Gift card sales can boost your cash flow and increase guest loyalty. But not all gift cards are created equal. Before you jump on the gift card bandwagon make sure you have all the facts to get the best gift card program for your restaurant....more >>

Planning to hire your first General Manager? At the top of your staffing list should be deciding who will be your 1st Lieutenant. This step by step guide will help you identify your operations specific requirements and choose the right candidate the first time....more >>

Over four months into our "new normal," many independent restaurant owners are wondering how they're going to survive at reduced seating capacities and the possibility of facing another shutdown. Government assistance, payment deferrals and/or short-term rent abatement may not keep many restaurants from permanently closing, assuming they can even get access to it....more >>

As a restaurant owner, you know that rising costs are inevitable. Whether it's the cost of food, labor, or rent, your expenses are always going up. At some point, you may reach a point where you can no longer afford to operate at your current prices. When that happens, you'll need to raise your menu prices....more >>

Downsizing the kitchen to lower the rent factor can work well, but only when it's done well. A flawed kitchen design compromises your restaurant's success by causing issues like bottlenecks in service or inadequate storage space. See how today's restaurant kitchen shapes up smaller - and how you can draw from kitchen design trends to ace a renovation or new build....more >>

Science tells us that it pays to be kind. In fact, kindness at work can give you an advantage. In this video, you will learn simple best practices that will help you be more energetic, engaged, and fulfilled during your shift....more >>

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, which tells you everything you need to know about the importance of front-of-the-house cleaning and how it can be a major part of any restaurant's success...more >>

The Prep Cook final written test provides matching, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple-choice questions that cover key aspects of the training program to measure the knowledge and competence of the trainee....more >>

We had the privilege of talking with one of the true giants of the restaurant and business world, Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of legendary, award-winning Zingerman's Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to the delicatessen, the Zingerman's family of businesses has grown to include Zingerman's Roadhouse (a full-service restaurant), Bakehouse, Coffee Company, Mail Order and several other Zingerman's businesses. Ari is also a prolific writer and is one of the most respected and influential thought leaders in our industry....more >>

What happens when you receive a claim of foodborne illness contracted at your restaurant? How you handle these types of complaints that carry potential liability can greatly influence the outcome. Learn how to respond the right way....more >>

This survey is ideal for taking a snapshot of how the restaurant team views the culture of the restaurant, which can highlight issues and problems in need of attention. All restaurant employees should complete this survey (managers and staff). It is best to have the restaurant team complete the survey within a few days of one another....more >>

Many small-business owners, especially those without a background in accounting and finance, are going to gravitate toward the relatively easy-to-use QuickBooks. This article can help you get your financial management process up and running as seamlessly as possible....more >>

Discounting can boost your sales in the short term but over time it can erode your profitability & condition your customers to only show up with a coupon! Learn alternatives to relying on constant discount & coupon promotions that can build your restaurant's topline sales AND bottomline profits at the same time...more >>

A new year brings new opportunities and challenges to independent restaurants. It's a time of reflection, considering what worked and what didn't. It's also a time of looking forward and setting goals...more >>

A solid training infrastructure helps new team members build competence, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Great training requires a team of high-performing, trusted employees and managers (who enjoy training others) to lead the way!...more >>

Focus on 10 things you can do to increase profitability without lowering the quality of your customers' experience, and in one way or another, actually enhance it. This article scrutinizes 10 aspects of your operation that typically have room for improvement by increasing efficiency and guest satisfaction....more >>

Why is it that chains are often 2-3 times more profitable than independent restaurants? It's not magic and, more importantly, it's something that independent owners and managers can be doing too!...more >>

This is a liquor control technique developed by a personal friend of mine when he was the GM at a casual, high-end restaurant with a very busy bar. This simple, straight-forward technique for determining whether there is a liquor problem or not, resulted in adding literally tens of thousands of dollars to the restaurant's bottom line every year....more >>