The Learning Institute

Restaurant Entrepreneur Diploma

If you've longed to run a restaurant all of your own, you've come to the right place.
By studying the Institute of Catering's Restaurant Entrepreneur Diploma course, you'll learn everything there is to know about setting up and running your own restaurant.
Whether you want to run a gourmet restaurant, a deli or a fast food joint, this course will suit your needs.
You just have to do the exercises we set, listen to the advice your tutor gives you, and complete all the assignments. Then you'll be set to take those all important first steps into the world of restaurant management.

It could be the start of a whole new career - and certainly the start of a new and different life for you. Once you've gained the knowledge and skills that the course provides, you'll understand how to make your business a success.
You'll be less likely to make the mistakes that many first-time restaurant managers make, as you will have learnt how to avoid the common pitfalls and will have a better understanding of the industry.

Expert advice
It's the input of our qualified tutors that makes this course unique. All our tutors are hand picked. Each of them is a restaurant manager, and has years of industry experience.
In every assignment you'll work towards a different aspect of running a restaurant - and then you'll get detailed feedback on it. As you progress through the course your tutor will get to know you, and you'll get ever more useful advice and critiques that lead to your goal of having your own successful restaurant.

The course contents
1. Welcome
Before you start
Getting the most out of your course
How to do the assignments
Sending assignments by email
Any problems?

2. Restaurant concepts
Understanding why people dine out
Understanding types of restaurant
Decor style and ambiance

3. Understanding demand and exploring competition
Assessing demand
Who is your competition?
Other sources of competition

4. Menu planning
What's on the menu?
How much food to include
Your speciality
Menu sections
Meals vs. a la carte
Specials
The menu itself

5. Employees
Hiring employees
The hiring process
Interviewing
Training
Employee relationships

6. Equipping and sourcing
Accessing your equipment needs
Getting down to the basics
Purchasing your equipment

7. Physical and aesthetic design
Interior restaurant design basics
Making your design fit
Facility management

8. Legal issues
Deciding on your business structure
Registering a business name
Registering a business trademark
Registering a business domain
Hiring legal counsel
Legal requirements

9. Marketing
Profiling your most likely customers
Having a 'soft opening'
Developing a Unique Selling Point (USP)
Hiring your creative team (or acting as your own team)
Purchasing cost-effective advertising
Targeting your publicity and inviting critics
Your 'grand opening'
Tracking, testing and revising your marketing

10. Preparing your business plan
Where to start
How to prepare the sections of your business plan

11. Operations
Food preparation and serving
Daily methods and systems
Cleanliness

12. Financing your restaurant
Insurance
Setting prices
Mark ups
Financial management
Analysing costs
Tracking sales

Here's what you'll find in your course pack:
Quick Start guide, to get you started on the course.

A sturdily bound set of course modules that lies flat for ease of study. They contain detailed, practical information that guides you skillfully towards setting up your restaurant.
The course modules have hundreds of pages of clear and concise advice.

11 assignments. Your assignments will be carefully marked with personal advice by an experienced tutor.

A stylish case that keeps all your course material.

A confidential personal profile for you to complete. It helps you assess your goals, your strengths and weaknesses, and your progress.

A Manual containing invaluable hints and tips that will help you set up your restaurant.

A study guide and planner that helps you organize your study.

Self-assessment exercises. They occur throughout the course to help you get organized for when you start to set up your restaurant.

A textbook. This accompanies the course and provides useful background information.

Question and Answer sheets for you to have your queries answered.

And when you complete the course, you'll get the following items:
A handsome Diploma to frame and display on your wall.

A 'Certified Restaurant Entrepreneur' logo to put on your website and your letterhead.

A press release sent to your local newspapers (if you want). It announces your success.

The letters Dip Rest. (Inst C) after your name.