The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting a Restaurant

Well-organized, thorough practical guide, and an entertaining read. Seasoned with quick-hint sidebars that keep the reader's attention. An indispensable handbook for neophytes and a handy reference for veterans.

I have no links of any kind to any party involved in producing or selling this book. I came to this book with only low-level restaurant work knowledge, but with the idea I might set one up. So far it's only an idea. Though I have run businesses, the management and ownership side of the restaurant business is new to me. I know that if I go into restaurants I will be competing with experienced operators. I will need to try and catch up quickly (or lose money and make errors). One important lesson my business experience has taught me is that advice from those in the know is pure gold. So, considering a restaurant business, I bought this book. In my opinion it is first-class. It's well-written, clear, comprehensive, quite entertaining, and the points he makes are good solid management points. It's just what I was looking for.

This was the most helpful and honest book I have read on opening a restaurant. It's realistic but also gives you hope and help. Anyone thinking of opening a restaurant this is a must have!. It's easy to ready and understand. This is the only book you need! don't waste your money and time on any other book!

The restaurant business is not easy. Howard Cannon makes that very clear in his book. Yet he shows you how, in step-by-step fashion, to make your dream come true if you are willing to work hard enough and plan things out. From the beginning, as he helps you analyze whether the business is for you, through the various stages of planning what kind of restaurant you want to how to buy silverware, Cannon delivers the goods. Perhaps the best thing he does is identify the things that can derail your dream so that you can be on the lookout. He points out that most restaurants fail, but he has turned around enough failures to know how to avoid the common pitfalls. More than that, though, he is enthusiastic about the business while being realistic about the work involved. The restaurant business is not for the timid, but this book takes you through all the steps, including a calendar of when to do things, so that you will be able to be seating customers soon in your very own restaurant. This is a great book and it will help you a lot.

It works. Really. I am more amazed than anybody that an Idiot's Guide would work but this guy knows what he is talking about.. There's plenty of detail here and I've got a restaurant to prove it.