Table of contents
What’s inside the guide?
There isn’t a universal formula for how to scale a restaurant group, because every one is different. But there are frameworks that work, and this playbook puts them in your hands. Designed as a companion to The Build podcast, each chapter builds on an episode so you can listen and then put the lessons into action. It includes:
- Worksheets to map your expansion readiness, brand architecture, and partnership structure before you commit to anything.
- Decision frameworks for the calls every expanding operator faces: which opportunities to pursue, when to spin off versus extend, how to build a leadership team that scales.
- Checklists and tools for the pre-opening period, opening week, and the 90 days that follow.
- Reference guides on financing, multi-concept tech stacks, and the metrics worth watching as you grow.
- Space to take notes, fill in your own numbers, and make this playbook yours.
How do I use the workbook with the podcast?
Season 3 of The Build podcast follows Giovanni, Tania, and Chef Carlos of Taqueria Ramirez as they open a new restaurant in New York City’s West Village. This companion playbook turns those lessons into tools you can apply to your own expansion. Here’s how to use them together:
- Listen and apply. Each chapter corresponds to an episode. Hear the real story, then use the worksheets to work through your own version of the same decisions.
- Pick your stage. Jump in at the chapter that matches where you are, whether you’re evaluating your first expansion opportunity or planning your third location.
- Return to it. The frameworks here are useful every time you’re facing a major growth decision. Use it as a go-to resource as your group evolves.
The podcast tells the unfiltered story of building a restaurant group and the playbook gives you the structure to write your own. Together, they’ll help you expand from one restaurant to many, with the insights and support you need.
FAQs
- Q: Who is the Restaurant Expansion Workbook for?
A: It’s built for restaurant operators who have already opened at least one location and are thinking seriously about what comes next, whether that’s a second location, a new concept, or the full leap to a restaurant group. If you’re still planning your first opening, start with the Season 2 field guide. - Q: Can I use the workbook without listening to the podcast?
A: Yes. Each chapter is built around a decision every expanding operator faces, so the frameworks stand on their own. The podcast adds real-world context from the El Camaron Peludo story, but the worksheets, checklists, and decision tools work independently. - Q: Do I need to read the workbook from start to finish?
A: No. The workbook follows the arc of The Build Season 3, but each chapter also works as a standalone tool. If you’re in the middle of a partnership decision, go to that chapter. If you’re stress-testing your cash flow ahead of a new opening, start there. The table of contents maps each chapter to the decision it covers, so you can jump in wherever you are and return to it as your situation evolves. - Q: How is this workbook different from a restaurant business plan?
A: A restaurant business plan is a document you write once to secure financing. This workbook is a set of tools you return to every time you face a major expansion decision. It covers the questions business plans often skip, like how to build a leadership team that scales, how to manage cash flow across multiple locations, and how to grow without losing what made people love your restaurant in the first place. - Q: Where can I listen to The Build podcast and past seasons?
A: All episodes of The Build, including Season 3 with Taqueria Ramirez and Season 2 with Ramen by Ra, are available at square.com/thebuild. The show is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.
