Running your own business is no small feat, but running your own restaurant…that’s a whole other story. With tons of staff members to coordinate, food costs to optimize, customer reviews to manage, and more, there’s hardly a moment of peace and quiet in the restaurant industry.
What’s even more challenging than managing all of the tasks you have as a restaurant owner is figuring out how you can make your eatery profitable even with all of the operational costs you have to work into your budget.
If you’re in search of some straightforward tips that will help you make your business more efficient and maximize your profits, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll take a look at 3 tips that will help you do just that.
1) Cut down on management chaos
One of the most time consuming—nay, expensive—parts of running a restaurant is managing your staff. From organizing schedules to making sure clock ins and payroll goes through, there’s a lot on your to-do list with managerial duties alone. And all of these items inevitably take time away from the business development and customer relations time that help move your business forward.
One way to make your processes more efficient is to use a restaurant management software system to help you create schedules, send messages to staff, and ultimately, oversee your restaurant’s operations more clearly.
In addition to finding the right tool to help you manage the floor though, you should also be sure that you have the right team members on your side, too. Having supervisors and other staff that are able to help when you’re in the weeds is an invaluable resource to you as a restaurant owner. When hiring for management roles, be sure that candidates are self-sufficient, knowledgeable, and resourceful!
2) Find more efficient ordering solutions
Ask any chef or general manager what their biggest pain point working in the industry is and they’re likely to mention food ordering as one of their most frustrating tasks. It’s expensive, hard to coordinate, and oftentimes, wasteful. When you’re searching for a distributor to help deliver your food, beverage, and restaurant supplies, you should do some digging into their process before making your decision. Oftentimes, these companies end up having to charge you more money because their efficiency is lacking.
To help you find the best distributors for your wallet and your business, here are a few questions you can ask:
- What type of refrigeration system do you use when food items are in transit?
- What’s the average timespan from order to delivery?
- Does your business use a transportation management system to ensure efficiency?
- How does your invoicing system work?
Finding the answers to these simple questions will save you money and headaches in the long-run.
3) Identify ways to boost your profits
The reason you’re here is probably because you’re looking for more ways to make your business profitable. Running a restaurant isn’t a low-cost operation, after all. You want to order the best-quality ingredients for your guests, you need to make sure your kitchen and dining space meet high cleaning and safety standards, and you need to make sure your staff feel valued at work. But even with these expenses, you have to look out for yourself and the longevity of your business, too.
Luckily, there are many inexpensive ways you can work toward higher profits for your dining establishment. Here are some tips to help you find your way:
- Start running special deals like happy hours and fixed menus on weeknights to boost traffic
- Use social media to advertise these specials and present your food and space as a must-see in your city
- Partner with other local businesses to source your ingredients—share about them, and ask them to return the favor
- Cut costs where you can (repurpose items, reduce food waste)
- Make customer service a priority and encourage happy guests to leave reviews
Final notes
No matter how long you’ve been working in the food and beverage industry, there seems to be constant surprises and hurdles that come your way. But thankfully, there are some things you do have control of. Use the above tips to help you find ways to make your restaurant run more efficiently, and ultimately, maximize your returns.