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.

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...

Qwick's New Look

November 15, 2022

Hospitality industry staffing leader, Qwick, introduced its new brand this week. Read about the change and how hospitality is at the heart of it all.

A Q&A on Wage & Hour Collective and Class Actions for Restaurant Owners

October 27, 2022

While the thought of being sued by a single worker for unpaid wages is enough to give most restaurant owner’s heartburn, the implications of being sued by a large group or class of workers can be a real life nightmare. Wage and hour collective and class action lawsuits against restaurants are a prime target for plaintiffs’ attorneys. Below is a Q&A regarding class and collective actions, with several preventive steps a restaurant or restaurant chain can take to greatly reduce its legal exposure.