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Checklist 9 of 10
Pre-Opening Preparation
Everything that must happen between signing and opening day.
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Business setup — Month 1
Business entity formed (LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp as required by agreement)
EIN (Employer Identification Number) obtained from the IRS
Business bank account opened — completely separate from personal accounts
Business credit card established for operational expenses
Business insurance obtained (general liability, property, workers' compensation)
Franchisor added as additional insured on policy (if required by agreement)
SBA or other financing closed and funds confirmed available
All required business licenses and permits applied for
Federal, state, and local tax registrations completed
Payroll system selected and configured (ADP, Gusto, Paychex, etc.)
Site & build-out — Months 1–3
Lease signed and fully executed
Landlord provided copy of all required franchisor site approvals
Franchisor-approved architect or designer engaged
Design plans submitted to franchisor for approval before construction begins
All required building permits pulled and in hand
General contractor selected from approved vendor list (if applicable)
Construction timeline established with contractor
10–15% build-out contingency budget reserved — do not reduce this
All long-lead-time equipment ordered well in advance
Technology infrastructure (internet, POS, phone) ordered and scheduled
Signage ordered and all required permits obtained
Certificate of Occupancy obtained before doors open
Training completion
Pre-opening training requirements reviewed and all dates scheduled
Initial training (classroom or corporate HQ) completed
In-field training at a model or corporate location completed (if required)
Technology platform training completed (POS, scheduling, reporting)
Operations manual read in full — key sections bookmarked for reference
All required certifications obtained (food handler, trade licenses, etc.)
Team training curriculum reviewed and materials prepared
Staffing — Month 3–4
Job descriptions finalized for all opening roles
Compensation structure confirmed and competitive within local labor market
Job postings created and published — at least 4–6 weeks before opening
Structured interview process defined with consistent questions
Offer letters and onboarding paperwork prepared
Opening team hired — all positions filled before training begins
Background checks completed on all hires (if required by franchisor or law)
Staff training completed using franchisor curriculum
At least 2 full mock service runs completed with the full team
Opening day roles and responsibilities assigned to each team member
Supplier & inventory setup
All required vendor accounts established from approved supplier list
Opening inventory order placed with appropriate lead time
Initial inventory received, counted, and organized
Par levels established for all key inventory items
Emergency supplier contacts identified for all critical items
Waste tracking and inventory management system fully set up
Technology & systems
POS system installed, configured, and tested end-to-end
Payment processing set up and tested (credit, debit, contactless)
Scheduling and time-tracking software configured
Accounting software connected to POS (if applicable)
Franchisor reporting system access confirmed and tested
Security system and cameras installed (if required)
Internet redundancy confirmed — backup connection identified
Marketing & grand opening
Google Business Profile claimed and fully completed with photos
Local social media profiles set up and branded (Facebook, Instagram)
Franchisor's local marketing platform access confirmed
Pre-opening marketing campaign launched (2–4 weeks before opening)
Grand opening date confirmed with the franchisor in writing
Grand opening promotions planned and formally approved by franchisor
Local PR outreach completed (community media, neighborhood groups)
Grand opening budget confirmed including any franchisor co-op funding
Chamber of commerce membership obtained
Grand opening event plan finalized and communicated to team
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Opening Day & First 90 Days