BENCHMARKS
Why Benchmarks Matter
Knowing your own numbers is good. But without a comparison, you can’t tell if they’re strong or weak. That’s why benchmarks exist: they show you how similar restaurants perform, so you know what “good” looks like.
Benchmarks keep you honest. A 38% food cost might feel “fine” in your operation—until you see that the industry standard is closer to 35%. That 3% gap could mean thousands lost each month.
Benchmarks keep you honest. A 38% food cost might feel “fine” in your operation—until you see that the industry standard is closer to 35%. That 3% gap could mean thousands lost each month.
Math for Restaurants
Industry Benchmarks (Math for Restaurants)
Based on decades of restaurant data, a healthy, profitable restaurant looks like this:
Food Cost
Food cost depends on the type of business, but the industry benchmark is around 35% of sales. Keeping this number under control is critical to protect profitability.
Staff Costs
On average, staff costs represent about 29% of sales in the restaurant industry. This includes wages, benefits, and payroll-related expenses.
General Expenses
General expenses typically run at 20% of sales. These cover marketing, administration, utilities, and other overhead costs that keep the business running.
Profit
Profit is what remains for the business owner after all costs are covered — roughly 16% of sales in a healthy restaurant. This is the ultimate measure of success and sustainability.
Put another way: for every $10 dish, you should spend $3.50 on food, $2.90 on staff, $2.00 on general expenses, and be left with $1.60 in profit.
BENCHMARKS are awsome
The Danger of Flying Blind
Without benchmarks, it’s easy to think: “My staff costs are under control” (but they’re actually above industry norms).
“Our food cost is only a little high” (but that “little” is the difference between profit and loss).
Even busy restaurants fail when their metrics drift above benchmarks.
RestaProfit connects your POS data to live industry benchmarks and tells you:
“Our food cost is only a little high” (but that “little” is the difference between profit and loss).
Even busy restaurants fail when their metrics drift above benchmarks.
RestaProfit connects your POS data to live industry benchmarks and tells you:
Where you stand today (above, below, or on target).
Which area is dragging down your profit.
What actions will bring you back in line.
It’s like having a scoreboard in every game—you always know if you’re winning or losing.
Bottom Line
Benchmarks are the context that makes your KPIs meaningful. They turn numbers into insight and insight into action. With RestaProfit, you’ll never wonder if your operation is “good enough”—you’ll know.
Reserve Your Spot Today
We’re opening RestaProfit to restaurants in limited waves. Join the waitlist now and secure early access to the AI co-pilot built to protect your profit.
No credit card required
Limited availability — spaces are released gradually.