Heart & Hustle

Insights and inspiration to help you compete and win

Get started with our featured stories

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.

Restaurant

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.

New RestaurantsRestaurant

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.

RestaurantManage & retain employees New Restaurants

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.

Restaurant

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.

Press ReleasesRestaurant

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

RestaurantNew Restaurants Connect & sell online

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.

RestaurantBuild customer loyalty Connect & sell online

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.

RestaurantNew Restaurants Reach new customers

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.

RestaurantGet smarter data Restaurant Manager Toolkit

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.

RestaurantGet smarter data Restaurant Manager Toolkit

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.

RestaurantNew Restaurants Get smarter data

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.

New Restaurants

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.

RestaurantSpeaking from experience Connect & sell online

6 Ways to Increase Restaurant Revenue

Making money in restaurants is hard. Here are some ways to reach profitability.

RestaurantManage & retain employees Build customer loyalty

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.

Latest insights & inspiration

Meet our author Meet our authors Meet our top authors

RestaurantGet smarter data Streamline operations

Why AI Matters for Restaurants: A Q&A with Industry Expert Jordan Silverman

From his experience working with thousands of restaurants and building an AI-powered platform to save them money, Jordan Silverman knows firsthand what it takes to make restaurants profitable.