Restaurant Marketing Budget Calculator
Plan your restaurant marketing budget across social media, local ads, events, and delivery platforms.
Annual Marketing Budget
$24K
$2K/mo · 3.0% of revenue
Marketing/Cover
$0.77
Annual Covers
31,200
Break-Even
+14/wk
extra covers needed
Channel Allocation
Industry Benchmark
Casual Dining restaurants typically spend 3% of revenue on marketing. New openings should double this for the first 6 months.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your monthly revenue, average ticket size, and restaurant type.
Set your growth targets and select active marketing channels.
Review recommended budget allocation by channel with industry benchmarks.
Adjust seasonal factors and promotional events for annual planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of revenue should restaurants spend on marketing?
Restaurants typically spend 3-6% of revenue on marketing. New restaurants or those in highly competitive markets may need 8-10%. Fast casual and QSR spend more on advertising (5-8%), while fine dining focuses more on PR and events (3-5%).
What is the best marketing channel for restaurants?
Social media (especially Instagram) delivers the best ROI for most restaurants. Local SEO and Google Business Profile are essential for discovery. Email marketing to your customer database provides the highest conversion rates for repeat visits.
How much should a restaurant spend on social media?
Allocate $500-2,000/month for social media including content creation, paid ads, and management. Paid social ads on Instagram and Facebook typically cost $5-15 per reservation or $1-3 per click for restaurant promotions.
Are food delivery app commissions worth the marketing cost?
Delivery apps charge 15-30% commission but provide significant visibility. Treat them as a marketing channel: the acquisition cost is high but can drive awareness. Encourage direct ordering through your own website to improve margins long-term.
How do I measure restaurant marketing ROI?
Track cost per new customer acquisition, repeat visit rate, average check size changes, and revenue per marketing dollar. Use reservation systems, POS data, and unique promo codes to attribute sales to specific marketing channels.
Why Use This Calculator
- Set a marketing budget based on restaurant revenue
- Allocate across social, local SEO, and delivery apps
- Calculate customer acquisition cost by channel
- Plan seasonal promotional spending
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"This calculator helped us justify our marketing budget to leadership with real data. Finally, a tool that speaks the CFO's language."
VP of Marketing, SaaS Company