Running a restaurant takes a lot of work and involves many decisions, and one of those decisions is whether or not you want to add outdoor dining. Installing an outdoor dining area isn't free, but it benefits your business in many ways, making it worth the investment. If you would like to learn more, check out these three benefits of adding a shaded outdoor eating area.

1. It's Free Advertising

As a business owner, you already know the importance of advertising, but advertising can become expensive. Thanks to the internet, more and more ads are appearing online. While one ad may be cheap, the more people you want to see your ads, the higher the price.

On average, if you are using Google advertising, you may have to spend $9,000 and $10,000 per month for your business to be seen. The type of keywords you use depends on the overall price, and luckily, restaurant and food-related keywords aren't too expensive. To compare, the keywords business services, bail bonds, and lawyers can cost over $50 per click.

An outdoor seating area, however, is free advertisement for your business, and it can gain the attention of anyone walking by. Potential customers may be more inclined to look at your business if they see people enjoying food, socializing, and having fun, especially if they see food or drinks they may want.

For this reason, the overall cost of converting an outdoor area into a seating area pays for itself. In fact, adding outdoor seating can actually increase your revenue by 30 percent.

2. It Provides More Space

More space means more room for customers, but getting a bigger building is expensive. Instead of upgrading the size of your restaurant, expand outside. Outdoor seating provides extra space for more paying customers, which boosts your bottom line.

Even if your restaurant isn't totally full, more space can attract more customers. No one loves being crammed next to another table with people they don't know, so if your restaurant is always crowded, people may be more inclined to look elsewhere, especially during current times with the Coronavirus pandemic.

Adding an outdoor seating area may also attract more customers who are wary about eating out during a pandemic. Open spaces make it harder to spread viruses from person to person, so some customers may only want to dine outside. So if you don't have an outdoor seating area, they may choose your competitor.

3. It Creates an Amazing Atmosphere

Regardless of where your restaurant is located, adding an outdoor dining area can boost the atmosphere in several ways. First, if you are located in an area with a great view of the city, ocean, mountains, river, lake, etc., people may choose to dine at your restaurant just for the view. 

If you live in an area where people love dogs, you can even allow dogs in the outdoor seating area, which may make more people decide to dine with you, especially if they have a dog with them. Naturally, you'll need to check with your local city laws to determine what is and is not allowed.

Finally, depending on the type of building, you may be able to create unique outdoor dining areas such as dining on the roof or dining in a garden. Not only does this create a comfortable atmosphere for current guests, it can also attract potential future guests. 

A shaded patio can boost your restaurant and make more people want to dine there. Plus, it's free advertising for anyone passing by. If you are ready to transform your restaurant, you'll need plenty of shade, so  contact us  at Lexington Tent and Awning to see how we can help.