Mary King

Getting and keeping an “A” rating from your local health department is vital to running your restaurant profitably and safely. Common health code violations can add up, lowering your score and decreasing customer confidence in your business. These are some of the most common health code violations that I’ve seen lower restaurant health ratings, plus […]

There are thousands of catering businesses in the US, partly because it is so easy to start one. Starting a catering business requires from $5,000 to $40,000; one-tenth of the cost of opening a restaurant. Catering businesses have much better profit margins than restaurants—as high as 25%. There has never been a better time to […]

Whether you need fresh catering ideas to land a cutting-edge client or you’re looking for one-off events to leverage your catering skills in the slow season, this list is for you. Offering unique catering menus and collaborating with like-minded small businesses helps you drive business throughout the year. Key Takeaways: Unique Catering Menu Ideas When […]

Catering and special event businesses have unique marketing needs that blend digital marketing tools with traditional paper promotional materials and word-of-mouth campaigns. After more than a decade working in the food service and event industry, I’ve learned a lot about how to market catering and event businesses. Here are my top tips for marketing a […]

Buying a restaurant is a cost-effective way for first-time restaurant owners to enter the hospitality industry. Buying an existing restaurant is ideal for restaurateurs who want to step into a turnkey operation. Those who want to put their signature on a space, however, can buy a restaurant’s assets—such as the lease, furnishings, and kitchen equipment—and […]

Starting a restaurant is a daunting (but thrilling) task that requires careful planning. A passion for food and service is also helpful to push you through tedious tasks like writing a business plan and obtaining permits. I’ve seen new restaurants take six to 18 months to open and cost from $200,000 to over $2 million. […]

It is often said that choosing a restaurant location is the most critical decision you’ll make when opening a restaurant. In my experience, that is entirely true, but not in the way you might think. You don’t need to be in the perfect corner lot in a perfectly outfitted freestanding building to be successful. Plenty […]

There are a few tried and true strategies for starting a restaurant with no money. You can gain (and leverage) industry experience, start a small food business that grows, raise funds, or swing for the fences with the wildcard strategy of entering cooking competitions. I’ll walk you through several ways to start a restaurant with […]

Over 70% of diners said they’d be willing to use voice automated ordering systems, whether for drive-thru, phone, or dine-in, according to a study by Deloitte1. Voice ordering is not only convenient for customers but helpful for restaurants. With a voice ordering system for your restaurant, you can save time and labor, avoid missed calls, […]

The food truck industry continues to grow—according to the latest food truck industry statistics, the number of food trucks has increased by nearly 10% from 2022 to 2023. Successful food trucks have the potential to generate over $500,000 in annual revenue, with startup costs as low as $40,000. It’s still a great time to start […]

A catering contract describes the services you will provide to a client and the payment terms you require. Catering contracts ensure you and your client are on the same page and reduce the likelihood that you will experience business losses due to a lack of payment or credit card chargebacks. A catering contract should include […]

The first time you encounter a service dog or a service animal in your restaurant, your initial reaction is probably “that’s against health code.” You’re not wrong, but when it comes to service dogs, you also need to consider the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Health code and the ADA sometimes come into conflict regarding […]