Effective Restaurant Labor Cost Control
Restaurant labor cost represents one of the largest expenses for restaurants, often accounting for 25–30% of total sales. Managing these costs efficiently is critical for profitability and operational sustainability. Labor reports are essential tools that offer insights into staffing efficiency, payroll accuracy, and employee productivity. By effectively utilizing these reports, you can make data-driven decisions […]
Tax Season for Restaurant Owners: Simplified Steps for Compliance
The months leading up to tax season can be a stressful time for restaurant owners. In addition to managing PTO requests and hosting parties and houseguests during the busy holiday season, there’s that creeping feeling that you’ll soon need to get your business financials in order for your accounting teams. But there’s an alternative: with […]
Smart Restaurant Accounting Methods that Drive Growth
Let’s face it—restaurant operators juggle dozens of moving parts every day, making accurate restaurant accounting crucial. Though confusing, incomplete financial data is the last thing you need, that’s exactly what you get with basic cash-based accounting or generic bookkeeping tools. Think about it. Your Friday night dinner rush involves credit card payments, mobile orders, vendor […]
Why Food Waste is a Hidden Profit Killer
A strong focus on food waste in restaurants is not just a sustainability measure to help with brand image; food waste directly affects your bottom line and can often have a bigger impact on your profits than you might expect. With razor-thin profit margins, discarding even a relatively small amount of food every day can […]
Optimizing Restaurant Operations: The Power of Regular Assessments
In today’s competitive food industry, restaurant operations are the cornerstone of efficiency, profitability, and long-term success. While innovative menus and creative marketing strategies may attract diners, it’s operational excellence that keeps them coming back. Regular operational assessments are crucial for identifying areas where your restaurant can streamline processes, cut costs, and improve the overall guest […]
Labor: Fixed vs Variable Cost?
One of the most critical expenses in managing a restaurant is labor. From wages to payroll taxes, the complexity of managing labor directly affects your success, and management teams need to understand the related details, particularly the concept of fixed vs variable cost. Labor costs aren’t easily categorized—they can be both fixed and variable, depending […]
How Small Restaurants Can Prepare for Seattle’s 2025 Minimum Wage Hike
Seattle’s restaurant industry is poised for a seismic shift in 2025 as small businesses brace for a significant wage increase. On January 1, 2025, the city’s minimum wage will rise to $20.76 per hour, aligning wages for small and large employers alike. This change is driven by the elimination of the “total compensation credit,” which […]
Understanding and Managing Restaurant Labor Costs
Understanding and managing restaurant labor costs plays a significant role in profitability and is crucial for your management team to understand. Labor costs include wages, benefits, payroll taxes, and other mandatory contributions, making them a critical factor in determining a restaurant’s profitability. Successfully managing labor costs can be the difference between a thriving restaurant and […]
Menu Engineering: A Guide to Revamping Your Restaurant’s Menu
Imagine applying the meticulous precision of engineering to the art of crafting a restaurant menu. Menu engineering is not just about listing dishes; it’s a strategic blueprint for boosting profits and delighting diners, making it a vital tool for savvy restaurant owners. Engineering a menu involves analyzing dishes to determine their popularity and profitability, enabling […]
Recipe Costing 101: A Comprehensive Guide for Restaurant Operators
For restaurant owners, recipe costing is an ongoing operational concern. Savvy managers understand that as food costs change, so will individual recipe costs. Keeping up with these price fluctuations can take considerable time away from other operational tasks, but ignoring these regular price changes can send your food costs spiraling out of control. Fortunately, a […]