The restaurant industry can be very competitive in some geographic areas. Restaurant owners must do everything in their power to gain a competitive edge. The success of your restaurant can be determined before the first customers enter your door.

Designing an effective floor plan allows you to create a commercial space that will foster long-term success.

1. Building Codes

You should take the time to become familiar with the building codes in your area before you begin a restaurant construction project. Failure to comply with these building codes could result in your restaurant being shut down, and you could even face hefty fines.

The best way to avoid non-compliance is to partner with an experienced commercial construction company. These construction experts understand the requirements commercial facilities must meet in order to operate legally.

Commercial contractors are also familiar with federal regulations that your restaurant facility must meet. You can work closely with your contractor to design a floor plan that meets both local and federal building codes.

2. Service Method

You will need to give careful consideration to the service method that will be used in your restaurant before any commercial construction activities begin. The service method will have a direct impact on the design of your facility's floor plan.

Restaurants that want to feature fast, casual dining should have an open floor plan that directs customers through an ordering and pick-up line. Restaurants that offer sit-down dining experiences will need a floor plan with ample room for guests to wait on a table.

Once you know the service method your restaurant will use, you can design a floor plan that will maximize the efficiency of your staff over time.

3. Seating Arrangement

Many restaurants want to accommodate as many guests as possible in order to maximize profits. In order to achieve this goal, you will need to create a seating arrangement before finalizing your floor plan.

Customer comfort can be affected by design features like table shape and orientation. Play around with your seating arrangement until you identify a layout that will strike the right balance between customer comfort and maximum occupancy.

You can then create a floor plan around this seating arrangement so your restaurant is capable of generating as much profit as possible.

There are several factors that should be taken into consideration before you finalize a floor plan for your future restaurant. Thinking about building codes, service method, and seating arrangement will help streamline your commercial construction project.