While there are more challenges ahead, the independent restaurants that assess their current situation and are proactive about shoring up their weak spots are going to be in a much better position to prosper in the new year....more >>

Setting up a purchasing program that's a good fit for your concept is important in today's competitive marketplace, especially as costs continue to soar. This article examines strategies to effectively reduce costs without diminishing quality and service....more >>

During the past year, many restaurants, both chain and independent, have found new sales and profit opportunities by adding one or more virtual/ghost kitchen delivery-only sales channels. There are many variations of the virtual/ghost theme but one option that can be particularly attractive to independents is to offer one or more virtual, delivery-only brands....more >>

A packed restaurant may be music to your ears, but deafening to your guests. Sounds that seem out of place, startling or too loud are noise, and can adversely affect the otherwise carefully planned ambience of your operation. Just as weeding a garden involves selectively removing unwanted plants, reducing noise is simply a matter of selectively reducing unwanted sounds....more >>

In a restaurant, counting inventory is crucial to controlling your costs and having a profitable operation. Make your restaurant's product counts easier, more efficient, and more accurate, by using the shelf-to-sheet method. It will streamline the process, eliminate the guesswork, and make sure it is consistent, every single time....more >>

For many restaurants, St. Valentine's Day and Mother's Day are the two biggest days of the year. With a little planning and strategy these holidays have the potential to turn an otherwise lackluster February and May into real bright spots on your annual sales picture. Let's examine several best practices other operators have used successfully for these important restaurant connected holidays....more >>

Participants will learn how to apply simple, yet very powerful customer service and hospitality practices to connect with their guests on a warm, personal level....more >>

Bring in instant revenue and foster great PR within the community with this compelling school fundraiser gift certificate marketing strategy. This easy-to-implement offer not only immediately benefits the school of your choice, but it can also be very profitable and has the potential to generate lots of new customers and repeat business....more >>

Bob and Jodi McCafferty, owners of North Country Brewing, knew they needed to make some changes if their plans for expansion were going to succeed. They agreed on a goal of setting clear standards and holding managers accountable....more >>

We all know 2021 has been anything but predictable. Between rising prices, supply chain disruptions, nation-wide labor shortages, it can be hard to get a grasp of how our business is really doing, let alone tax planning. That being said, one of the most important things you can do as a business owner is review your taxable income BEFORE December 31st....more >>

You don't have to love collecting state sales taxes but in most states operators are required to collect, remit and track them....more >>

If your life absolutely depended on getting a new customer within 24 hours, (and in a way it does) what would you do? Red Rock Pizza increased sales 108% IN ONE MONTH! (& we'll prove it) Get specific instructions on how to apply exactly what they did to your restaurant....more >>

We cannot turn our backs on people we promised to help. This is about small business, the backbone of our American economy, and about helping our fellow Americans in communities, small towns, and cities across our great land. Restaurants employ 12.5 million Americans, 1 in 10 adults work in restaurants, and the restaurant industry is the largest employer of women and minorities in the country....more >>

Divide and conquer. The Boy Scouts of America undoubtedly were thinking about safety and self-preservation, not smooth service when they adopted the motto "Be Prepared."...more >>

The Management Training Program Template is a valuable tool to help you improve your management training program quickly and easily. The newly updated program is designed to take advantage of your membership and link to hundreds of resources on RestaurantOwner.com, providing the most current best practices....more >>