The Shift Report: Launch Day Without the Chaos

Opening a new café, restaurant, or bar? Congratulations — you’re about to step into one of the most exciting (and yes, sometimes nerve-wracking) chapters of your life.

Between the fit-out, final menu tweaks, staff training, and those “is the signage arriving on time?” questions, it’s normal to feel like you’re spinning plates. Launch day has a lot of moving parts, and it can be tricky to know if you’ve covered everything.

The good news? With the right preparation, your first day doesn’t have to be chaos.

Common Opening Day Hiccups

Even the best-prepared venues can hit speed bumps. Things like:

• Suppliers: Orders not quite right, or accounts still pending.

• Staffing: A few roster gaps, or training that hasn’t fully sunk in.

• Compliance: A forgotten form or licence creating last-minute stress.

• Tech & Systems: POS not talking to the EFTPOS machine, or WiFi patchy in the kitchen.

• Marketing: Google listing not updated, signage not visible, or socials left until the last minute.

None of these are deal-breakers — but they can take away from the buzz of your big day.

The Fix: A Pre-Open Checklist

That’s why I’ve put together a Free Pre-Open Checklist. It’s practical, simple to use, and designed to help you feel confident that the essentials are covered — from suppliers and staff through to compliance, marketing, and systems.

Think of it as a little safety net that makes sure nothing important slips through the cracks.

Why I’m Sharing This Checklist

Two simple reasons:

1. Because opening a venue is a huge job, and having a clear list makes it feel a lot more manageable.

2. Because sometimes, even with a checklist, you realise an extra set of hands (and some experience) can make things run a whole lot smoother — and that’s where I can help.

3. 
   

Grab Your Free Copy

Want peace of mind heading into your first day?

👉 Download the Free Pre-Open Checklist here (just pop in your email and it’s yours).

And if you’d like to go one step further — whether it’s fine-tuning your menu, training your team, or setting up systems — I work with cafés, restaurants, and bars across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane to help them open strong, with confidence and clarity.

Book your free 15 minute discovery call here.

Final Word:Your launch should be exciting, not overwhelming. Grab the checklist, tick off the essentials, and let’s make sure your first day sets the tone for a thriving venue.