Restaurant KPIs: The Essential Metrics Every Owner Should Track

Running a restaurant is one of the most dynamic businesses out there. Every day brings a mix of great guests, unexpected costs, fast decisions, and constant time pressure.
That’s why the right KPIs are your simplest way to understand what’s working, what’s costing too much, and where your profit is hiding.

Instead of juggling dozens of spreadsheets, focus on a small set of clear KPIs that give you a snapshot of your restaurant’s performance in seconds.

1. Revenue KPIs 

These metrics show how much your restaurant earns and how efficiently you use your capacity.

• Daily Revenue – total sales for the day

• Average Order Value (AOV) – average bill per customer

• Revenue per Table – how much one table generates

• Table Turnover Rate – how many times each table is used per day

If you want to improve profitability, revenue KPIs are the first place to look.

2. Cost & Profit KPIs

In hospitality, every percentage matters.

• COGS % (Cost of Goods Sold) – how much of your revenue goes to food costs

• Labor Cost % – staff cost as a share of sales

• Prime Cost – COGS + Labor (the most important restaurant KPI)

• Net Profit Margin – what’s left after all expenses

If your Prime Cost is too high, profit will always be low, no matter how busy you are.

3. Operations KPIs

These KPIs show how organized and efficient your daily operations are.

• Reservation No-Show Rate – how many reservations skip their booking

• Food Waste % – value of food thrown away

• Order Prep Time – kitchen speed

• Order Accuracy Rate – number of correct vs. incorrect orders

Operational issues are often silent profit killers.

4. Customer KPIs

A healthy restaurant is built on returning guests.

• Customer Repeat Rate – how many customers come back

• Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) – guest feedback

• Online Review Score – Google / Yelp / TripAdvisor ratings

• Complaint Rate – number of complaints

Even small improvements here lead to big changes in long-term revenue.

5. Staff KPIs

A restaurant is only as strong as its team.

• Employee Productivity – revenue per labor hour

• Employee Turnover Rate – how many staff members leave

• Upsell Rate – how often staff successfully recommend extra items

• Server Tip % – a live indicator of service quality

When staff performance increases, revenue follows.

Final Thoughts

Restaurants that track their KPIs operate smarter, not harder.
Everything becomes easier when you have one clear system instead of a hundred spreadsheets.

To help you start immediately, here are two ready-made Excel files:

📥 Download Excel Files

✅ FREE Restaurant KPI Template (12 Essential KPIs)

Simple, practical, and perfect for small restaurants.
👉 [Download Free Excel Template]

⭐ PREMIUM Restaurant Dashboard (35+ KPIs + Automated Charts)

Advanced version with calculators, menu tools, and analytics.

The advanced Excel dashboard with automated charts, calculators, and 35+ KPIs is currently in development.
If you’d like early access when it launches, join the waitlist below.