{"id":1625,"date":"2026-01-08T15:31:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T21:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/?p=1625"},"modified":"2026-04-01T05:20:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T10:20:50","slug":"restaurant-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/restaurant-management\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Restaurant Management Tips To Improve Business in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret that the restaurant industry took a major hit in early 2020. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association<\/a>, sales fell $94 billion below expected levels between March and May.<\/p>\n

With that level of disruption, it\u2019s understandable for restaurant owners to feel discouraged. However, people haven\u2019t stopped dining \u2014 they\u2019ve simply changed how and where they do it. The key is to focus on what you can control and adapt accordingly.<\/p>\n

Turning things around requires a shift in mindset and a willingness to try new approaches. By staying flexible and open to change, you can position your restaurant for success.<\/p>\n

Here are ten restaurant management tips to help improve your business in 2026:<\/p>\n

<\/span>1. Focus On Providing an Experience<\/span><\/h2>\n

Why do people dine at California Pizza Kitchen when they could just grab their signature frozen pizzas for cheaper and eat in the comfort of their own home?<\/p>\n

Simple: the experience.<\/p>\n

People enjoy dining out. They love getting dressed up, being waited on, eating fresh ingredients, and conversing over dinner. Wolfgang Puck recognized the opportunity to shake things up early in 2020 and told the Harvard Business Review<\/a> that he\u2019s determined to give people a bigger and better experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt my restaurant Chinois on Main in Santa Monica, I said let\u2019s not focus on selling customers one lobster for $65.00. Instead, let\u2019s bring them the adventure of having a meal with us.<\/p>\n

For $39, they get a Chinese chicken soup with wontons in it, pot stickers with spicy sauce, vegetable spring rolls with dipping sauce, the Chinois chicken salad, the choice of half a lobster or a portion of short ribs with candied ginger sweet potato puree, and finally cookies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which would you choose?<\/p>\n

\"Restaurant<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span>2. Expand Outdoors<\/span><\/h2>\n

With the new normal of 2022, people feel more comfortable eating outside comfortably away from other diners. As such, more and more businesses are expanding their outdoor seating to accommodate more guests.<\/p>\n

Many cities are even allowing restaurants to put tables on the sidewalk<\/a>. Those are the kinds of creative solutions that will keep your restaurant flourishing in uncertain times.<\/p>\n

Consider combining tips one and two to amp up your outdoor ambiance. The dining experience can easily be enhanced with festive umbrellas to shade diners over lunch, warm string lighting overhead for dinner, and maybe a local band for the late crowd.<\/p>\n

\"people<\/p>\n

<\/span>3. Reduce Your Menu Offerings<\/span><\/h2>\n

Offering fewer options saves you money. It\u2019s a simple but often overlooked option that\u2019s perfectly viable, especially if your business is cash-strapped and kicking into survival mode. Trimming up your menu streamlines operations, reduces food waste, and makes it easier to train new hires.<\/p>\n

Unsure of what to cut?<\/p>\n

If you’re having trouble deciding on what items to keep or remove from your menu, try looking at successful examples like EveryPlate<\/a>. They have managed to create a quality, cost-effective menu that can serve as an inspiration.<\/p>\n

The easy choice is removing underperforming menu items. Check your food waste logs for a clear indicator of what can go. Survey your customers. Your staff likely has an opinion as well.<\/p>\n

Think bigger and give the whole menu sections the axe if you want to really make a dent. If Sunday brunch crowds aren\u2019t worth the effort, then move your hours back up to lunch and store those menus away for sunnier times. Even the big guys, like McDonald\u2019s, are scrapping their all-day breakfast<\/a> offering to save a little dough.<\/p>\n

<\/span>4. Leverage \u201cSmart\u201d Flyers<\/span><\/h2>\n

Generic flyers with all of your specials, events, and photos won\u2019t convert customers like they used to. They need to be targeted and simple to catch customers’ attention. Focus on one message or promotion, and make it extra clear why it\u2019s special and how to take advantage of the offer.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s a coupon, make it worthwhile \u2013 at least 20% off, a BOGO deal, or free appetizers and desserts. Make sure the coupon lasts at a minimum a month, so people feel like they have time to use it. Spread the word by attaching them to all delivery and to-go orders.<\/p>\n

<\/span>5. Drum Up Some Positive Press<\/span><\/h2>\n

The right review from local news agencies or food bloggers can flood your establishment with hungry customers. There\u2019s no reason to be shy \u2013 start reaching out to the foodies in your city to strike up a conversation. Get their opinion on your menu offerings while you\u2019re at it.<\/p>\n

Google \u201cbest restaurants in [your city]\u201d and comb through the results until you find food critics, bloggers, vlogs, and news outlets writing rave reviews about local restaurants. Chances are they\u2019ll write about you as well if you reach out the right way. Help A Reporter Out<\/a> (HARO) is a great resource, as well.<\/p>\n

<\/span>6. Double Down On Creating Promoters<\/span><\/h2>\n

A whopping 82% of consumers read online reviews<\/a> for local businesses, and 52% of 18 to 54-year-olds say they \u201calways\u201d read reviews.<\/p>\n

That kind of influence shouldn\u2019t be ignored.<\/p>\n

Google Business Reviews are especially strong since they show potential customers that you\u2019re trustworthy and worth considering. It\u2019ll also give them easy directions right to your restaurant. Don\u2019t neglect sites like Facebook, TripAdvisor, and Yelp either. They may have smaller audiences, but every little bit adds up.<\/p>\n

\"Restaurant<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span>7. Make It Easy To Order Online<\/span><\/h2>\n

To-go and delivery orders are on the rise, and companies that make these options difficult will surely miss out. According to a 2019 survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association, off-premise dining \u2013 including delivery, curbside pick-up, and takeout \u2013 comprise up 60% of all restaurant traffic<\/a>. That percentage likely skyrocketed in 2020.<\/p>\n

So what can you do?<\/p>\n

First up, offer quick pick-up options. Carve out a couple of parking spaces specifically for to-go. Put up signs and put your number on it so that people don\u2019t even have to leave their car.<\/p>\n

Partner with third-party delivery services like GrubHub, Uber Eats, Postmates, DoorDash, and Seamless. Do whatever you can to make the transaction as quick and seamless as possible.<\/p>\n

<\/span>8. Step Up Your Social<\/span><\/h2>\n

Nearly 50% of diners<\/a> are influenced by social media. That statistic is likely on the conservative side since it\u2019s hard to gauge how we\u2019re subconsciously influenced by digital advertising too.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not regularly posting high-quality photos of your food and drinks on your social media account, then you’re missing out. Look at #brunch<\/a> on any social media platform as an example. On Instagram alone, it has 27 million posts.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re ready to step up your game, consider hiring a professional photographer to take food photos on a slow day. Or save some money by following DIY instructions on food photography<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"person<\/p>\n

<\/span>9. Offer Local Ingredients & Local Brews<\/span><\/h2>\n

Whether it\u2019s local coffee, craft beer, or locally sourced tomatoes, you\u2019re going to boost your reputation within the community by supporting them. Reach out to local distributors to get your foot in the door and go to the source by reaching out to local entrepreneurs and artisans directly.<\/p>\n

Advertise local ingredients whenever possible, and partner with local businesses on marketing efforts to share audiences. Tell the world how the local ingredients are eco-friendly, fresher, often healthier, and how they support the local economy.<\/p>\n

<\/span>10. Stay Current With the Latest Trends<\/span><\/h2>\n

Special diets and \u201chave it your way\u201d style restaurants are all the rage these days. For example, the plant-based food market is now worth $5 billion<\/a>. A large number of restaurant owners are starting to introduce employee scheduling software for restaurants<\/a> too.<\/p>\n

If you want to tap into that segment of consumers, you need to school them on your \u201clow-carb\u201d or \u201cvegan-friendly\u201d menu offerings.<\/p>\n

The future of restaurants may seem rocky, and the traditional model is definitely struggling to adjust. Still, creative entrepreneurs, restaurant managers, and chefs will overcome the challenges ahead like they always have.<\/p>\n

How is your restaurant getting creative in 2022? Share your story in the comments below:<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret that the restaurant industry took a major hit in early 2020. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, sales fell $94 billion below expected levels between March and May. With that level of disruption, it\u2019s understandable for restaurant owners to feel discouraged. However, people haven\u2019t stopped dining \u2014 they\u2019ve simply […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":1626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Restaurant Management Tips To Improve Business in 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With so much uncertainty in the world right now, adjust to this new normal by following our 10 restaurant management tips to improve business this year.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/restaurant-management\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 Restaurant Management Tips To Improve Business in 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With so much uncertainty in the world right now, adjust to this new normal by following our 10 restaurant management tips to improve business this year.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/restaurant-management\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Zoomshift\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-08T21:31:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-01T10:20:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Restaurant-managment.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1138\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"493\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"JD Spinoza\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"JD Spinoza\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/restaurant-management\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/restaurant-management\/\",\"name\":\"10 Restaurant Management Tips To Improve Business in 2026\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-08T21:31:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-01T10:20:50+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e23c4b55eead5e752c5f361c9d670e63\"},\"description\":\"With so much uncertainty in the world right now, adjust to this new normal by following our 10 restaurant management tips to improve business this year.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/restaurant-management\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/restaurant-management\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/restaurant-management\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"10 Restaurant Management Tips To Improve Business in 2026\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Zoomshift\",\"description\":\"SMB Management Blog\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e23c4b55eead5e752c5f361c9d670e63\",\"name\":\"JD Spinoza\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.zoomshift.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a95e64e4714f0d96cfab797f042000d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a95e64e4714f0d96cfab797f042000d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"JD Spinoza\"},\"description\":\"JD enjoys teaching people how to use ZoomShift to save time spent on scheduling. 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