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TryOwning · Restaurant · Lesson 1
Ticket 1 of 9, 0 done

Restaurant · 15 min

You sell a $15 burger. How much do you keep?

Every restaurant owner learns this the hard way. You're going to learn it a few tickets at a time instead.

THE CORNER BURGEROPENFRIDAYburgernight
Your business

Pick the business you'll run

Each lesson uses your pick for its numbers. You can change it any time.

What kind of place

Burger counter

Counter-service places kept a median of 4%restaurant.org ·2024 of sales before taxes in 2024.

Neighborhood bistro

Table-service places kept a median of 2.8%restaurant.org ·2024 of sales before taxes in 2024.

Coffee-and-brunch café

At First Watch, a daytime chain, food was about 22.2–23.1%sec.gov ·2025 of sales.

Where
Pick a business to start.

Spot something wrong?

Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

What kind of problem?

0 / 1000

We'll also send this page (/), the lesson, ticket 1, so we can find it. Nothing else. Privacy

Sources and every number (29 sources)

Sources

  • New Association report helps operators gauge their restaurant performance (2025 Restaurant Operations Data Abstract) · National Restaurant Association, 2024
  • Restaurant operators kept food cost ratios in check in 2024 (from the 2025 Restaurant Operations Data Abstract) · National Restaurant Association, 2024
  • Elevated labor costs had a significant impact on restaurant profitability in 2024 (from the 2025 Restaurant Operations Data Abstract) · National Restaurant Association, 2024
  • Restaurant occupancy costs were more than 5% of sales in 2024 (from the 2025 Restaurant Operations Data Abstract) · National Restaurant Association, 2024
  • New Resource from National Restaurant Association Provides Insights into Operational Realities (press release) · National Restaurant Association, 2024
  • Higher volume restaurants reported lower food-cost ratios in 2024 (from the 2025 Restaurant Operations Data Abstract) · National Restaurant Association, 2024
  • Square fees: payment processing rates (Square Free plan) · Square (Block, Inc.)
  • Average price: ground beef, 100% beef, per pound, U.S. city average (series APU0000703112) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average price: American processed cheese, per pound, U.S. city average (series APU0000710211) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average price: lettuce, iceberg, per pound, U.S. city average (series APU0000712211) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average price: tomatoes, field grown, per pound, U.S. city average (series APU0000712311) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average price: potatoes, white, per pound, U.S. city average (series APU0000712112) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Shake Shack Inc. annual report (Form 10-K), fiscal 2025 · Shake Shack Inc., filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2025
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill annual report (Form 10-K), fiscal 2025 · Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2025
  • McDonald's Corporation annual report (Form 10-K), fiscal 2025 · McDonald's Corporation, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2025
  • First Watch Restaurant Group annual report (Form 10-K), fiscal 2025 · First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc., filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2025
  • The Cheesecake Factory annual report (Form 10-K), fiscal 2025 · The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2025
  • Darden Restaurants annual report (Form 10-K), fiscal 2026 · Darden Restaurants, Inc., filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2026
  • Texas Roadhouse annual report (Form 10-K), fiscal 2025 · Texas Roadhouse, Inc., filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2025
  • Consumer Price Index: full service meals and snacks, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted (series CUUR0000SEFV01) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Consumer Price Index: limited service meals and snacks, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted (series CUUR0000SEFV02) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Consumer Price Index: food away from home, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted (series CUUR0000SEFV) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Consumer Price Index: food at home, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted (series CUUR0000SAF11) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average price: chicken breast, boneless, per pound, U.S. city average (series APU0000FF1101) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average price: steak, sirloin, USDA Choice, boneless, per pound, U.S. city average (series APU0000703613) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average price: eggs, grade A, large, per dozen, U.S. city average (series APU0000708111) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average price: bacon, sliced, per pound, U.S. city average (series APU0000704111) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Average price: butter, stick, per pound, U.S. city average (series APU0000FS1101) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
  • Minimum Wage · U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division

Every number

  • $15example(example number: Simplified example: a burger and fries at a counter-service restaurant.) · Simplified example: a burger and fries at a counter-service restaurant.
  • $0.60example(example number: Simplified example: the survey's median profit for counter-service restaurants, applied to the example price.) · Simplified example: the survey's median profit for counter-service restaurants, applied to the example price.
  • 900restaurant.org ·2024 · The survey says more than this many restaurants took part.
  • 32.4%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for counter-service restaurants, 2024.
  • 32%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for table-service restaurants, 2024.
  • 31.7%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for counter-service restaurants, 2024.
  • 36.5%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for table-service restaurants, 2024.
  • 5.2%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for counter-service restaurants, 2024.
  • 5.7%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for table-service restaurants, 2024.
  • 4%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for counter-service restaurants, 2024.
  • 2.8%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for table-service restaurants, 2024.
  • 65%restaurant.org ·2024 · Food, drink and labor together: the median for counter-service restaurants, 2024.
  • $2Mrestaurant.org ·2024 · The survey splits table-service restaurants at this much in yearly sales.
  • 4.3%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for table-service restaurants with bigger yearly sales, 2024.
  • 1.1%restaurant.org ·2024 · Median for table-service restaurants with smaller yearly sales, 2024.
  • $4.86example(example number: Simplified example: the survey's median food cost for counter-service restaurants, applied to the example price.) · Simplified example: the survey's median food cost for counter-service restaurants, applied to the example price.
  • $4.75example(example number: Simplified example: the survey's median labor cost for counter-service restaurants, applied to the example price.) · Simplified example: the survey's median labor cost for counter-service restaurants, applied to the example price.
  • $0.78example(example number: Simplified example: the survey's median occupancy cost for counter-service restaurants, applied to the example price.) · Simplified example: the survey's median occupancy cost for counter-service restaurants, applied to the example price.
  • $4.01example(example number: Simplified example: what's left of the example price after the other layers.) · Simplified example: what's left of the example price after the other layers.
  • 2.6%squareup.com · Square's published rate for a tapped, dipped or swiped card.
  • $0.15squareup.com · Square's published fee per card payment, on top of the percentage.
  • 3.5%squareup.com · Square's published rate when the card number is typed in.
  • 3.3%squareup.com · Square's published rate for online payments.
  • $0.30squareup.com · Square's published fee per online payment, on top of the percentage.
  • $0.54example(example number: Simplified example: Square's in-person rate applied to the example order.) · Simplified example: Square's in-person rate applied to the example order.
  • $6.79/lbbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
  • $4.74/lbbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
  • $1.64/lbbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
  • $1.99/lbbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
  • $0.99/lbbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
  • 6 ozexample(example number: Simplified example: two thin patties.) · Simplified example: two thin patties.
  • $11example(example number: Simplified example menu price for the burger on its own.) · Simplified example menu price for the burger on its own.
  • $3.54example(example number: Simplified example: the lines of the cost card, added up.) · Simplified example: the lines of the cost card, added up.
  • 32.2%example(example number: Worked out from the example plate cost and menu price.) · Worked out from the example plate cost and menu price.
  • 0.5 lbexample(example number: Simplified example: raw potatoes for one serving.) · Simplified example: raw potatoes for one serving.
  • $4example(example number: Simplified example menu price for a side of fries.) · Simplified example menu price for a side of fries.
  • $0.12example(example number: Simplified example: fryer oil and salt for one serving.) · Simplified example: fryer oil and salt for one serving.
  • $0.49example(example number: Simplified example: the example portion at the BLS potato price.) · Simplified example: the example portion at the BLS potato price.
  • $0.61example(example number: Simplified example: potatoes plus oil and salt.) · Simplified example: potatoes plus oil and salt.
  • 15.4%example(example number: Worked out from the cited potato price and the example portion, oil and price.) · Worked out from the cited potato price and the example portion, oil and price.
  • $4.15example(example number: Simplified example: the burger's and the fries' plate costs, added up.) · Simplified example: the burger's and the fries' plate costs, added up.
  • 27.7%example(example number: Worked out from the example plate costs and price.) · Worked out from the example plate costs and price.
  • 28.5%sec.gov ·2025 · Shake Shack's own restaurants, fiscal 2025: food and paper.
  • 25.9%sec.gov ·2025 · Shake Shack's own restaurants, fiscal 2025: labor.
  • 3.4%sec.gov ·2025 · Net income divided by total revenue, fiscal 2025, worked out from the annual report.
  • 29.6%sec.gov ·2025 · Chipotle, fiscal 2025: food, beverage and packaging.
  • 25.1%sec.gov ·2025 · Chipotle, fiscal 2025: labor.
  • 31%sec.gov ·2025 · McDonald's own restaurants, fiscal 2025: food and paper, worked out from the annual report's dollar figures.
  • 30%sec.gov ·2025 · McDonald's own restaurants, fiscal 2025: payroll and benefits, worked out from the annual report's dollar figures.
  • 31.9%sec.gov ·2025 · Net income divided by total revenue for the whole company, fiscal 2025, worked out from the annual report.
  • 95%sec.gov ·2025 · Share of McDonald's restaurants run by franchisees at the end of fiscal 2025 (the report says about this much).
  • 23.1%sec.gov ·2025 · First Watch, fiscal 2025: food and beverage.
  • 33.5%sec.gov ·2025 · First Watch, fiscal 2025: labor.
  • 21.7%sec.gov ·2025 · The Cheesecake Factory, fiscal 2025: food and beverage.
  • 35%sec.gov ·2025 · The Cheesecake Factory, fiscal 2025: labor, including bakery staff.
  • 30.6%sec.gov ·2026 · Darden (Olive Garden, LongHorn and others), fiscal 2026: food and beverage.
  • 31.7%sec.gov ·2026 · Darden, fiscal 2026: restaurant labor.
  • 35%sec.gov ·2025 · Texas Roadhouse, fiscal 2025: food and beverage.
  • 33.3%sec.gov ·2025 · Texas Roadhouse, fiscal 2025: labor.
  • 1.6%sec.gov ·2025 · Texas Roadhouse, fiscal 2025: rent.
  • 20%example(example number: Simplified example: a what-if price rise from your supplier.) · Simplified example: a what-if price rise from your supplier.
  • $1example(example number: Simplified example: a small menu price rise.) · Simplified example: a small menu price rise.
  • $19example(example number: Simplified example: a fancy price, well above the usual.) · Simplified example: a fancy price, well above the usual.
  • 7.4%bls.gov ·2026 · Change in the BLS US average price of ground beef, September 2025 to September 2026, worked out from the two prices.
  • 3.8%bls.gov ·2026 · Change in the price index for full-service meals, September 2025 to September 2026.
  • 3.2%bls.gov ·2026 · Change in the price index for limited-service meals, September 2025 to September 2026.
  • 3.5%bls.gov ·2026 · Change in the price index for food away from home, September 2025 to September 2026.
  • 1.8%bls.gov ·2026 · Change in the price index for food at home, September 2025 to September 2026.
  • $4.20/lbbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
  • $14.11/lbbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
  • $2.27/dozenbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price for grade A large eggs, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
  • $6.76/lbbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
  • $3.96/lbbls.gov ·2026 · US average grocery price, September 2026. Restaurants buying by the case usually pay less.
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