How to Start Your Own Café or Restaurant After BHM

Are you a Bachelor of Hotel Management graduate with dreams of owning a trendy café or a full-scale restaurant? You're not alone! Many students enter the hotel management field not just to work in 5-star hotels but to become foodpreneurs—business owners in the booming food & hospitality industry.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

✅ 1. Build a Solid Business Idea

Start by defining your concept.Do you want to open a coffee shop, a fast-food outlet, a multi-cuisine restaurant, or a dessert bar? Think about:

• Your passion (e.g., baking, street food, fine dining)

• Your target audience (college students, families, corporates)

• The uniqueness of your concept (ambience, theme, menu)

✅ 2. Research the Market

Conduct basic market research:

• Who are your competitors?

• What pricing do they offer?

• What’s missing in your locality’s food scene?

This research will help you create a business plan that works.

✅ 3. Build a Business Plan

A strong plan includes:

• Your mission & vision

• Investment estimate & funding options

• Marketing strategy

• Menu planning

• Hiring staff

• Revenue projections

This plan is your roadmap—and it helps secure funding.

✅ 4. Legal Registrations & Licenses

Make sure your business is compliant:

• Register your business (as proprietorship, partnership, or private limited company)

• FSSAI Food License

• GST Registration

• Trade License

• Fire Safety & Health Certificates

A BHM graduate often already understands these essentials due to academic exposure.

✅ 5. Choose the Right Location

"Location is everything!"

• Make sure it’s visible, accessible, and matches your target audience

• Near colleges, offices, or busy residential areas is ideal

• Check for footfall and rent feasibility

✅ 6. Hire & Train a Great Team

Use your BHM knowledge to hire chefs, kitchen staff, and service staff.Train them in hygiene, customer service, and consistency—skills you mastered in college.

✅ 7. Focus on Menu & Quality

Your menu is your brand. Keep it:

• Unique and exciting

• Reasonably priced

• Easy to prepare and consistent

Always prioritize taste, hygiene, and presentation.

✅ 8. Branding & Marketing

• Create a catchy name and logo

• Use Instagram, WhatsApp, Swiggy/Zomato listings

• Offer opening discounts or loyalty programs

• Encourage happy customers to leave reviews

✅ 9. Financial Planning & Control

Keep track of:

• Food cost vs. selling price

• Wastage control

• Daily sales & monthly reports

• Inventory and supplier management

Use software tools or POS systems to simplify operations.

✅ 10. Keep Learning & Growing

Stay updated with:

• Food trends (e.g., vegan, gluten-free, local produce)

• Customer feedback

• New cooking techniques or kitchen equipment

🎓 Why BHM Is the Perfect Start

A BHM degree doesn’t just teach you how to cook—it teaches you how to manage a business, handle customers, ensure quality, and lead a team. Whether it’s cost control, kitchen planning, or hygiene standards—you already have the basics to build your own venture.

🔍 Need Help Getting Started?

At Southern Educational Institutions (SIHMA, Vizag), we train students with real-time coaching, entrepreneurship workshops, hands-on kitchen practice, and expert mentoring to turn your dreams into business success.

📞 For guidance, admissions, or campus tour – call us at 8929541581