Consulting Services

 
 

NEW RESTAURANTS AND/OR EXPANSION OF EXISTING BRANDS

Assist in creating proformas and development of budgets

  • Will the project actually be a viable one?

Teach, assist or manage a critical path leading up to the opening of the restaurant

  • Create a detailed road map and realistic timeline to achieve on-time openings.

Manage development and pre-opening expenses during construction to stay below budget

  • Costs change as projects are in motion. Continuous monitoring is critical to keep overruns to a minimum.

Manage back-office and financial reporting during the crucial first few weeks of an opening

  • Management must focus on the guest experience and solving operational kinks during those first few weeks. Who is watching the financials of the restaurant?

13-week analysis — track and report prime costs to achieve budgeted goals

  • All restaurant openings require over-staffing and possible menu changes. Managers need to rein costs in quickly to maintain high profits.

Personal cfo/controller and back-office support

Create a back-office structure that will support your company’s growth

• Review and recommend systems and accounting software to increase productivity and efficiency.

Financial review and reports — are they accurate?

• Close-out the month with timely, accurate reporting.

• Consolidate multiple units.

Manage cash-flow

• Ensure that bank accounts are reconciled to your internal books.

• Manage the timing of accounts payable and collection of receivables.

Budgeting and forecasting — what will the future bring

• Work with managers in creating achievable monthly budgets and weekly forecasts.

OPERATIONAL/FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Operational profit and loss cycle — be proactive, not reactive

  • Teach managers to produce, review and manage their operational profit and loss statements.

  • Develop a forecasting program to ensure that managers are positioned to achieve their forecasted profits.

Labor analysis — every minute counts

  • Manage overtime — conduct a daily review of actual and remaining forecasted payroll to ensure that overtime is reduced to a minimum or eliminated.

  • Scheduling vs. actual hours — are employees clocking-in too early or late?

  • Rank employees’ production vs. pay rate — are you paying more for less productivity?

  • Minimum staffing levels — are they ready for the slow times?

Food control — the menu is like a stock portfolio

  • Recipe and plate costing — know your selling costs.

  • Review theoretical costing and product mix — monitor costs and customers’ changing tastes.

  • Inventory and ordering control — chefs should order by quantity and cost.

Beverage control — the most profitable part of the business

  • Inventory management and control — is management watching for theft?

  • Review theoretical costing and product mix.

  • Control costs of specialty drinks.

Back office controls — managers should be with guests, not in the office all day

  • Streamline reporting processes and use technology to its fullest so communication to accounting is seamless with:

    • Accounts payable invoices.

    • Sales integration.

    • Payroll submissions.

Contact Chris today to schedule your complimentary,
no obligation initial consultation.