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Markups at restaurants/fast food
Posted on 3/13/25 at 2:17 pm
Posted on 3/13/25 at 2:17 pm
What do you think are the biggest money makers for the establishments?
Fries
Cheese
Soda/coffee
Extra ranch
Salads
The worst is tea. Good friend owns a restaurant and tells me with refills it’s under .10. Some places charge $3.00
Fries
Cheese
Soda/coffee
Extra ranch
Salads
The worst is tea. Good friend owns a restaurant and tells me with refills it’s under .10. Some places charge $3.00
Posted on 3/13/25 at 2:19 pm to Lake08
Drinks of any kind, especially alcohol are their money makers.
Not a big mark up on food items.
The rents and high cost of everything is killing non chain restaurants and hurting even chain places that don’t own their properties.
Not a big mark up on food items.
The rents and high cost of everything is killing non chain restaurants and hurting even chain places that don’t own their properties.
Posted on 3/13/25 at 2:25 pm to Lake08
Drinks
Always has been and always will be.
Not just alcohol but all drinks. Specially fast food fountain drinks.
Always has been and always will be.
Not just alcohol but all drinks. Specially fast food fountain drinks.
This post was edited on 3/13/25 at 6:00 pm
Posted on 3/13/25 at 2:26 pm to Lake08
Markups are irrelevant. The industry is barely profitable in most cases, and with rising wages, you will see more and more super high volume mega chains like MdD and CFA, and fewer mom & pops or out of the mainstream concepts.
In a restaurant that is running perfectly:
COGS, ie food, is 27-35% of your cost on average, including waste. Markups on some things are more than on others, so yes, sodas and tea are higher markups. Look at those as a percent of total revenue though and they are small.
Labor is about 25-30%
Cost of occupancy - NNN rent, insurance, local and state regs, is another 25-30% and has gone up with taxes.
Few if any restaurants ever get to 25/25/25% across the board, though CFA and McD's are probably close. Use more raw ingredients to cut food costs, labor goes up for prep, etc. Typical margins are 10% or less, and often negative for some months.
In a restaurant that is running perfectly:
COGS, ie food, is 27-35% of your cost on average, including waste. Markups on some things are more than on others, so yes, sodas and tea are higher markups. Look at those as a percent of total revenue though and they are small.
Labor is about 25-30%
Cost of occupancy - NNN rent, insurance, local and state regs, is another 25-30% and has gone up with taxes.
Few if any restaurants ever get to 25/25/25% across the board, though CFA and McD's are probably close. Use more raw ingredients to cut food costs, labor goes up for prep, etc. Typical margins are 10% or less, and often negative for some months.
Posted on 3/13/25 at 2:28 pm to Lake08
Pizza has the highest gross margin followed closely by Mexican restaurants.
Don't have specific data on individual offerings but I would have to assume fountain drinks are among the highest.
Don't have specific data on individual offerings but I would have to assume fountain drinks are among the highest.
Posted on 3/13/25 at 2:34 pm to BamaAlum02
quote:
Pizza
Basically bread, flattened out, with a bit of sauce and cheese.
Posted on 3/13/25 at 2:35 pm to TigerHornII
Have you been to a subway recently? Got damn
Posted on 3/13/25 at 3:00 pm to Lake08
Fountain soft drinks. By far. Depending on the size of the cup they serve, the syrup costs between 3 to 6 cents. Sell it for $3.
Food is usually last in profit margin as the price of certain items fluctuates much more than other products, and it has the risk of going bad and being thrown out. Alcohol sales usually aim to buffer food margins.
Food is usually last in profit margin as the price of certain items fluctuates much more than other products, and it has the risk of going bad and being thrown out. Alcohol sales usually aim to buffer food margins.
Posted on 3/13/25 at 3:04 pm to Lake08
Drink
It's the least labor-intensive thing.
And if talking about a restaurant with a bar, the bartenders aren't paid shite, they make tips, the kitchen staff is paid more. It cost you more to employ the fry guy.
It's the least labor-intensive thing.
And if talking about a restaurant with a bar, the bartenders aren't paid shite, they make tips, the kitchen staff is paid more. It cost you more to employ the fry guy.
This post was edited on 3/13/25 at 3:06 pm
Posted on 3/13/25 at 3:15 pm to Lake08
Years ago by dad brother managed a McDs
Said they make little off burgers, but made a killing on fries and drinks...especially when you supersized them
Said they make little off burgers, but made a killing on fries and drinks...especially when you supersized them
Posted on 3/13/25 at 3:28 pm to Shexter
quote:
Pizza Basically bread, flattened out, with a bit of sauce and cheese.

Posted on 3/13/25 at 3:42 pm to fareplay
quote:
Have you been to a subway recently? Got damn
There's a classic case of bare minimalist on everything. Minimum labor, minimum space, minimum prep. And for the record, I haven't eaten at one in 10 years or more! That's a desperation meal for me!

Posted on 3/13/25 at 3:44 pm to Lake08
quote:
The worst is tea. Good friend owns a restaurant and tells me with refills it’s under .10. Some places charge $3.0
I've seen anywhere from $3.49-$3.99 for tea
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