Owning a business is unarguably a lot of work – regardless of the industry you’re in. However, business owners in the service industry tend to lead even busier lives than their counterparts in other industries. With so many moving parts to keep track of (inventory, staff schedules, industry trends, etc.) it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Fortunately, the food service industry is so well-established that workflows and templates exist to make your life easier. In an effort to free up time for service industry business owners, Budget Branders has created a series of free downloadable templates that are versatile enough to be used in almost any coffee shop, bar, or restaurant. From scheduling templates to a free menu design, you can find the things you need to get your business up and running or running more efficiently below. For additional resources, be sure to check out our comprehensive coffee shop and restaurant resource guides. 
Free Downloadable Restaurant Manager’s Log Book
Maintaining a running log book is a great way for managers to track trends and unordinary occurrences within the establishment. Managers often use log books to track employee engagement (or lack thereof), track how weather patterns are affecting sales, make note of guest feedback, and compile general sales and labor data. You could create your own manager log book from scratch, but it’s often easier to start with a premade base. Budget Branders has put together an example manager’s log book template. The template is designed to work for almost any service industry establishment as-is, but it could also be customized to meet the exact needs of your restaurant, bar, or coffee shop.You can click the link below to download or copy the template.Free Downloadable Restaurant Employee Scheduling Template
As any business owner in the food service industry knows, scheduling and managing part-time employees is a nightmare. The process is never easy, but it can be easier with a well organized system for planning and scheduling shifts. We’ve created a free downloadable scheduling template you can use to keep track of employee availability, create schedules, and print schedules to post on location for staff. The template is a Google Sheet, so it can also be shared with staff to view in real-time.Free Downloadable Restaurant Menu Templates
Good menu design is important, because it’s the part of your business brand that your customers will interact with the most. At a minimum, your menu should be well-organized and easy to read. However, in an ideal world, your menu will also pop enough to impress those who read it. Shops in locations with high foot traffic may be able to lure customers in if the menu out front is attractive enough. It can be expensive to work with a professional designer on a menu. You could end up paying $100 or more for your menu design. Fortunately, you don’t have to shell out a lot of money to have a good looking menu. We’ve created several free menu templates you can use to start creating your menu without having to start from scratch. The files are Illustrator files, so you’ll need access to Adobe Illustrator to edit the designs.Plain & Simple Menu Design
Fast Casual Menu Design
Burger Joint Menu Design
BBQ Pit Menu Design
Modern Restaurant Menu Design
Free Downloadable Opening, Closing, & Cleaning Checklists
Established restaurants, coffee shops, and bars likely already have checklists and processes for cleaning, prep, and closing. However, if you’re just starting out or you’re in the planning phase for a new establishment, it can be helpful to review example checklists that you can build your own off of. Budget Branders has created free downloadable opening, closing, and cleaning checklists that you can use and modify to meet your needs. Your restaurant, coffee shop, or bar will sparkle for guests if employees follow our thorough to-do lists.- Download the free restaurant opening checklist
- Download the free restaurant closing checklist
- Download the free restaurant cleaning checklist
