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RestaurantOwner
Turn Your Restaurant Into a More Profitable Business . . . Starting Today!

Join our community of thousands of independent operators who are starting, improving and growing their restaurant business.

Find hundreds of how-to articles and downloadable forms, checklists, manuals and other templates plus online seminars, audio programs, restaurant business plan resources and more. View some FREE Samples of our resources.

FEATURED RESOURCES
DOWNLOAD: Training Manual TemplatesDOWNLOAD: Training Manual Templates
Having comprehensive, easy-to-understand training manuals for every position in your restaurant is vital for new employees to learn to perform their jobs the "right way." Use these templates as a guide to create your own detailed training manuals for server, bartender, busser, prep cook, line cook, dishwasher . . .
. . .
more >>

DOWNLOAD: Restaurant Business Plan TemplateDOWNLOAD: Restaurant Business Plan Template
A professional, well-conceived restaurant business plan is absolutely essential for an independent restaurant venture to obtain funding and have any real chance for success. Our business plan templates will provide you with the tools to develop & communicate your plan in a professional, compelling format that will enhance your chances of securing capital and making your plan a reality. . . . more >>

DOWNLOAD: Menu & Recipe Cost Spreadsheet TemplateDOWNLOAD: Menu & Recipe Cost Spreadsheet Template
Knowing what each of your menu items cost is one of the most basic yet overlooked aspect of running a profitable restaurant. Use this easy to use spreadsheet tool to calculate and maintain the current cost of your menu and recipes. . . . more >>

AUDIO: Why Traditional Advertising Doesn't Work for Independents & What You Can Do About ItAUDIO: Why Traditional Advertising Doesn't Work for Independents & What You Can Do About It
Very few restaurants can afford to sit back and expect a sufficient number of customers to just drop in anymore. There are just too many other restaurants and dining choices. Also, conventional advertising is expensive and often doesn't deliver results. Find out how some independents are building sales in highly competitive markets. . . . more >>

DOWNLOAD: Restaurant Job Descriptions
DOWNLOAD: Restaurant Job Descriptions Complete and accurate job descriptions for each position in your restaurant is a necessity today. Job descriptions describe the role you're asking your people to play in your restaurant and they help your employees to understand their duties, responsibilities and the results and standards of work they need to achieve. . . . more >>
How to Jump into the Tip Pool Safely
by Doug Duerr, Esq.
How to Jump into the Tip Pool Safely Tip pooling has been in our industry for as long as we can remember. But does that mean it is for everyone? Moreover, if you currently utilize tip pooling in your restaurant, be sure it is set up correctly, or you could find yourself drowning in back pay and fines . . . more >>
Restaurant Marketing: Our Members' Best Practices
Restaurant Marketing: Our Members' Best Practices In a recently conducted survey, our members shared ongoing restaurant marketing practices that were the most effective. While some of the practices listed were expected, we did uncover many new and creative marketing activities as well. . . . more >>
Restaurant Marketing Ideas That Work!
Restaurant Marketing Ideas That Work! We recently conducted a survey in which we asked our members to tell us about their greatest marketing accomplishments. We were amazed at some of the creative ideas they came up with to increase their sales and promote their restaurant. Here are some of their responses . . . more >>
DOWNLOAD: Competitor Pricing Survey
DOWNLOAD: Competitor Pricing Survey If you want to know what price restaurant or bar customers will pay for your menu items, begin by finding out what your competition is charging. Use this form to collect and record prices your competors charge for simlilar food or bar menu items . . . more >>
Receiving: What Goes on at Your Back Door Does Matter
Receiving: What Goes on at Your Back Door Does Matter Receiving is an area where the combination of poor systems, carelessness, mistakes and good old fashioned greed adds up to big losses for many restaurants. If you have solid controls everywhere else, but are lax about your back door, you could be losing lots of how you check in your deliveries, chances are it's costing you plenty of money. . . . more >>
DOWNLOAD: Employee Evaluation of Manager
Often, employees don't leave restaurants, they leave managers. Do you have a manager who is negatively impacting your morale, productivity, turnover and success? Find out quickly by learning what your employees think. . . . more >>
DOWNLOAD: Peer Review and Self-Evaluation Job Performance Forms
DOWNLOAD: Peer Review and Self-Evaluation Job Performance Forms You can't see everything. So how do your employees REALLY perform (when you're not watching)? How do your employees think about their own job performance & that of their co-workers? By seeing your employees through the eyes of your staff, you'll be better informed on the things each employee does well and which areas need improvement. . . . more >>
Do You Know What Your Staff REALLY Thinks About Working in Your Restaurant? (You Should)
Do You Know What Your Staff REALLY Thinks About Working in Your Restaurant? (You Should) What your people think about working in your restaurant matters a great deal. Good employees can easily get a job elsewhere. Find out what your people are thinking and learn how to take action to improve policies or management practices that may be hindering your ability to create a loyal, motivated and happy staff. . . . more >>

ONLINE SEMINAR SERIES: Food Cost Fitness
ONLINE SEMINAR SERIES: Food Cost Fitness Food cost is the single biggest cost in many restaurants and it's also the most volatile operating expense you've got. There are just many, many ways to lose money working with food. This comprehensive, 5-part multi-media program will give you scores of practical, proven ways to cut food losses in purchasing, receiving, storage, preparation and serving & settlement. . . . more >>
4 Traits Common to Great Hourly Workers & How to Identify Them in Your Job Candidates
by Bill Marvin, The Restaurant Doctor
4 Traits Common to Great Hourly Workers & How to Identify Them in Your Job Candidates Formal surveys reveal 4 key characteristics as crucial to the success of hourly restaurant workers. Learn these characteristics and download a simple screening interview to identify them in each candidate. An easy & effective way improve your hiring practices. . . . more >>
DOWNLOAD: Menu Cost Allocation Tool
DOWNLOAD: Menu Cost Allocation Tool Whether it's table condiments, chips and salsa, bread and butter, or frying oil; every restaurant has food products that make it difficult to allocate cost to specific menu items. The Menu Cost Allocation Tool provides a means for evaluating and distributing the cost of non-menu specific ingredients. . . . more >>
How to Hire Better Employees: 10 Interview Questions Restaurant Operators Should Ask Before Hiring Anyone
How to Hire Better Employees: 10 Interview Questions Restaurant Operators Should Ask Before Hiring Anyone How you select people is more important than how you management them once they're on the job. If you start with the right people, you'll have less turnover & fewer problems later on. Use these 10 probing questions to reveal the type of employee your job candidates are likely to be. . . . more >>
DOWNLOAD: New Hire Checklist
DOWNLOAD: New Hire Checklist Download this checklist to verify that you've collected the many forms and other pieces of information necessary when hiring a new employee such as Employment Application, Uniform Agreement, W-4, I-9, Emergency Information Sheet, etc. Also, document company materials such as training manuals, employee handbooks, etc., that they have received . . . . . . more >>
Industry Survey: How Much Does it Cost to Open a Restaurant?
Industry Survey: How Much Does it Cost to Open a Restaurant? If you're planning on opening a restaurant you'll want to learn from the opening experiences of over 400 operators. These independents reveal, in detail, what it cost to open their restaurant as well as other highly insightful opening information. . . . more >>
How to Reduce the Risk of Opening a New Restaurant
How to Reduce the Risk of Opening a New Restaurant Understanding and considering this one ratio may be the key to keeping you from making an unwise startup decision. Learn how chain operators use this ratio to identify marginal locations and reduce the risk of failure. . . . more >>
How to Find Investors & Raise Startup Capital for Your Restaurant
by Joe Erickson
How to Find Investors & Raise Startup Capital for Your Restaurant If you have a restaurant concept that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to open, then chances are you'll need more capital than what a bank is willing to loan you. The logical alternative is to find an investment partner for your restaurant that believes in your chances for success and wants to be a part of it . . . more >>
DOWNLOAD: Weekly Prime Cost Worksheet
DOWNLOAD: Weekly Prime Cost Worksheet Calculate your food and labor costs easily and efficiently with this series of Excel worksheets. Restaurants who report their food and labor weekly, consistently report cost savings of 2-5% of sales versus just using their monthly P&L to report these costs. . . . more >>
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Marc Cedron
Printer's Alley Bar & Grill
Memphis, TN


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Donald Spahr
Spahr's Seafood
Thibodaux, LA


"Since becoming a member, I have literally changed the way I do business. My attitude has changed about every aspect of my restaurant and in implementing many new systems which you re-enforce on your website, I have seen drastic improvements. I'm making more money, my purveyors are making more money and my staff is making more money."

David Chicane
Pearle Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Dublin, NH


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Tavern At The Village Green
Cleveland, TN


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Gesine Franchetti
The Topaz
Santa Rosa, CA


"RestaurantOwner.com is a wonderful asset, glad I discovered it. I’ve deleted two full time positions, reduced my inventory, & have been tracking everything much better. I am breaking even now instead of borrowing more money!"

Joleen Coles-Wilt
Matters of Taste Bakery Market Café
Honolulu, HI


"So far, we’ve revised our accounting system and introduced the prime cost concept. My prime costs are dropping because of focusing on both inventory and labor together. This will improve my contribution margin by $120,000!"

Brian Fitzgerald
Paddy's Brewpub & Rosie's Restaurant
Kentville, Nova Scotia


Your website and magazine have been extremely helpful to our growing business. We are just about finished with the construction of our new location. I have learned so much from your articles, the online seminars, the discussion forum and the spreadsheets are an invaluable asset. I continue to learn something new every day.

Belinda Self
Ginza Japanese Restaurants, Inc
Winston Salem, NC


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Margaret Williamson
Hizzoner's Uptown Deli
Bellingham, WA


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Martin Hardy
City Bagel Café
Siloam Springs, Arkansas


"I have sung the praises of your site to many of my friends, associates, and suppliers. There is a wealth of information and material available from your site that is of tremendous benefit to all independent restaurateurs. We have used virtually everything you offer in some form or another, from the restaurant by the numbers material to all of the articles on service, management, training, etc. The templates for training manuals and various forms have saved us a lot of time which would have been spent compiling and organizing this vital information."

Robert Hodgson
Lefty's Restaurant
Parksville, B.C.


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Pappa's Bossier
Bossier City, LA


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Cook's Double Dutch
Culver City, CA