I really want to start a restaurant and gift shop. I have a great vision for it however no funding. What is the best way to find out if there is grant money available for something like this. I don't trust a lot of these web sites I keep navigating to. Can someone point me in the right direction? I live in Minnesota.

The only possible way to get a grant for opening a restaurant is to attach it to something like a museum or historical building. Only then will you get grant money for the building. You will be hardpressed to get money for the operations portion of the restaurant. Please understand, restaurants are the number one failure in business. Proceed with passion and caution.

A way to get funding may be to present your idea to a corporate restaurant looking for expansion. YUM brands, for example, own Pizza Hut, KFC, Long John Silvers and Taco Bell. Darden Brands owns Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Longhorn Steakhouse and others as well. Put together a presentation and floor plan with menu and bar ideas and see if they will fund a test market restaurant. They will want significant control and ownership, but your attorney should be able to keep your ideas yours.

Hello H:

I think dawgs advice is great... I'd suggest, however, that you go to work in a restaurant first. I have the distinct impression that you never have.

excon

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Originally Posted by excon

Hello H:

I think dawgs advice is great... I'd suggest, however, that you go to work in a restaurant first. I have the distinct impression that you never have.

excon

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Actually, I have for many years... waitressing, bartending etc...

Thank you! That is helpful.