Real tips & tools for restaurant managers

Restaurant manager responsibilities include overseeing daily operations, managing staff, ensuring exceptional customer service, optimizing financial performance, and maintaining overall success. Smaller restaurants may require a restaurant manager to oversee all these responsibilities while larger restaurants may split up restaurant manager duties so that each restaurant manager has a specialty.

To become a restaurant manager, you typically need experience in the restaurant industry, strong leadership and communication skills, knowledge of health and safety regulations, and business management. Qualifications may vary depending on the restaurant's size, style, and location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the typical entry-level education for a restaurant manager is a high school diploma or equivalent. However, higher-end restaurants may expect their managers to have a degree or certificate in hospitality management.

Restaurant managers work full-time, usually around 40 to 50 hours weekly. They may work longer hours during busy times, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. In some cases, a restaurant manager may work more than 50 hours per week. Their specific working hours depend on different factors like the type of restaurant, hours of operation, manager's role, etc.

Restaurant manager salaries vary widely depending on the restaurant's type, size, location, and the manager's experience. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of approximately $61,310 for food service managers as of May 2022. Salaries can range from under $38,740 for the lowest 10% to over $100,520 for the highest 10%. In addition to salaried compensation, restaurant managers can also earn bonuses or profit-sharing.

Restaurant management tools can include traditional pen and paper documents like employee schedules and printable waitlist templates, as well as time-saving software. Restaurant-specific software can help managers save time with their responsibilities by automating tasks like employee scheduling, tip payout, and managing reservations.

Restaurant management software helps owners and restaurant managers streamline their restaurant’s operations through various tools such as POS systems, reservation management, labor management , inventory tracking, and financial management.

Choosing the right restaurant management software depends on the specific needs of each restaurant. When picking a tech partner, make sure you are working together to build the best solutions to adapt to the way you run your business, not the other way around. Also, the software must provide a range of capabilities, including restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management, employee scheduling, and reporting tools , which are helpful for restaurant managers to simplify operations and improve customer experiences.