Straight from northern France and Belgium, French fries are becoming more popular, with their demand on a constant rise. The above fact makes opening a French fries business a lucrative business. It also requires little investment with sometimes a very high return.
To guarantee the success of your French fries shop, read through our well-researched steps and procedures that must guide the opening of a French fries business.
Table of Contents
Is It Profitable to Open a French Fries Business?
Opening a French fries shop is a profitable project because the initial investment pays off quickly. Indeed, the star of your snack is the fries. This potato product takes very little preparation time and is inexpensive to purchase. With the wonderful organization of your chip shop, you will not need to hire employees. It is up to you to stand out from your competitors by offering quality fries and products.
Everyone loves fries; students, tourists, travelers, those who do not want fries at home, or those who are simply unequipped with a deep fryer. Hence, making a fortune out of this business, as well as other businesses in the food industry, starts with building customer loyalty.
How to Open a French Fries Business
Now let us get into the nerve of war and find out what steps to take when opening a French fries shop.
Below are key questions you will get answers to:
- What are the requirements needed to open a French fries shop?
- What budget do I need to open a chip shop?
- What is the best location to open a chip shop?
Let’s learn about “How To Start A French Fries Business” in detail:
#1: Get Trained for Your French fries Business
Catering is one area that does not require specific training in most regions. So you do not need a diploma to open your chip shop. However, it is advisable to take some training to guarantee the success of your snack business.
For the good management of your business, it is advisable to consider training in accounting and/or management.
For food safety and out of respect for your customers, it is mandatory to take hygiene training. Indeed, the catering sector is very strict at this level. In the US, the FDA in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) offers a guide on who can provide training for the food industry.
Those outside the US can look up in their region for professional training open to caterers.
#2: Set Out your Budget
The financial implication of starting a French fries business is not too much. Count around $5,000 for a kiosk, and the professional kitchen equipment to be expected. In the US, a custom outdoor or indoor kiosk can cost as low as $2000. You can either buy outright or lease the kiosk. They come with fitted appliances and accessories suitable for preparing French fries.
Some custom French fries kiosks come with:
- Cables for gas or electricity
- A professional fridge
- A freezer
- Sinks
- Plates for snacking meats
- Professional deep fryers, etc.
You may also consider getting an improvised kiosk which may cost less, but we recommend the custom kiosk.
#3: Find a location for your French fries business
Finding the perfect location is the key to the success of your French fries business. To do this, you will need to carry out a market survey.
Here are some questions you will need to find answers to:
- How many French fries shops are in the region you want to set up?
- Who are they?
- Are they successful? If so, why?
- What is the number of inhabitants compared to the number of existing French fries shops?
For this last question, try not to go below the average; one French fries shop for every 2,000 residents.
If the above math shows that the number of residents surpasses the number of shops, then you can set out to the next step.
#4: Carve a name for yourself through Branding and Packaging
To attract your potential customers, invest your best into branding. You can start by:
- Choosing a unique business name
- Designing a professional logo
- Incorporating Colors
- Getting a Signage
From a practical standpoint, try to find a location that allows you to:
- Provide parking
- Seating space, etc
#5: Get your business registered
The administrative formalities are also important to open your shop legally. In particular, register your business according to the business registration requirements of your location.
What Equipment Do I Need for a French fries shop?
You will then need to equip your French fries shop with vital equipment used for cooking the fries. Below are the must-have French fries pieces of equipment:
The professional fryer
There are mainly 2 types of professional fryers depending on the power source; electric or gas fryer. Both models perform equally well and are suitable for intensive use.
For a food truck, it is better to choose a gas fryer because of the quick heat-up time. Gas fryers also have the advantage of being used, more easily, outdoors than an electric fryer.
Some models of deep fryers offer a large capacity with several wells to cook the French fries. For ease of cleaning, go for stainless with a drain valve to make it easier to drain the frying oil.
French fries cutter
No need to cut your potatoes by hand. The French fries cutter makes this tedious task easier. With this kitchen utensil, the cut will be clean and precise. Depending on the model, you can ensure a flow of 4 to 5 kg of fries per minute. The French fries cutter, therefore, offers you a considerable yield while saving time on your service.
The fries warmer
To keep French fries warm, custom chips warmer is an essential piece of equipment to have in your French fries shop. With its infrared heating lamps, it will keep your fries at the right temperature all day without altering the taste or texture.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now have all the information you need to open a successful French fries business. All you have to do is to follow the above steps religiously and start making a fortune without further delay.
Related article:
How to start a popcorn business
Tips for Starting a Chocolate Business