2026 Independent Restaurant Profit Outlook
Costs are high, traffic is unpredictable, and price increases are hitting a wall. Here’s how operators will protect profit in 2026—and what writers and analysts should watch.
Heart & Hustle
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Your Restaurant Holiday Checklist
Grow profits and happiness this holiday season with six simple tips. Create a warm, efficient space for guests and staff, and keep customers coming back.
How to Make a Menu for Your Restaurant (and make it profitable)
Learn the art and science of restaurant menu creation, from concept to setting profitable prices and expert design tips.
How to Schedule Restaurant Staff: 8 Tips for Restaurant Managers
Creating and communicating a restaurant schedule can take hours out of your day. But with the right strategies, it doesn't have to.
How Restaurant Loans Work—And How to Find the Right One for Your Business
Learn how restaurant loans work and discover easier funding options to grow your business.
SpotOn Ranked #1 Restaurant POS by G2 for Fall 2025, Outperforming Toast Where It Matters Most
Restaurants rated SpotOn higher than Toast in major categories, cementing SpotOn as the go-to tech partner for independent operators
How to Create Online Ordering for Your Restaurant
Make money on online orders. Learn how to keep your profits, increase online orders, control order flow, and capture guest data—without per-order commissions.
How to Build a Restaurant Tech Stack Every Operator Needs to Thrive
Learn how to build a restaurant tech stack that works together to streamline operations and grow your business.
Restaurant SEO: A Beginner-Friendly Guide To Getting Found Online and Growing Your Customer Base
Learn how to use restaurant SEO to attract more local customers, boost online visibility, and grow your business—without paying for ads.
How to Read a Restaurant P&L (Profit and Loss) Statement + Free Template
Assess the financial health of your restaurant. Our P&L template brings together your sales and costs to calculate your profit.
Menu Engineering: Free Worksheet + Tips for a More Profitable Menu
Find out how popular and profitable your menu items are with our menu engineering matrix. Then learn how to modify your menu for more sales.
Restaurant Profit Margin: 7 Ways To Actually Make Your Operation More Profitable
Running a more efficient restaurant is the key to higher margins. Learn how to lower costs and increase revenue with solutions for your hospitality business.
5 Ways Your Restaurant Branding Can Stand Out in a Saturated Market
A lot goes into a great first impression. Here’s how you can create a restaurant brand that new and loyal guests identify with.
6 Ways to Increase Restaurant Revenue
Making money in restaurants is hard. Here are some ways to reach profitability.
Turning the Corner: How to Manage a Restaurant (As a Restaurant Owner)
Former Restaurant Owner and Chef Scott Youkilis shares his secrets on how to successfully manage a restaurant.
Your Guide to Restaurant Week Philadelphia, PA 2024: Tips for Diners & Restaurants
Philadelphia may be the city of brotherly love, but with its upcoming Restaurant Week, hungry guests can enjoy the city's amazing cuisine.
Optimize and Generate Organic Visits for Google Business Profile, Yelp, & Facebook
Learn how to generate visits to your Google Business Profile, and other review sites with local SEO keywords, high-quality photos, and more.
Showing up in Person With Savanna Parks
As a former bartender, Savanna Parks helps bars and restaurants find the secret solutions to improve operations.
What Is the Real Cost of That Dish? Breaking down Food Costs for Restaurant Owners (And Guests)
Breaking down the $18 burger and the broken model.
What Is a Service Charge at a Restaurant?
From auto-gratuity to corkage fees, here's what to expect if you see a restaurant service charge.
What Is Al Pastor? A Guide to the Popular Mexican Food + Recipes
Al pastor tacos are a popular Mexican dish served at most restaurants. Discover the secret to the spicy and sweet dish, alongside classic al pastor recipes.
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