Running a restaurant is no small feat — especially when life throws unexpected challenges your way. In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I sit down with Tina Wary, owner of Dixie Grill Barbecue and Crab Shack in Hawaii. Wary shares her powerful journey from working behind the scenes in her family’s restaurant to stepping up as the owner after the sudden passing of her husband in 2020.

Her story is one of resilience, leadership and the power of systems. After struggling with financial inconsistencies despite a great team and excellent food, Wary attended my seminar in Las Vegas. She left with the tools to transform her restaurant, and in this episode she shares her journey putting those systems in place and the other tools she’s found since.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

One of the biggest reasons restaurants struggle with sales isn’t always the food or service — it’s awareness. Either people know about you but don’t care, or they would care if they knew about you. My guest today, Josh Kopel, calls this the Awareness Formula, and in this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, he shares powerful strategies that help restaurant owners become known in their market. Kopel has mastered a critical component of restaurant success: marketing. He is not just a restaurateur — he’s a tech pioneer, a Michelin-rated fine dining operator, and one of the best marketing minds in the industry. If you’ve been struggling with getting more customers in the door, keeping your tables full, and making marketing work for your restaurant, this episode is for you.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Learn more about Josh Kopel at www.JoshKopel.com and on his podcast Full Comp.

Building a strong restaurant team isn’t about luck — it’s about being intentional, setting the right tone and leading by example. Hire the right people, train them well, hold them accountable, and recognize their efforts. When you invest in your team, they’ll invest in you and that’s when your restaurant will truly prosper. In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula,” restaurant coach David Scott Peters explores a topic that many restaurant owners overlook but is essential for success: team building. This episode is all about creating a team that is engaged, productive and aligned with your restaurant's vision.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks about the dangers of being a business owner who enables a work environment where no one is accountable, and the restaurant owner thinks they must be the best at everything. The problem with this is if you’re so good at doing everyone’s job and taking it over, your team learns they don’t have to be good or do the work. When you take over everything and don’t give your employees and managers room to do their jobs, they start to resent you and let you do all the work. If this sounds familiar, or if you’ve worked with this person, know this is a classic problem in the restaurant industry. In the case of restaurant owners, you start to resent that you’re doing all the work – even though you brought it on yourself. I call these restaurant owners enablers. This enabling behavior provides your employees with excuses for why they don’t have to do their jobs. They never get written up and suffer the consequences from not doing their jobs because you will just do it for them. Listen to this episode to find out if you are an enabler, or if you work with an enabler, and how to break the enabling cycle.

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: https://dsp.coach/3-key-principles

Sponsor – Repeat Returns: http://repeatreturns.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks about the secret to being a successful restaurant owner. The answer? Find someone who gets stuff done. As an owner, you can’t do it all yourself. It’s just impossible. Plus, it’s not your job to do everything in the restaurant. Your job is to lead and take on more strategic activities such as marketing and development of growth paths. To do this successfully, you must identify or hire someone on your team who can be relied upon to get you up and running with systems and get things done. Many times owners choose someone they think will be a great implementer, but they turn out to be the opposite. What’s the opposite of an implementer? A saboteur. They stop all progress dead in its tracks, and they have all the excuses for doing it. How do you know if you have an implementer or a saboteur? Listen to this episode to learn about the four types of saboteurs.

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: https://dsp.coach/3-key-principles

Sponsor – Repeat Returns: http://repeatreturns.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks about owners of independent restaurants and their tendency to overwork themselves while also freeing their management team of accountability. David teaches you how to put yourself in a place of leadership and three lessons you must teach your managers and supervisors to empower them to do their job so you don’t have to. Managers play a critical role in the most successful restaurateurs’ businesses. To further set the path to success, David teaches five critical steps to successful delegation and why holding restaurant’s managers accountable is so important.

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: https://dsp.coach/3-key-principles

Sponsor – Repeat Returns: http://repeatreturns.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks about the massive increase in restaurant sales that is coming for every restaurant along with the quickest path to prepare for it. As vaccine shots go into more arms and restrictions are lifted in more cities and states, everyone who has been abiding by the stay-home recommendations is going to flooding businesses like restaurants. They want to eat in restaurants, not just order take out from restaurants. They want drinks on the patio, not the take-home version of the cocktails you serve. They’re coming. Are you ready? Do you have the staff you need? Do you have the systems in place to maximize every dollar that comes into the restaurant? David provides nine things to do right now to prepare for success. For today’s discussion, David also talks about the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset and why it matters.

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: https://dsp.coach/3-key-principles

Restaurant Training 10 Steps to a Great Service Training Plan for Independents

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters welcomes back Darren Denington, CFBE, founder of Service with Style. Darren has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has an extensive background as a food and beverage director, executive chef, general manager, restaurant owner, staff trainer, restaurant coach and consultant. He holds the most prestigious certification available for a hospitality professional being a certified food and beverage executive. Darren is the founder of Service With Style Hospitality Group, a hospitality firm offering secret shopping, restaurant coaching and team training services. For today’s discussion, we focus on Darren’s 10 steps to building a great service training plan for your restaurant.

Get Your Discount with Service with Style: servicewithstyle.com/dsp

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: dsp.coach/3-key-principles

Sponsor: Repeat Returns, repeatreturns.com/dsp

Restaurateur Couple Shares How They Went from Hobbyists to Entrepreneurs

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks with Brianna and Jonathan Cowan, owners of The Wooden Paddle in Lemont, Illinois. I first met them at the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Show over a decade ago, and they made a decision to get on an airplane a week later to attend one of my four day workshops in Las Vegas. At that time, their business really needed to grow. Fast forward to March 2020 when we reconnected at Catersource, days before COVID-19 business restrictions shut down their dining room and catering events. Listen in on our conversation as they share with us their incredible journey of taking their passion for hospitality and turning it into a thriving business.

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: https://dsp.coach/3-key-principles

Sponsor: The Catering Coach, http://www.thecateringcoach.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks with Brian Mueller, owner of Blue Coast Burrito in Cookeville, Tenn. Brian was a general manager of a Blue Coast Burrito location and had an opportunity to purchase the location he managed. During this conversation, Brian and David talk about the transition from being a general manager to an owner and the strategies Brian used to shift his focus from one to the other. Specifically, he talks about the importance of being able to teach and trust others to do the daily tasks so he could focus on the responsibilities of being an owner. He shares the results of working with David, including the systems that have made the biggest impact on his business. One of Brian’s goals was to have time off, which he wasn’t sure would be possible amid the pandemic. Tune in to learn what you can do in your restaurant business to achieve impressive results like Brian. 

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: https://dsp.coach/3-key-principles

Sponsor: The Catering Coach, http://www.thecateringcoach.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks about the power of looking forward and making plans for 2021. When it comes to running a restaurant, 2020 did some serious damage to the industry and to many independent restaurants. And while the crisis is not over, there are some positive signs that 2021 can be a year of recovery and stability. It’s possible restaurants can get things back on track and make money, just like they were at the start of 2020. David tells you how you're going to do it, which starts with you getting out of your own way.

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: https://dsp.coach/3-key-principles

Sponsor: The Catering Coach, http://www.thecateringcoach.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks with restaurant owner Karen Fagnilli, owner of The Lake House Inn Resort in Ohio on Lake Erie. Listen in to hear how Karen, her family and her team took the COVID-19 pandemic and used it an opportunity to improve their restaurant’s revenues and margins. She shares with David how the systems she learned from him impacted her perspective, then her operations, improved her working relationship with her family and led her to hire a general manager to run the whole thing, something she never thought she’d spend the money to do. While Karen’s inn and restaurant are seasonal, she shares that her fall business was the best they ever experienced. Her story is inspiring, but it’s also full of lessons any independent restaurant can use to start improving their own restaurants.

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: https://dsp.coach/crack-the-code

Sponsor: Repeat Returns, http://www.repeatreturns.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks about the reappearance of COVID19 pandemic restrictions for restaurants and how to measure the impact of them on your restaurant business. Listen in to learn why restaurant owners with drastically reduced sales, pivot fatigue and increased stress can still have hope and how to protect themselves until the vaccines have been widely distributed. This podcast shares relatable experiences with a big dose of hope. Plus you learn the two single most important things to do right now to position your business for success once the smoke has cleared.

Watch for 3 Principles of Restaurant Success: https://dsp.coach/crack-the-code

Sponsor: Catering Coach, http://cateringcoach.com/dsp

As a restaurant owner, you won’t want to leave your restaurant’s future to chance, but it can be overwhelming to set goals and develop the plans you need to achieve them. One proven way to get clear on your goals is to put them in writing. and share them with your team. This kind of vision, or a vivid vision, can give you the direction you need to drive sales, build a strong culture and ultimately achieve long-term success. In this episode of my podcast, “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula,” Matt Plapp and I talk about the importance of having a vision. Plapp is the dynamic founder and CEO of America's Best Restaurants, a trailblazing marketing agency dedicated to helping independent restaurants grow by telling their stories, acquiring customers and building unstoppable sales momentum. Plapp’s energy and passion for the restaurant industry are undeniable and during our conversation, we dove deep into the concept of having a "vivid vision" and how it can transform your business.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Learn more about Matt Plapp and his businesses – https://mattplapp.com/

How to Run a Restaurant

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks to Steve Eller, restaurant owner of Cosmic Cowboy in Idaho. David and Steve talk through Steve’s experience adopting and working with David’s restaurant systems. Steve’s story is interesting in that he was already using a lot of the systems that David teaches, but his prime cost was too high, and he was looking for the answer to why and how to finally get past the plateau. Steve was a CFO before he opened his restaurants, and he was a budgeting professional, and he talks about the things he learned in budgeting for restaurants after working with David. Steve is an independent restaurant owner who is using systems during COVID to get a deeper understanding of the numbers behind his restaurant’s operation, get answers to how to improve the numbers and be set up to benefit at a maximum level once the pandemic is over. Plus, using his past experience in commercial real estate, he’s planning to use his understanding of these systems to help him evaluate future restaurant opportunities. Listen to this podcast to hear an independent restaurant owner’s journey on the search for what he didn’t know.

Free Restaurant Evaluation: https://dsp.coach/free-eval

Sponsor: Catering Coach, http://thecateringcoach.com/dsp

Restaurant Food Cost Solutions for Independent Restaurants

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters talks to Emmy Barnick, restaurant owner of The Captain’s Cabin in South Dakota. David and Emmy talk through her restaurant’s financial journey starting in January 2020 when she was using her personal savings to make payroll through to the fall of 2020 when she had three days off and cash in the bank. Emmy, who didn’t have restaurant experience prior to buying her restaurant, talks about the steps she took to get her restaurant in line, the impact of COVID-19 on her restaurant, the systems she learned working David that helped her and her team take action, and the personal journey she went through in nine months. Listen to this podcast to hear an independent restaurant owner’s journey from chaos to stability and pick up some inspiration along the way.

Free Restaurant Evaluation: https://dsp.coach/free-eval

Sponsor: Repeat Returns, http://repeatreturns.com/dsp

Restaurant Technology Tips for Independent Operators

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters discusses restaurant technology, the pitfalls restaurant owners fall into when using restaurant software and how to get the most out of it. There are so many reasons restaurant owners sign up for a variety of different restaurant software and restaurant technology options. They deal with pressure from their managers, social media, the pandemic that forced them to opt into the third-party delivery apps, consultants promising miracles with software and sales people who swear the software will be a magic pill. But the truth tends to be that a lot of restaurant technology is going unused, wasting not only monthly fees and subscription costs but the loss of potential savings that is possible to reap from these tools. Listen to this podcast to learn when it’s right to invest in restaurant technology solutions, the ideal problems to seek technology to solve and the benefits of putting restaurant systems in place prior to investing in a restaurant software solution.

Free Restaurant Evaluation: https://dsp.coach/free-eval

Sponsor: The Catering Coach, www.thecateringcoach.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters discusses the fears and challenges facing independent restaurant owners today amidst the pandemic. If you’re feeling hopeless, angry, frustrated, scared or any variety of these emotions, this episode provides answers for how to manage these emotions with solutions for running your restaurant. As an independent restaurant owner, you have been hit the hardest by the pandemic. Your business is uncertain but the solutions are the more than certain. They are steady and proven. Tune in to hear David’s breakdown of how to approach any and all challenges you’re facing in your restaurant so you can start kicking a** and run the restaurant you’ve always dreamed of owning. For more resources or to ask David a question, connect with him at david@davidscottpeters.com.

Free Restaurant Evaluation: https://dsp.coach/free-eval

Sponsor: The Catering Coach, www.thecateringcoach.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters interviews Anne Gannon, CPA. After working in a big-five accounting firm in Boston, Anne was motivated to create a more efficient system for monthly accounting and tax services, so she opened her company, The Largo Group. She charges her clients a monthly fee and works one on one with them throughout the year to keep their monthly accounting up to date while keeping their accounting costs lower. In this episode, David and Anne talk about what numbers to know and pay attention to, especially during the pandemic, cash flow budgets and their benefits, why you have to take care of yourself as the owner and what to look for in an accounting firm as a restaurant owner. Listen to this episode for some great perspective on why, no matter how hard it might seem right now, it could be well worth it to keep your business afloat.

Free Consultation with Anne: www.thelargogroup.com/dsp

Free Restaurant Evaluation: https://dsp.coach/free-eval

Sponsor: Repeat Returns, www.repeatreturns.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters reveals where one of his favorite words comes from: clopen. You’ll also learn what “clopen” means. More importantly David teaches listeners the foundation to all successful restaurant systems, why they are so important and how they lead to restaurant owners being able to have freedom from their restaurants and financial freedom in their personal lives. Tune in to walk through how to create a truly effective restaurant checklist and the benefits to using restaurant checklists to hold restaurant managers accountable.

Free Restaurant Evaluation: https://dsp.coach/free-eval

Sponsor: Repeat Returns, www.repeatreturns.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters interviews Sandy Korem. Sandy is the CEO and founder of The Festive Kitchen, a one-of-a-kind catering company based in Dallas. No other catering company in America has established such a diverse and profitable take-home catering division. In her second company, The Catering Coach, Sandy uses her 25 years of catering experience to teach independent restaurant owners and caterers how to maximize their catering profits. Her teaching focuses on increasing sales and profits with little or no investment and how to maximize earning potential by adding multiple revenue streams to their existing business. During our discussion, Sandy talked about why systems are critical to making profits. She shared some of the key systems any restaurant or existing caterer needs to have in place. The biggest takeaway from our conversation was how in the midst of COVID-19 and the loss of almost 100 percent of her booked catering events, her sales are even with last year. She shared her secret on how she did this using multiple revenue streams in her business. On top of that, she shares how none of her catering coach members are out of business because they followed her lead.

Learn More About The Catering Coach: http://www.thecateringcoach.com/dsp

Free Restaurant Evaluation: https://dsp.coach/free-eval

Sponsor: Repeat Returns, www.repeatreturns.com/dsp

In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters interviews Darren Denington, CFBE, founder of Service with Style. Darren founded Service with Style in 1998 to focus on helping companies across the country understand their guests through secret shopping. In this episode, David and Darren discuss the importance of systems for independent restaurants, why systems are the key to becoming a stronger restaurant owner, the importance of restaurant staff that is plugged into your culture, and how secret shopping helps restaurants improve service and maintain incredible standards for service. Listen in while David and Darren tell stories you will definitely relate to and share information you can use in your restaurant today. 

Learn More About Service with Style: www.servicewithstyle.com/dsp

Free Restaurant Evaluation: https://dsp.coach/free-eval

Sponsor: Repeat Returns, www.repeatreturns.com/dsp

In this first episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, host David Scott Peters breaks down the path to restaurant prosperity and the restaurant solutions to use to get there. David also teaches listeners the three skill sets to develop to make money, have some freedom from the restaurant and have the restaurant business you deserve… Peters is a restaurant expert who teaches restaurant operators how to cut costs and increase profits with his trademark Restaurant Prosperity Formula. He’s taught thousands of restaurants how to use operational systems and create a hospitality-based company culture to skyrocket their profits. He travels the world teaching his formula to restaurant owners, food distributors and a variety of hospitality groups. In his past businesses, he used his formula to rescue a multi-unit restaurant sports bar chain from bankruptcy and helped the owners sell it for a profit. He built a restaurant management software from the ground up based on his formula and sold it to a group of investors that included satisfied software users.

Free Restaurant Evaluation: https://dsp.coach/free-eval

Sponsor: Repeat Returns, www.repeatreturns.com/dsp

Running a restaurant is no easy task. For Daniel Herrero, taking over his family's 48-year-old restaurant business in Panama meant inheriting four restaurants, a bakery, and a commissary — and all the chaos that came with them. It’s a familiar story for many restaurant owners, one of hard work, long hours and personal sacrifice. In this episode of the restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, Herrero shares his journey and shows that even when you're knee-deep in problems, there's a path to success — if you're willing to make bold decisions.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

This episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, launches a segment I call Flip the Table where a restaurant owner takes over the podcast and interviews me. Today’s Flip the Table features a longtime member of mine who is not only a top operator but over the years has coached and consulted with me: David Militello. He owns four different restaurant formats in a tourist town in Michigan. He and I have known each other for 20 years. He was one of the first five members of my mastermind group when I started coaching restaurant owners 21 years ago. He’s been to my workshops, coached with me, consulted with me and just been a great supporter over the years. He is now a Member Mentor in my restaurant owner coaching group. I thought it would be fun if the first Flip the Table was with a restaurant owner who’s known me through a lot of different versions of my coaching and services. He asks me the questions he thinks other restaurant owners would want to know.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

In the restaurant industry, success is defined by more than just the quality of food — it's about having control over your business and achieving financial freedom. One of the most crucial aspects of this journey is mastering food inventory management. In this episode of season two of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I’m sharing five advanced tips that can transform how you manage your inventory and, ultimately, boost your restaurant’s bottom line. Use what you learn in this podcast to elevate your restaurant and achieve the prosperity you've been working towards.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

When it comes to managing your restaurant’s cost, you absolutely can’t ignore labor. It is the second biggest expense in a restaurant – after an empty seat in the restaurant. Labor cost management is an essential topic for achieving restaurant prosperity and financial freedom. The last few episodes of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast have been a collection of some of my best and most popular tips on three very popular categories for restaurant owners: food cost (Episode 101), systems (Episode 102) and leadership (Episode 103). In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I’m serving up a collection of some of my best and most effective labor cost lessons and tips. You’ll learn how to calculate labor cost, how to manage them and how to avoid common pitfalls.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Leadership is not just a buzzword; it’s the driving force behind every successful restaurant. By combining leadership with action, systems and training, you can create prosperity for yourself and your restaurant. In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I’m sharing some of my best leadership insights from past podcast episodes to highlight the critical importance of leadership in the restaurant industry. I explore why leaders matter, the role of a growth mindset in developing leadership skills, and specific behaviors and attitudes that hinder effective leadership. Additionally, I’ll share four action steps to increase your management team's responsibilities, allowing you to lead your restaurant instead of merely running it.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Today's special recap episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, is focused on systems and why they’re so important in restaurant management. You’ll learn what I mean by systems, why they are crucial and how you can use them specifically in the kitchen to safeguard your restaurant when you lack a culinary background. We'll also discuss how systems impact your restaurant and ultimately your life. And last but not least, I share a portion of an interview with restaurant employee Brandon Anderson, who helped his owner implement systems that significantly benefited the restaurant, the owner, and Brandon himself. Whether you're new to my podcast or a longtime listener, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

For this special episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I’m sharing some of the best tips from previous episodes, focusing on key areas such as food cost systems, leadership, and labor cost. This episode is dedicated to food cost. We’ll explore how high food costs are often self-inflicted, provide a quick walkthrough on calculating food cost, delve into the concept of ideal food cost, and finish with some menu engineering basics. Whether you're a new listener or a long-time follower, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Let’s get started!

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Achieving prosperity in the restaurant business means gaining financial freedom and the freedom to enjoy your life beyond the restaurant. It’s not just a dream; it’s a reality you can attain by following a specific formula. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I take you through a critical component of that formula: the power of a professional attitude. Incorporating the principles I review in this episode can transform your restaurant. Not only will you see improvements in customer satisfaction and sales, but you'll also create a thriving work environment for your team.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

If you’ve ever struggled to get your managers on board with new systems or changes, you’re not alone. In this episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast, I dive into exactly why managers resist change, how you can turn that resistance into results and how to empower your restaurant managers to lead change. Managing your managers and getting them on board with change isn’t always easy, but it’s absolutely necessary for your success — and theirs. I encourage you to listen to this episode, then pick one strategy and start implementing it this week. You will soon be on your way to a team of restaurant managers working with you rather than against you.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

You might have heard the saying, "People don't quit jobs; they quit managers." This is particularly true in our fast-paced, high-stress industry. A toxic manager can create a negative atmosphere and fail to lead by example, significantly affecting morale and productivity. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I am breaking down undeniable impact toxic managers have on your restaurant. I also outline how you can create and maintain a positive work environment, specifically by creating a positive culture in your restaurant. I will also cover how to build up your team’s confidence in that culture so they help you keep toxic managers out of your restaurant.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

A lot of restaurant owners think the secret to making money is marketing, but so often it ends up costing way more money than it ever generates because there is a right way and many wrong ways to do it. Since I focus on teaching restaurant owners how to make money through operational systems, I like to bring in outside experts to talk about restaurant marketing. This episode of The Restaurant Prosperity Formula podcast is a discussion with Eric Shellenberger. He is an author and owner of Bar Marketing Basics, a marketing firm that focuses on bringing in new customers into your restaurant or bar. Shellenberger is a repeat guest here. He has been on a quest to help restaurant and bar owners stop buying into the myth that other restaurant marketing companies are selling and start bringing in real traffic through your doors. I've brought him back not be just because his first episode was so popular but because he released a new book entitled "If I Could Give It Zero Stars, I Would." During our discussion he shares with you the importance of understanding how AI has changed what a restaurant needs to do to stay ahead of their competition and increase your sales. 

Find Eric Shellenberger's book: If I Could Give It Zero Stars, I Would

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

When it comes to being profitable in the restaurant business, it’s important to maximize your efficiencies. One way to do that is to upgrade how you track your food cost, making food costing software a critical component of running your restaurant. Food costing software isn't just an upgrade; it's a revolutionary shift in how you approach your operation from managing expenses to optimizing each dish that comes out of your kitchen. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I’m teaching you how to use food costing software to boost your restaurant's efficiency and profitability. Listen to learn five key benefits and the impact each one has on your restaurant.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

If there's one thing I've heard time and again from restaurant owners, it's, “I love your stuff, David. I've read your book, seen you speak, listen to your podcast and watch your YouTube videos, but I just don't know where to start.” If you want to take action and start to improve your restaurant and your life, and you’re asking the same question, you're in exactly the right place. For this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I’m tackling that very question, laying out a clear and actionable road map to not just start but to thrive. To make it easy to follow and understand, I've broken it up into seven segments: back to basics, the power of checklist and cash controls, vision and goals, the backbone of daily operations, crafting your financial blueprint, maximizing margins and managing labor efficiently.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Four years after the pandemic, I’m working with restaurant owners who are still suffering whiplash and struggling to find a path forward for their restaurants. I don’t have to tell you, but it was an intense time. Restaurant owners went from a complete shutdown of their restaurants and sending employees to the unemployment office to the frantic offer of money from the government and the incentives offered to employees to work through the unknown challenges. These days restaurant owners are working through the long-term consequences of taking that money and how to run their restaurants in this new landscape. The bottom line is things changed after pandemic. Costs are up, staff have different expectations and restaurant owners don’t want to be prisoners to their restaurants. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I am talking about how it's time for every restaurant owner to embark on change or possibly get swallowed up by the shifting sands of industry change and financial stresses you’re facing as a restaurant operator today.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

I recently had a coaching call with a restaurant owner whose business was struggling. He and his wife needed an outside perspective, and they turned to me to help them review their options. The call we had highlights the transformative power of resilience, strategic planning and the courage to embrace change. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, learn more about what exactly was challenging their establishment, the discoveries we made and the next steps I recommended they take. The situation the restaurant owners are in isn’t uncommon but the resources they tapped are what make this situation stand apart. I’m confident they got the best counsel and insight from me and their fellow members, and I hope listeners can benefit as well.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

As a restaurant owner, there are many things you have to do right to be successful. It really is a business of spinning many plates at once. One thing I’ve found in the most successful restaurant owners I know is how they approach their role as a leader and how their mindset makes all the difference. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I’m sharing 10 critical mindset questions that serve as reflections into how your leadership is shaping your team's environment. Reflecting on these questions and engaging with the answers can be a game-changer for restaurant owners. The goal is to create a culture where challenges are met with courage, feedback fuels growth, and every team member feels valued and empowered.

A successful restaurant is one that delivers on the promise to it guests. That's hot food hot, cold food cold, a clean safe work environment for your guests and employees, WOW customer service and providing an incredible product. That's what restaurant owners are put on this earth to do, right? To create memories. We have the pleasure and the privilege to create memories in people's lives. In this episode of my restaurant podcast, the Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I focus on Restaurant 101, exploring the alchemy of perfect meal temperatures, the sanctuary of our dining havens, the ballet of exemplary service, the craftsmanship behind an unforgettable product and the finesse of the now indispensable to-go experience. Join me to uncover the blueprint of systems, training and the art of hospitality that transform a simple meal into an incredible memory. You’ll learn how diligently applying systems, committing to continuous training, maintaining unwavering consistency and delivering soulful hospitality, you can create experiences that linger long after the last bite.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

I tell restaurant owners all the time that their POS system is the most important piece of equipment they will ever purchase for their restaurant. The POS system is much more than a glorified cash register; it’s data central. It holds the key data you can use to change your business, prevent theft and make meaningful changes to your operations. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I review some of the most powerful and little-known reports your POS system has to offer. This includes four underutilized, yet essential, reports that are critical to harnessing the power of your POS system. With only the reports you have at your fingertips in your POS system, you will have the building blocks of informed decision-making so you can lead with confidence, and ensure efficiency, profitability and success in your restaurant.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

There’s a little known and underutilized tool that can reduce a restaurant’s food cost by potentially 3% or more. All that is required is for a restaurant to gather some simple data and take a little action. How would you like to reduce your food cost by simply gathering data? Does this sound too good to be true? I promise you, it’s not. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I explain what kind of information you need to gather, where to get the information, what to do with it and what you can expect when you use it the way I explain. By the end of this lesson, you will be in a position to take action and put yourself down this path.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I had the privilege of chatting with Zack Oates, founder and CEO of Ovation. Ovation is a cutting-edge guest experience platform that helps restaurants collect and act on customer feedback in real-time. Oates’s passion for helping restaurants thrive shines through, and his expertise in using data to drive guest satisfaction and retention is something every restaurant owner should hear. We explored how gathering actionable feedback can lead to better operations, happier guests and, ultimately, a healthier bottom line. Check out this podcast episode to hear it all!

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

When it comes to following restaurant systems every day, restaurant owners are notorious for falling down on the job. They are just too busy in other areas and they lose sight of the daily routine things that are required to keep systems working properly. Besides, the job of a restaurant owner isn’t to be buried in the day to day; it’s to be strategic and to think bigger than daily tasks. If it’s not the restaurant owner, then who should it be? Restaurant owners must appoint someone who gets stuff done, who loves the restaurant and wants to support the owner. I call this person an implementer. In fact, to be part of my restaurant coaching program, you must have an implementer. In the program your implementer learns with you but implements and does the work. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I introduce you to Brandon Anderson, the implementer for the Original Black's Barbecue in New Braunfels, Texas, a high volume, 93-year-old, family-owned-and-operated barbecue business. With 12-plus years of restaurant experience working his way up from line employee, shift lead, and assistant manager to general manager, Anderson has experienced a lot in his restaurant life. He’s worked for several corporate restaurants until ultimately landing at Original Black’s Barbecue. The ownership team knew Anderson was the exact right person to be the implementer, and they were right. Listen to this episode to learn more about the impact of systems, the job of an implementer, and Anderson’s implementation journey, the challenges faced and lessons learned, and also what a great implementer looks like.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Jesi Cline is a restaurant owner who started her business as a bakery specializing in cupcakes and custom wedding cakes. While she found success, she was working endless hours to keep up with orders and had no time to be strategic with her business. When COVID hit, she needed to pivot and rebranded as Rosé Café, a fast casual breakfast, lunch and dessert cafe. And recently, she expanded her restaurant and doubled her square footage. With six years in business and eight years as a wife and mother, her life has been nothing short of busy. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, Cline shares her journey from being burnt out on the food industry to being a happy, motivated restaurant owner who can see only a bright future ahead of her.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

What might be second nature to a seasoned chef, a manager or owner with decades of experience can be a revelation to someone just embarking on their restaurant journey. It's essential to remember that our industry, with its vast array of roles and responsibilities, doesn't have a universal baseline of “common sense.” In the restaurant industry, “common sense” is a relative term. For some veterans, certain practices and insights might seem obvious, but for others, these are the essential skills and knowledge that lay the groundwork for their future success. Each piece of advice, no matter how simple it may seem, can be a building block for someone's career. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I talk about why this diversity of experience and knowledge in our industry makes what seems like “common sense” to one person a critical learning point for another. And let’s make sure we address that you should never let someone make you feel bad about learning, no matter where you are in your restaurant journey.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

As a restaurant owner and the leader of your business, it is common to feel as if it’s the universe’s job to throw roadblocks in your way to discourage you and impede your progress. I’m here to encourage you and point you toward practical, actionable solutions that will help you overcome these obstacles. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I explore three distinct segments to help you unlock the full potential of your restaurant. I cover internal challenges, operational hurdles, and external and personal challenges. Whether you're a seasoned restaurateur or just starting out, I want to equip you with the tools and insights needed to steer your restaurant towards greater success and prosperity.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Restaurant Owner Success Depends on This Person --- Before a restaurant owner can join my coaching program, they must have a right-hand person who can help them. I call this person an implementer. This person will learn with you, as the owner, but implement and do the work. This a requirement because as the restaurant owner, your attention can often be required in many other areas of the restaurant. Your implementer is there day in and day out, following the systems and keeping the systems moving forward. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, I introduce you to Ciarra Adams. She has been in her family's restaurant for the past eight years. Her parents purchased Super Smokers BBQ restaurant with a 20-year history of award-winning barbeque in the St. Louis area. Her parents joined my group coaching program to put them on the path to freedom from their restaurant and the financial freedom they deserve. Adams was the implementer, and she made sure the systems were followed and moved forward, even when her parents got distracted with other issues and challenges. While her parents and Adams have graduated from the coaching program, she is still the steady hand for her parents. She shares about her experience and provides tips for other restaurant owners and implementers alike.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in 

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

My favorite podcast episodes are those with restaurant owners who have transformed their restaurants and their lives. The transformation these restaurant owners made is going to blow you away. Joshua Powell and Joseph Vericella are owners of Clay’s Cafe in Hebron, Ohio. Clay opened its doors in 1934 and it has been a local staple for generations. Powell is a real estate agent turned investor, turned restaurant owner, who never thought he would own the restaurant he worked at as a kid. His partner, Vericella, has a long and successful career in hospitality. If you asked them both, they would probably tell you they are foodies at heart. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, Powell and Vericella share with us the challenges they faced taking over a restaurant that has long-standing traditions and long-term employees, and the change they made that gave them their lives back and exploded their profitability. Through this episode you’ll see the growth in their confidence and assertiveness as restaurant owners, which allowed them to make necessary changes in their business, such as dealing with toxic employees and identifying red flags in their operations.

🖥️ Get My Latest Training Video: https://dsp.coach/training-opt-in  

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com

Our guest today is Josh Kopel, a restaurateur, entrepreneur and coach. This is Josh’s second time on the podcast, and he’s back to talk to us about restaurant marketing and what it really means for your business. Throughout his 20-year career, he’s managed venues ranging from casual dining concepts to Hollywood nightclubs, bars and ultra-lounges. He also opened his own Michelin-rated fine dining concept. Josh is a real restaurant pro. In this episode of my podcast, The Restaurant Prosperity Formula, Josh and I discuss a few restaurant marketing myths, he debunks them, and he provides an incredible amount of information for you to consider for your own restaurant marketing activity.

Get Time with Josh: www.PlanWithJosh.com

Find Josh’s podcast Full Comp: https://restaurants.yelp.com/restaurant-resources/full-comp-podcast/

👍 Book a Call ­– https://dsp.coach/podcast-ryan-call

Sponsor – Margin Edge: http://www.marginedge.com/dsp  

Visit my website for more information about my restaurant coaching program: www.davidscottpeters.com