• Think about your interests.  If you're going to open a restaurant, you really need to enjoy what you do because it's a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week job.  Are you interested, for example, in a particular type of cuisine?  If you adore French food, you aren't going to be happy running a franchise sandwich shop.  Do you love to make desserts?

• Is your chosen concept salable?  While your interests should drive your concept decision, don't forget that whatever your concept is, you are going to have to sell it to the public.  Consider whether or not you think customers will be interested in buying the products/services you want to sell.  If there is no interest, there is no sale.  If there are no sales, there are no profits!

• Seek a balance between salability and interest.  Keep these two factors in mind.  It will allow you to come up with an innovative idea that will also keep you happy in your new location.

• Develop a mission statement.  If you are still unsure of your concept, take a different approach.  Develop a mission statement; this can really help you decide.  Your mission statement should tell you what your company's values are, who your customers are, what your economic objectives are, what your goals are, what your products are and what your market is.  To develop your mission statement, take a sheet of paper, write down the following headings and fill in each section:
• Goals
• Beliefs
• Values
• Product
• Customers
• Market

• Use this information to help you channel your thoughts.  Your goals ma be "to make a 15 percent profit" or "to establish an upscale breakfast restaurant."  Your beliefs could be "to provide quality food at affordable prices."  Your customers may be young working couples without children who have a good deal of disposable income.  You market may be "in an urban center" or " in a rural setting."  Your mission statement doesn't have to contain much detail at the stage; it is simply a device that will help you to focus on your direction and formulate an idea about the type of location that you're looking for.  

The previous is an excerpt from The Food Service Professional Guide To Restaurant Site Location: Finding Negotiating & Securing the Best Food Service Site for Maximum Profit.    The book is available through Eastern Food Equipment.