Restaurant pre-opening checklist (Australia and Bali)

I have stood in rooms three days before open where the painter was still in the dining room and the POS had never printed a report.

The owner had a date and a PR plan. The date did not have a labour model.

The most expensive hospitality mistake in Australia happens before you open. Month two's food cost problem is born in week minus two.

If you are 6-10 weeks out in Perth, Melbourne or Bali, this is the operational checklist. Not the fit-out list. Your builder already has that.

The four things that must exist before the first paying guest

1. Every dish costed with yield and a GP target, not a vibe. Currency you actually pay. Bali: do not cost in AUD and pay in rupiah without a file that matches invoices.
2. A roster built from projected trade, not from how many mates you can get. Sessions that cannot cover labour after food are a decision, not a default.
3. Opening, service and closing SOPs written before training. Training day without documents is a sandwich and a signature sheet.
4. POS set up to report sessions, categories and items. A machine that only takes cards is not a reporting system. You will need Monday numbers in week one.

Timeline that actually works

Start 6-10 weeks before the public date. If those four are not locked, you are not "in the busy phase." You are behind. Moving the date is cheaper than firefighting month one.

Trial service is a trial. It is not a soft launch with paying guests and no notes.

Australia vs Bali

Australian rooms can fake a missing SOP for a week with the owner on the pass. Bali will not. You cannot WhatsApp the floor from the airport and expect it to invent the close. Supplier setup, local compliance and a real trial have to exist in the room. Travel is in the Hospo22 Bali fee for a reason.

Pre-opening includes the on-site trip. Fee quoted on the call. GST extra.

FAQ

How long before opening should operations work start?

6-10 weeks before the planned open date. Earlier if the menu is still a concept deck.

Do I need SOPs before I hire?

You need them before you train. Hiring into a blank is how key-person risk starts on day one.

What if the fit-out is late?

Move the guest date. Do not compress costing, roster and SOPs into three days.

If you have a date and no costing file, start there. Appointments.

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