-
Restaurant KPIs: The 12 Numbers Every Operator Should Track Weekly
The 12 restaurant KPIs that actually predict whether a location survives — sales, cost, profitability, and cash metrics from a former chain CFO. Read more
-
How to Calculate 4-Wall EBITDA: The Formula, the Add-Backs, and the Landmines
The 4-Wall EBITDA formula, a worked example, the add-back debate, and the landmines that make buyers walk away from restaurant deals. Read more
-
Sales Per Labor Hour: The Restaurant Productivity Metric That Beats Labor %
Labor cost % misses what’s actually happening on your floor. Sales per labor hour tells the truth. Free spreadsheet + the SPLH benchmarks by service type. Read more
-
Restaurant Cash Flow Forecast Template (13-Week, Free)
The 13-week cash flow forecast every restaurant operator should run. Free template + the 4 mistakes that break most restaurant forecasts. Read more
-
Restaurant Labor Cost Template: Track Every Dollar You Spend on Staff
Free: The Restaurant Financial Health Checklist. The 6 numbers a chain CFO tracks weekly, plus 30 yes/no questions you can run against your P&L in 15 minutes. Written by a former chain CFO. Instant PDF. Send me the checklist Unsubscribe anytime. Bottom line: This template tracks every line item under labor: hourly wages, salaried pay,… Read more
-
Restaurant Break-Even Analysis: Know Exactly When Your Location Starts Making Money
Free: The Restaurant Financial Health Checklist. The 6 numbers a chain CFO tracks weekly, plus 30 yes/no questions you can run against your P&L in 15 minutes. Written by a former chain CFO. Instant PDF. Send me the checklist Unsubscribe anytime. Bottom line: Break-even is the revenue level where your restaurant covers every fixed cost… Read more
-
The Best Restaurant P&L Template for Independent Operators
Free: The Restaurant Financial Health Checklist. The 6 numbers a chain CFO tracks weekly, plus 30 yes/no questions you can run against your P&L in 15 minutes. Written by a former chain CFO. Instant PDF. Send me the checklist Unsubscribe anytime. I have reviewed hundreds of restaurant P&Ls over the past 15 years. The majority… Read more
-
How to Calculate Restaurant Food Cost (Step-by-Step)
Free: The Restaurant Financial Health Checklist. The 6 numbers a chain CFO tracks weekly, plus 30 yes/no questions you can run against your P&L in 15 minutes. Written by a former chain CFO. Instant PDF. Send me the checklist Unsubscribe anytime. Last updated 2026-07-29. Download the 12-page PDF: The 2026 State of Restaurant Finance Every… Read more
-
4-Wall EBITDA vs. Consolidated EBITDA: The Difference That Kills Restaurant Deals
4-Wall EBITDA is what a location earns before corporate overhead. Consolidated EBITDA is everything. In a deal, the gap is where the price gets negotiated. Read more
-
4-Wall EBITDA: The Number That Actually Tells You If a Location Is Working
4-Wall EBITDA reveals whether individual locations are truly profitable. Learn how to calculate it, why it matters more than corporate EBITDA, and benchmark your locations. Read more