The good news? With the right tech stack, you can stay ahead of the curve. In this article, we’ll break down the biggest challenges facing new restaurants in 2025 — and explain why combining with the FoodByUs Ordering and Menu Costing Platform is the smartest way to reduce your cost of goods, increase profit margins and streamline operations from day one.

How to Open a Restaurant in 2025 and Protect Your Profits

The two most critical systems every venue needs from day one? A hospitality-grade point-of-sale system and a smart wholesale ordering platform. Here’s how Square and FoodByUs make the perfect pairing.

1. Lower your COGS & Order Smarter with FoodByUs

FoodByUs is Australia’s leading wholesale ordering platform for the hospitality industry, used by thousands of venues to streamline their supply chain and reduce costs.

Compare Live Pricing Across 4,000+ Suppliers

From fruit & veg to dairy, meat and dry goods, FoodByUs lets you view and compare pricing in real time — ensuring you’re always getting a competitive deal.

Track Supplier Price Changes

Use built-in Price Tracking tools to monitor fluctuations over time and spot when key ingredients are becoming more expensive — helping you adjust menus and supplier choices accordingly.

Centralised Ordering for the Whole Team

Say goodbye to messy spreadsheets, text messages and phone calls. FoodByUs enables consistent, trackable ordering from one central platform — saving time and avoiding errors.

Designed for Aussie Hospo

Built for Australian restaurants by hospitality experts, FoodByUs offers real local support and understands the unique challenges faced by venue owners down under.

2. Optimise Menu Profitability with FoodByUs Menu Costing

One of the most powerful features of the FoodByUs platform is its Menu Costing tool — which integrates directly with to help you understand the true cost of every dish on your menu.

Automatically Link Sales & Ingredient Costs

The integration with Square pulls in real-time sales data, matching it with your ingredient spend so you can see exactly how profitable each menu item is — down to the cent.

Reduce Waste and Cost Leakage

The system shows which dishes are underperforming or using ingredients that have spiked in price, so you can adjust portion sizes or replace components to improve your bottom line.

Build a Menu That’s Lean and Profitable

With insights from both Square and FoodByUs, you can design a smarter menu that reduces food waste, simplifies prep and drives more revenue per dish.

Stay Ahead of Price Fluctuations

Thanks to ongoing price tracking, the system will alert you when an item’s COGS increases — allowing you to take action before it eats into your profits.

In 2025, relying on manual spreadsheets or guesswork just won’t cut it. The FoodByUs Menu Costing Tool gives you a real-time, data-driven way to protect your profit margins.

3. Run Front-of-House Seamlessly with Square POS

is a modern, easy-to-use POS system built specifically for the hospitality industry.

Fast, Flexible and Intuitive

Train staff in minutes, process orders lightning-fast and switch between dine-in, takeaway and delivery with ease. It’s built to match the speed of your service.

Live Sales & Reporting Dashboard

Get real-time visibility into what’s selling, what’s profitable and how your venue is performing — with data you can act on instantly.

Integrated Payments & Online Ordering

Accept card, mobile and QR payments seamlessly, and integrate online ordering and delivery without needing extra software or hardware.

No Lock-in Contracts

Square offers flexible, transparent pricing with no long-term contracts — perfect for start-ups, pop-ups and small businesses wanting to stay agile.

Why You Should Use Square & FoodByUs Together

Pairing with FoodByUs gives you complete visibility and control over both the front and back of house:

Functionality	Square POS	FoodByUs
Real-time sales and insights		(via integration)
Menu costing based on live data
Wholesale ordering & supplier management
Price tracking on food supplies
Staff training and payments
Customer-facing service tools
Australian-based support

Together, they empower you to:

• Lower your cost of goods
• Create more profitable menus
• Eliminate manual admin and waste
• Make confident, data-backed business decisions

Tech is Your Best Ingredient in 2025

Opening a restaurant in 2025 is no small feat — but with the right systems in place, it’s absolutely achievable. Combining with FoodByUs’ end-to-end supply and menu costing tools gives you the visibility, control and scalability needed to build a profitable, sustainable venue.

So whether you’re planning your first café or expanding to your third site, make sure your tech stack is working as hard as you are.

Ready to Get Started?

Join FoodByUs and Square for $6,000 off your food orders

Square offers flexible, transparent pricing with no long-term contracts — perfect for start-ups, pop-ups and small businesses wanting to stay agile. For a limited time, you can get $6,000 off your food ordering on FoodByUs by joining Square.

• Explore
• Compare supplier prices on FoodByUs
• Build a profitable menu with Menu Costing

The post Opening a Restaurant in 2025? Here’s How to Beat Rising Costs appeared first on FoodByUs.

There have been several recent developments in the hospitality industry that are likely to have a significant impact on chefs, restaurant owners, and other foodservice venue owners. In this blog post, we will highlight some of the most important recent developments in the industry, and explain how they are likely to impact your business.

Labour Shortages

Labor shortages are a major challenge for the hospitality industry at the moment. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many restaurants and other venues to close temporarily or reduce their operations, and as a result, many workers left the industry. This has led to increased competition for workers and rising wages.

To address this issue, it is important to be competitive in terms of pay and benefits, and to create a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees. This can include offering flexible schedules, opportunities for career advancement, and training programs.

Sustainability

There is a growing focus on sustainability in the hospitality industry, particularly in relation to food waste and single-use plastics. Many consumers are looking for environmentally responsible options when dining out, and restaurants are responding by adopting more sustainable practices. This includes reducing food waste through composting and recycling, using eco-friendly packaging, and sourcing locally grown and organic ingredients.

To be more sustainable, it is important to review your current practices and identify areas where you can make improvements. This could include reducing portion sizes, composting food waste, or switching to eco-friendly packaging. You can also work with suppliers to source ingredients that are grown locally and sustainably. Wholesale food ordering systems like offer a huge range of sustainable suppliers.

Technology

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in the hospitality industry, particularly in areas such as online ordering, contactless payment, and delivery services. Restaurants are also using data analytics to understand their customers better and make more informed decisions about menu offerings and pricing.

To stay competitive, it is essential to invest in technology that improves your operations and enhances the customer experience. This could include implementing an online ordering system, such as , offering contactless payment options, or using data analytics to optimize your menu offerings and pricing.

Delivery Services

Delivery services such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash have become increasingly popular in recent years. This trend accelerated during the pandemic, as more people ordered food for delivery rather than dining out. As a result, many restaurants are now offering delivery as a way to reach more customers.

To take advantage of this trend, it is important to partner with delivery services that are popular in your area, and to optimize your menu offerings for delivery. This could include packaging meals in a way that keeps them fresh during transport, or offering delivery-only specials that are not available in the restaurant.

Changing Consumer Preferences

Finally, consumer preferences are constantly evolving, and restaurants must adapt to these changes in order to remain competitive. For example, there is a growing demand for plant-based and vegan options, as well as healthier and more nutritious meals. Restaurants that are able to cater to these changing preferences are likely to be more successful in the long run.

To stay ahead of changing consumer preferences, it is important to regularly review your menu offerings and make adjustments as needed. This could include adding more plant-based options, reducing the use of processed ingredients, or offering meals that are lower in calories and saturated fat. Implementing a wholesale food ordering system can help you save time when searching for new suppliers that compliment your menu changes.

In conclusion, the hospitality industry is constantly evolving, and keeping up with the latest trends and developments is essential for chefs, restaurant owners, and other foodservice venue owners. By staying informed and adapting your practices accordingly, you can ensure that your business remains successful and competitive.

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As we move further into 2023, there are several trends in the hospitality industry that chefs, restaurant owners, and other foodservice venue owners should be aware of. These trends will not only shape consumer behavior but also influence the way we approach food and dining experiences.

1. Health and Safety

With the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety measures are more important than ever before. It is essential that restaurants and other foodservice venues continue to prioritize the health and safety of their customers. Regular cleaning and sanitizing protocols should be maintained, and the use of contactless technologies such as mobile ordering and payment can help minimize person-to-person contact.

2. Personlisation

Consumers are increasingly looking for personalized dining experiences that cater to their individual tastes and preferences. By leveraging data analytics and customer feedback, you can offer tailored menus and experiences that will keep their customers coming back for more. Customizable menu items and personalized recommendations can help create a more engaging and interactive dining experience for customers. Using a wholesale food ordering system like can give you access to reporting tools and data to empower their decisions around both spending and their customers. They also help manage cost tracking when it comes to menu rotation and specials planning.

3. Local Sourcing

In 2023, there will be a greater emphasis on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. Customers are becoming more conscious of their environmental impact, and they want to support local businesses. Chefs and foodservice venue owners who can source local ingredients and use sustainable practices are likely to appeal to this growing customer base. give you access to a huge range of local and sustainable suppliers which fit a wide array of needs. Systems like FoodByUs allow you to search for products across hundreds of suppliers to find those which best fit your customers’ needs.

4. Virtual Dining

As virtual reality technology continues to evolve, virtual dining experiences are becoming more popular. By offering virtual dining experiences, you can tap into a new market of customers who are looking for unique and immersive dining experiences. These virtual dining experiences can include everything from themed environments to interactive cooking classes.

4. Social Media

Social media continues to play a significant role in the hospitality industry. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are driving consumer trends and shaping the way people discover and engage with restaurants. Chefs and foodservice venue owners who can create visually appealing and shareable dishes are likely to benefit from this trend. By sharing photos and videos of your dishes on social media, you can attract new customers and build a loyal following.

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Staying ahead of these upcoming trends is essential for chefs, restaurant owners, and other foodservice venue owners who want to remain competitive in the industry. By prioritizing health and safety, offering personalized experiences, sourcing locally and sustainably, offering virtual dining experiences, and leveraging social media, you can attract new customers and keep their existing customers coming back for more. By embracing these trends, you can expect to position yourself for success in 2023 and beyond.

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FoodByUs takes a look at how restaurant booking systems make it easy to generate more covers, simplify table planning, prevent no-shows, and leverage your diner data to delight customers.

The hospitality industry is undergoing rapid digital transformation, with technology enabling operators to drive revenue and productivity, while also delivering better customer experiences.

One of the key tools in the hospo tech stack is restaurant booking systems, with sophisticated ones providing solutions for a wide range of business challenges beyond taking bookings. 

In this article, we outline four of the key benefits these tools offer.

1. Drive More Bookings

In Australia, online bookings through a restaurant booking system now account for up to 30.1 per cent of all restaurant bookings, according to , a global restaurant reservations platform.

Many diners prefer to book online, which represents a significant lost opportunity if you are a venue taking bookings manually, according to Growth Manager, Tom Haynes.

“It is quite easy to add a branded booking widget to your website, Facebook, Instagram reservation buttons, and Google My Business listing, and set up ResPhone so people can book by telephone during busy periods,” Haynes said. 

However, taking the booking is only the start. It can then be automatically assigned a table to maximise venue capacity, made visible to your team for roster planning, and automated customer reminders sent to reduce no shows. 

2. Stop No Shows:

No-shows are a costly frustration for restauranteurs, however ResDiary data shows that they are on the decline, largely due to restaurants taking deposits, and booking systems that enable automated reminders which make it easy for diners to cancel their reservation.

“While a cancellation is obviously not desired, it is better than a no-show because at least you have an opportunity to offer that table to another diner,” Haynes said.

Taking credit deposits during the booking process – whether online, over the phone, or in person – is also an increasingly popular and powerful tool to eliminate now-shows.

“You can customise the rules to suit your venue, and most venues only require a deposit for larger bookings on busy days. Card details are stored and handled by our compliant payment partner, Stripe, and saved with other customer data for return visits.”

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As a business owner in the hospitality industry, you know that staff is your most important asset. Your team of employees can make or break your business, so it’s essential to take every step possible to ensure you hire the right people. Unfortunately, there are several common mistakes new hospitality business owners make when hiring staff that can have serious repercussions down the line. Let’s take a look at some of these mistakes and how to avoid them.

Hiring too quickly

When you’re opening a new business, it can be tempting to rush through the hiring process so that your staff is ready as soon as possible. However, this is one of the biggest mistakes new hospitality business owners make when hiring staff because it often leads to hasty decisions and bad hires. To prevent this from happening, create a clear recruitment plan with specific criteria for what you need in each role and stick to it. Take your time during the interviewing process and don’t be afraid to pass on someone if they don’t meet those qualifications.

Not checking references

Another mistake many hospitality business owners make when hiring staff is not checking references thoroughly. It may seem like an extra step in an already lengthy process, but verifying references can give you valuable insight into an that you won’t get anywhere else. Even if a candidate looks great on paper, don’t hesitate to call their previous employers just to double-check their experience level and job performance history.

Here are a few questions that can act as a guide when performing a reference check:

• What are the candidate’s biggest strengths & weaknesses?
• Were they punctual & reliable?
• How did they work as part of a team & autonomously?
• Would you rehire them in the future?

Failing to ask questions about culture fit

It’s also important for hospitality business owners to think about when interviewing candidates for job openings in their businesses. It doesn’t matter how much experience someone has or how qualified they are—if their values and way of working don’t fit with your company culture, they probably aren’t a good fit for the role or team environment. Be sure to ask questions about what kind of workplace culture they prefer and whether or not they have any personal values that would conflict with yours during interviews so you know exactly what type of person you’re bringing on board before making any final decisions.

Hiring staff is an integral part of starting a successful hospitality business, but it’s also one of the most difficult tasks you’ll face as an entrepreneur in this industry. Taking your time throughout the recruitment process and avoiding common mistakes such as rushing through background checks or neglecting cultural fit will help ensure that only qualified candidates who are passionate about your particular vision enter your pool of employees! Doing so will help create a positive work environment where everyone can thrive while contributing towards achieving success together!

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Business in the hospitality industry can be unpredictable. Rising inflation rates are one of the many variables that can drastically change how you run your business. It’s important to stay informed about inflation rates and consider a range of scenarios so you can make sure your business is prepared for any changes that come your way. Let’s take a closer look at what inflation is, why it matters to the hospitality industry, and what we can expect in 2023. 

What is inflation?

Inflation is a measure of how much prices have risen over time. It’s calculated by taking the average price of goods and services from one year and comparing it to the average price from another year. The resulting percentage reflects how much prices have gone up or down since then. 

Why does inflation matter for the hospitality industry?

Inflation has a direct impact on food, beverage, and labour costs for businesses in the hospitality industry. With higher food costs, commodities, wage costs and labour shortages, restaurants need to decide whether they will absorb those costs into their operating budget or pass them on to their customers in the form of higher menu prices. Either way, rising inflation can affect profitability if not managed properly. offers a to help you keep on top of your cash flow.

What can we expect in 2023?

Rising inflation rates have had a noticeable effect on the hospitality industry in 2022, and this is expected to go on throughout 2023. Food and labour costs may continue to go up, so it’s important for businesses in the hospitality sector to plan ahead and budget accordingly. Additionally, businesses should consider ways to offset these costs through more efficient operations or through pricing strategies. Managing food costs using a wholesale ordering system such as FoodByUs can help effectively allow them to remain profitable while still providing value to their customers. Restaurants can and for their spending across over 14 categories.

Inflation is an ever-present force that affects businesses across all sectors—including those in the hospitality industry. While there may be some uncertainty ahead as we head into 2023, businesses can prepare for rising prices by staying informed about current trends and planning ahead with effective budgeting strategies. By doing so, they will be able to ensure their continued success despite any potential economic headwinds that may arise over the coming months and years.

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COVID-19 has forced businesses to adapt to new measures quicker than ever before. Reflecting on the last 12 months and the global pandemic, businesses need the correct tools to save time for themselves and their staff. Finding platforms and integrations that are available for your business to make processes more efficient, save you time and money, and focus on weak areas is now needed more than ever.

Four essential management tools you need

• FoodByUs
• Xero
• Deputy
• Lightspeed

Benefits of FoodByUs

1. One tap to compare the market: Instantly see how a product compares to equivalents from other suppliers in the market.
2. Make accounting a dream: Integrate FoodByUs for free into your accounting software and save hours on manual entry.
3. All your suppliers in one place: Choose from hundreds of our top suppliers, plus add your own at any time.
4.  Transparent pricing, every time: Enjoy the industry’s best prices thanks to our huge buying power. Put us to the test with a free invoice analysis.
5. No credit applications required: Sign up for free and get instantly connected to hundreds of suppliers. Search, compare and order in seconds not days.

: Book-keeping & tracking your cash flow

is a cloud-based accounting software to connect people with the right numbers anytime, anywhere, on any device. For accountants and bookkeepers, Xero helps build a trusted relationship with small business clients through online collaboration.

Benefits of

1. Invoices are automatically sent directly into your account: Xero is completely online. (Say goodbye to traditional paper invoices)
2. Live reporting tools: You get a real-time-view of your accounts and can stay up to date with your finances on the go
3. Improve cash flow and get paid faster
4. Automated Invoice reminders: If your customers take a while to pay you, or you are spending hours chasing overdue invoices, then Invoice Reminders are a must-have.
5. One time set-up
6. Xero grows with you: Whether it’s integrating with your email, or you want to use specialised systems (customer relationship management, inventory or industry-specific solutions) then  gives you the flexibility to create a mix that meets your business’s specific needs.

Pricing

Xero offers a 30 day free trial. After that:

Starter: $27 per month (Good for sole traders, new businesses, and the self-employed)

Standard: $52 per month. (Good for growing small businesses)

Premium 5: $67 per month (Good for established businesses of all sizes)

: Shift management

Benefits of

1. Flexible scheduling: Build schedules in minutes. Creates a positive work environment. Allows for flexibility across staff members. Staff are more engaged because it isn’t last minute. They have full visibility and can make changes and control there working weeks.
2. Forecast how many staff you need on hand to meet sales, foot traffic, or delivery orders
3. Create AI optimized schedules with a single click
4. Send schedules to your team instantly via web or app
5. Never be short staffed: Fill empty shifts quickly
6. Control costs with real-time data on wages vs sales: Make sure you’re running on budget. Deputy gives you a clear view of how your wage costs compare to sales so you can improve your labour cost percentage.
7. Simplify meal and rest break compliance
8. Manage your schedule from any location

Pricing

Deputy offers a 30 day free trial. After that:

Scheduling: $3 per user per month (For those who need a better way to roster and communicate with their team)

Time & Attendance: $3 per user per month (For those who need to track attendance and export timesheets to payroll)

Premium: $5.50 per user per month (Your complete Scheduling and Time & Attendance solution, with Reporting)

Enterprise: Custom price (Designed for businesses with more than 250 employees and custom configuration needs)

: Easy-to-use POS system

Benefits of

1. Increased mobility: Equip your staff with the right tools so they have the flexibility to work while on the move.
2. Efficiency: Instantly enter food orders so your staff will save time to focus on what they do best.
3. Flexible cloud solution: Access your business anywhere, anytime, on any device for maximum flexibility.
4. Sync your menu with online ordering and delivery apps to reach more customers
5. Make changes to your menus, modifiers and delivery apps to reach more customers.
6. Increase your margins with powerful inventory management tools that make purchasing, prep and recipe costing a breeze
7. Get the data and reports you need to thrive, from revenue trends to COGS performance

Pricing

Sell: $60 per site per month (Best for espresso bars, pop-ups and food trucks)

Manage: $120 per site per month (Best for cafes, quick service restaurants and bars)

Extend: $180 per site per month (Best for full service restaurants, pubs, breweries and wineries)

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for fiscal year 2022-23 was released on April 6th and contains a number of measures that will impact hospitality businesses. Given this budget’s focus on pandemic recovery and economic growth, understanding how it affects you is essential for your business’s success. Let’s break down some of the key points. 

JobMaker Hiring Incentive

is a $4 billion plan to incentivize companies to hire young people aged 16-35 years old. Companies that hire eligible jobseekers will receive up to $200 per week for 12 months, with up to $100 per week available for those aged between 30-35. This measure is expected to create 450,000 new jobs in total and should help hospitality businesses struggling to fill vacancies due to the pandemic. 

Tax Changes

The budget also included changes to income tax rates, with individuals earning between $45,001 – $120,000 now paying less tax in than they did in 2020-21. Furthermore, all individuals can expect further tax relief from July 1st, 2022 onwards when the first stage of the government’s 7-year Personal Income Tax Plan kicks in. This means more money back into people’s pockets which could lead to an increase in spending within hospitality businesses across Australia.  

SME Loan Guarantee Scheme

The has been extended until June 30th, 2022 as part of the budget announcement. This scheme offers eligible SMEs access to unsecured loans up to $250,000 with no interest payable or principal repayments required for two years from the loan settlement date – so long as lenders agree not to take loan repayment action during this period if your business experiences financial difficulty due to coronavirus events beyond your control. If you are considering taking out a loan, it’s worth speaking with your lender about this scheme and whether you meet the eligibility criteria.  

This budget provides much-needed support for hospitality businesses in Australia that have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions over the past year or so. While there are still many challenges ahead as we continue our recovery process, understanding these key measures of the federal budget can help small business owners make informed decisions about their future operations and ensure their business remains viable into next year and beyond. With additional incentives such as JobMaker Hiring Incentive and SME Loan Guarantee Scheme combined with lower taxes for individuals across Australia, this Federal Budget looks promising for those within the hospitality industry looking towards a brighter future ahead!

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