Thousands of people dream of starting and owning a successful restaurant. The key word, of course, is “successful.” In almost every case the path to entrepreneurial success starts with choosing the right location for the new restaurant. Choosing a potential business location is just as important as knowing how to operate that business in the first place! Here we’ll look at some strategies to successfully finding a good location for a new business.

Of course, food and service are important to the success of a restaurant, but the location can be just as crucial, especially in the early years. Read on for ten things you should know about selecting a restaurant location.

Parking Is a Must

Ideally, a new restaurant location should have its own parking lot. If that isn’t an option—for example, in a major city—consider partnering with a hotel in the area that has its own parking options. Many famous restaurants are housed in hotels, and for good reason. Not only is there parking, but the benefit of foot traffic that is staying right upstairs is incalculable.

Visibility Is Important

People have to know the restaurant is there, either in person or on their mobile devices. Setting up shop in a location with either high foot or car traffic is ideal. Making your restaurant (or restaurant sign) visible to the public is free advertising. It reminds them that your restaurant exists and they should stop by for dinner sometime. Consider advertising in search engines and social media to enhance your presence across all forms of media.

Size Does Matter

Even the smallest bistro or coffee shop requires adequate space for a kitchen, walk-in refrigerator, dry storage and an office for paperwork. Your dining room needs space for a wait-station and possibly a bar. What looks like a huge space for rent can quickly fill up with all the equipment needed to open a restaurant.

Understand the Curse

Some locations house one failed restaurant after another. Soon people associate the space – not necessarily the individual restaurant- with bad service, poor food, and lacklustre ambiance.

Put Safety First

One of the first steps in choosing a restaurant location is finding out if the building is up regulations. Does it have proper wiring, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, handicap-accessible doors, restrooms, ramps? A walk through the building with your local code enforcement officer will help you determine what needs to be done to a space before you open a restaurant.

If You Build It, They Won’t Always Come

Many restaurants are located off the beaten path and do quite well. But choosing to open a restaurant out of town, in a remote area is a gamble. Customers might visit for special occasions, but not on a regular basis.

You Can Negotiate Your Restaurant Lease

Many people are surprised to find out that they can haggle with prospective landlords about a lease. Not just about the monthly rent, but also about who pays for things like heat, lawn care, general maintenance. Don’t be afraid to ask for concessions when looking to rent restaurant space.

Don’t Be Impulsive

You may visit one spot and decide that it is “the one.” Before you start sketching out the dining room, be sure to visit multiple sites. And visit prospective restaurant sites during different times of days, during the week and on weekends. There need to be enough people who live in or pass through the area on a regular basis to keep you busy. For example, is the area really busy during the work day and very quiet at night and on weekends? Patience pays off when selecting a restaurant space.

Understand the Commitment You Are Making

Before you sign a multi-year lease, consider the consequences if your restaurant fails. It isn’t pleasant to think about, but if you are roped into a five or ten-year lease, your landlord can still demand rent, even if you are out of businesses. Ask for a one or two year lease to start. Once you have established a successful restaurant, you can sign a longer lease.

Address all these elements when you sit down to draft your business plan for a new restaurant, which you will need before applying for a loan. In addition, by understanding each of these elements, you can better choose the right location for your new restaurant.