How do I check a restaurant’s patio seating and weather dependence?
Ask for sales by day, split by indoor and patio, then lay them against the weather. If patio nights carry the business, a poor season hurts. Also confirm the patio is permitted, who owns the space, and what it needs to reopen each year.
Request daily sales records, ideally split between the dining room and the patio, across good and bad weather. Compare sunny weekends with rainy ones. A restaurant that drops sharply when it rains is more exposed than one whose indoor tables fill when the patio cannot be used.
Then check the patio’s standing. Find out who has the right to use the space: the restaurant, the landlord or the municipality. Ask your lawyer to check the lease, any permits for outdoor service and any conditions that must be renewed. A patio that the business cannot legally operate is not an asset.
Look at physical details too. How many guests does it seat, what shelter, heating or shade does it have, and what must be set up and stored each season? Ask staff about complaints from neighbours or noise limits, because these can restrict hours. Think about staffing and costs. A busy patio needs extra servers and a plan for the weeks when the weather is unpredictable. Ask how the seller handles scheduling when forecasts change, and how much food is wasted on a washed-out day. Finally, picture a poor season. Would the business still carry its costs? Plan on that basis.
Key takeaways
- Compare patio and indoor sales on good and bad weather days.
- Have a lawyer confirm the patio is permitted and who holds the right to use the space.
- Ask how staffing and food ordering adjust when the forecast changes.
Related reading
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 03Restaurants CanadaIndustryRestaurants Canada - The Voice of Foodservice
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