MANILA, Philippines?Starting a food business may have crossed your mind once, twice, many times. And why not? After all, people love to eat and there's a constant demand for food.

But before you start moving, arm yourself with tips from an expert. We asked Cheese Ledesma-Ong, the owner of Big Chill, who has successfully put up 37 company-owned branches since 1994.

1. Have a unique concept.

2. Conduct adequate research on the competition to create realistic projections.

3. Choose a good location.

4. Determine the look and layout (it should stand out).

5. Train staff well (operations and customer service).

6. Understand your financials (pricing, break-even point, etc.).

7. Set goals and targets (have a one-year plan and a 5-year plan).

8. Define your target market.

9. Create control mechanisms (to prevent and detect pilferage).

10. Make sure you have sufficient working capital.