Restaurant Rockstars

Prime Cost Score

Prime cost is the most vital telltale of whether your restaurant is making money. Find out where you stand in 60 seconds.

Your numbers

Time period

Food

Food sales Food sales only, for the period

Food cost of goods Beginning inventory + purchases − ending inventory. Food only: no straws, plastic wrap, or mop heads

Beverage

Beverage sales Liquor, beer, wine, soft drinks. Leave blank if you don't sell beverages

Beverage cost of goods Count your beverage inventory separately from food

Labor

Hourly wages Everyone you pay by the hour, front and back of house

Salaried, leaders & owner pay Managers and leaders on payroll, plus anything you take out of the business as pay

Payroll taxes & fees Employer payroll taxes plus any payroll processing fees

Your prime cost score

Prime Cost Score

--/100

Prime cost: --%

Enter your food sales, food cost of goods, and labor to see your score

45%55%65%75%+

--%Food cost

--%Beverage cost

--%Labor cost

Get Roger's tools to bring it down →

Prime cost = average of your food cost % and beverage cost % (food cost % only if you don't sell beverages), plus your labor cost %. Food cost % = food cost of goods ÷ food sales. Beverage cost % = beverage cost of goods ÷ beverage sales. Labor cost % = total payroll ÷ total sales. The score is 100 at a 50% prime cost or lower and drops 5 points for every point above 50%. Results are an estimate for educational purposes.