Tag Archives: Phoenix Business

Restaurant Results and Outlook Survey: Over 700 Independent Operators Share Their 2018 Results and Plans for 2019

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- RestaurantOwner.com has released the report of their 2019 Independent Restaurant Outlook Survey. This is the third consecutive Outlook Report which summarizes input gathered from over 700 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their 2018 financial performance, as well as their optimism about 2019.

A copy of the report is available at: https://www.restaurantowner.com/IROS2019

Survey Results:
2018 was another profitable year for most independent restaurants. 81% of the 707 responding owners or operators reported a net income greater than 1% of sales in 2018, of which, 30% reported a net income greater than 10%. Of those that were not profitable, approximately 10% broke even, while 9% reported a net loss greater than 1% of sales.

Profitability continued to rise as many independent restaurants performed better in 2018 than the previous year. 64% of respondents reported that their net income in 2018 outpaced their 2017 performance. 17% reported no change and 22% reported a lower net income in 2018 compared to the previous year, indicating a continued upward trend in independent restaurant performance.

Optimism prevailed for a third year in a row. 62% of respondents indicated they are more optimistic about 2019 than they were about 2018. This trend continues from last year where 64% of respondents felt more optimistic about 2018 compared to 2017.

Most operators attributed their optimism for 2019 to improved business practices or systems (73%), and a quality guest experience (53%). Staffing challenges (53%) and unfavorable labor costs (52%) were the most cited causes for lacking optimism.

Again, the results of the survey confirm a strong and continuing interest of independent restaurant owners and operators to improve and grow their business. Many operators (84%) intend to pursue four or more goals in 2019. Over 60% of respondents reported they intend to focus on improving overall profitability, business practices, or their guest experience.

About RestaurantOwner.com:
Since 1998, RestaurantOwner.com has provided training and resources to independent restaurant owners and managers who want to improve their leadership and business management skills to create a higher quality guest experience, greater employee engagement and better financial results.

More information: https://www.restaurantowner.com/.

RestaurantOwner.com has released the report of their 2019 Independent Restaurant Outlook Survey. This is the third consecutive Outlook Report which summarizes input gathered from over 700 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their 2018 financial performance, as well as their optimism about 2019.

Related link: https://www.restaurantowner.com/

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Restaurant? 350 Independent Restaurant Owners Share Their 2018 Startup Costs and Financial Performance

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- RestaurantOwner.com has released the report of their 2018 Cost to Open a Restaurant Survey. The report summarizes input gathered from over 350 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their startup costs as well as their financial performance.

A copy of the survey report is available at: https://www.restaurantowner.com/public/How-Much-Does-it-Cost-to-Open-a-Restaurant.cfm

The median restaurant startup cost was $375,000. This equates to a median cost of $113 per square foot, or $3,586 per seat. Many factors affected cost including remodel vs. new construction, free standing building vs. tenant space, and whether the restaurant was full service, limited service, bar or tavern, catering business, or takeout and delivery.

"New construction was more costly than remodeling. The median cost of building a restaurant from the ground up, not including real estate, was $650,000," said COO Joe Erickson.

Remodeling a non-restaurant space was the second most costly, with a median cost of $425,500. Remodeling an existing restaurant space was the least costly, with a median cost of $275,500. Consequently, the median sales to investment ratio was highest for remodeling an existing restaurant space (4.2:1), versus either remodeling a non-restaurant space (2.1:1) or new construction (2.0:1).

The median size of restaurant startups was 3,070 square feet, and 120 seats. This size resulted in a median of 31 square feet per seat. Kitchens occupied about 31% of the restaurant space, with a median size of 1,000 square feet.

The median annual sales across all service types was $1.125 million. That financial performance resulted in a median annual revenue of $325 per square foot, or $10,567 per seat. Median time to profitability was 5 months. 25% of owners reported that their restaurant was profitable within the first 2 months and another 25% took 12 months to become profitable. The median net income reported was 5.5%.

About RestaurantOwner.com:
RestaurantOwner.com provides leadership, financial management and operational training and resources to independent restaurant owners and managers to improve the guest experience, employee engagement and achieve better financial results.

More information: https://www.restaurantowner.com/.

*IMAGE FOR MEDIA: https://www.restaurantowner.com/members/images/1474c.png
*Image Caption: page three example from the comprehensive 2018 report.

RestaurantOwner.com has released the report of their 2018 Cost to Open a Restaurant Survey. The report summarizes input gathered from over 350 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their startup costs as well as their financial performance.

Related link: https://www.restaurantowner.com/

Now Hiring: Over 400 Independent Restaurant Owners Share What They do to Recruit their Best Employees

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- RestaurantOwner (RestaurantOwner.com) today released the results of their 2017 Independent Restaurant Recruiting Survey. The report summarizes input gathered from over 400 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their proven recruiting practices.

A copy of the report is available at: https://www.restaurantowner.com/Recruiting2017/.

Survey Results:
The days of the Help Wanted sign are numbered. Only a third (34%) of independent restaurant owners reported using signs placed in their restaurant to announce job openings. Instead, resourceful restauranteurs are turning to technology in their search for new talent, with 57% indicating that they use internet classifieds, 56% social networks, and 44% internet job sites in their search for new talent.

Despite technology-based solutions, word-of-mouth is still the best recruiting tool. An overwhelming majority (86%) of independent restaurant operators rely on employee referrals to find new team members. And when asked where they found the best employees, 48% responded with employee referrals.

Surprisingly, only 26% of respondents had a formal referral program. For independent restaurants that rewarded successful candidate referrals, employees typically earned $100 per referral once a referred candidate was employed for 90 days.

A positive restaurant culture (48%) was the most cited response to, "What's the #1 reason people want to work in your restaurant?" Culture was more important than a desirable schedule (8%), the need for a job (10%), and even good pay/benefits (22%). Despite this, only 39% of respondents included information about their restaurant culture in job postings.

The two most cited hurdles currently faced by independent restaurant operators are a lack of qualified applicants (78%) and competition for employees (44%). Savvy restaurateurs shared that they overcame these hurdles with continuous recruiting, employee referrals, and by actively recruiting the employed.

Additional insights, graphs, figures, and statistics are included in the report.

About Restaurant Owner:
With over 46,000 members since 1998, RestaurantOwner.com's mission is to change lives by educating and inspiring independent restaurant owner operators to create restaurant success stories. It's committed to providing practical, proven insights, and resources to enable members to build a better restaurant, a better business, and most importantly, a better life.

Information: https://www.restaurantowner.com/.

*IMAGE for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-0927s2p-rosurvey-300dpi.jpg
*Image Caption: A selected metric from the RestaurantOwner 2017 Recruiting Survey Report.

Restaurant Owner today released the results of their 2017 Independent Restaurant Recruiting Survey. The report summarizes input gathered from over 400 independent restaurant owners and operators regarding their proven recruiting practices.

Related link: https://www.restaurantowner.com/

Arizona Wine Growers Association (AWGA) Elected New Board Members

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Arizona Wine Growers Association (AWGA) has announced the election and the re-election of members to its Board of Directors and officers for term through 2018. AWGA is governed by 8 growers in three districts who serve 1 or 2 year terms.

The new directors are Kief Manning, owner/winemaker of Kief-Joshua Vineyards; Barb Coons, owner of Four Tails Vineyard; Cory Whalin, owner/winemaker of Su Vino Winery; Lori Reynolds, owner/winemaker of Sonoita Vineyards; and Michael Pierce, Director of Enology at Yavapai College, owner/winemaker Saeculum Cellars and Bodega Pierce.

Re-elected directors, are Brian Predmore, owner of Alcantara Vineyards and Winery; Ann Roncone, owner of Lightning Ridge Cellars; and John Smith, owner of Sierra Bonita Vineyards.

The elected officers are: Brian Predmore, President; Kief Manning, Vice President; Ann Roncone, Treasurer; and John Smith, Secretary.

"We are pleased to have and welcome the new board members and look forward to their leadership and experience," said AWGA past president, Rod Keeling of Keeling-Schaefer Vineyards. "They will be a valuable asset to our growing organization and will be a powerful voice for Arizona wine growers."

AWGA provides industry leadership to advocate for industry policies, research, leadership, and public education. The organization is dedicated to enhance Arizona's wine growers business in the state's Agritourism and Public Knowledge of Local Wines. The Arizona Wine Growers Association represents over 70 percent of the state industry's wine producers. Our 5 year strategic plan includes focusing on marketing, legislation and promotion of the AZ wine industry in the state.

AWGA has several signature wine festivals starting with our newest event at the University of Arizona, Festival at the Farm on November 11, 2017. There will be a dinner to honor our founding fathers of the AZ wine industry on Friday, November 10, 2017. The Grand Wine Gala on Friday, January 26, 2018 where AZ Republic presents the AZ Wine Awards will be held in Downtown Phoenix at CREATE at the AZ Science Center, followed by the Grand Wine Festival Saturday and Sunday, January 27 and 28, 2018 at Heritage Square. The Oro Valley Wine Festival is Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Steam Pump Ranch in Oro Valley.

Information on the AWGA including participating winery members, events and wine tour maps can be found at http://arizonawine.org/.

The Arizona Wine Growers Association (AWGA) has announced the election and the re-election of members to its Board of Directors and officers for term through 2018. AWGA is governed by 8 growers in three districts who serve 1 or 2 year terms.

Related link: http://arizonawine.org/

TriWest Healthcare Alliance Receives Three Full URAC Accreditations for Quality Standards

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- TriWest Healthcare Alliance announced today it earned full URAC accreditations for its Health Utilization Management and Case Management programs, and full reaccreditation for its Health Network.

URAC is a Washington, D.C.-based health care accrediting organization, whose mission is to promote continuous improvement in the quality and efficiency of healthcare management through processes of accreditation, certification, education, and measurement.

Accreditation serves as a symbol of excellence. The accreditation standards establish key quality benchmarks for core business practices and managed care programs including network management, provider credentialing, utilization management, quality management and improvement, consumer protection and confidentiality.

"It is our honor and privilege to work at the side of the Department of Veterans Affairs in meeting the health care needs of Veterans in 28 states and the Pacific. We are grateful to the URAC representatives who took the time to examine our business practices and for validating that our health care network, utilization management and case management programs meet their rigorous standard of quality," said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. "By achieving these accreditations, the Veterans we are privileged to serve have further confirmation they are receiving the highest level of care and service in support of VA's noble mission of caring for those who have borne the price of the battle."

"To meet the growing demand to provide quality healthcare services at a reasonable cost, TriWest Healthcare Alliance distinguishes itself in the marketplace by having earned Health Network Accreditation from URAC," said URAC President and CEO Kylanne Green. "With rigorous standards created by a broad array of stakeholders, TriWest's independent accreditation from URAC demonstrates its commitment to bringing together qualified, credentialed, and well-managed providers for their patients."

TriWest's accreditations in utilization management and case management are effective June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2020. The effective period for the health network accreditation is now extended to August 1, 2020. This is TriWest's fifth consecutive accreditation for its health care network.

About TriWest Healthcare Alliance:

TriWest Healthcare Alliance serves our nation's heroes as the partner of the Department of Veterans Affairs in administering the Patient-Centered Community Care and Veterans Choice Programs. TriWest has been On a Mission to Serve(R) America's military families and Veterans since 1996 delivering award-winning customer service and providing access to high-quality health care. More information: https://www.triwest.com/.

About URAC:

Founded in 1990, URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality through accreditation, certification and measurement. URAC is a nonprofit organization developing evidence-based measures and standards through inclusive engagement with a range of stakeholders committed to improving the quality of healthcare. Our portfolio of accreditation and certification programs span the healthcare industry, addressing healthcare management, healthcare operations, health plans, pharmacies, telehealth providers, physician practices, and more. URAC accreditation is a symbol of excellence for organizations to showcase their validated commitment to quality and accountability.

*Logo for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0825-TriWest-300dpi.jpg

TriWest Healthcare Alliance announced today it earned full URAC accreditations for its Health Utilization Management and Case Management programs, and full reaccreditation for its Health Network. The accreditation standards establish key quality benchmarks for core business practices and managed care programs.

Edupoint’s Growth in Arizona Continues with Creighton School District’s Selection of Synergy

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- Edupoint(R) Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy(R) Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, has been selected by Creighton School District to implement the company's Synergy Student Information System - replacing Infinite Campus(R).

The district's Synergy solution will include the fully-integrated Synergy Online Registration, Synergy Special Education, TeacherVUE(R) Portal With Gradebook, ParentVUE(R) and StudentVUE(R) portals, and private cloud hosting. Creighton School District serves approximately 6,500 students across nine schools.

"When the Creighton School District was looking to change their student information system, we had three key requirements: It had to be customizable, user friendly, and come with high quality customer service," said Jennifer Dodson, Director of Information Services & Technology for the district. "During our search, we found Synergy to provide all that and more. Giving our parents access to more of their students' data online will be a game changer for our district. We are excited to forge this partnership and give our teachers and parents access to this intuitive program."

"The Creighton School District wanted a powerful student information system that would be easy to use, as well as a vendor partner relationship it could count on," said Rob Wilson, President and Chief Innovation Officer for Edupoint. "We are pleased that Creighton selected Edupoint at a trusted partner, and our Synergy solution as the best fit for its student data management needs. We look forward to working with the district to help it support student growth and achieve district education goals for many years to come."

About Edupoint Educational Systems:

For over thirty years, the leadership of Edupoint Educational Systems has provided well-designed, technologically-advanced student data management systems that empower all K-12 stakeholders with the tools they need to improve student achievement. The fully-integrated Synergy(R) Education Platform includes Synergy(R) SIS, the most powerful K-12 student information system available today, Synergy(R) LMS, an all-in-one learning and assessment platform, and Synergy(R) SE, a comprehensive special education data management system. Thousands of schools nationwide choose the Synergy Education Platform to support more than 3.5 million students.

More information: http://www.edupoint.com/.

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/16-0126-edupoint-300dpi.jpg

Edupoint Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, has been selected by Creighton School District to implement the company's Synergy Student Information System - replacing Infinite Campus(R).

Boom or Bust? Over 500 Independent Restaurant Owners Voice Their Thoughts on 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- RestaurantOwner.com released the results of their 2017 Independent Restaurant Outlook Survey. The results summarize input gathered from over 500 independent restaurant owners regarding their restaurant outlook for 2017. The results indicate independent restaurant owners are optimistic about 2017, a theme supported by a majority who plan to grow and invest in their restaurant business in 2017.

A copy of the survey results is available at: http://www.restaurantowner.com/Outlook2017/.

Survey Results:
Independent restaurant owners are optimistic about 2017. 56% of respondents indicated they are more optimistic now than this time last year. 27% report they feel about the same, and only 17% indicate that they are less optimistic.

For those who report feeling optimistic, over half (51%) attribute it to improved business practices or systems. Interestingly, respondents tended to attribute their optimism to either internal factors (high quality staff, quality of the guest experience, labor costs, improved business practices or systems) or external factors (improving economic conditions, the positive impact of new government policies).

Of those who were not optimistic, over half (55%) attribute their outlook to higher labors costs. Responses tended to cluster into one of three concerns: staffing (high labor costs, staffing challenges), management (quality of our guest experience, lack of effective business practices or systems), or economic (stagnant or worsening economic conditions, negative impact of new governmental policies).

The goals and objectives independent restaurant owners are going to pursue in 2017 reflect optimism. Most (94%) indicate they have two or more goals for 2017. Plans to improve overall profitability, improve staffing, improve internal systems or business practices, or reduce costs were each endorsed by over half of respondents.

Independent restaurant owners' plans for 2017 reflect their optimism. 83% have plans that reflect investing in or growing their restaurant business. Just under half (48%) have plans to make physical improvements.

About RestaurantOwner.com:
With over 46,000 members since 1998, RestaurantOwner.com's mission is to change lives by educating and inspiring independent restaurant operators to create restaurant success stories. RestaurantOwner.com is committed to providing practical, proven insights, and resources to enable members to build a better restaurant, a better business, and most importantly, a better life.

More information: http://www.restaurantowner.com/.

*IMAGE for Media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0215s2p-ROsurvey-300dpi.jpg

RestaurantOwner.com released the results of their 2017 Independent Restaurant Outlook Survey. The results summarize input gathered from over 500 independent restaurant owners regarding their restaurant outlook for 2017. The results indicate independent restaurant owners are optimistic about 2017, a theme supported by a majority who plan to grow and invest in their restaurant business in 2017.

1,190 Independent Restaurant Owners Share Their Thoughts on Over 100 POS System Brands

PHOENIX, Ariz. /ScoopCloud/ -- RestaurantOwner.com released the 2017 POS Survey Report today. The report summarizes input gathered from 1,190 independent restaurant owners from around the world regarding over 100 different brands of POS systems, focusing on several critical aspects including cost, installation and support experience, and features. The results of this survey provide unique insight into the POS system market and emerging trends, all of which are valuable to independent restaurant owners.

A copy of the report is available at: http://www.restaurantowner.com/POS2017/.

Survey Results:
The average cost for a restaurant POS system has notably decreased since 2012. In 2012, the average expenditure for a POS system was just over $18,000, as opposed to $13,344, currently.

The top seven POS solutions were Aloha POS, MICROS, Digital Dining, Clover, Adelo POS, Future POS, and POSitouch. These top seven POS systems accounted for 47.5% of the market. Beyond the top seven, all other POS brands each accounted for less than 3% of the market share.

We identified a shift toward cloud-based systems and POS solutions offered by credit card processors. Clover, Dinerware, Harbor Touch, and Square were the top credit card processor provided POS solutions, accounting for nearly 11% of total market share.

Despite the increased use of cloud-based and mobile systems, less than 10% of independent restaurant owners indicated they use pay-at-the-table devices. Moreover, only 31% of restaurants reported using EMV compliant POS systems. This is particularly noteworthy considering the fraud liability shift that took place in October 2015, mandating that merchants upgrade to EMV chip technology or accept increased liability for fraudulent transactions.

Improvements in plug-and-play components, increased Wi-Fi capability, and a tech savvy labor pool are allowing many restaurant owners to opt for self-installation and remote support. As a consequence, only 74% reported using an authorized POS vendor for programming, training, and support.

About RestaurantOwner:

With over 46,000 members since 1998, RestaurantOwner.com's mission is to change lives by educating and inspiring independent restaurant operators to create restaurant success stories. RestaurantOwner.com is committed to providing practical, proven insights, and resources to enable members to build a better restaurant, a better business, and most importantly, a better life.

More information: http://www.restaurantowner.com/.

*IMAGE: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/17-0125s2p-RO-cover-300dpi.jpg

RestaurantOwner.com released the 2017 POS Survey Report today. The report summarizes input gathered from 1,190 independent restaurant owners from around the world regarding over 100 different brands of POS systems, focusing on several critical aspects including cost, installation and support experience, and features. The results of this survey provide unique insight into the POS system market and emerging trends, all of which are valuable to independent restaurant owners.