Summer Fun for Restaurant Owners - Top 7 Ways to Increase Summer Business

The summertime can be a great and fun time for owners of restaurants and their guests provided that you stay busy enough to keep paying the bills! There are a few basic items to remember if you want to compete with the warmer temperatures, beach, vacations, loads of outdoor events and have customers coming to your establishment over and over again.

Here we'll highlight our Top 7 Ways to Increase Summer Business and draw customers to your place to keep your doors opened. We do them or we've done them and they work for restaurant success!

Restaurant Kitchen Gadgets/Tools We Recommend

Some of our Favorite Must Have Gadgets for the Professional Kitchen.

Every successful restaurant owner/chef/manager realizes that there are some tools of the trade that we all must have to make our prep time in the kitchen the most efficient and to produce quality food while maintaining safety in the kitchen, as well as staying in compliance with the commercial equipment requirements of federal and state regulations. Not all of your commercial equipment will cost a mini fortune! These are our favorite kitchen gadgets we love and use most often that help us get the best bang for our buck and should help you too. Home kitchens can benefit from these items too so have a look! If you haven't seen it yet, we also have a full list of commercial restaurant equipment you'll want to check out. Subscribe so you can get first hand information as we continue to add to this list of favorite kitchen tools and gadgets.

Commercial Drink Mixers

Stay in code for your restaurant with these best Commercial Drink Mixers used in your business. These industrial built mixers/blenders have come a long way over recent years, are well built, will last for years and help you to create soups, sauces, dips, marinades, ice cream, milkshakes, they mix - blend - grind - juice and you can easily create fun bar drinks for your customers quickly and most efficiently. These best product reviews are based on customer favorites and our own experience so you're sure to find the perfect drink mixer for your own restaurant or home use if you want a machine to last for years and within your budget!

Best Commercial Espresso/Cappuccino Machines

If you're looking for the best Commercial Espresso/Cappuccino Machines, we've located the best of the best machines here! We highly recommend that all restaurants buy one of these machines to boost your restaurant sales, increase your customer base of regular and returning loyal customers and to offer one of the world's most favorite drinks: coffee served several yummy ways! You could try to find used restaurant equipment on craigs list and amazon that would save you more money and you may want to look for used. Restaurants must use commercial grade equipment to follow all the regulations and guidelines set forth by communities to keep your business and customers safe. Home users of espresso and cappuccino may also want commercial grade equipment for those that want a machine to last for years when they drink this tasty beverage daily or several times a day. Subscribe so you get our updates as we add them!

Here are our picks for the best Commercial Espresso/Cappuccino Machines:

Crazy about Bacon!

Are you paying attention to the Crazy about Bacon phenomenon happening all around you? If you are a home cook and want the latest in bacon treats to wow your family and friends at your next gathering, we have it for you here. If you own a restaurant you need to stop everything and check out these amazing bacon flavored items to add to your menu. Boost your restaurant summer sales with a few of these very yummy bacon flavored treats. Try a new special, buy one or buy them all and see what happens!

Yummy bacon flavored items we love:

Restaurants - Increase Your Customer Base - Discounts on Restaurants

Yes, we want you to give discounts on your restaurant! Whether you're a brand new restaurant or already in business for a while, in a slow economy you'll want to increase your customer base so you always have regular customers coming as well as new customers through the door. Customers want to go out, they enjoy time with friends and family not having to cook at home all the time, they want savings and discounts and you can help them. This is one idea to boost your restaurant summer sales too. Oftentimes, customers will only try a new restaurant or a high end restaurant with some kind of coupon or discount item. Returning customers appreciate discounts too and both of these groups of customers will tell their friends about you, your staff, your food and your restaurant once they come and have a meal so it's a good idea to consider giving discounts.

Word of Mouth is one of your best advertising ideas - We'll talk more about advertising your business later but, here's an idea to get more customers through your doors quickly and returning more often:

White Dinnerware for Restaurants

White dinnerware for restaurants is the most popular color due to it's ease on the eyes, it makes all food stand out instead of the plate, it's more affordable than colored dinnerware and why we chose it ourselves.

Swordfish with Sobie Noodles on Syracuse Cascade Plate image copyright@healthy1chef

Happy Father's Day!

Just a quick note today to wish you all a very Happy Father's Day. If you're in business with a restaurant already, you'll probably be busy serving many customers meat and potato dishes - dad's favorites for the most part. If you're not yet in business, enjoy the day off if you get it!

In the restaurant industry, Father's Day is one of those holidays that often can improve your customer relations and sales. It falls on a Sunday so you'll want to consider being opened on Sundays or at least on those holidays that fall on Sunday - Mother's Day included.

Best Books on Management

We provide this recommended best books on management list for any restaurant owner, business manager, new managers and even seasoned managers that are in charge of small and large businesses. Reference books are handy to keep in your office, to refer to often for key reminders if nothing else and to provide the tools for your staff to give them all the information you need and want them to have. When you are continually learning and staying on top of new ideas or referring to your favorites, your staff will be more inclined to follow your lead.  Get books in hardcover, paperback, for kindle or pop the audio CD's in your car for all your driving time education! We love books and hope you'll buy a book to enjoy from our list of management books that we use and share here:

Recommended Books on Leadership

If you own a restaurant or any other business, you'll want to be the best you can be and that's why we recommend these books on leadership to help you. You'll need to understand people, be able to inspire them, be a great coach, improve your results and communication, get better teamwork and improve your bottom line for a successful restaurant. Build your business library a little at a time and refer to these great literary works often to help you when you need a boost. Subscribe or follow by email so you can get all our updates as we continue to add more all the time. These should keep you busy reading for a while:) Cheers!

Best Outdoor Patio Sets Review

Looking for the best outdoor patio set for your business or home? Welcome to our review of the best sets that will seat 4 guests comfortably, include a nice table, sturdy design, folding chairs with arms for easy storage or to remove from the rain, patio umbrella for shade and at a savings discount. These patio sets will take the weather just fine and minimal care is required. Your business will see increased customers during warmer months when you offer any outdoor seating and the more comfortable the better. Your home is enjoyed more often outdoors with pretty patio seating to enjoy a meal or cocktails with your family, friends and neighbors. Check out our Outdoor Bistro Sets Review if you want a smaller patio set.

Recommended Books for the Restaurant Owner

Recommended books for the restaurant owner is our list of references you should keep in your office to learn and stay updated with the complex business of owning a restaurant. In our culinary section alone, we have a huge library of books that we use as reference, inspiration, creativity, information and helpful hints, recipes, resource for technique, review basic and more complex theory, definitions of culinary terms and to teach. Stay tuned for more categories such as leadership, marketing, selling, customer service etc right on this page.

Even though as the restaurant owner, you'll be hiring staff that should have or know and understand the restaurant business, often they do not. It's up to you to know what you want, know how it should be done, know the proper techniques etc. Begin to build your own reference library today, you'll be so glad you did when you need information fast and at your fingertips. We'll keep adding to this list of books we suggest for you to have the best and most successful restaurant so feel free to subscribe or use the email feature in comment section. Happy Reading!

Credit Card Terminals for your Restaurant or Small Business

Are you looking for a credit card terminal for your restaurant or small business? Here we offer some of the best units and the best prices for your consideration. Having the ability to accept credit cards from your customers will surely increase your sales. The days when customers come to any business with only cash as an option to pay are over so if you don't offer them the ability to pay with credit cards, you will see a decrease in your sales, repeat customers and overall profit.

It's much better and cheaper to own your own equipment than to rent it from your credit card merchant service provider. Getting your own credit card terminal should be one of the top items you're looking for as a new start up business or as a way to boost your sales if you don't already take credit. Occasionally, you can find used credit card terminals or refurbished models at craigslist, amazon or other online sites as well.

Credit card terminals are fairly easy to set up, arrive with a manual of instructions, some set up through your merchant services provider, others don't require a merchant provider, require a phone line and power line and these follow all updated privacy laws to keep you and your business legal. Prices of credit card terminals varies so realize that the most basic features cost less while the faster machines with more features will cost more. You always get what you pay for and cc terminals are no different than other restaurant or small business equipment. Don't forget to buy your credit card terminal paper!


Find the best credit card terminals here:

POS Systems for your Restaurant

POS Systems (Point of Sales) for your restaurant are one of the most important items you'll need to get started with a new business - it's the way you'll enter your customer orders, cash out transactions and track your sales figures. Upgrade your old outdated system with these improved models to increase your sales and productivity today! You may not have a POS sales business in your area so these are an option to look at from amazon which protects your purchase and is oftentimes much more affordable than a local company.

Avoid looking for the cheapest POS models and instead get the very best system that you can afford, especially if you plan on being in business for years and years. The last thing you want is a used system that is ready to crash leaving you without a computer for your sales and you revert to the antiquated way of hand writing orders and customers receipts. Or you need a service contract on that old system that could be difficult to find a technician that knows the system and those contracts can be very expensive!

Make an investment in one of our suggested Point of Sales Systems here:

Retail POS Point of Sales POSimplicity is a great option for the first time restaurant owner start up. With so many costs involved in starting your business, you need to make sure that you can place orders fast and conveniently for your customers and staff, handle credit card transactions, cash and here you'll also be able to manage your inventory. Includes software for fast set up when you utilize their merchant services (which we think is a great idea since they'll already be familiar with this system for an easy experience). You'll love the customer service department that helps from start to finish. And, if you think you can't afford it, check out the six month financing available to get you started now.

Retail POSimplicity Point of Sales System image courtesy of amazon

(Currently unavailable but, we'll keep you posted) is the Retail POS System with Cash Register Express is a great system that includes your POS terminal, a 15" touchscreen LCD monitor for super fast and easy information entering, 1 cash register and thermal paper printer, barcode scanner and card reader and even your instruction manual. This seems most similar to the system we use at our restaurant with the added bonus of a card reader right there without needing additional credit card machines. Nice! All cables are included and also a warranty. This system is ready to go - basically plug in and you're set which is pretty amazing! 90 day tech support included (oftentimes this is a separate contract) 24/7 for all your needs.
     * You'll want at least one of these for each of your dining, kitchen and bar areas depending on the size of your restaurant. We use 4 total POS systems for a 200 seat restaurant, which makes ordering easier for your staff and is the most efficient having a contained system with all the parts attached or included.

Retail POS System with Cash Register Express image by amazon.com

Aldelo Pro POS 2 stations with Cash Drawer/Printers is two systems set up and ready to go including a credit card swipe and low cost merchant service card processing, 100 menu items programmed, warranty, 1 kitchen printer, 2 credit card swipes, 1 cash register and 2 receipt printers, LCD touchscreen and all in one network ready.

Aldelo Pro POS System 2 stations image by amazon.com

        These are the only POS Systems we'll suggest at this time because we really like the all in one packages they provide. If you're familiar with all that is entailed in setting up your own POS, you'll know that you need the touchscreen terminals, printers, cash register, card readers, software, cables, manuals, paper and all of those items purchased separately are typically much more than these all in one systems. Stay tuned as we'll continue to look for more systems that are set and ready to go for you - that's how we did it and how we recommend you do it for your own restaurant.

Create a Policy & Procedure Manual for your Restaurant

You need a Policy and Procedure Manual for your restaurant and for any business for that matter. A Policy and Procedure Manual will help you:
     ** To assist you in obtaining financing for your start up restaurant
     ** To let all your staff know your restaurant rules and to make sure everyone follows them
     ** To keep everyone informed of your expectations of their work
     ** To protect you when unemployment filings and claims start arriving in the mail
     ** To reduce the amount of unemployment claims against your business and other legal action
     ** To update your staff on new rules implemented
     ** To keep your staff accountable
     ** Let everyone know how to deal with customer complaints
     ** To notify your staff of your vendors, contact information and emergency plan of action

Read all the way to the end for our final thoughts on keeping you and your business protected with a signed copy of each employee's understanding and agreement to your Policy and Procedure Manual.

Don't have the resources to create your own policy manual? No problem, check out Food Safety Policy and Due Diligence - an Operational Manual with templates for everything you need in digital and kindle formats and cheap!!

Use our guide below to form your own Policy & Procedure Manual:
   Create this manual using a plain Word document on your computer. Keep it in a binder, clearly marked and handy in your office for easy reference for yourself, managers and the staff.
If you'd like a desk reference always at hand with more help, step by step instructions, examples of good and bad policies using the Writing Format, we suggest you check out 7 Steps to Better Written Policies and Procedures by Stephen Page available as paper back or kindle version.

Outdoor Bistro Sets Review

Add outdoor bistro set furniture to your restaurant with these best deals on the perfect patio furniture. Your business will see an increase in sales and customers with comfy seating that draws lots of attention. Give customers what they want and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Below you will find our outdoor furniture bistro set reviews on Fully Assembled Bistro Sets and Some Assembly Required Sets in regular and bar height designs too. We love these small, quaint and cozy seating combinations in bistro sets and you will too! For your restaurant, you'll want at least a few bistro sets for your outdoor dining area and usually when you find them in a department or home improvement store and some discount stores they won't carry more than one or two sets - perfect for home but, not for your business. We've researched the best sets, durable seating, weather proof frames, easy to move, several styles and affordable prices. We even found FREE SHIPPING bistro sets to save you even more money! Bistro sets are compact, easy to move, easy to store, easy to clean and affordable seating. Send us photos of your bistro sets on your business patio or balcony! We'd love to see how you use these and hear about how your customers visit often:) Check out our Outdoor Patio Sets Review too if you like or want larger outdoor seating sets with umbrellas.


Ivena International Wood 3 Piece Bistro Set with Red Cushions is sturdy and durable, offers a round table, well made construction, easily folds for storage, arrives fully assembled!,  back and seat cushions in fashionable RED tie easily to back of chairs, comfortable and cost is less than $75.

Commercial Grade Mixers NSF Certified

When you're baking in a professional kitchen such as your restaurant, bake shop or other business you must have NSF Certified equipment according to almost all if not all state and local ordinances. Do yourself a favor and avoid all those 'commercial' mixers that just won't stand up to constant mixing, kneading needs for your breads, doughs, pizzas, cookies, muffins, cakes and other baked goods you're preparing in a professional kitchen. Professionals use larger mixers with higher hp, heavy duty performance, quality build that can mix and knead day in and day out without wearing out. They do cost more as all restaurant and commercial grade equipment does but, they also outperform and outlast others. Buy one quality commercial mixer and be done with it! Click each link to see more details and to buy safely, securely.

Here are our top reviewed commercial grade mixers NSF certified that will stand the test of time, improve your productivity and allow you to book more business on a larger scale:

Best Printers for Your Business or Home Office

Successful restaurant all improve the efficiency and save money with an all in one printer that can scan, fax and print right from the work office. Are you looking for a new printer for your restaurant, other business or home office? Here you'll find our review of all in one printers we've tested,  reviewed and used and found the best prices with the best features for your business or home office needs.

Ideas to Increase your Summer Restaurant Business

This article will give you several ideas to increase your summer restaurant business to boost your sales, make your staff happy with more money, bring customers to you now and for future business and to keep your restaurant busy!

Increase summer restaurant business with outdoor seating image by istockphoto.com

The summer months can either make your business or break it. How and Why? Well, if you're not in the greatest location for summer, customers will go to the places such as: the water, boating areas, festivals, cook-offs, outdoor dining, patio settings or stay home to grill on the barbie. To be a successful restaurant in the summer months, you need to compete somehow with all that outdoor activity. You've heard the saying if you can't beat 'em, join 'em right? It's true so here are our suggestions for more summer business.

Use our tips to increase your restaurant summer business:

1) Sign up for at least one