Does Restaurant Labor Cost Belong in a Recipe Costing Card? Jan 02, 2024

The question of whether labor belongs in a recipe costing card is a frequent topic at my speeches, seminars, and workshops where I teach restaurant owners the ropes of managing their costs effectively. I want to answer this burning question and explore why labor should be kept separate from your...

Continue Reading...
Mastering Restaurant Prime Cost: The Key to Profitability May 23, 2023

For those who've been following me, by now you should know that I refer to the major key performance indicator (KPI) called prime cost as the one number you must know to have any chance of making money in your restaurant. Today I'm going to talk about mastering restaurant prime cost, the key to...

Continue Reading...
Top 5 Reasons to Track Waste in Your Restaurant Kitchen Apr 04, 2023

How can a clipboard system that tracks waste have an impact on your food cost and your restaurant kitchen operations? Here are my top five reasons you need to track waste in your restaurant kitchen.

A waste tracker is a simple clipboard system. Simply print off the form and put it on a clipboard...

Continue Reading...
What Does Inflation Mean for Your Restaurant Business? Jul 05, 2022

Inflation in the restaurant business feels like it could be the knockout punch after the one-two combination that started in 2020. First the restaurant industry was hit with business restrictions and then the Great Resignation and now inflation is affecting your bottom line. The good news is you...

Continue Reading...
The Absolute Best Ways to Get Restaurant Costs Under Control Jan 26, 2022

Sometimes it feels like it’s getting harder and harder to make money in the restaurant industry as an independent restaurant. Well, that's because it is. You’re dealing with rising food and beverage costs, increased labor costs, a labor shortage, costs forced on you by third-party...

Continue Reading...
How to Calculate Restaurant Labor Cost  Dec 28, 2021

Are you wondering how to calculate restaurant labor cost or whether you're doing it the right way? Restaurant labor cost is often a restaurant's biggest expense, other than an empty chair in your restaurant. Calculating your restaurant labor costs correctly is critical to you making money or...

Continue Reading...
Restaurant Prime Cost for Independent Owner Jul 14, 2020

Restaurant prime cost for an independent owner is a critical formula to know. Experts like me, we throw it around like everybody knows restaurant prime cost when a lot of independent operators don't know their own prime cost percentage. Watch the video below or keep scrolling to read to get...

Continue Reading...
Systems to Have When Running a Restaurant Jan 21, 2020

I was thinking about how to answer the question, "What does it take to be successful in the restaurant business?" If you want to be successful running a restaurant, you should know three key things. Watch this video, or continue scrolling, to learn those three key things.

About What It Takes for...

Continue Reading...
What Is the Prime Cost Formula Aug 27, 2019

Have you heard about prime cost and wondered what the definition of prime cost was? Restaurant prime cost is the one number you need to know and manage to make any money in the restaurant business. Watch this video (or keep reading) to learn the prime cost formula and where to find the numbers in...

Continue Reading...