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Operations

Operating a restaurant involves a lot of moving parts – most controlled by you, but many controlled by laws, regulations, licenses and permits. Alcoholic beverages, food safety, labor practices and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (the healthcare mandate) are significant – and then there is everything else.

Get to know the regulatory agencies that govern such things as sidewalk cafes, signage, noise, fire safety and more. And, get to know about the efforts being made by RAMW on your behalf to improve the regulatory environment.


RAMW STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION AND DRAM SHOP CLARIFICATION AMENDMENT ACT OF 2023

March 5, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Keiristin Wilbert Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington Keiristin@ramw.org Media@ramw.org 202-331-5990 STATEMENT FROM RAMW PRESIDENT AND CEO SHAWN TOWNSEND FOLLOWING PASSAGE OF RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION AND DRAM SHOP CLARIFICATION AMENDMENT ACT OF 2023 Washington, DC (March 5, 2024) - This bill represents a pivotal opportunity for bolstering an industry that continues to face the lingering effects of the pandemic, marked by inflation, a decrease in downtown patronage, and safety concerns. Today’s legislation reduces liquor liability insurance...

2023 Member Survey Findings

January 2, 2024
TO: Interested Parties FROM: Che Ruddell-Tabisola Vice President, Government Affairs Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington DATE: Nov. 1, 2023 RE: Struggling Under Declining Traffic and Shrinking Sales, DC Restaurants Call on DC Council to Act Now A year after passage of Initiative 82, significant numbers of DC restaurants are contending with dwindling customer traffic and diminishing revenues, threatening the viability especially of local independent restaurants. “Our neighborhood restaurants are caught between a rock and a hard place,”said Shawn Townsend, President and...

DC AG ISSUES SUPPLEMENTAL BUSINESS ADVISORY ON RESTAURANT FEES

August 9, 2023
Builds on Effort to Help Restaurants Comply with District’s Consumer Protection Laws, Ensure Consumers Understand Their Rights Washington, DC – Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued a Supplemental Business Advisory on restaurants’ legal obligation to adequately disclose all fees – including service fees – to customers. “District law requires restaurants to disclose any fees in a timely, prominent, and accurate manner," said the attorney general. "Today’s guidance, developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders, aims to strike...

The Ideal Restaurant Management Incentive Plan in 3 Steps

July 17, 2023
The rise in operating costs and shortage of restaurant labor has forced restaurant owners to incentivize key employees with performance bonuses and equity by building the ideal restaurant management incentive plan. The ideal incentive or bonus plan should: Incentivize and reward key employees for increasing profitability and improving the hospitality experience; Provide an ROI to owners; and Be simple, self-sustainable, and scalable. With an effective compensation incentive plan, owners don’t need to be involved in day-to-day operations, and can focus on growing and scaling their...

Understanding, Calculating, and Reducing Your Restaurant Labor Cost Percentage from The Fork CPA's

April 7, 2023
Calculating your restaurant labor cost percentage is essential to running a successful restaurant. The labor cost percentage is the amount of money you spend on employee wages and benefits as it compares to your total sales. This number is significant because it tells you how much profit you’re making on each dollar that comes through your door. If your labor cost percentage is too high, it means that you’re losing money every time a customer buys food or drinks at your restaurant. This can lead to lower profits and eventually force you out of business if you don’t act fast...

Liquor Liability Town Hall Wednesday

March 23, 2023
Some of the most expensive liquor liability insurance in the country is in the District of Columbia. In some cases, insurance for a neighborhood bar or restaurant costs 100 times more here than in Maryland or Virginia. Deeper Dive: The exorbitant costs make it hard for businesses of all sizes, but it disproportionately affects small, independently owned neighborhood bars and restaurants, and in particular those owned by entrepreneurs of color. Good News: Legislation to reform liquor liability laws has been introduced in DC Council. Tune In: The DC Nightlife Council and RAMW host an operator...

On-Demand Webinar: Making Energy Work For You

March 13, 2023
Webinar On-Demand: How Energy Choice Can Improve Your Bottom Line Join our partners at Electric Advisors for a quick session to answer your questions about energy choice and how you can benefit from alternative suppliers. • Learn how you can take advantage of DC tax codes to further reduce your monthly energy costs. • Pepco DC rates are changing June 1st, now is the time to learn about alternatives, before the expected price increase takes effect. • Let us show you how we find our clients competitive pricing that could potentially save them thousands! Click here to watch the on...

LEDC Restaurant Expansion Loan - ZERO INTEREST loans for DC restaurant job creation!

February 27, 2023
LEDC is a CDFI (Community Development Finance Institution) which helps entrepreneurs and small business through lending and technical assistance. Ideal for established DC-based restaurants in the process of opening an additional location. The expansion must result in significant job creation, intended for low-income individuals, with certain benefits expected. Loan amounts up to $100,000 Terms up to 5 years One-time closing fee of 3% $50 application (plus $20 per co-owner) Fixed-rate 0% interest LIMITED FUNDING AVAILABLE Made possible by a grant from the Community Economic Development program...

MarginEdge lands $45M to Give Restaurants Real-Time Spend Data

January 9, 2023
MarginEdge, an Arlington based restaurant management and bill payment platform, has raised $45m in Series C funding , bringing its total funding to $71m. The round was led by Ten Coves Capital, with participation from Fiserv, Derive Ventures and all of the company's previous investors. MarginEdge provides invoice processing, inventory management, recipe analysis, budgeting, performance tracking and supplier bill payment capabilities. Its technology is designed to help restaurants monitor costs in real time, process invoices and manage inventory. MarginEdge has been proud to support DC-...

Mayor Bowser Opens New Round of Bridge Fund Grants to Support Small Businesses

November 15, 2022
(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) announced a new $8 million round of the Bridge Fund grant program that will provide financial support to businesses and sole proprietors in the restaurant, entertainment, and retail sectors. “Our restaurant, entertainment, and retail industries are critical to our comeback,” said Mayor Bowser. “When we have great places for people to dine out, and shop, and visit, that not only improves the quality of life for our residents, it draws more...

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