A Complete Restaurant Construction Checklist to Streamline Your Next Build

Starting a restaurant from scratch takes substantial planning at every stage, along with some professional assistance.

Key takeaways:

• You’ll begin by creating a timeline, setting a budget, and choosing a location.
• You can then get into the design and compliance aspects of your restaurant project.
• Ultimately, professional assistance is required to get the job done the right way, the first time.

Owning a restaurant can be an exciting experience. But getting to opening day takes significant time, effort, and attention to due process.

That’s why the RPC experts have assembled a Top 10 tips list designed to help your restaurant construction flow efficiently, from its first designs to final handoff.

Following each step listed below will help you become a successful restaurant owner.

1. Create the Right Budget

You won’t know exactly what your restaurant will cost until you develop a plan and complete construction. However, you can set a target price and a maximum amount you don’t want the project to exceed.

Restaurant coach Ryan Gromfin did a deep dive into 2025 restaurant startup costs and found that budgets can range anywhere from $95,000 to over $2 million. Quite a margin, and that’s because restaurants vary in key expenditure areas, including:

• Intended size and location.
• Desired design and decor.
• Utilities and equipment.

Building from the ground up costs more than renovation or rebuilding, so knowing which best suits your budget can help aspiring restaurateurs plan more confidently.

Bonus tip: You’ll save money from the outset by speaking to a General Contractor who’ll provide a free estimate of your restaurant construction costs.

2. Establish a Realistic Timeline

No worthwhile General Contractor will guarantee project completion by a certain date. Construction timelines can be unpredictable due to a host of dynamic factors.

These hurdles can appear at any stage of the restaurant construction process, so you must be ready for everything that comes your way. 

Experienced contractors can review your project and give you a realistic restaurant completion time based on project complexity, foreseeable problems, and potential surprises. 

3. Select a Location

Your restaurant’s location can make or break your business. Choose a spot that’s highly visible, easily accessible for foot and auto traffic, and realistically close to your ideal customer demographic.

Researching nearby competition is essential; established restaurants nearby could make it more challenging to attract customers. Local zoning laws and nearby food suppliers should also be part of your research.

The goal is to gather all possible information about your intended location, so the address you choose is a help, not a hindrance.

4. Design the Building

There are various aspects to restaurant design that must be considered, including:

• Lot size and zoning.
• Seating and capacity.
• Safe, sanitary, and efficient kitchen design.
• Floor plans and outdoor areas.
• Washrooms.
• Accessibility.

Accessibility is of particular importance; foot traffic, parking, and trade-related access/egress (such as deliveries and waste disposal) are all pillars of restaurant design.

Ease of accessibility for people with disabilities is also a top priority. Today’s restaurant construction must comply with the latest ADA standards for accessible design in 2025 to keep up with evolving regulations and public expectations.

5. Find the Right Financing

Securing funding for restaurant construction (or any other kind) is especially challenging in 2025. 

Lenders are more cautious with their financial assistance due to factors like higher interest rates and increasing construction costs.

The latter is sure to become an area of even greater caution and scrutiny in the wake of President Trump’s shifting tariffs and their impacts on the construction industry this year, and in the years ahead.

Increasing your chances of finding funding requires knowing how to finance differently. Some steps to consider are:

• Applying for traditional construction loans.
• Looking into C-PACE financing.
• Collaborating with private equity firms.
• Debt financing.
• Asking if there are any local or government incentives to help fund restaurants.

Each source of funding brings its own pros and cons. Take the time to conduct all necessary due diligence and work with the right professionals.

6. Acquire the Proper Permits and Exercise Compliance

Permits are central to compliance. Failing to obtain the right permissions can wreak havoc on restaurant construction by extending timelines, incurring fees, and even leading to temporary or permanent closure post-opening.

All necessary permits must be in place before construction begins. This requires working with a General Contractor who understands everything required for your project to comply with building codes, zoning laws, and health and safety standards.

General Contractors with restaurant experience will help ensure your electrical, plumbing, HVAC systems, and more are installed as required, while external design fixtures and parking areas are also up to code.

Permits and compliance don’t stay static. You must work with a General Contractor who stays current with evolving regulations, such as OSHA’s 2025 updates on compliance covering:

• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
• Heat-related illnesses.
• Enhanced fall protection enforcement.
• Hazard communication standards.

Related updates are those in the NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC) for 2026, which is currently on presale. While not available for immediate reading, your General Contractor should already have a basic awareness of where compliance and regulation will be affected.

7. Develop a Construction Plan

With everything else in order, it’s time to create a construction plan; an exciting step because you’re now ready to see your concept come to life!

A good construction plan is essentially a collection of plans under a single banner, with engineers, designers, architects, and supervisors collaborating to ensure everything stays on track. This means that one thing matters above all else: communication.

Effective communication between all parties involved, including the client, is what will make your plan a workable reality. Without it, your project will never leave the page in the way you desire.

When everyone provides as much detail as possible about their role in the restaurant’s construction, the construction plan becomes the project’s central resource. 

It should be highly comprehensive, addressing key elements like:

• Project scope and objectives.
• Architectural documents and visual renderings.
• Budget and schedule.
• Logistics and safety measures.

And that’s not all. But an experienced General Contractor will help you cover every base.

8. Weigh Sustainability Considerations

Modern restaurant construction must incorporate three concepts as standard: sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental awareness.

This means that emerging construction materials should be strongly considered for inclusion in your next build, wherever possible, with some examples being:

• Bamboo and recycled plastics for greater resource renewability.
• Self-healing concrete to prolong structural lifespan.
• Thermochromic windows for greater energy efficiency.
• Carbon fiber and advanced composite materials for optimized load-bearing.

Incorporating the latest developments is great, but your restaurant must also incorporate the basics of sustainability, such as energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems that further reduce energy consumption.

Additionally, responsible restaurant construction prioritizes waste reduction and recycling, which minimizes the volume of waste sent to landfills and reduces the emission of toxic greenhouse gases.

9. Select the Best Contractors

Many General Contractors will be interested in your restaurant project. Only a select few will have the necessary skill and experience to do things the right way, the first time.

Here’s the checklist of what to look for in a restaurant contractor:

• Verifiable business address and contact details.
• A well-designed website showcasing past work and testimonials.
• Proof of current insurance.
• Strong communicative and collaborative qualities.
• Project management expertise.

Ideally, you should go with a General Contractor with previous restaurant experience who can provide industry-specific skills and insight.

10. Get Expert Help From RPC!

RPC General Contractors is a full-service construction company that can make your restaurant concept a reality. 

We’ll guide you through the design, project planning, and construction phases, handling every aspect that your task requires.

Get in touch with us today to learn more and receive a free estimate on your restaurant construction. We’d love to hear from you!