Blog
Tips for running a more profitable kitchen
Practical guides on food cost, recipe costing, and restaurant operations.
Software Comparisons
Free Restaurant Inventory Management Software (2026)
Honest look at free restaurant inventory software — what's truly free, what's freemium bait, and when a spreadsheet is the smarter choice.
March 17, 2026
Restaurant Operations
How Much Do Restaurant Owners Make? Real Numbers (2026)
Owner pay ranges from $0 to $500K+. Median is $72K. Here's what determines where you land — by restaurant type, location, and how you pay yourself.
March 17, 2026
Restaurant Operations
How Much Does It Cost to Open a Restaurant in 2026?
The median cost to open a restaurant is $375,500. Full breakdown by type, category, and region, plus hidden costs, financing, and what changes in 2026.
March 17, 2026
Restaurant Operations
Food Cost Percentage Formula Explained (With Examples)
Food cost % = (COGS ÷ Revenue) × 100. Target: 28-35% for most restaurants. Worked examples, benchmarks by type, and how to close the ideal vs actual gap.
March 15, 2026
Restaurant Operations
How to Control Food Cost in a Restaurant
Seven practical tactics to control food cost, each with real numbers showing what it saves. From portion standards to supplier negotiation.
March 15, 2026
Software Comparisons
MarketMan vs MarginEdge (2026): Pricing, Contracts, Setup
Both run $200-330/mo with annual contracts. Side-by-side pricing tiers, contract terms, setup time, and what each tool actually delivers.
March 15, 2026
Software Comparisons
MarketMan vs xtraCHEF (2026): Inventory vs Invoice Tools
MarketMan handles inventory and purchasing. xtraCHEF processes invoices and needs Toast POS. Pricing, contracts, and what each one actually does.
March 15, 2026
Software Comparisons
xtraCHEF vs MarginEdge (2026): Toast Lock-In vs $330/mo
xtraCHEF only works with Toast POS. MarginEdge costs $330/mo with annual contracts. Pricing, setup, contract terms, and real user feedback compared.
March 15, 2026
Restaurant Operations
Menu Engineering: Analyze and Optimize Your Menu
The menu engineering matrix sorts every dish into Stars, Plowhorses, Puzzles, or Dogs. Here's how to run the analysis with real numbers and what to do with each category.
March 11, 2026
Restaurant Operations
Restaurant Profit Margins: What's Normal (2026)
Average restaurant net margins run 3-9%. Quick-service does 6-9%, fine dining 1-4%. Breakdown by type, where the money goes, and how to improve.
March 11, 2026
Restaurant Operations
Recipe Costing Software: What You Actually Need
Most recipe costing software is built for chains, not independent restaurants. Here's what actually matters, what's overkill, and how to pick the right tool for your size.
March 10, 2026
Software Comparisons
MarginEdge Pricing 2026: $330/mo, Contract, What You Get
MarginEdge runs $330/mo ($297 annual) with 1-3 week setup. Honest pricing breakdown, contract terms, and when a $39 alternative covers your needs.
March 9, 2026
Software Comparisons
Food Cost Spreadsheets: When Excel Breaks Down (2026)
Tracking recipe costs in Excel works until it doesn't. The four moments most restaurants outgrow spreadsheets — and the simpler tools that replace them.
March 8, 2026
Software Comparisons
xtraCHEF Pricing 2026: Real Costs and Toast Lock-In
xtraCHEF needs Toast. Recipe costing is paid-tier only at $149-299/mo, plus a $1,049 onboarding fee. Real pricing and a cheaper standalone option.
March 5, 2026
Software Comparisons
Restaurant Inventory Management Software: 12 Tools Compared (2026)
Twelve restaurant inventory tools side-by-side. Real pricing from free tiers to $400/mo, contract terms, setup fees, and what each one actually does.
March 3, 2026
Software Comparisons
MarketMan Pricing 2026: $199-249/mo, 12-Month Contract
MarketMan starts at $199/mo with a 12-month contract and 60-day cancellation notice. Pricing tiers, what's included, and when a simpler tool fits.
March 2, 2026
Restaurant Operations
How to Calculate Food Cost for Your Restaurant
Two formulas: per-dish food cost and overall COGS percentage. Step-by-step with real numbers, target ranges by restaurant type, and common mistakes.
March 1, 2026