Creating your own menus for a cafe or restaurant isn’t as difficult as you may have thought! All you need is the materials - coils, covers, and a binding machine - and you’re ready to save loads of time and money by making your menus in-house. The best part about binding on your own is that you’re free to make changes in design and layout whenever you like.
Coil bound menu pages are easy to turn and can lay flat on a table or counter while a customer is reading them. It’s possible to incorporate either soft or hard covers with coil binding and pages can be added or omitted from a menu fairly easily. Also, if you’re concerned with cost, some of the materials including the coil binding and the covers can be reused as long as the basic dimensions and design of your menu remain the same. Here are a few suggestions for creating professional grade menus at a fraction of the cost:
Create your menu design and layout.
Unless you have already compiled the information you’ll need for your new menus, begin by developing item descriptions and gathering photographs (only if you intend to include them in your menu). Develop a design you are comfortable with and print a test copy to bind before you make a commitment. For less formal restaurants and cafes, smaller menu dimensions and more pictures are generally accepted and expected from your customers. For formal menus, refrain from using pictures and provide more detailed item descriptions. Dimensions will be important for deciding on a specific binding machine so initial design steps should be taken before you choose an inserter or machine.
Purchase a coil binding machine.
A variety of coil or spiral binding machines are available that have the necessary features to meet your needs. Depending on the coil material you wish to use, plastic or metal, choose the machine that is capable of binding one or the other, or both. Coil and spiral inserters are also an option for those wishing to automate the entire process. These machines are more expensive than a typical coil binding machine, but can greatly reduce the time needed to bind, especially when producing large quantities. Binding machines and inserters have maximum paper capacity as well, in terms of both the number of sheets they can punch and the size of paper they can accommodate for punching and binding. Be certain the machine you choose meets all of the size and material requirements you demand before you purchase!
Decide on the materials you’ll need to finish your menus.
To bind your menus you will have to decide on the color and size of the coils and covers you wish to use to complete your menus. As you’re shopping for these items, be sure to double check the size specifications, compared to the number of pages you’ll be binding, before you purchase either coils or covers. Coils are available in sizes from 1/8” to above 1”, most likely your menu will have a small number of pages and the smallest sized coil will be sufficient. Have an idea about the number of menus you want so you can purchase the necessary amount of coils and covers; plan on picking up a few extra so you have replacements for menus that are lost or damaged.
Binding and finishing your menus.
Now that you’ve decided on a design, a machine, and the materials, you can begin the process of actually binding your menus. Begin by punching and binding the test copy you printed after designing the menu. If you like the way this copy looks after binding continue with the rest of the menus!
A few final tips.
To help your menu pages last longer, consider laminating them. A sufficient laminator can generally be purchased for less than the amount of a coil binding machine and will help your menus last significantly longer. For less formal restaurants especially, laminating pages, as well as pre-designed covers, can dramatically cut costs and provide your menus with a very professional look.
When designing something like a menu, which a number of people will see everyday, it is a good idea to consult a business partner, customer, or friend before deciding on a final design. Often times others will have suggestions to make a design more user-friendly or visually appealing.
Finally, once you have all of the necessary materials, don’t hesitate to redesign your menus and create a new look. Refreshing the style, layout, and items within your menu can attract new customers and add to the excitement surrounding your restaurant.
