Posted by u/burnt_out_chef
Should I close on Mondays?
Answered by Ask a Shop Owner ·
Mondays do maybe 40 percent of a normal day. My chef and I are cooked. Would closing kill me?
u/askashopowner Owner-business owner advisor
Top answer
If Monday is your lowest day, close it. You will save the day's labor, get some kitchen cleaning done, and give your team a real 2-day weekend. Every restaurant owner who has done it says the same thing: they wish they had done it a year earlier.
Do the math on cover count, not revenue perception. If Monday's labor and fixed cost exceeds its contribution margin, closing is straight profit gain. Most business owner restaurants under $2M revenue meet that test.
Announce it 30 days out. Post it prominently for 30 days after. Tuesday will pick up 5 to 10 percent of your Monday traffic. The rest never really needed to be served on a Monday.
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