When it comes to running a restaurant, knowing your food cost  is key to staying profitable. But here’s the catch— not everything on your supplier invoice should count as food cost . Let’s break it down, nice and easy. Discover your restaurant’s true costs in minutes. Try our free Food Cost Calculator today and see how much profit you could be saving. What’s on a Typical Invoice? A supplier invoice might list all sorts of items you’ve ordered—like: Meat, seafood, dairy, pro

Let’s be honest—counting inventory isn’t exactly the most exciting part of running a restaurant. But here’s the thing: it’s one of the most powerful habits  you can build to take control of your costs and margins. And the best part? It doesn’t have to be complicated. So, What Is Inventory Counting? Inventory counting is simply checking how much of each ingredient or supply item you have on hand. Think of it as taking a quick “snapshot” of what’s sitting in your fridge, freeze

Wouldn’t it be great to know how much you’re really making on each dish? With real-time margin tracking , now you can. Download Real-time Margin Tracking checklist here to evaluate and improve your margin tracking in real-time! Why tracking margins in real-time matters See what’s profitable (and what’s not) Adjust pricing before it hurts your bottom line Spot sneaky cost increases fast Make smarter menu decisions Let your margins talk to you—before your profits start to dis

Tired of chasing invoices and double-checking numbers? With invoice automation , your software takes care of that for you. Download Invoice Automation checklist here  to evaluate and improve your invoice handling! Why invoice automation is important No manual data entry - saves time Fewer mistakes Always know what you owe Easily track payments Spend less time crunching numbers—and more time serving up something great. How cactus can help you in invoice automation cactus  let

Restaurant automation helps take repetitive, time-consuming tasks off your plate so you can focus on food, customers, and growing your business. Download Resaurant Automation checklist to evaluate and improve how you manage costs across your restaurant. Sections include Invoice Automation Real-Time Margin Tracking Vendor Management Google Review Dispute Delivery Refund Dispute Automation With automation, you can: Automatically scan and track invoices Place vendor orders when

What Is Vendor Management Automation? Vendor management automation helps you handle all your supplier interactions—ordering, deliveries, invoices, and payments—without the mess. Everything stays organized, traceable, and up to date in one system. Why It Matters Ordering manually or by memory can lead to: Missed orders Double orders Late payments Miscommunication with vendors Automation helps you: Keep track of every order Know what was delivered vs. ordered Stay on top of pay

What Is Real-Time Margin Tracking? Real-time margin tracking shows you how much profit you're making on each menu item—as it's being sold. As ingredient costs change, your margins update automatically so you can make informed decisions on the fly. Why It Matters If you’re only checking food cost and margin reports at the end of the month, you might be reacting too late. With real-time tracking, you can: See which items are profitable (and which aren’t) Spot pricing or portion

What Is Restaurant Automation? Restaurant automation is all about using smart software to handle tasks you’d normally do by hand—like entering invoices, tracking inventory, checking item margins, or chasing delivery refunds. Think of it as your digital assistant that never gets tired or makes mistakes. Automation works quietly in the background, making sure the numbers are accurate, alerts are sent, and your operations are smooth. Instead of reacting after something goes wro

Running a restaurant is tough work and no one knows this better than you. That is why we spoke to several restaurant managers and asked them about the challenges they faced and the steps they've taken to overcome them. The Restaurant Manager Insights Report   reveals key trends and strategies that top managers are using to stay ahead. Want to know what sets successful restaurants apart? Download the report to find out. DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general inf

It’s easy for your costs to get out of control when you are managing a restaurant. Download Technology & Automation Checklist here to evaluate and improve your restaurant's use of technology in managing costs. Why Use Technology in Cost Management Manual tasks like entering invoices, scheduling shifts, or tracking inventory take time and often lead to mistakes. Automating these processes means: More accuracy Faster decisions Less time spent on admin work Spend less time cru

Every time food is tossed out in your restaurant—whether it’s spoiled, over-prepped, or left on a plate—you’re throwing away money. Download Waste Reduction Checklist here to evaluate and improve your restaurant's waste reduction! Why Reducing Waste Matters Wasted food doesn’t just hurt your wallet—it increases labor, storage, and disposal costs too. Reducing waste can: Lower food costs Improve margins Support sustainability How cactus can help you in Waste Reduction With c

Your menu is more than just a list of dishes—it’s one of your most powerful tools for increasing restaurant profits. With menu engineering , you can design a menu that highlights your most profitable items and helps customers choose what’s best for your business and their appetite. Download Menu Engineering Checklist here . Why Menu Engineering is important You may have a best-selling dish that barely breaks even—or a hidden gem that brings in great profit but gets overloo

If you are running a restaurant, you know that handling vendor relationships and supply orders can quickly become overwhelming. Download Vendor Management Checklist here to evaluate and improve your vendor management! Why Automated Vendor Management matters Here’s why automating your vendor management process can make a big difference for your restaurant: Saves Time:  Automating orders and payments means less time spent on admin work and more time focusing on your customers.

Good inventory management can be the difference between a profitable restaurant and one that struggles . Download Inventory Management Checklist here to evaluate and improve your inventory management! Why Inventory Management matters Food is one of your biggest costs. If you’re not managing inventory, you could be: Wasting money on spoiled or unused items Running out of ingredients during peak hours Overpaying by placing last-minute orders Missing signs of theft or over-por

Running a restaurant means keeping a close eye on your costs - and if you're not tracking and managing food costs properly, your profits can disappear fast. Download Food Cost Checklist here. Why Food Costs Management matters Food is one of your biggest costs. When food costs get too high, your profit margins shrink. If you don’t catch it in time, you might be making great sales but still losing money. By tracking food costs in real time, you can quickly spot when things are

Managing your restaurant's expenses—also known as restaurant cost management —is one of the most important things you can do to keep your business profitable. Download Restaurant Cost Control checklist to evaluate and improve how you manage costs across your restaurant. Sections include Food Cost Control Labor Cost Optimization Inventory Management Vendor Management Menu Engineering Waste Reduction Technology & Automation Why Restaurant Cost Management matters Even small cha

Managing a restaurant comes with a lot of moving parts. From food orders to staffing to financials, it’s easy for costs to get out of control. That’s where technology and automation  come in. With the right tools like cactus , you can save time, reduce errors, and keep your expenses in check. Why Use Technology in Cost Management? Manual tasks like entering invoices, scheduling shifts, or tracking inventory take time and often lead to mistakes. Automating these processes mea

Food waste is a quiet profit killer. Every time food is tossed out—whether it’s spoiled, over-prepped, or left on a plate—you’re throwing...

When was the last time you looked closely at your menu—not just the food, but how it performs financially? That’s where menu engineering...

Keeping track of what’s in your kitchen may not sound exciting—but it can be the difference between a profitable restaurant and one that...