How Do Buffets Make Any Money? - GoFuckYourself.com

Rob · 03-25-2005, 05:50 PM

I have a business degree and it still baffles me on how some buffet-style restaurants can make money.

For Example:
There is this buffet-style restaurant in town that offers all-you-can-eat seafood for $19.95. They offer lobster, snow and Alaskan king crab, shrimp, clams, oysters, fish, mussells, and other smaller seafood items like stuffed crab and hush puppies.

Now if you break it down, they should lose thier asses off if someone of average size came in to eat and got filled up. An average sized person (5'10" 175) can consume at least 2 lobsters (roughly 1lb a piece) a pound of crab, and some other smaller items like shrimp and clams.

The restaurant is obviously not spending as much on seafood as retail but wholesale prices even do not justify them making a profit. Let's say the lobster is going for $5 a lb, the crab legs $4 a lb, shrimp $4 a lb, clams about $3 a doz. That means just the average person will eat $21 of food.

That is just the price of the food. This doesn't include overhead like employees, rent, electricity, water, waste disposal, etc.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?!?!? Anyone ever run a buffet before and can give me some numbers to play around with? I'm completely baffled.

Fred Quimby · 03-25-2005, 05:52 PM

Alcohol!

Dalai lama · 03-25-2005, 05:52 PM

It doesnt cost much money for them to buy it, since they buy bulk. My guess is that the drinks arent free either

Rich · 03-25-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Quimby

Alcohol!

ding ding

shuki · 03-25-2005, 05:56 PM

Drinks are part of it but food costs are lower then what you posted too. They don't get top quality

swedguy · 03-25-2005, 05:58 PM

The fat ass who can eat two lobsters, has a tiny gf that doesn't eat much = $$. Myabe they even have kids... who don't eat much = $$ (they don't charge them as much, but stil a lot). They drink a lot = $$. Extras, if they have that. If it's at a casino = $$. And most importantly, quantity (of people).

The bigger quantity, the cheaper they can buy it from the source.

Antonio · 03-25-2005, 05:58 PM

Those aren't real lobsters, they are replicas made in India ;)

bringer · 03-25-2005, 05:59 PM

low quality food that fills you up quicker
i also noticed the local sizzler puts a lot of salt in their food making me drink alot of water/soda and fill up even quicker

ive also noticed the same trend on the cheap carnival cruises i took

swedguy · 03-25-2005, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonio

Those aren't real lobsters, they are replicas made in India ;)

Outsources lobsters, that's a new

CybermedAndy · 03-25-2005, 06:01 PM

Soft drinks, the draft kind not canned.

Fred Quimby · 03-25-2005, 06:03 PM

keg o beer = 15 gallons

15 gallons = 1920 ounces

1920 / 12 oz glass = 160 glasses of beer

160 / $30 keg cost = 18 cents per beer your cost.

Sell for $3 * 160 = $480 revenue - minus $30 cost.

You clear $450 per keg

$5 submissions · 03-25-2005, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bringer

low quality food that fills you up quicker
i also noticed the local sizzler puts a lot of salt in their food making me drink alot of water/soda and fill up even quicker

ive also noticed the same trend on a cheap carnival cruise i took

Yep. Chinese buffets also put a lot of cornstarch on the food to make diners feel "fuller" quicker.

Another key factor in buffets' profitability--the $9.95 to $19.95 they charge factors in profit in light of the fact that 1) they stack the menu with many filler dishes (salads, fruit, low end meat/veg dishes) 2) most people do only 4 or less trips. If these trips to the buffet line are spaced out between higher priced and lower priced dishes (weighted towards the lower priced ones of course), the likelihood of the whole dinner exceeding the restaurant's break even point is reduced. IMHO

Boogie3 · 03-25-2005, 06:06 PM

It's actually rather easy to make money in the "buffet-style" restaurant biz. Especially if you specialize in it like Golden Coral, Ryans, etc.

Here is the breakdown:

1. The majority of food is low cost/high feedability (mash potatoes, mac -n- cheese, gravies, rice). These items can be purchased in bulk for near nothing. A 50lb bag of rice cost less than $30. You can feed about 200 people on a 50lb bag of rice.

2. You deal in volume customers. Example: you have a party of 10 come in to eat. 2 people go to town and eat up a lot of food. the other 8 only eat a plate or two. But they all pay $10 each. For that $100 dollars you only really give away $45 worth of food.

This allows you to have "t-bone steak night" once a week and "lobster night" once a month. This a very basic example, I could go further indepth............

KRL · 03-25-2005, 06:07 PM

Hello. Many restaurants are LCN laundromats also. If you get what I mean. Its not just dishes they're washing in the kitchen.

nekrom · 03-25-2005, 06:09 PM

Other factors that can be counted in are:

#Low food costs, so they can still make a profit on each customer.
#Low staff or Lower staff wages.
#If it's a hotel they can re-coup costs in other areas ie: gaming, casion etc etc.
#things that were cooked ready but not loaded up for cunsumption.
#High priced drinks, at bulk low price purchase from a buisness pov.

-N

Boogie3 · 03-25-2005, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Quimby

keg o beer = 15 gallons

15 gallons = 1920 ounces

1920 / 12 oz glass = 160 glasses of beer

160 / $30 keg cost = 18 cents per beer your cost.

Sell for $3 * 160 = $480 revenue - minus $30 cost.

You clear $450 per keg

YES!!!!!

Alcohol is THE most productive item sold in the world in the terms of profit.

I was going to open a bar in Michigan. The research I did was unreal.

Rob · 03-25-2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Quimby

keg o beer = 15 gallons

15 gallons = 1920 ounces

1920 / 12 oz glass = 160 glasses of beer

160 / $30 keg cost = 18 cents per beer your cost.

Sell for $3 * 160 = $480 revenue - minus $30 cost.

You clear $450 per keg

Wow, that's some great data! I guess the bar business can be quite lucrative if you have a steady flow of patrons. Interesting.

Rob · 03-25-2005, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boogie3

It's actually rather easy to make money in the "buffet-style" restaurant biz. Especially if you specialize in it like Golden Coral, Ryans, etc.

Here is the breakdown:

1. The majority of food is low cost/high feedability (mash potatoes, mac -n- cheese, gravies, rice). These items can be purchased in bulk for near nothing. A 50lb bag of rice cost less than $30. You can feed about 200 people on a 50lb bag of rice.

2. You deal in volume customers. Example: you have a party of 10 come in to eat. 2 people go to town and eat up a lot of food. the other 8 only eat a plate or two. But they all pay $10 each. For that $100 dollars you only really give away $45 worth of food.

This allows you to have "t-bone steak night" once a week and "lobster night" once a month. This a very basic example, I could go further indepth............

I knew that there had to be some mathematical equation they used. Those things are popping up like weeds and seem to be prospering. I always knew how rent-to-own places made a bundle (did a research study on them my Sr. year) but buffets always had me stumped.

bringer · 03-25-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Quimby

keg o beer = 15 gallons

15 gallons = 1920 ounces

1920 / 12 oz glass = 160 glasses of beer

160 / $30 keg cost = 18 cents per beer your cost.

Sell for $3 * 160 = $480 revenue - minus $30 cost.

You clear $450 per keg

what kind of kegs are you buying for $30? thats below cost for the distribution companys

swoop · 03-25-2005, 06:20 PM

And remember they really cater to families with kids. The kids hardly eat much and are most intererested in the ice cream and desserts which already have a a HUGE mark up in price.

GatorB · 03-25-2005, 06:20 PM

Well first of all a Coke is probally $1.19 or more for 5¢ worth of coke. Waitresses are only paid $2.13 an hour, busboys/dishwashers $5.15. Also they hope some of these people come back when ther isn't a buffet. And also some people still order off the menu.

Alex · 03-25-2005, 06:21 PM

For every fat guy that can eat more than $20's worth there are 100 people that only eat $5 worth

eddie-executive · 03-25-2005, 06:31 PM

Just a marketing tool to get new customers when they serve breakfast and lunch at regular menu prices.

Furious_Female · 03-25-2005, 06:50 PM

I heard about a husband and wife who got kicked out of a buffet last year for going for too many servings of roast beef. They were on the Atkins diet and each had 12 servings of roast beef before they were asked to leave lol. They consumed about 6 lbs of roast beef each

jeffrey · 03-25-2005, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighOnAcid

Now if you break it down, they should lose thier asses off if someone of average size came in to eat and got filled up. An average sized person (5'10" 175) can consume at least 2 lobsters (roughly 1lb a piece) a pound of crab, and some other smaller items like shrimp and clams.

Fuck man, I cant eat that much at all, I'm only 145lbs but very active.. I guess I could eat that over a while, but I dont eat big meals I eat lots of mid/small ones.

Furious_Female · 03-25-2005, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRL

Hello. Many restaurants are LCN laundromats also. If you get what I mean. Its not just dishes they're washing in the kitchen.

I know of many wealthy people that open restaurants just to claim a loss on their taxes.

BV · 03-25-2005, 06:56 PM

buffets make money by offering a higher ratio of cheap hi carb foods.

hi carb = cheap
low carb = expensive

gecko · 03-25-2005, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Furious_Female

I know of many wealthy people that open restaurants just to claim a loss on their taxes.

Hmmm very interesting. Both parties win

gh0st · 03-25-2005, 07:17 PM

SEE SIG, WIN 350 WORTH OF SOFTWARE, DESIGN WORK AND MY NICK! START BUMPING

robfantasy · 03-25-2005, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gh0st

SEE SIG, WIN 350 WORTH OF SOFTWARE, DESIGN WORK AND MY NICK! START BUMPING

what the fuck, fuck you

After Shock Media · 03-25-2005, 10:45 PM

Some peoples math in this is way off. My fiance's best friend works at The Home Town Buffet (national chain). So I am pretty sure you all know what they basicly serve.
Reality is the cold case (aka Salad bar) is the most expensive part of the buffet. Then they will have the "main courses", which are that nights theme like seafood sundays or BBQ tuesdays and so on. Along with your stanbys which are roast beef or briscut, ham, several chicken types, soups and such.
Then they have their various desserts and the like. Plus free drinks (soda to milk).
They also have to keep refilling the hot and cold cases with fresh food constantly, even if they are no longer letting people in. Until there are less than a few tables with people, then they can start shutting it down.
Now the target audience of course is seniors and families. Children and seniors also pay less than the 10.00 entry fee. Here is the kicker, they keep the cost per person under 1.30 cents (for dinner) and generaly if it goes over 1.00 the manager gets very pissy. Get that under 1.30 per person! and on a general the dinner crowd is 500-1200 people per night.

tungsten · 03-25-2005, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Quimby

keg o beer = 15 gallons

15 gallons = 1920 ounces

1920 / 12 oz glass = 160 glasses of beer

160 / $30 keg cost = 18 cents per beer your cost.

Sell for $3 * 160 = $480 revenue - minus $30 cost.

You clear $450 per keg

niiiice

Crypt · 03-25-2005, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord of the fungi

Some peoples math in this is way off. My fiance's best friend works at The Home Town Buffet (national chain). So I am pretty sure you all know what they basicly serve.
Reality is the cold case (aka Salad bar) is the most expensive part of the buffet. Then they will have the "main courses", which are that nights theme like seafood sundays or BBQ tuesdays and so on. Along with your stanbys which are roast beef or briscut, ham, several chicken types, soups and such.
Then they have their various desserts and the like. Plus free drinks (soda to milk).
They also have to keep refilling the hot and cold cases with fresh food constantly, even if they are no longer letting people in. Until there are less than a few tables with people, then they can start shutting it down.
Now the target audience of course is seniors and families. Children and seniors also pay less than the 10.00 entry fee. Here is the kicker, they keep the cost per person under 1.30 cents (for dinner) and generaly if it goes over 1.00 the manager gets very pissy. Get that under 1.30 per person! and on a general the dinner crowd is 500-1200 people per night.

When SleazyDream is near the buffet, the cost go up to 18,15$ per person

After Shock Media · 03-25-2005, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crypt

When SleazyDream is near the buffet, the cost go up to 18,15$ per person

Almost clever. To bad Sleazy is just one person. For every eater who can somehow set them back 18.15 there will be 10 more that eat .40 cents worth.

Rob · 03-25-2005, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord of the fungi

Some peoples math in this is way off. My fiance's best friend works at The Home Town Buffet (national chain). So I am pretty sure you all know what they basicly serve.
Reality is the cold case (aka Salad bar) is the most expensive part of the buffet. Then they will have the "main courses", which are that nights theme like seafood sundays or BBQ tuesdays and so on. Along with your stanbys which are roast beef or briscut, ham, several chicken types, soups and such.
Then they have their various desserts and the like. Plus free drinks (soda to milk).
They also have to keep refilling the hot and cold cases with fresh food constantly, even if they are no longer letting people in. Until there are less than a few tables with people, then they can start shutting it down.
Now the target audience of course is seniors and families. Children and seniors also pay less than the 10.00 entry fee. Here is the kicker, they keep the cost per person under 1.30 cents (for dinner) and generaly if it goes over 1.00 the manager gets very pissy. Get that under 1.30 per person! and on a general the dinner crowd is 500-1200 people per night.

I worked in restaurants while in college and I know about food cost and the sort. This is why I find the $1.30 per person a bit unbelievable. That number just seems way, way off. I could understand $10 per person average but $1.30? I just can't believe it.

After Shock Media · 03-25-2005, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighOnAcid

I worked in restaurants while in college and I know about food cost and the sort. This is why I find the $1.30 per person a bit unbelievable. That number just seems way, way off. I could understand $10 per person average but $1.30? I just can't believe it.

I am using home town buffet which is a national chain as my point of refference. They do not do the whole crab legs and lobster rutine.

When price to get in is 9.99 per adult (not seniors), ya really think it would be 10.00 per person? Trust me this chick has worked there for 7 years now.

jonesy · 03-25-2005, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighOnAcid

I have a business degree and it still baffles me on how some buffet-style restaurants can make money.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?!?!? Anyone ever run a buffet before and can give me some numbers to play around with? I'm completely baffled.

so you have a business degree huh?

and your asking this question here?.

Rob · 03-25-2005, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonesy

so you have a business degree huh?

and your asking this question here?.

Yep. Is that a problem? I may be educated in some things but I'm far from being educated in everything. Some of the replies have been very educational to me. I love input and other people's opinions.

How about you? Has this thread helped out any on your goal in acheiving your G.E.D?

fl_prn_str · 03-25-2005, 11:23 PM

buy food in bulk.......
serve hudge crowds......

sonofsam · 03-25-2005, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fl_prn_str

buy food in bulk.......
serve hudge crowds......

Great business plan.... i'm going to do that

DateDoc · 03-25-2005, 11:44 PM

Most of your national chains run a 25% food cost. This means that for every $10.00 they charge they have a $2.50 budget. So for nights when they do seafood it is likely to cost more than $2.50/person but other nights such as BBQ night they run a lower cost. As for the cold items (salads, etc.) being the most expensive that is just not true. A case of shitty lettuce is like $9.00 and feeds a bunch of people. On the salad bar the most expensive items will be the tomatoes and the salad dressings.

You may also notice on nights like lobster night that a lot of the lobsters have 1 claw. LOL. It is true I swear. These are lobsters that either when caught or while they are at the purveyor lost a claw and are sold at a lower price. If you are paying $3.00 for a dozen clams you need a new vendor. A 10# bag is typically under 10 bucks. As for shrimp they typically serve them in the shell and people get real sick of peeling them quite quickly so they save there too. Basically they just balance everything out. For every expensive item there is a dirt cheap item.

As for filling up on sodas. Ding, ding! You got that right. The wait staff is in trouble if you have a glass less than half full. Experienced waiters will have you a new glass before you are even half way finished. Dessert is always jello, ice cream and such. Very cheap.

Now, if you ever find a $9.99 all you can eat Jumbo Stone Crab buffet drop me a line. Those I can eat all day. Just make sure they crack those claws for me and no frozen shit!

tical · 03-25-2005, 11:54 PM

I guess it all depends on the audience you cater to...

In Vegas there are things like 1.95 steak & eggs & a shitload of buffets.... a lot of the buffets in Vegas are awesome (taste & price) for a reason, they bring your ass right back into their casino

69pornlinks · 03-25-2005, 11:57 PM

buy in bulk
serve in volume (have you ever seen an empty buffet spot)= $$$$$

Za Ha · 03-26-2005, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Quimby

keg o beer = 15 gallons

15 gallons = 1920 ounces

1920 / 12 oz glass = 160 glasses of beer

160 / $30 keg cost = 18 cents per beer your cost.

Sell for $3 * 160 = $480 revenue - minus $30 cost.

You clear $450 per keg

$30 a keg?

Ya if you make it 50% water.

yanni · 03-26-2005, 01:16 AM

...and don't forget the recurrings...

Clicky_Bucks · 03-26-2005, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighOnAcid

I have a business degree and it still baffles me on how some buffet-style restaurants can make money.

For Example:
There is this buffet-style restaurant in town that offers all-you-can-eat seafood for $19.95. They offer lobster, snow and Alaskan king crab, shrimp, clams, oysters, fish, mussells, and other smaller seafood items like stuffed crab and hush puppies.

Now if you break it down, they should lose thier asses off if someone of average size came in to eat and got filled up. An average sized person (5'10" 175) can consume at least 2 lobsters (roughly 1lb a piece) a pound of crab, and some other smaller items like shrimp and clams.

The restaurant is obviously not spending as much on seafood as retail but wholesale prices even do not justify them making a profit. Let's say the lobster is going for $5 a lb, the crab legs $4 a lb, shrimp $4 a lb, clams about $3 a doz. That means just the average person will eat $21 of food.

That is just the price of the food. This doesn't include overhead like employees, rent, electricity, water, waste disposal, etc.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?!?!? Anyone ever run a buffet before and can give me some numbers to play around with? I'm completely baffled.

You honestly think the average person is eating 4 lbs of food when they go to a buffet?

That's world champion eating contest category eating and you are saying that's the average person?

Plus, if you ever notice on a buffet, they fill it up with a lot of cheap "filler" food like chicken, hush puppies, potatoes, etc. Smart people just eat the good shit but most women like to try a little of everything and get filled quickly.

Buffets make tons of money.....off just about everyone who walks through the door.

Kevsh · 03-26-2005, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bringer

low quality food that fills you up quicker
i also noticed the local sizzler puts a lot of salt in their food making me drink alot of water/soda and fill up even quicker

ive also noticed the same trend on the cheap carnival cruises i took

I'd think that's certainly part of it.
And buffets - so I hear - are popular with old-timers who are cheap, but eat less.

SomeCreep · 03-26-2005, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighOnAcid

I have a business degree and it still baffles me on how some buffet-style restaurants can make money.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?!?!? Anyone ever run a buffet before and can give me some numbers to play around with? I'm completely baffled.

Amount restaurant pays for food = x
Restaurant misc expenses = y

They sell their food for x*n, where n > 1, and x*n > x + y.

Simple.

Drake · 03-26-2005, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRL

Hello. Many restaurants are LCN laundromats also. If you get what I mean. Its not just dishes they're washing in the kitchen.

haha quite true. A lot of businesses are merely fronts for the real business going on behind closed doors.

jonesy · 03-26-2005, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighOnAcid

Yep. Is that a problem? I may be educated in some things but I'm far from being educated in everything. Some of the replies have been very educational to me. I love input and other people's opinions.

How about you? Has this thread helped out any on your goal in acheiving your G.E.D?

no problem here fucko - i wasnt questioning your intellect, just your choice of forum to ask a non relevent question.

some people have common sense and some have none at all - your comments lead me to believe you hold neither.

you'll find the REAL answers your looking for at a resturaunt message board not at an adult webmaster one. that was the point you misguided arrogant tool.

but i forgot you "love input and other people's opinions" thats cool.
even if they have no fucking idea, experience or relevancy on how a buffet resturaunt is operated.

i got an idea - ask how much an ATM scene pays at the food network message board.

03-25-2005, 05:50 PM	#1
Rob I'm a great bowler. Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Right Outside of Normal. Posts: 13,310	How Do Buffets Make Any Money? I have a business degree and it still baffles me on how some buffet-style restaurants can make money. For Example: There is this buffet-style restaurant in town that offers all-you-can-eat seafood for $19.95. They offer lobster, snow and Alaskan king crab, shrimp, clams, oysters, fish, mussells, and other smaller seafood items like stuffed crab and hush puppies. Now if you break it down, they should lose thier asses off if someone of average size came in to eat and got filled up. An average sized person (5'10" 175) can consume at least 2 lobsters (roughly 1lb a piece) a pound of crab, and some other smaller items like shrimp and clams. The restaurant is obviously not spending as much on seafood as retail but wholesale prices even do not justify them making a profit. Let's say the lobster is going for $5 a lb, the crab legs $4 a lb, shrimp $4 a lb, clams about $3 a doz. That means just the average person will eat $21 of food. That is just the price of the food. This doesn't include overhead like employees, rent, electricity, water, waste disposal, etc. HOW DO THEY DO IT?!?!? Anyone ever run a buffet before and can give me some numbers to play around with? I'm completely baffled. __________________

03-25-2005, 05:52 PM	#2
Fred Quimby Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5,430	Alcohol! __________________

03-25-2005, 05:52 PM	#3
Dalai lama Strength and Honor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 16,540	It doesnt cost much money for them to buy it, since they buy bulk. My guess is that the drinks arent free either __________________ A program you can trust. Gallerybooster Run multiply TGPs of 1 script

03-25-2005, 05:56 PM	#5
shuki Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 3,070	Drinks are part of it but food costs are lower then what you posted too. They don't get top quality __________________ Looking to buy established paysites contact me [email protected]

03-25-2005, 05:58 PM	#6
swedguy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,981	The fat ass who can eat two lobsters, has a tiny gf that doesn't eat much = $$. Myabe they even have kids... who don't eat much = $$ (they don't charge them as much, but stil a lot). They drink a lot = $$. Extras, if they have that. If it's at a casino = $$. And most importantly, quantity (of people). The bigger quantity, the cheaper they can buy it from the source. Last edited by swedguy; 03-25-2005 at 05:59 PM..

03-25-2005, 05:58 PM	#7
Antonio Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spartaaaaaaaaa Posts: 14,136	Those aren't real lobsters, they are replicas made in India ;)

03-25-2005, 05:59 PM	#8
bringer i have man boobies Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: van down by the river Posts: 13,082	low quality food that fills you up quicker i also noticed the local sizzler puts a lot of salt in their food making me drink alot of water/soda and fill up even quicker ive also noticed the same trend on the cheap carnival cruises i took __________________ 333-765-551 Last edited by bringer; 03-25-2005 at 06:00 PM..

03-25-2005, 06:01 PM	#10
CybermedAndy Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 4,170	Soft drinks, the draft kind not canned. __________________ Add some upsell items to your pages here!

03-25-2005, 06:03 PM	#11
Fred Quimby Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5,430	keg o beer = 15 gallons 15 gallons = 1920 ounces 1920 / 12 oz glass = 160 glasses of beer 160 / $30 keg cost = 18 cents per beer your cost. Sell for $3 * 160 = $480 revenue - minus $30 cost. You clear $450 per keg __________________

03-25-2005, 06:06 PM	#13
Boogie3 Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Looking at boobs Posts: 815	It's actually rather easy to make money in the "buffet-style" restaurant biz. Especially if you specialize in it like Golden Coral, Ryans, etc. Here is the breakdown: 1. The majority of food is low cost/high feedability (mash potatoes, mac -n- cheese, gravies, rice). These items can be purchased in bulk for near nothing. A 50lb bag of rice cost less than $30. You can feed about 200 people on a 50lb bag of rice. 2. You deal in volume customers. Example: you have a party of 10 come in to eat. 2 people go to town and eat up a lot of food. the other 8 only eat a plate or two. But they all pay $10 each. For that $100 dollars you only really give away $45 worth of food. This allows you to have "t-bone steak night" once a week and "lobster night" once a month. This a very basic example, I could go further indepth............ __________________ How ya like my sig?

03-25-2005, 06:07 PM	#14
KRL Entrepreneur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: USA Posts: 31,429	Hello. Many restaurants are LCN laundromats also. If you get what I mean. Its not just dishes they're washing in the kitchen. __________________ If you would like to develop your domains, you can lease inexpensive foreign labor from the leaders in the field at iWebmasters.com TO LOWER YOUR COSTS AND INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTION! * * * * * * * * * * * * Domains Adult News KRL's Newsletter Biz Tips Just Listed Domains

03-25-2005, 06:09 PM	#15
nekrom Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Australia/Asia Posts: 921	Other factors that can be counted in are: #Low food costs, so they can still make a profit on each customer. #Low staff or Lower staff wages. #If it's a hotel they can re-coup costs in other areas ie: gaming, casion etc etc. #things that were cooked ready but not loaded up for cunsumption. #High priced drinks, at bulk low price purchase from a buisness pov. -N __________________ Free Traffic

03-25-2005, 06:20 PM	#20
swoop Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,903	And remember they really cater to families with kids. The kids hardly eat much and are most intererested in the ice cream and desserts which already have a a HUGE mark up in price. __________________ Earn 50 % Per Sale - Weekly Payments by check, wire, PayPal, or ePassporte

03-25-2005, 06:20 PM	#21
GatorB The Demon & 12clicks Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: SallyRand is a FAGGOT Posts: 18,208	Well first of all a Coke is probally $1.19 or more for 5¢ worth of coke. Waitresses are only paid $2.13 an hour, busboys/dishwashers $5.15. Also they hope some of these people come back when ther isn't a buffet. And also some people still order off the menu.

03-25-2005, 06:21 PM	#22
Alex So Fucking Banned (YEA!!) Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 10,963	For every fat guy that can eat more than $20's worth there are 100 people that only eat $5 worth __________________ Care about me? Who? Me! Who?

03-25-2005, 06:31 PM	#23
eddie-executive Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,061	Just a marketing tool to get new customers when they serve breakfast and lunch at regular menu prices. __________________ Jealousy... is a mental cancer. ~B.C. Forbes

03-25-2005, 06:50 PM	#24
Furious_Female Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Upstate, New York Posts: 8,187	I heard about a husband and wife who got kicked out of a buffet last year for going for too many servings of roast beef. They were on the Atkins diet and each had 12 servings of roast beef before they were asked to leave lol. They consumed about 6 lbs of roast beef each __________________ Skype: j3nn.com ICQ 160370494 My current favorite high-converting sponsor: CrakRevenue

03-25-2005, 06:56 PM	#27
BV wtf Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bikini State, FL USA Posts: 10,914	buffets make money by offering a higher ratio of cheap hi carb foods. hi carb = cheap low carb = expensive

03-25-2005, 07:17 PM	#29
gh0st So Fucking Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 928	SEE SIG, WIN 350 WORTH OF SOFTWARE, DESIGN WORK AND MY NICK! START BUMPING

03-25-2005, 10:45 PM	#31
After Shock Media It's coming look busy Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn". Posts: 35,299	Some peoples math in this is way off. My fiance's best friend works at The Home Town Buffet (national chain). So I am pretty sure you all know what they basicly serve. Reality is the cold case (aka Salad bar) is the most expensive part of the buffet. Then they will have the "main courses", which are that nights theme like seafood sundays or BBQ tuesdays and so on. Along with your stanbys which are roast beef or briscut, ham, several chicken types, soups and such. Then they have their various desserts and the like. Plus free drinks (soda to milk). They also have to keep refilling the hot and cold cases with fresh food constantly, even if they are no longer letting people in. Until there are less than a few tables with people, then they can start shutting it down. Now the target audience of course is seniors and families. Children and seniors also pay less than the 10.00 entry fee. Here is the kicker, they keep the cost per person under 1.30 cents (for dinner) and generaly if it goes over 1.00 the manager gets very pissy. Get that under 1.30 per person! and on a general the dinner crowd is 500-1200 people per night.

03-25-2005, 11:23 PM	#39
fl_prn_str Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 5,736	buy food in bulk....... serve hudge crowds......

03-25-2005, 11:44 PM	#41
DateDoc Outside looking in. Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: To Hell You Ride Posts: 14,243	Most of your national chains run a 25% food cost. This means that for every $10.00 they charge they have a $2.50 budget. So for nights when they do seafood it is likely to cost more than $2.50/person but other nights such as BBQ night they run a lower cost. As for the cold items (salads, etc.) being the most expensive that is just not true. A case of shitty lettuce is like $9.00 and feeds a bunch of people. On the salad bar the most expensive items will be the tomatoes and the salad dressings. You may also notice on nights like lobster night that a lot of the lobsters have 1 claw. LOL. It is true I swear. These are lobsters that either when caught or while they are at the purveyor lost a claw and are sold at a lower price. If you are paying $3.00 for a dozen clams you need a new vendor. A 10# bag is typically under 10 bucks. As for shrimp they typically serve them in the shell and people get real sick of peeling them quite quickly so they save there too. Basically they just balance everything out. For every expensive item there is a dirt cheap item. As for filling up on sodas. Ding, ding! You got that right. The wait staff is in trouble if you have a glass less than half full. Experienced waiters will have you a new glass before you are even half way finished. Dessert is always jello, ice cream and such. Very cheap. Now, if you ever find a $9.99 all you can eat Jumbo Stone Crab buffet drop me a line. Those I can eat all day. Just make sure they crack those claws for me and no frozen shit! __________________

03-25-2005, 11:54 PM	#42
tical Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 6,504	I guess it all depends on the audience you cater to... In Vegas there are things like 1.95 steak & eggs & a shitload of buffets.... a lot of the buffets in Vegas are awesome (taste & price) for a reason, they bring your ass right back into their casino __________________ 112.020.756

03-25-2005, 11:57 PM	#43
69pornlinks Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Heranus Posts: 5,560	buy in bulk serve in volume (have you ever seen an empty buffet spot)= $$$$$ __________________ It IS what it IS

03-26-2005, 01:16 AM	#45
yanni Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 140	...and don't forget the recurrings... __________________ Rate my Cameltoe co.uk f/s Hello?