Blog

The two main Coronavirus (COVID-19) loan programs for restaurants are the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. These programs are available to help your restaurant survive these difficult times. Keeping track of the ever changing information is hard, and figuring out how to act on the information is even harder. To make things simple, we’ve created a short and sweet summary of the programs specifically for restaurants. Disclaimer: This is just a very brief…

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) recently conducted a survey of over 4,000 restaurant operators in an effort to measure the devastation being caused across the restaurant industry due to Coronavirus. The results are as bad as you can imagine. The survey found 3% of American restaurants have already permanently closed. Another 11% of survey respondents indicated their restaurant would be closing for good within the next 30 days. Of the restaurants that will not be closing forever, 70% have laid…

What’s in a name? For businesses — including restaurants — a name can be everything. If people don’t remember the name of your restaurant, they’re less likely to throw it out as a suggestion for dinner — let alone visit your establishment. Of course, that doesn’t make it easy to come up with a name. There are so many factors to consider — something that is easy to remember, a name that reflects your cuisine or mission, and making sure…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic swept across the US in less than a week, effectively shutting down life as we had known it. The pandemic has impacted businesses of all sizes across a number of different industries. However, the first industry to be impacted was the restaurant industry and it is perhaps the hardest-hit industry to-date.  On March 16th, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order to temporarily close all restaurants, bars, and coffee shops for in-house dining. Things further escalated…

It’s no secret: Americans like to drink. From beer and wine to hard drinks, the average American enjoys an alcoholic beverage on a regular or semi-regular basis — whether they drink to celebrate, unwind, or for any other reason.  Yet as all bar owners know, it isn’t always easy to determine exactly what consumers want to drink — and how + where they want to drink it. While predicting bar trends isn’t an exact science, examining data from studies and…

The restaurant industry is ever changing. Between advancements in technology and shifts in cultural preferences, it can be difficult to keep up with the latest trends in food service. What shifts has 2020 brought restaurant owners in terms of restaurant design and decor? We’ve broken down the latest design and decor trends into both larger concepts and smaller design elements below. Larger Concepts Separate Waiting & Ordering Areas The growth of delivery services like Uber Eats and Grubhub has spawned…

The restaurant industry is hands down one of the most difficult industries to operate a business in. The average profit margin for restaurants is just 3-5% and 80% of new restaurants will close their doors before their fifth anniversary. That being said, with great risk comes the opportunity for great reward. Restaurateurs such as Emeril Lagasse, Gordon Ramsey, Paul Bocuse, and Jamie Oliver have all made fortunes in the industry. There are many restaurant owners that also report making upwards…

There are so many different moving parts involved with successfully owning and growing a coffee shop business. Being able to brew a delicious cup of coffee isn’t even half the battle. Owning a coffee shop is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also incredibly challenging. Having access to the right resources may not eliminate any challenges, but good resources can help reduce them. That is precisely why we’ve compiled an entire page of resources exclusively curated for coffee shop owners. Whether you’re…

A restaurant mission statement is a crucial component of a restaurant’s brand identity. A mission statement is a reflection of you and the values you instill in your work, which are then communicated to both customers and employees.  Whether you’re working on starting up a new restaurant or you’re looking to update your current branding and promotional materials, it helps to have inspiration for mission creation. Many restaurants have a mission statement, but not many restaurants have an excellent mission…