86 Reason Ep16 Bruce Nelson The $3M Restaurant Math Mistake That Closes Busy Restaurants скачать в хорошем качестве

86 Reason Ep16 Bruce Nelson The $3M Restaurant Math Mistake That Closes Busy Restaurants

Why do restaurants with 45-minute waits still go broke? Bruce Nelson learned this the hard way. After 20 years in the industry, he opened his dream restaurant—packed tables, rave reviews, the works. It closed in 13 months. The brutal lesson? He had mastered the "Magic" of hospitality but completely ignored the "Math" of profit. Now, as a Fractional CFO and author of "Restaurant Management: The Myth, the Magic, the Math," Bruce helps restaurant groups scale from $13M to over $66M by teaching them what most culinary schools never do: how to actually make money. In this episode of the 86 Reason Podcast, host Xavier Mariezcurrena unpacks Bruce's framework for sustainable restaurant success, the critical mistakes operators make with pricing and overhead, and why your busiest night might be costing you more than you think. 🎯 KEY MOMENTS 00:00 Introduction to Fractional CFOs in the Restaurant Industry 01:21 Bruce's Early Beginnings in Restaurants 03:40 First Restaurant Experience and Lessons Learned 06:54 Transitioning to Corporate Restaurant Operations 12:34 The Role of Technology in Restaurant Management 14:03 The Impact of Corporate on Store Profitability 19:07 When to Hire a Fractional CFO 23:30 Reflections on Past Restaurant Experiences 26:15 Understanding Restaurant Economics 28:39 The Importance of Ambiance and Experience 30:31 Navigating Challenges in the Restaurant Industry 32:29 The Role of Technology in Dining 40:21 Advice for Aspiring Restaurateurs 43:49 The Joy of Cooking and Personal Connection 💡 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ✅ Why copying competitor pricing destroys your profit margins ✅ The "sweet spot" revenue range ($10M-$40M) where you need strategic financial help ✅ How to translate financial data into "chef language" your team can use ✅ Why technology can't replace the human connection in hospitality ✅ The critical difference between "looking back" accounting and forward planning ✅ When busy doesn't mean profitable—and how to fix it 🔑 KEY QUOTE "I often tell people I don't make anybody a dime sitting in my office. The math is what makes it work." — Bruce Nelson 👨‍💼 ABOUT BRUCE NELSON Bruce Nelson is a Fractional CFO, founder & CEO Peak Financial Performance, Speaker, and author of "Restaurant Management: The Myth, the Magic, the Math." With over 45 years in the restaurant industry, from dishwasher to chef instructor to CFO—he helps independent restaurant owners transform financial chaos into sustainable profit. 📚 Book: "Restaurant Management: The Myth, the Magic, the Math" 🎙️ ABOUT 86 REASON PODCAST The 86 Reason Podcast features unfiltered stories of resilience from hospitality leaders who've been in the trenches—from dishwashers to multi-unit empires. Hosted by Xavier Mariezcurrena and brought to you by Over Easy Office, we demystify the financial and operational backbone of the restaurant industry. Want to be a guest? We're looking for hospitality leaders ready to share their journey. Contact us at [Insert Contact Info] 🔗 CONNECT WITH US 🌐 Over Easy Office: https://www.overeasyoffice.com/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nlrley... 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... ✅ SUBSCRIBE for weekly insights from hospitality leaders who've survived the trenches and come out stronger 👍 LIKE if you learned something new about restaurant finance 💬 COMMENT below: What's one "math" metric you wish you had mastered earlier in your restaurant career? #86ReasonPodcast #RestaurantFinance #HospitalityLeadership #FractionalCFO #RestaurantOperations #OverEasyOffice #RestaurantManagement #BruceNelson #FoodBusinessPodcast #RestaurantProfitability #MenuPricing #RestaurantCFO #BruceNelson