Short answer: the print run itself is rarely what delays a restaurant opening — waiting on finished artwork usually is. Having the following ready before you request a quote keeps the process moving.
Logo Files
Have your logo available as a vector file (such as AI, EPS or PDF) rather than only as a low-resolution image pulled from a website or social media post. A vector logo can be resized cleanly for anything from a small cup print to a large menu board; a low-resolution raster image will look soft or pixelated once enlarged.
Finalised Menu Content
Menu items, descriptions and categories should be finalised, spell-checked, and signed off before artwork is laid out — not while it's being designed. Late content changes are one of the most common causes of delay on a menu print run, since a single wording or price change can mean re-laying out an entire page rather than a quick edit.
Brand Colours and Fonts
If you have brand guidelines — specific colour codes, fonts, or spacing rules — have them documented and ready to share, rather than relying on someone matching colours by eye from a website screenshot. This matters most when ordering several items at once, like a menu, table tents and cups, since they'll look inconsistent if colours are matched separately for each one.
Sizing and Format
Different items need artwork prepared to different dimensions — a table tent, a takeaway cup wrap, and a full menu are all different shapes and sizes, and artwork built for one doesn't simply resize to fit another without redesigning the layout. Confirm sizes for each item before design work starts, rather than after.
Photography (If You're Using It)
If your menu or table tents will include food photography, have final images ready in high resolution. Placeholder or low-quality images used in a design mockup often get missed and accidentally carried through to print if they aren't replaced before final approval.
A Simple Pre-Order Checklist
- Vector logo file
- Finalised, proofread menu content
- Brand colours and fonts documented
- Confirmed sizes for each item you're ordering
- Final high-resolution photography, if used
- One person designated to give final sign-off, to avoid last-minute changes after approval
Once your files are ready, see our main restaurant & café opening printing package guide for the full list of what to order, or our opening planning checklist for a suggested order to work through everything before your launch date.
