7 High-ROI Moves for Restaurant Growth
As a restaurant operator, time, energy, and money are your scarcest resources. You don't need more things to do-you need the right things to do that deliver real results. That's where high-ROI (Return on Investment) tactics come in.
These are proven lever actions you can take that produce outsized returns in guest experience, revenue, loyalty, and team performance. Here's how to focus on what actually moves the needle.
1. Optimize Your Menu for Margin
Your menu is your most powerful profit tool—but only if it’s engineered with intention.
High-ROI Moves:
- Highlight top-margin items with design and staff scripting
- Remove or rework low-margin, labor-heavy dishes
- Run limited-time offers to test pricing elasticity and drive urgency
2. Train Your Team to Sell
One well-trained server can increase check averages by $5–10 per table. Multiply that by 100 tables a week—and the ROI is enormous.
High-ROI Moves:
- Use daily huddles to reinforce product knowledge and suggestive selling
- Set and track individual sales goals
- Celebrate upselling wins with small rewards and shoutouts
3. Drive Repeat Visits Through Systems
Acquisition is expensive. Retention is profitable. Loyalty systems (even simple ones) pay for themselves fast.
High-ROI Moves:
- Automate re-engagement emails or texts to recent guests
- Use bounce-back cards to drive short-term return traffic
- Offer rewards not just for frequency, but for specific behavior (e.g. referring a friend, ordering online)
4. Simplify and Systemize the Guest Experience
Consistency wins. High-performing restaurants reduce variability by using systems—not guesswork.
High-ROI Moves:
- Create standard greeting, ordering, and closing scripts
- Use checklists for sidework, cleaning, and closing duties
- Document and train service sequences to improve speed and guest experience
5. Invest in Your Top Performers
Not everyone on your team needs to be a superstar. But your top 20%? They drive 80% of your performance.
High-ROI Moves:
- Offer small development opportunities (mentorship, project ownership)
- Recognize excellence publicly and frequently
- Ask for their input on improving operations—they’re on the front lines
6. Make Marketing Work Harder
You don’t need to post more—you need to post better. Visibility should convert to visits.
High-ROI Moves:
- Share story-driven posts with direct calls to action (not just food photos)
- Use links and QR codes to drive reservations, orders, or signups
- Repurpose content across platforms to save time
7. Use Events to Drive Off-Peak Revenue
Instead of discounting, create energy. Events build loyalty, content, and revenue—especially during slow hours.
High-ROI Moves:
- Host themed dinners, trivia nights, or “locals only” events
- Partner with nearby businesses for cross-promotion
- Sell tickets or packages in advance to lock in attendance
Final Word: ROI-Driven Restaurants Win
You don’t need 100 new tactics. You need the right 10. High-ROI actions stack up—and they compound. When your systems drive margin, loyalty, training, and consistency, you get better results with less waste.
Focus your energy. Track what works. Repeat it. That’s how smart restaurants grow.
Jaime Oikle is the Owner & Founder of RunningRestaurants.com, a comprehensive web site for restaurant owners & managers filled with marketing, operations, service, people & tech tips to help restaurants profit and succeed.