A primer on the concept and how it’s being used in the pizza space Over the past year, the term ghost kitchens has popped up frequently. They’re also called virtual restaurants and cloud kitchens. In fact, when we asked leading operators during a...

Bottling a Brand with private labeling and licensing products Pizzeria owners who want to package their signature sauce, dough or whole pies to sell in stores or online might find the process is not easy, but the extra exposure and revenue are a plus...

After spending the past few issues discussing menus, marketing and manpower, we’re going to discuss the big process underlying every facet of your business: controlling costs. I’m sure you have heard a lot about “prime costs,” or the direct c...

The Path to Payroll Protection Program Forgiveness Ankit Chudgar is asking for forgiveness. The owner of Primo’s Pizzeria in Louisville, Kentucky, Chudgar was one of thousands of restaurant owners to secure a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan ...

Full Steam Ahead Expanding is tough. Small stores take a lot of effort and planning. A full-service restaurant roll-out can feel like it’s taken years off your life by the time you’re finally open. To handle it, I’ve refined my opening process ...

Your Pizzeria’s Report Card My mentor Roger Duncan, founder of Rusty’s Pizza in California, shared this wisdom with me. “Sales are made in the restaurant. Profits are made in the office.” Let us embark on a journey to pizzeria profitability. ...

What should a large pizza cost? Ask yourself, or better yet, ask someone who’s not in our industry. Ask someone with no preconceived notions what a large pizza should cost. Not based on inch size or the number of slices. Simply put: what should a l...

With pizzerias forced to lay off staff amid COVID-19, employer tax rates likely to jump Over a three-week run spanning mid-March to early April, nearly 17 million Americans filed for unemployment – and it’s no secret the restaurant industry, home...

Penny Wise, Pound Foolish My grandpa would analyze the price of a can of soup down to the penny. He would then compare cans and shave off two cents between brands. I think that’s what comes from being raised during The Depression. The irony is he w...

You in a hurry? Then get going! The mission to create your new pizza shop is still in its infancy, but it’s about to take its first steps. You’ve found the right deal on a new building and used little to no money to buy it. Now, it’s pretty sim...

Pop quiz: What’s the first step to opening a new store? If you read Volume 1 in this series, you know it’s all about securing the right deal for the new location. You’ll also know the first two components to this are finding a restaurant owner ...

Lean and Mean — Ways to Reduce Costs Times will get tough. When your bank account is dwindling because revenue has decreased, the next task becomes cutting costs. It’s a decision riddled with failure points. The goal is to cut costs without s...