to repay a bank loan or pay rent to the owner of your premises every month.
You'll also need to factor in the notary fees associated with the purchase, as well as the amount of property tax. Renovation costs, if any, can also add to your total expenses.
It’s hard to handle the roles of accountant, communications manager, business owner, maintenance manager, and server all by yourself. However, before you dive headfirst into the hunt for talent, ask yourself the following questions:
👉 Going further: 9 tips for finding restaurant staff
It's hard to imagine a restaurant without furniture, decor, tableware, or professional restaurant equipment!
Equipment is indeed one of the essential resources for opening a fast-food restaurant. Depending on the type of restaurant you want to open (dine-in, takeout, or delivery), the amount of equipment you’ll need will vary.
When it comes to the kitchen, the supplies are pretty much the same from one restaurant to another. In fact, we've written an article on this topic.
👉 To go further: supplies for your restaurant: the complete list
Electricity, water, gas, and Internet bills are among the costs specific to your business. It’s impossible to give you a precise amount, as this varies depending on your heating system, the type of energy used by your hospitality equipment, the number of customers, and so on.
Opening a restaurant without equipping it with digital solutions is a risky move, especially at a time when the speed of order fulfillment is a key competitive factor.
By automating certain processes and collecting data, technology allows youto optimize the management of your restaurant, both in the dining room and in the kitchen. In fact, technology can be integrated into every stage of the customer experience, from taking orders to processing payments, including food preparation and service.
At Innovorder, we support restaurant owners who want to provide the best experience to their customers with a complete digital ecosystem:
All of these solutions have been designed to make life easier for business owners who, like you, manage a fast-food restaurant.
👉 Going further: purchase orders: paper or digital?
To fulfill your customers’ orders, you must ensure that the raw materials needed to prepare their meals are available on time. You’ll therefore need to make sure you restock beverages, food, and packaging on a regular basis. Choosing your suppliers is therefore a strategic decision. This comes at a cost, as does storing these products.
There are many risks in the restaurant industry: fires, theft, burns, vandalism, food poisoning, and equipment breakdowns, to name just a few. It is therefore essential to purchase liability insurance and comprehensive insurance.
The first protects the restaurant from any damage caused to customers, suppliers, or third parties in the course of its business, whether caused by employees, buildings, equipment, or food.
The second type provides compensation when a major risk affecting your business premises or your restaurant’s property occurs. It is therefore insurance that covers both the business premises and the property.
You will also have to subscribe to a health insurance plan adapted to your employees' situation.
Finally, you can opt for a cold weather insurance or a sommelier guarantee .
Advertising, marketing and communication expenses should be included in your expense calculation.
Here are some expenses not to be overlooked:
Finally, remember to add your taxes to the total and keep a margin for the unexpected.
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Here's a guide you can now rely on to successfully launch your business!
And when it comes to digitizing your restaurant, trust Innovorder! We put technology to work for your business to improve its management, make it easier to run your operations, provide a better experience for your customers, and help you stand out from the competition.
