Prime Cost Health Check
Prime cost calculator
Leave blank if none.
Your numbers stay in your browser unless you choose to email your report.
Prime Cost Report
Prime Cost Group · Full service · monthly figures
Prime cost % of sales
Enter sales, food and labor to see your prime cost.
Want us to find the money?
Book an Operations Audit — $3,500, credited toward any retainer.
About prime cost
The number to check first.
What is prime cost?
Prime cost is your cost of goods sold (food and beverage) plus total labor, as a percentage of sales. Total labor includes wages, salaries, payroll taxes and benefits.
What's a good prime cost percentage?
As a rule of thumb, around 60–65% of sales for full-service restaurants and 55–60% for limited-service concepts. The right target depends on your menu, service style and market.
Should I use weekly or monthly numbers?
Either works here, as long as sales and costs cover the same period. In practice, tracking weekly catches problems a month sooner than waiting for the P&L.
Do you store my numbers?
No. The calculator runs in your browser. Your figures are only sent if you choose to email yourself the report, and then only to build and send it.