For operators, not diners

Every dish on the menu is a margin decision

Guides for the people who run the place: what a plate actually costs, what it has to sell for, why the bartenders keep leaving, what a supplier price rise does to next month, and which of the kit and software is worth paying for.

Written for operatorsMargins, staffing, stock and kit — not recipes.
Free to readNo sign-up, no paywall, no newsletter wall.
Two strandsRunning the business, and reviews of places to stay.
VAT handled both waysThe calculator prices ex VAT and inc VAT.

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Tech & payments

Your Restaurant’s Technologies Touchpoints

With regards to gear that helps your eating place run better, you’ve most likely encountered phrases like “include this to your technologies stack” or “these solutions can help simplify your cafe.” Perhaps…

Free tool · runs in your browser

The menu GP calculator

Put in what a plate costs you and the calculator gives you the price it has to carry — ex VAT, inc VAT, and the gross profit you actually end up with once the price is rounded to something a menu can print.

Open the calculator

What you’ll get

Plate cost with a wastage allowance on top
The menu price your GP target needs, ex and inc VAT
The GP you really get after rounding the price
Works backwards too: a price in, the GP out
Arithmetic in your browser — nothing is sent or stored

Corrections & contributions

Run the numbers differently?

Costs, wage rates and supplier terms move, and what works in a 40-cover bistro does not work in a bar with a late licence. If something here is out of date, or you run your kitchen a different way, the editorial team would like to hear about it.

Email the editors [email protected] We reply within a few working days.