Our client was an established entrepreneur and a seasoned cook but new to restaurant ownership. Leading up to the launch of their restaurant, our client struggled to align their staff and define their role as Executive Chef and Owner and so they reached out to Pilot Light for assistance.

We began our work by conducting a launch audit to assess the full scope of challenges facing the team. This enabled us to understand the bigger picture and to provide practical tools—checklists, timelines, and recommendations—to help our client get to opening day. From there, we held weekly advising sessions focused on leadership development and team alignment, using Pilot Light’s frameworks. Our client set the agenda, bringing real-time challenges to each session, and received ongoing support for in-the-moment decisions.

They were able to develop stronger systems for team stability and growth and the restaurant not only found its rhythm, it became a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant in its first year and was listed in the Michelin Guide.

A former client approached us after going under contract to purchase a historic hotel. Their goal—secure financing while honoring the legacy of the property and updating the operations.

To apply for an SBA 7(a) loan, we collaborated with our client to define their vision—how this business fit into their life goals, what aspects of the existing operations would stay, what would change, and how the business would evolve. From there, we analyzed the seller’s financials, researched community market data, and included our client’s long term goals to build a business plan, pro forma, capital expenditure plan, and investor pitch deck.

This resulted in a clear, fundable proposal that gave the client what they needed to confidently move forward with the project and continue the hotel’s legacy as a cornerstone of its community.

When our clients, who were first-time entrepreneurs, set out to open their first coffee shop, they had a strong vision for the beverage program but needed support in developing their food offerings and operational systems.

Pilot Light designed a food menu that complemented the coffee program, finalized the kitchen layout and equipment needs, assisted with permitting, and built out the café’s operational infrastructure including direct farm sourcing, variable cost tracking, and SOPs. We also worked alongside our clients to hire and train their staff, execute their soft opening, and get them through the first weeks fully opened to the public. After a successful first launch, they invited Pilot Light back to support the opening of a second location. This time, the focus expanded to scaling systems for multi-unit operations and navigating the buildout process.

The café opened to an enthusiastic reception and has since grown into a respected local brand with 13 units. They still use our cost tracking tool.