Free Restaurant Cost Control Checklist | Food, Labor & Overhead
What's Inside
About This Cost Control Checklist
Most restaurants leak money through small, untracked inefficiencies. The food cost section covers inventory management, waste tracking, and supplier negotiation. The labor section covers scheduling and productivity benchmarks. The overhead section covers utilities, maintenance, and vendor contracts — each with indicators that flag when something needs attention.
Who Should Use This Cost Control Checklist?
Restaurant operators who want to improve margins without cutting quality. Especially useful if food cost is above 32% or labor is above 30%.
Quick Start Guide
- 1Print the weekly review template and post it in your office
- 2Complete the food cost tracking section every Monday
- 3Review labor costs every pay period using the benchmarks provided
- 4Run the full overhead audit quarterly
The Resource
Food Cost Controls
0/9 completed
Labor Cost Controls
0/7 completed
Operational Cost Controls
0/6 completed
Key Ratios to Track Weekly
| Metric | Target | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| Food Cost % | 28-35% | Cost of Goods Sold ÷ Food Revenue × 100 |
| Labor Cost % | 25-35% | Total Labor Cost ÷ Total Revenue × 100 |
| Prime Cost % | 55-65% | Food Cost + Labor Cost ÷ Total Revenue × 100 |
| Beverage Cost % | 18-24% | Beverage COGS ÷ Beverage Revenue × 100 |
| Waste % | Under 2% | Waste Cost ÷ Food Purchases × 100 |
Pro Tip
Prime cost (food + labor) is the single most important number in your restaurant. If it's above 65%, you're in trouble regardless of how busy you are. Check it weekly, not monthly — monthly is too late to fix a bleeding prime cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on format. Rough bands: fine dining 28-35%, casual dining 28-32%, fast casual 25-28%, pizzeria 20-25%. The checklist includes bands for each.
Food costs weekly, labor costs every pay period, overhead quarterly — the checklist includes a template for each cycle.
The food cost section includes a waste tracking sheet to help spot the biggest sources of waste.
Cost Control Checklist
PDF Checklist · 20 min setup
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