Sweeping is an important part of any restaurant's daily cleaning routine, but it's easy to overlook the need to sweep the outside of the building as well. You may use your broom to sweep the front stairs and any other paths that go to the sidewalk from your property. The sidewalk, if it requires it, should also be swept. Customers will still hold you accountable for it even though it's not your legal obligation. Having the leaves raked off your property, especially from any walkways, is a must if you have trees on your property.
Even if your company is a no-smoking zone (as are most in the United States' major cities), you should nonetheless designate outside smoking zones clearly. At the same time, you don't want to make your non-smoking patrons uncomfortable, therefore you should provide a manner for your smoking patrons to feel at ease in the restaurant. Just be sure to check the legislation in your region to see how much space is required between buildings and smoking sites. Maintain a high standard of cleanliness in all smoking areas by sweeping them daily and stocking them with cigarette butt stands, which you should also check and empty periodically.
The exterior of the restaurant should be cleaned before the patio is opened for the summer, but the patio or other outdoor dining area should be cleaned on a regular basis regardless of the season. To-dos for a spotless patio include sweeping, wiping down all furniture, illuminating fixtures, and umbrellas, replacing broken pieces as needed, and sweeping again. If your patio is open for part of the year, put patio cleaning on the official daily cleaning checklist, and do spot checks at other times. Even if you aren't currently enjoying a patio, it doesn't mean you should ignore the fact that it may quickly become an eyesore if not properly maintained.
Ask yourself when you take a tour of your building whether there is clear signage pointing to the main entrance. Where is the drive-through (assuming that's where you're going)? Where is the smoking section? Ensure that all signage are legible from a distance and convey the right information. You should also evaluate the present exterior signage to determine if any need to be replaced or fixed due to normal wear and tear. They could be the first (and final) impression your company makes on a consumer.
At the end of the day, don't forget about your parking lot! Maintain regular sweeping, have the parking lines repainted if they fade, and remove any litter you see. Check the lease or purchase agreement, as well as any other documents pertaining to the property, to learn the details of your responsibilities for maintaining the parking lot, as well as the frequency and kind of cleaning services provided by the landlord or other tenants.
You should also be aware of who to hold accountable in the event of an accident in the parking lot. If your company is in charge of snow removal, this is very important to remember. Make sure you understand in all your legal responsibilities in regards to the upkeep of the parking lot. Verify that your commercial landlord or neighbours are also being responsible. That manner, the whole outside of the restaurant can look wonderful while still being secure.