Join a 12-week bootcamp that ensures your restaurant opening makes money before day one.
APPLY FOR THE BOOTCAMPTHE PROBLEM
Most Restaurants Open with the Wrong Model
Before opening, founders make dozens of decisions that determine whether the business succeeds.
Most are made with incomplete information.
01
Menu Prices That Can't Support Labor
Margins collapse the moment real labor hits.
02
Projections That Never Come True
Revenue math built on hope, not capacity.
03
Marketing That Fails to Fill Seats
Opening day arrives without a waitlist.
04
Cash Flow Trouble in Year One
Working capital runs out before stabilization.
YOUR GUIDE
You Don't Have to
Figure This Out Alone
Restaurant Strategy has spent years helping independent operators build profitable restaurants. The Bootcamp distills that experience into 12 focused weeks for founders preparing to open.
Christopher Hughes — Lead Instructor
The program is led by Christopher Hughes, a seasoned operator with nearly 30 years of experience. He began with Danny Meyer at Gramercy Tavern and led openings at Lilia, A Voce Columbus, and Bedford Post — some of NYC's most respected concepts.
30 Years of Experience
THE PLAN
A Simple 3-Step Process to
Prepare Your Restaurant for Launch
STEP 01
Build The Financial Model
Construct the financial foundation before the doors open.
→ Revenue projections
→ Menu pricing strategy
→ Prime cost targets
STEP 02
The Pressure-Test the Concept
Stress test the numbers, the menu, and the model before opening day.
→ Can labor support service?
→ Are prices aligned with food costs?
→ Where does the model break?
STEP 03
Launch With Systems
Build the operating systems your restaurant needs from day one.
→ Marketing & waitlist
→ Hiring framework
→ Performance metrics
THE 12 WEEKLY LESSONS
Built for Profit: Week by Week
PHASE 1: The Financial & Structural Foundation
Ensure the math works before leases are signed and construction starts.
- Week 1: Concept & The Profit DNA
Defining a profitable concept that aligns with market demand. Aligning Prime Cost targets (Labor + COGS) with the chosen service model. Capacity vs. Revenue: Establishing the "Math of the Seat" and the revenue ceiling.
- Week 2: The Master Critical Path
Creating a milestone-based timeline from the current state to Opening Day. Identifying Government needs (Health Dept, Building Dept) and long-lead items.
- Week 3: Funding, Business Plans & Cash Management
Developing the comprehensive Pro Forma and financial forecast. Calculating Working Capital Reserves to survive the first 6 months of “burn”.
- Week 4: Space Acquisition & Lease Mechanics
Selecting profitable spaces and negotiating leases for maximum TI and abatement. Understanding how the physical space dictates long-term fixed costs.
- Week 5: The Tech Stack & Data Infrastructure
Selecting POS, Accounting, and Inventory systems that integrate seamlessly. Ensuring real-time sales and cost data flow to support future P3 style reporting.
- Week 6: Menu Engineering & Theoretical Costing
Building the menu in a spreadsheet before a kitchen even exists. Setting cost targets, menu matrix, and menu prices based on profitability.
PHASE 2: The Execution & Operational Launch
Building the "Machine" that will run the systems.
- Week 7: Purchasing Strategy & Vendor Ecosystems
Setting up the supply chain and negotiating credit terms. Ordering strategies and inventory systems to protect established margins.
- Week 8: Construction, Permitting & Contingency Planning
Managing the build-out and identifying the top 3 risks (delays, overages, inspections). Building the "Plan B" for each risk to ensure the launch stays on track.
- Week 9: Hiring & The Labor Efficiency Model
Building the Org Chart and a profit-maximizing schedule. Creating the recruitment schedule for a high-performance culture without overstaffing.
- Week 10: Training Systems & Operational Manuals
The 2-week pre-opening countdown: Moving shared knowledge into repeatable SOPs. Setting the standard for "The [Insert Brand] Way" of operating.
- Week 11: Pre-Opening Marketing & Revenue Generation
Building the "Waitlist" and email database to ensure Day 1 traffic. Executing VIP Soft Openings to test systems without risking the brand.
- Week 12: Launch, Post-Opening & Graduation
Implementing the "First 30 Days" protocol and reporting cadence.
The Final Deliverable:
A completed Critical Path incorporating all financial and operational elements.
Weekly
Session
Format
2 Hours
Total
90 Minutes: Curriculum Instruction
30 Minutes: Open Q&A and Tactical Troubleshooting
THE STAKES
What Happens When You Get It Right — Or Don't
WITH THE BOOTCAMP
Opening on Systems
✓ A financial model that actually holds up
✓ Menu prices built on real prime cost targets
✓ A waitlist before you open your doors
✓ Hiring frameworks that attract the right team
✓ Cash flow visibility through Year One
✓ Systems that scale as you grow
WITHOUT
Guessing At Every Turn
✗ Prices too low to cover real labor costs
✗ Revenue projections built on hope, not math
✗ Opening day with no waitlist, no buzz
✗ Scrambling to hire under opening pressure
✗ Cash running out before you find your footing
✗ Fixing broken systems while serving guests
IS THIS FOR YOU?
Who This Is For
First-Time or Multi-Location Founders
Whether this is your first restaurant or your third, the systems matter every time.
Opening a New or Additional Concept
New concepts need new systems. Don't assume what worked before will work again.
3–12 Months From Opening
This program is built for founders in the pre-opening window who still have time to build it right.
PRICING
Choose Your
Level of Support
BOOTCAMP
$2,500
Paid in full
✓ 12-week Restaurant Opening Bootcamp
✓ Core systems, frameworks, and guidance
✓ Group-based structure
✓ Weekly live sessions with Q&A
APPLY FOR BOOTCAMP →
MOST POPULAR
BOOTCAMP + COACHING
$7,500
3 monthly payments available
✓ Full 12-week Bootcamp included
✓ Weekly 60-min one-on-one calls with Chris
✓ A waitlist before you open your doors
✓ Direct support on your concept & numbers
✓ Hands-on guidance for every decision
APPLY FOR BOOTCAMP + COACHING →
You're building the same system. The difference is how hands-on you want the process to be.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE JOINING
Common Questions
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Limited Availability
Apply Now. Build Your Restaurant the Right Way.
Serious operators only.
Apply for the Bootcamp →Spots are limited. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
