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Thread: Starting up a bodybuilding restaurant (fast food)

  1. #1
    Jesusbrah's Avatar
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    Cool Starting up a bodybuilding restaurant (fast food)

    Lately ive been thinking about staring up a fast food restaurant for bodybuilders/"fitness enthusiasts". In my city we have mcdonalds, burger king, subways etc, and noticed that it may be a market for cheap quality fast food.

    Just asking to get some idea of how many people would be interessed.

    Any tips? It it doable, or do i need a reality check?
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    There's "something" of that idea out here called "muscle maker grill"

    It's expensive tho and really not as healthy as it seems. Anything fast food is usually high in sodium and stuff so to provide cheap quality food would be really hard if not impossible... Next to a salad bar
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesusbrah
    Lately ive been thinking about staring up a fast food restaurant for bodybuilders/"fitness enthusiasts". In my city we have mcdonalds, burger king, subways etc, and noticed that it may be a market for cheap quality fast food. Just asking to get some idea of how many people would be interessed. Any tips? It it doable, or do i need a reality check?
    Sounds awesome to me. I would most definitely be willing to pay more for a good healthy meal that fits my macros. I mean even when I meal prep it isn't very low cost using mainly Costco ingredients. Maybe do a split menu, for health nuts and everyone else as well to open the market a bit.

  4. #4
    Jesusbrah's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hazard View Post
    There's "something" of that idea out here called "muscle maker grill"

    It's expensive tho and really not as healthy as it seems. Anything fast food is usually high in sodium and stuff so to provide cheap quality food would be really hard if not impossible... Next to a salad bar
    Yeah, have heard about muscle maker grill. Not planning something like that, thats more of a typical restaurant. Something like mcdonalds, with drive thru, take away etc.

    Expensive? If i buy straight from the farmer i will get the food cheap, maybe 50-70% of the retail price, then sell it for 2-3x of the price i bought it for.

    Am i being a little to optimistic?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by tdoe11 View Post
    Sounds awesome to me. I would most definitely be willing to pay more for a good healthy meal that fits my macros. I mean even when I meal prep it isn't very low cost using mainly Costco ingredients. Maybe do a split menu, for health nuts and everyone else as well to open the market a bit.
    Was thinking of letting people make their own meals, f.ex. charging x dollars for every 100 g of beef/chicken/rice and x dollars per egg etc. Maybe i can sell protein shakes to?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesusbrah
    Was thinking of letting people make their own meals, f.ex. charging x dollars for every 100 g of beef/chicken/rice etc, and x dollars per egg. Maybe i can sell protein shakes to?
    Maybe you can even get a good nutritionist under your belt there, and have him/her do meal plans for people. Then of course they would buy say two of the daily meals from, your place.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesusbrah
    Was thinking of letting people make their own meals, f.ex. charging x dollars for every 100 g of beef/chicken/rice and x dollars per egg etc. Maybe i can sell protein shakes to?
    well I see you are not in the USA so it may be possible. Because here it would not make it.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by tdoe11 View Post
    Maybe you can even get a good nutritionist under your belt there, and have him/her do meal plans for people. Then of course they would buy say two of the daily meals from, your place.
    I can feel the money already

    Was thinking of maybe pairing up with a huge juicer gym in my area, 10% discount or something for the members.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesusbrah
    I can feel the money already Was thinking of maybe pairing up with a huge juicer gym in my area, 10% discount or something for the members.
    I would go the cross promotion route. Advertise for the gym in your place and have them do the same for you. As in flyers and materials people can take with them. You don't necessarily have to offer a permanent discount, for one your product will sell itself. For two it will be hard to keep track of who is who.

    Always offer a "call to action". Like on the flyers in the gym, have a "bring this coupon or flyer" for xxx. That way you can track if the flyers are working. Always advertise in ways you can track the progress, or it could be a big waste of money.

    Start a Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, tumblr, Twitter etc. everything you can. Start posting videos and pics pics pics. Offer deals on there as well. Make them sign up for an email list before they can download and print their coupon. That way you are developing an email list of people who are interested for future advertising.

    Man there are so many ways you can get the word out there. The best ones are not necessarily the most expensive but they are usually time consuming. Always have an excellent product, and never use cheap ingredients. People will love it. If you were in the Los Angeles area I would love to be apart of.
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  10. #10
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    you would just have to do all the cost analysis for everything and see what the profits could be.

    also, you need to research the area/location and see what the economics are. as you mentioned, if you could find a location next to all of those other fast food places, then I see no problem in your plan, unless your food sucks! haha!

    keep us posted, i love the idea

  11. #11
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    I really dont see how this would succeed personally.

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    I think it would be tough to make it work
    There truly aren't many people that really care what they eat.
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  13. #13
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    Thats an awesome idea. You could serve healthy food at a price competitive with mc donalds.

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    skaz915 is offline Member
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    There is a place called fresh healthy cafe near me. That's the name google it to see menu. Right next to a gym and always packed. They offer 10% discount if u belong to the gym.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesusbrah View Post
    Yeah, have heard about muscle maker grill. Not planning something like that, thats more of a typical restaurant. Something like mcdonalds, with drive thru, take away etc.

    Expensive? If i buy straight from the farmer i will get the food cheap, maybe 50-70% of the retail price, then sell it for 2-3x of the price i bought it for.

    Am i being a little to optimistic?
    I don't think you are! I love the idea!
    High protein menu, high cal menu, low carb menu. carb cycling menu with a mon-sun specials to follow.
    I like the idea. but you need to make sure its near a gym atleast IMO

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by -Horus-
    I don't think you are! I love the idea! High protein menu, high cal menu, low carb menu. carb cycling menu with a mon-sun specials to follow. I like the idea. but you need to make sure its near a gym atleast IMO
    I would also add that needs to be located in an area of higher income and near young professionals, ideally in a destination community. Ppl will pay a little more for nutritious food. Do your proper market research!!! Your target market is more then body builders.

  17. #17
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    Some of the gyms around here have restaurants in them.

  18. #18
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    In North America the government would make it damn near impossible for a business like this succeed.
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  19. #19
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    Bodybuilding community is way too small to be dependent on them for income in my opinion. I would think most body builders (real body builders) have quite the disciplinary habits and likely shop/cook for themselves.

    Best of luck though, you don't know until you try.
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  20. #20
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    I tend to agree with austinite on this one...
    and ones in need a quick meal with good ingredients usually can find a Chipolte or Qdoba in the same parking lot as the gym... at least where I'm from that is the case.

  21. #21
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    You could follow the formula of Firehouse in Venice Beach a block away from Mecca. They're a regular sit down restaurant that offers a whole menu of regular foods for your average joe. Then they have a side menu that breaks down contents into macros for the bodybuilders. The prices are a little higher but that's because the amount of food you're getting. Lol.

    I really can't imagine a fast food for bodybuilders doing well. There just isn't enough customers to cover the overhead.

    Eat meticulous, train ridiculous for best results.

  22. #22
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    Also on You could sell gear mabe put some Dbol on some rice jk

  23. #23
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    Have one of those in my city and it is popular and successful. However, it is marketed as a healthy lifestyle / athlete eating establishment. Maybe "bodybuilding restaurant" is too niche and would scare a lot of potential customers away. I go to the one near my place and all the food is cooked clean, using a lot of organic chicken / sweet potato / avocado / egg white and it is awesome! Stuff is made to fit typical macro breakups. The world needs more healthy eating if you have the knowledge / backing and business sense I say go for it!
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  24. #24
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    For it to work what ggr said needs to be done you can't compete with the buying power of the fmcg groups there expenditure on raw materials is just insane tbh.

    The company I work for spent 2.5 billion dollars just on a factory to make 60 coffee lines.

    Imo for it to work you have to market yourself differently offer good quality meat products at reasonableish prices with a cheat meal offer too to get the non bodybuilder public in there imo.

    Also the cost of labour is restrictive in the restaurant business my friend owns two restaurants his biggest cost is labour, the food costs are relatively cheap is taken on their own.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesusbrah View Post
    Yeah, have heard about muscle maker grill. Not planning something like that, thats more of a typical restaurant. Something like mcdonalds, with drive thru, take away etc.

    Expensive? If i buy straight from the farmer i will get the food cheap, maybe 50-70% of the retail price, then sell it for 2-3x of the price i bought it for.

    Am i being a little to optimistic?
    In my experience:
    The typical dietary habits of a Norwegian are vastly different than that of the typical "American". This forum may be too diverse to offer you any usable feedback. However: You might have some success.
    And in order to do so you should align yourself with one of the larger food industry players in your area. Such as Tine, etc.

    They can supply you with a major portion of your supplies and might also buy in to the venture at greater than 51% if the project proves successful. At which point they have the resources and personnel already in place to advertise, market, and expand your concept.

    good luck.
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  26. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by -Ender- View Post
    In my experience:
    The typical dietary habits of a Norwegian are vastly different than that of the typical "American". This forum may be too diverse to offer you any usable feedback. However: You might have some success.
    And in order to do so you should align yourself with one of the larger food industry players in your area. Such as Tine, etc.

    They can supply you with a major portion of your supplies and might also buy in to the venture at greater than 51% if the project proves successful. At which point they have the resources and personnel already in place to advertise, market, and expand your concept.

    good luck.
    Thanks, great input.

    Yeah, norwegians are very different than americans. Basically almost everyone between the age of 10 and 50 is involved in some form of exercise, if its lifting or sports, so i would think most people would turn away from mcdonalds and such for fast food if they had other options. Also, theres a HUGE bodybuilding circle in my city, so the clientele is there. Most national champions, even some world champions in bodybuilding are from my area so dont underestimate this people!

  27. #27
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesusbrah View Post
    Thanks, great input.

    Yeah, norwegians are very different than americans. Basically almost everyone between the age of 10 and 50 is involved in some form of exercise, if its lifting or sports, so i would think most people would turn away from mcdonalds and such for fast food if they had other options. Also, theres a HUGE bodybuilding circle in my city, so the clientele is there. Most national champions, even some world champions in bodybuilding are from my area so dont underestimate this people!
    How big of a bodybuilding circle is there though? Let's suppose your food there tastes good and you are going to hit the demographic you're after in the area. How much money in the best case will you possibly make? How many times a day are these bodybuilders going to eat at your restaurant? What would your overhead costs for food, utilities, staff and rent cost you?

    The biggest reason that most businesses fail is due to the owners not doing their homework BEFORE opening the business. A lot of times if they would sit down and do the math, they'd see that their business model could not possibly work in a best case scenario (let alone in the most likely case).

    If you were to borrow the money open shop, you also need to take that in to account. Plus you'll need money to operate for a good period of time while your restaurant takes off.

    I honestly don't think a restaurant for bodybuilders would necessarily work, but I haven't done the math either. Crunch the numbers and see if it'll work.

  28. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by Honkey_Kong View Post
    How big of a bodybuilding circle is there though? Let's suppose your food there tastes good and you are going to hit the demographic you're after in the area. How much money in the best case will you possibly make? How many times a day are these bodybuilders going to eat at your restaurant? What would your overhead costs for food, utilities, staff and rent cost you?

    The biggest reason that most businesses fail is due to the owners not doing their homework BEFORE opening the business. A lot of times if they would sit down and do the math, they'd see that their business model could not possibly work in a best case scenario (let alone in the most likely case).

    If you were to borrow the money open shop, you also need to take that in to account. Plus you'll need money to operate for a good period of time while your restaurant takes off.

    I honestly don't think a restaurant for bodybuilders would necessarily work, but I haven't done the math either. Crunch the numbers and see if it'll work.
    Well im doing some of the "homework" right now, asking people what they think of the idea.

    Its not going to be a "bodybuilders only and everybody else can f*ck off"-restaurant, but for everyone who needs a fast meal thats not shit. Maybe i chose the wrong title

    I have roughly done the math, and it looks like a desent profit. Both high and low estimates.

    Capital is not a problem.

  29. #29
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    Restaurant biz is a lot of hours. It's tough work. Have a friend who part owns/head chef. Works evenings. Weekends. Sunday brunch. Off midweek.

  30. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by GirlyGymRat View Post
    Restaurant biz is a lot of hours. It's tough work. Have a friend who part owns/head chef. Works evenings. Weekends. Sunday brunch. Off midweek.
    Yeah a restaurant seems like a tough business to be successful in. It's probably better to open up a porn site.

  31. #31
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    Save your hard earned money.
    I have the exact restaurant you plan on building three blocks from my house it's good and I love it but they are tanking hard. Real hard.
    No one goes there from the main stream because they don't want healthy they want SALT FAT CARBS and GREASE. It's in the middle on three large gyms they have done the advertising in all the right places they just don't get the people in the door. It is a little more money but I can pop in there and get a whole wheat wrap half steak half chicken with a side of broccoli with a tea or what ever. It's about 14 bucks but your getting a huge meal oh and I add long grain rice or quinoa .
    By all means give it a go man I am gonna miss my joint when the close up

  32. #32
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    Yeah, just open a titty bar. You'll make more money.

  33. #33
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    Would be good in thailand then you combine food, steroids , gym and hot asian women all in the same building
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  34. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by Honkey_Kong View Post
    Yeah, just open a titty bar. You'll make more money.
    I thought about that for a while, but decided its not worth the hazzle to **** with the feminists


  35. #35
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    You know what is popping around me that is basically this but w/o it being a restaurant?
    It's those food prep places like "My Fit Foods"
    There are others but the names escape me right now.
    Look it up, they offer food for morning noon and night that fit your macros/goals.

    I've often walked in and grabbed a prepped meal of my choice, payed/tossed it in their microwave and ate right there.

  36. #36
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesusbrah View Post

    Capital is not a problem.
    You have $500k + just sitting around?

  37. #37
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    I have not read the posts but wanted to give you my hard earned opinion: (for what it is worth)

    DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!


    BUT.... I am one that supports the dreams and goals of people no matter how I feel. If everyone gave up when their ideas were not accepted, we wouldnt have half of the amazing businesses we have these days and our progress as a race would still be in the dark ages.

    My #1 piece of advice: NEVER risk more than you can lose OR have a family that will allow you to stay with them while you get back on your feet lol
    (and I dont mean like AR... inside joke)

  38. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesusbrah View Post
    I thought about that for a while, but decided its not worth the hazzle to **** with the feminists
    They'd be giving you free advertising. If they give you that much of a buzz, guys will check it out just to see what the talk is about...

    Or you could run a business like this:



    And yes, it was a dream of mine growing up to one day go to that place. But sadly it closed before I turned 21.

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