Home
>
Small Business
>
Restaurant Operators - What Skills do you Need

Restaurant Operators - What Skills do you Need

A tongue-in-cheek look at the skills required to operate a restaurant but?on he whole they come pretty close to the truth.

People Skills,

You need to be good with people, because you will have different customers almost every day, you will have repeat customers who have higher expectations, a high-maintenance shift-based staff to manage, suppliers who won't always meet your expectations or time frames and creditors who want their money now.

Accountancy skills

You will have to balance the books, arrange the daily banking arrange for staff wages to be paid, manage your ratio of costs to profit margins, manage your BAS payments, pay your creditors on time.

Creative Skills

You will need to monitor your advertising campaign. Create promotions, change the menu periodically and provide an atmosphere that is conducive to return patronage.

Management Skills

You will need to maintain security, monitor the opposition and stay ahead of any potential problems or conflicts.

You will need to manage: ? unhappy customers ? suppliers who are no longer reliable or now too expensive ? the waste management people ? the cleaners ? the new staff ? the old staff ? the part-time staff ? the full-time staff ? the staff that don't show up ? the bar staff ? the kitchen hands ? the chef

Budgeting Skills

You will need to manage the restaurant promotions and image, replace broken crockery and lost and stolen items, and get by without everything you think you really need.

Human Resource Skills

You will need to adjust staffing levels to meet customer demand. Interview prospective staff, manage your shift managers, have extra staff available on call, and try to manage a day off for yourself now and again.

Negotiating Skills

You will need to handle any number of people including: ? the landlord ? the bank manage ? your silent partner(s) ? the local council ? the health inspector ? the pest exterminator ? your suppliers

Culinary Skills

You don't have to be a chef but you must know enough to be in control such as: ? cuts of meat and types of fish, and their prices ? seasonal produce ? the market rate for fresh produce ? storage times and conditions ? spices and condiments ? comparative rates between suppliers ? specific delivery requirements ? produce rotation and use-by dates ? kitchen equipment ? presentation and preparation times

You will require the patience of a saint. You will be open six or seven days a week. You will definitely start earlier than you thought and have later nights than you bargained for. It is relentless day in and day out with no sign of a break.

And you still want to get by with an Accountant who just does tax returns?

About the author

Kelvyn Peters CPA and Associates is a specialist small business adviser with a particular expertise in the hospitality industry. Kelvyn Peters CPA, our founder, is a director of Restaurant & Caterers Queensland Inc.

Kelvyn has devoted over 20 years to research and experimentation to perfect the delivery of advice to small business.

We are providing it to our local clients now we are going global?and remember we are only an e-mail away

maid service near Lake Forest ..

In The News:

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.

OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Restaurant Operators - What Skills do you Need

Small Business