How to Open a Restaurant in Maine

Maine is renowned for its fresh seafood, making dishes like lobster rolls and fried clams a staple in local restaurants. Along with a strong background in agriculture and stunning scenery from the Camden hills to the Acadia National Park, Maine is one of the best states to start a restaurant, so what are you waiting for?

We understand that it's easier said than done. Businesses, particularly new ones, have to obtain and complete relevant documents and successfully meet strict regulations to get approval from numerous departments before the fun begins.

To help you on your journey as a new restaurant owner, we have put together a comprehensive step-by-step guide that covers all you need to know, from creating a business plan and concepts to choosing a Maine location and marketing to the right people.

How to Start a Restaurant in Maine

Starting a restaurant in the beautiful state of Maine is an exciting adventure, but when unexpected roadblocks keep getting in the way, this excitement can quickly turn to frustration.

As beautiful and culturally rich Maine is, it's not necessarily easy to start a restaurant here. As with any state, it's incredibly important that you are compliant with local laws.

So, to remain at least two steps ahead at all times, it's essential that you do as much research as you can before putting all your eggs in one basket and paying the price.

This includes being aware and thoroughly understanding Maine's specific licensing requirements, local health codes, and building permits. It's also benefits to pay attention to competition in the area you wish to operate in, this will help determine how you'll set yourself apart and build a community.

Let's dive into what steps you should follow to start a restaurant in Maine.

1. Decide on a restaurant concept

Do you want to embrace the local seafood dishes or introduce a new concept to the area? Questions such as this shape your restaurant concept, the very thing that influences your menu, customer experience, and overall restaurant identity.

Start off with what you're passionate about. As a restaurant owner, there is a drive to why you do what you do. Perhaps it's creating a comfortable, unique family dining experience or creating flavors that elevate tastebuds to a new level; this passion will guide restaurant decisions.

It's also essential that you consider your target market and how/if they will be attracted to your restaurant concept. Having a clear demographic to aim for makes it much easier to effectively bring them into the restaurant and keep them coming back.

Once you know the foundation of the restaurant, this helps define long-term goals. Where do you see your restaurant in the next five years? If you're unclear, making decisions for restaurant marketing or interior design are a lot more challenging than they should be.

2. Create a business plan

A business plan is where you lay out your whole restaurant plan from start to finish. With a detailed document covering everything from branding guidelines, to funding, to market analysis, you can refer to it as a guide for business operations and decisions.

Having a well-thought-out strategy backed with plenty of research puts you in a strong position to start off on the right foot. It also helps explain to others you wish to invest or join the team as to what your vision is and how it will come about.

3. Finance your restaurant

Securing funding is a major part of bringing your Maine restaurant to life. Without it, you won't get far and in some cases not be able to open at all, after all it's not necessarily cheap to start a restaurants, or any business for that matter.

Consider things like building size and Maine location, cost of ingredients, and additional services you want to include. With a detailed concept and business plan in your arsenal, you'll have a good idea of how much money you'll need to secure.

Some restaurant owners fund it themselves with personal savings but this is rare and isn't realistic for those new to the scene.

For many others, bank loans, venture capitalists, and investors are feasible. Funding sources all have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it's advised not to rush in and make the wrong decision.

4. Choose a location in Maine

Choosing a spot for your restaurant isn't as easy as what looks the best, you'll need to do additional research into what comes with the area. This includes demographics, market, and competition.

Also think about how big or small your restaurant will be. To ensure operations within the kitchen, behind the bar, and in the dining room are efficient and safe, you'll need to refer to your business plan. This clarifies how much space is required to meet your specific goals.

It may seem tricky, but it's important to balance practicalities with appearance. A building on an attractive, busy street is great, but only if your restaurant can function correctly.

You can either buy or lease a restaurant space, or you can build one from scratch. Here are some additional criteria to focus on when evaluating a restaurant location to decide if it's right for you:

• Target market and ideal customer profile

• Real estate market conditions

• Community

• Size of the site

• Previous tenants

5. Apply for Maine licenses and permits

To establish yourself as a legally sound company in Maine, there are a few licenses and permits to get first.

A business license is the first one you'll need to get as it creates the foundation for the other licenses and permits to build upon. Also referred to as a business tax certificate, this license ensures you are compliant during tax season.

In Maine, business licenses are controlled by the city or county you live in. If you operate a restaurant with multiple locations across cities and counties, it’s important to get a business license for each business in different jurisdictions.

Other licenses and permits you'll need in Maine include:

• Certificate of occupancy: Confirms that your building meets Maine's zoning and safety requirements.

• Food handler's license: Anyone handling food needs this license as it shows employees are trained in food safety and preventing contamination.

• Food seller's permit: Allows the legal selling of restaurant food to the public.

• Liquor license: You can sell alcohol on the restaurant premises as long as you abide by the regulations.

• Catering business license: Lets you sell food at other, external locations like food trucks or a pop-up kitchen.

• Food facility health permit: Following inspections, confirm that your food business aligns with health inspection program requirements and sanitation standards.

6. Build a food and drink menu

Now, this is where the real excitement starts! The reason why the restaurant was started in the first place - food and drink.

With this in mind, it's evident why creating a menu that aligns with your passion and your brand and caters to the target market is really important.

You must also be able to execute it to high standards because actions speak louder than words, and customers will soon catch on that you're all talk and no delicious food.

Using seasonal ingredients is a great way to guarantee customers will stay interested in your menu. This highlights fresh, locally sourced food, perhaps from farmers' markets or small businesses. No matter the season, your menu will taste incredible and will fit the vibe, for example in the Summer, have vibrant, refreshing salads, while in the Winter, prioritize warm stews and soups.

A themed menu is also a really strong marketing technique. You can feature it on social media, which allows you to create cohesive dining combinations that complement one another and foster memorable customer experiences.

7. Hire and train staff

You have a strong foundation, but now you need the team to put ideas into reality. Contact candidates through local employee job boards or create an online advertisement for each role. You can even put up posters around the local city to bring in those who know Maine's food scene and community.

Be clear on the particular skills you are looking for, and mention your restaurant's unique vision. The more detailed your job descriptions are, the better your chances of finding high-quality candidates are.

Even the most experienced and professional employees need training because every food business has its own way of doing things. This is where a solid onboarding process comes in and covers everything they need to know, including menu allergens, restaurant technology, and specific standards.

It's really important to invest time and money into your team. It sets them up for success and allows for each department to run as smoothly as possible. You must also comply with Maine’s local labor laws.

8. Get the best equipment and technology

High-quality restaurant equipment will be some of the best resources your corporation will ever have. It ensures quality assurance and makes operations efficient like never before.

For example, a home food processor might work well in your home kitchen, but at the restaurant, it will crumble under constant demands. Commercial-grade appliances are designed for heavy use over a long period of time, so it's definitely a worthwhile investment.

Technology is equally important. Buying a point-of-sale (POS) system is like getting a register from the future. It handles orders, tracks inventory, and much more. Discover Toast's POS system to find out its full capabilities.

9. Use a restaurant marketing plan

You and your team think your restaurant is great, but now it's time to convince the public.

A marketing plan includes various channels like social media, websites, and email campaigns. Your restaurant concept will play a big part in your marketing methods as it needs to reach the target market. For example, a young demographic uses Instagram and TikTok instead of radio stations.

Your content must be engaging. Getting people truly excited about what the restaurant gets them through the door and in the dining chair.

Share images of your dishes and upcoming promotions that don't require a lot of reading time, as it only takes a few seconds to make an impression in this fast-paced digital world.

User-generated content is when normal, everyday people with humble or no social media followers eat at your restaurant and post about it online. This can be used in website testimonials or as social media posts.

After you have established how you will market your restaurant, also consider when you will post it and what tone of voice you will use. This is crucial for connecting with the right people at the right time. For example, an elderly audience will be put off by slang, whereas younger generations will feel engaged.

10. Hold a soft opening and grand opening

It's time for the soft opening, a private occasion where the team, investors, and a small group of customers are invited to test the waters. 

Any hitches shouldn't cause a panic, and instead as a blessing because now you can fix them and prevent them from happening again. It's a low-pressure environment where people can taste the menu and give their opinion on the overall restaurant experience.

Following the soft opening, you can begin planning the grand opening. This is when doors officially open to the public and the restaurant operates in full swing. Use your marketing plan to advertise the event and attract a large crowd with promotions and deals.

Live entertainment and a speech from the owner to tell diners a quick story about how the restaurant began and what you hope to achieve make the day memorable. As the opening day ends and customers are left with exceeded expectations, you can bet that they will be back.

Your Restaurant Journey Begins

So, what are the next steps after opening a restaurant? You've successfully gotten every license and permit required by each Maine department, established a business plan, and are subject to rave reviews online; all that's left is to keep moving forward.

Always be open to learning and improving as a restaurant without losing your initial vision and goal. Customers will know if you begin to stray from what you promised, so visit local competitions for first-hand knowledge of what you can do better. Ask for assistance if you need it, listen to feedback, and give your team credit where it's due.

To help you maintain this success, Toast has numerous resources that help businesses stay on track. Book a demo today and experience how Toast can enhance your establishment operations for yourself.

FAQs

Do I need a permit to sell food in Maine?

Yes, you do. Depending on your situation, you will likely need a state food license, a food seller's permit to sell a food product(s), and/or a food facility health permit to ensure safe food handling and consumption.

How much is a food license in Maine?

The cost can vary, usually ranging between $50 to $250 every year. Remember to have all food licenses and permits paid for and up-to-date.

What licenses do I need for a food truck in Maine?

There are a few licenses you'll need for a food truck in Maine:

• Business License

• Mobile Food Facility Permit

• Public Health Permit

• Food Seller's Permit

• Liquor License