While many people may have worked a service job in high school or college, the thought of opening a restaurant doesn’t always cross everyone’s mind. Even so, a career as a restauranteur can be an incredibly fun, rewarding, and lucrative line of work — if you have the right mindset.

Well, restaurant business may not be equally exciting for everyone, but if you see the following three signs, it’s certainly your way to go.

1- You’re Passionate About Food

You’ve probably heard before that it’s important to be passionate about your work. That’s especially true in the world of restaurants, as the hours can be long and the work is, at times, demanding. Even so, if you’re passionate about food, can’t get enough of television shows like Top Chef, and love to cook, the restaurant business may be a great fit for you.

In her best-selling book, Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow: Discovering Your Right Livelihood, author Marsha Sinetar shares that “even though we are all fairly adaptable, elastic, and multidimensional, we are not born to struggle through life.” She continues, stating that when you find a job that draws on your natural talents, you will not only find financial fulfillment, but personal fulfillment and happiness.

The biggest takeaway of the book is that if you’re passionate about something to the point that you can consider working in that field, it is worth taking the leap.

2- You Like the Idea of Running Your Own Business

Being passionate about food and cooking is a great first step, but that’s not all it takes to open your own restaurant. If you can’t fathom the idea of running your own business, you may prefer to work as a chef or line cook in somebody else’s restaurant.

That being said, if the idea of purchasing restaurant supplies, hiring a team, and creating a rewards program and email list for frequent diners gets your brain moving just as much as the idea of cooking, opening a restaurant may be a good decision. Just know that you’ll need to be organized in order to succeed and make your restaurant stand out.

Having a calendar or planner to monitor when you need to get a new shipment of restaurant supplies from a distributor sources like VegaDirect.ca or what day you’ve scheduled interviews for new bartenders is paramount to your success in the restaurant industry. If these tasks don’t frighten you, consider opening a restaurant.

3- You’ve Got a Fresh Concept You Know Will Take the World by Storm

Another reason to get into business is if you have an idea that’s so good you can’t hold it in any longer. For example, if you live in a small college town and have noticed that there’s not a good coffee shop or café that stays open late and has late-night food options, you could be sitting on a goldmine. Or consider opening a QSR establish. QSR means a quick-service restaurant, where you can efficiently serve customers with speed of service being your top priority.

Similarly, if there isn’t a good Mexican, Cajun, seafood restaurant or other styles of restaurants in your area, you may be able to succeed by getting started as the “only game in town.” Restaurant concepts are a pivotal part of whether a restaurant will succeed or not.

The Bottom Line

Still on the fence about whether or not to jump into the restaurant game? If even two of these ideas speak to you, make the leap. Life is too short to do something you don’t love, and if you can find fulfillment running your own restaurant, you should go after your dream. With passion, vision, and strong business acumen, you’re sure to serve food that makes a difference in others’ lives.