How To Start a Poke Bowl Business

Sometimes starting a specialty restaurant just requires a little push—and knowing how to start a poke bowl business means you’ll soon be serving delicious bowls to delighted customers with ease. 

If you’ve been excited to open up your own poke bowl restaurant, we’ve got a handy guide to help you become the proud owner of your own small business. 

What is a poke restaurant?

A poke bowl restaurant specializes in serving poke bowls, a Hawaiian dish that typically consists of raw fish, rice, and various toppings. Customers can often customize their bowls with a variety of ingredients, including vegetables, sauces, and seasonings. 

Poke bowls provide fresh, healthy, and customizable meals that cater to a wide range of dietary preferences.

Consider whether you want your poke bowl restaurant to serve:

• Traditional Hawaiian poke: A traditional Hawaiian poke restaurant features a straightforward menu with raw fish like ahi tuna or octopus on rice, and traditional toppings like seaweed, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Your customers would be looking for authentic flavors and fresh, high quality ingredients. 
• Modern fusion poke: These restaurants blend Hawaiian poke with other cuisines, especially Japanese and other East Asian flavors. Your menu might involve a wider range of ingredients, including a variety of fish, or even chicken, shrimp, or tofu. Your customers would come seeking a new experience and signature fusion flavors. 
• Fast casual poke: The most casual dining experience of the three, these businesses may be a poke bowl franchise and allow customers to build their own bowls from a variety of base, protein, and topping options. Your customers would be looking for a convenient bite that’s both quick and healthy. 

Why start a poke bowl restaurant?

If you’re looking to get into the restaurant industry, starting a build your own bowl restaurant or poke franchise can be a great way to serve quick and healthy meals to your community with a fresh new spin. Poke bowl businesses can:

• Offer healthy and customizable meals: Since poke bowls are customizable and can accommodate many dietary needs—including vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb diets—you can appeal to a wide range of customers and create a healthy food experience.
• Hold potential for high profit margins: If you can keep the overhead costs of your poke bowl business low by focussing on quality ingredients rather than complex cooking processes, you can maximize poke bowl profit margin with efficient operations.
• Operate from relatively low startup costs: Poke bowls as a concept require minimal specialized kitchen equipment, so you can start with a smaller space than other restaurants. If you employ a lean and well-trained hourly team on a fast-dining model, you can launch your dream business on a smaller budget. 
• Fill a trending niche: As a popular and trendy food, bringing a poke bowl chain or opening a restaurant under the banner of well-known poke bowl franchises can be a great way to tap into a hungry customer base.

Fully decided on starting your own poke bowl business? Let’s cover how to do that.

How to start a poke bowl business in 10 steps.

Starting a small business always involves some core steps, but when it comes to opening your own poke bowl restaurants, there are a few special considerations you need to make. Here are all the steps you need to follow to jumpstart your dream:

Step 1: Conduct market research.

Any solid small business idea is based on market research. Before opening a business, you would want to know: are poke shops profitable in your area? When researching, make sure to identify:

• Your target audience and their preferences. 
• Local competitors to see what they offer and what gaps you can fill. 
• Trends in the poke bowl market to see what’s popular and what’s fading. 

Use surveys, focus groups, and online research to gather data from both consumers and external sources like associations in your industry. This information will help you make informed decisions about your menu, pricing, and marketing strategies.

Step 2: Create a business plan.

Next, write a business plan based on your market research and poke bowl business idea. Outline your:

• Restaurant concept
• Target market
• Unique selling proposition (USP) i.e. what it is your restaurant brings to the table that others don’t

Include a detailed financial plan with startup costs, projected revenue, and expenses, and make sure to describe your marketing strategy and operational plan. A well-crafted business plan will guide your decisions and help secure funding from investors or lenders.

Step 3: Secure funding.

Make sure you know how much it costs to start a restaurant and apply those principles to your business idea. For example, if you open a poke bar franchise that features more complex fusion ingredients and focuses on an elevated dining experience, your costs will be higher than a simple fast-food approach. 

Once you have a restaurant budget, you’ll need to acquire capital through methods like: 

• Business loans (term loans, SBA loans, equipment financing, short-term loans, or a line of credit)
• Grant funding through a non-profit or local government 
• Partner with a private investor for a share of profits
• Crowdfunding through GoFundMe or Kickstarter

The clearer your business plan and financial projections, the more likely you are to be approved by lenders. 

Step 4: Choose a location. 

Your restaurant location can make or break your business, so don’t breeze past this step. Look for areas with high foot traffic, such as busy shopping centers, office districts, or near colleges, and make sure the location is visible and accessible. 

You should also consider the demographics of the area to ensure it aligns with your target market. Negotiate favorable lease terms and ensure the space meets zoning and health regulations. And don’t forget to consider whether the space will accommodate the growth of your business.

Step 5: Obtain permits and licenses. 

When you take the first step to register your business, make sure you choose a business structure that works for you. Then, do your research and obtain all the necessary permits and licenses to run a poke bowl business, such as your:

• Business license: Varies by state.
• Employee Identification Number: Used to officially hire employees and set up payroll.
• Food service license: Involves passing a food safety inspection.
• Liquor license: Consider if your poke restaurant will serve alcohol; fast-food setups likely will not, but many higher-end restaurants will have clientele expecting alcohol options with their bowls. 
• Certificate of occupancy: To show the legal use of your restaurant space. 

Staying compliant with all relevant legal obligations is crucial to keeping your business running in good standing, so make sure all your bases are covered before you move onto the next steps.

Step 6: Establish supplier relationships.

Source high-quality ingredients for your poke bowls. Establish relationships with local suppliers who can provide fresh fish, vegetables, and other ingredients. Negotiate contracts to ensure consistent quality and supply and consider sustainability when choosing suppliers, as many customers value environmentally friendly practices.

Regularly communicate with your suppliers to address any issues promptly. Building strong relationships with reliable suppliers will help you maintain the quality and consistency of your menu.

Step 7: Prepare your menu.

Design a menu that balances signature bowls with customizable options. Signature bowls showcase your culinary creativity and give customers a hassle-free choice. Each signature bowl should highlight unique flavor combinations and high-quality ingredients, and you should price according to your market research.

For customizable options, offer a variety of bases like white rice, brown rice, and mixed greens. Include diverse protein choices such as ahi tuna, salmon, tofu, and chicken and provide a wide range of toppings and sauces to cater to different tastes and dietary needs. Ensure the menu is easy to understand and visually appealing, so that customers can order quickly and easily.

Step 8: Design your restaurant.

Your brand identity should reflect the values and vibe of your poke bowl restaurant. Choose a name, logo, and color scheme that resonate with your target market. Consistency across all branding materials, including your website, social media, and in-store signage, helps build recognition and trust. 

The restaurant atmosphere should align with your brand identity. If you want a relaxed, beachy vibe, incorporate elements like surfboards, tropical plants, and light, airy colors. For a modern, urban feel, opt for sleek furniture, minimalist decor, and bold, contrasting colors. Whatever your choice, make sure your customers feel comfortable in the space.

Step 9: Hire and train staff. 

Since you’re the restaurant owner, you’ll be assembling the team that helps you run your poke bowl business. Your staff will be the difference between whether your customers have a great or mediocre experience, so investing in qualified, trained people is vital to the success of your restaurant.

To help reduce labor costs, make sure you:

• Hire a quality team
• Use a time clock app 
• Automate HR and admin tasks
• Cross-train employees

Teach your staff about the menu, ingredients, and preparation methods so they can answer customer questions confidently. Regularly conduct training sessions to keep your team updated on best practices, cleaning and work policies, and new menu items. Be sensitive to your team’s needs to help reduce turnover and boost morale. 

Step 10: Create a marketing and opening strategy.

You’re almost there! With all the ingredients in hand, the last step is to make your business known to the world so you can start serving customers. 

Start by developing a marketing strategy to attract customers to your poke bowl restaurant. Use social media platforms to create buzz and engage with potential customers by sharing mouth-watering photos of your poke bowls, behind-the-scenes content, and customer testimonials. You might even consider running targeted ads to reach your local audience.

Then, plan a grand opening event to generate excitement and attract customers. Offer special promotions or discounts for the first few days. You can even partner with local influencers or food bloggers to spread the word. Make sure to host a soft opening to gather feedback and make any necessary adjustments before the official launch.

Don’t forget to implement ongoing marketing efforts to keep customers coming back. Offer loyalty programs, host events, and collaborate with local businesses. Engaging with your community and providing excellent service will help build a loyal customer base.

Is a poke bowl franchise right for you?

Depending on the kind of poke bowl experience you want to provide, it might make more sense to start a branch of a poke bowl franchise. Franchising offers a way to start a poke bowl restaurant with a proven business model, which provides brand recognition, operational support, and marketing assistance. You benefit from established systems and training programs, reducing the learning curve. 

However, franchising also comes with constraints. You must adhere to the franchisor's guidelines, which can limit your creativity and flexibility. Franchise fees and ongoing royalties can add to your expenses, impacting your profit margins. Consider these pros and cons:

Pros:

• Brand recognition: Franchising often attracts customers more quickly than starting from scratch.
• Training and support: If it’s your first time running a business, the learning curve can be steep. Franchising helps ease the challenge with established processes.
• Marketing and promotions: These are usually handled at the corporate level, so you can save time and resources. 
• Established supply chains: Your ingredient sourcing will be more consistent in both quality and pricing. 

Cons: 

• Fees and royalties: Fees paid to the franchisor can substantially affect your bottom line. 
• Limited autonomy: Since you must follow the franchisor’s rules and guidelines, you are limited in your business decisions. Your menus, pricing, and restaurant design are also often predetermined, with little room for customization. ‍
• External impacts: If the franchisor faces financial difficulties or reputational issues, these factors outside of your control can impact your business.

Before committing to a franchise, evaluate if it aligns with your goals and budget. Check whether: 

• You can afford the initial franchise fee and ongoing royalties.
• The franchisor’s financial performance and support services meet your expectations, and whether the franchise model allows for growth and expansion in your goals.
• You prefer having creative control or a structured approach with established systems.

Leverage technology to streamline your poke bowl business.

Starting your own business is both an exciting and nerve wracking time. Whether you decide to run a poke bowl franchise or to dive in solo, it’s not easy to take the first steps. Sooner rather than later, you’ll find yourself busy with everything from hiring and training team members, to menu design, compliance, marketing, and outreach.

When you’re in deep, that’s when tools designed specially for small business owners can help the most. Set up an all-in-one team management app like Homebase early, and you won’t need to juggle paper timesheets or payroll complexities while you’re getting your poke bowl business started. 

Running a successful poke bowl restaurant requires efficient scheduling, happy employees, and seamless operations. Get started with Homebase for free and take your restaurant to the next level.