Selecting a good property at the right price can be the difference between success and failure.

We have good relationships with a number of property agents, from the bar & restaurant specialists to small independents, and often hear about sites before they officially come on the market. We also have extensive experience of evaluating sites based on the myriad of different factors involved – premiums, rental value, location, site history, existing and potential layouts to name but a few. And of matching a concept to a site (and vice versa).

We have experience of setting up and operating a diverse mix of concepts, from 'Eccentric English restaurant and bar'
to 'Authentic Mexican'. With our clients' venues we apply the same attention to detail as to our own, to ensure that every aspect of the business (food and drink offer, service style, atmosphere and music to name but a few) all tie together and produce a strong, coherent overall product that appeals to the desired target market and is viable in terms of GP,
staff % and profit targets.

We've worked with a range of food operations – consistently winning critical praise and awards as we've done so. We've created menus, hired and trained kitchen teams, worked with specialist designers to design kitchens from scratch, sourced products and developed food concepts that have appealed to a range of different customers. Always ensuring that the food offer fits with the rest of the business, stands out from the competition, is practical for staff and the physical constraints of the site and is commercially viable in terms of pricing, GP, staff % and profit targets.

We have a proven track record of creating drinks concepts that appeal as much to the drinks connoisseur as to the man in the street. From the menu to the training and delivery of the drinks we make sure your drinks offering is of the highest standard, fits with the rest of the business and can achieve desirable GP, staffing and profit targets.

Underdog staff can provide business focused training for management and directors to show how management can affect profit by effective use of management accounts - close control of costs, GP, staffing levels, sales etc.

We also routinely train people on the products they are preparing and selling, service styles and (seemingly rare in the hospitality industry) how to manage people.

To date we have never failed to save anyone money, and often we succeed in making savings well above our own fees.
We recently saved a 6-strong hotel group c£80000 per year.

Getting the lowest prices possible is the easiest way to maximise GP. Underdog can help source reliable suppliers with very low prices as well as helping maximise brand support for a venue.

The financial health of a bar or restaurant depends on achieving and maintaining key financial targets and it is essential that these are identified and closely monitored. If the financial management systems aren't up to scratch it can be too late before any problems raise their heads.

Underdog can help set appropriate targets and implement the systems required to monitor whether they are being met and, if not, what needs to be done to do this.

We offer advice on when and how to expand, how to establish a stable base to grow from and putting in place the systems necessary to grow in as stress free a manner as possible. And also on financing projects and reducing risks associated with growth such as increased overheads or diluted standards.

No idea which are the best tills? Which make of fridge to buy? Who to go to for the glamourous PR launch? Who can run your payroll for you?

The bar and restaurant industries are a minefield of third party companies wanting you to use their products and services. We have a huge network of contacts and have experience of selecting the right partners to work with. You can be sure that if there are areas that we don't cover in house we can arrange everything for you.

JD Wetherspoon sells more than 700,000 breakfasts and coffees per week 'This combination of bar, food and coffee sales helps to maximise profits as well as generating volume growth for many of our suppliers'. Is your business taking advantage of the growth in morning sales?