
RESTAURANT STRATEGY
The Restaurant Strategy podcast is dedicated helping independent restaurant owners increase the profitability of their restaurants. Hosted by industry expert, Chip Klose, the focus is split between operations and marketing... two episodes every single week. What would your life look like if your restaurant could deliver consistent, predictable 20% returns?
Latest episodes

Mar 27, 2025 • 27min
Harness the Power of SEO for Your Restaurant
#432 - Harness the Power of SEO for Your Restaurant
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE
Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support.
VISIT: marginedge.com/chip
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: INKIND
To the over 1,800 U.S. restaurant owners who have been funded by INKIND, it is the source of capital that takes a lot of the pain out of starting and running a restaurant, ultimately helping their dreams come true.
VISIT: https://www.inkind.vip/restaurantstrategy
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This week's episode is brought to you by: RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES
Simplify and automate your back of house operations with RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES and their cooking oil management program. These guys take the dirtiest job out of your kitchen!
VISIT: https://www.rti-inc.com/
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The keys to restaurants crushing SEO:
Claim your Google Business Profile - https://business.google.com/
Manage your listings with a tool like Marqii - https://marqii.com/
Get discovered by using keywords on your website
Get more reviews with a tool like Ovation - https://ovationup.com/
Leverage Marqii to aggregate and respond to every review - https://marqii.com/
Use press and a blog to generate more backlinks
*****
The first marketing dollars you spend should be on Google Search Ads and Meta Ads. Why? Because you can measure the results and prove that they work. We're currnetly working with 25 restaurants all over the country. Are you curious to learn more about the Restaurant Strategy Agency?
Email me to start a conversation: chip@chipklose.com

Mar 24, 2025 • 21min
How to Work 5 Hours a Week
#431 - How to Work 5 Hours a Week
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: TORK
TORK understands that expectations for food service, sustainability, and guest experience are higher than ever. That’s why they provide products and services that help restaurants meet those demands.
VISIT: https://www.torkusa.com/your-business/solutions/overview/foodservice/restaurant-workflow?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_campaign=US_Tork_Social_PH-HoReCa_PH-All_Brand-Information_Brand-24-Hor_Influencer-Podcast_2024-01_2024-12_Internal
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN
Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin.
VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/
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It's easier than you think.
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Ready for consistent, 20% profits? Click below to learn more about the P3 Mastermind.
BOOK A CALL: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

Mar 20, 2025 • 21min
The Restaurant Website Tune-Up
#430 - The Restaurant Website Tune-Up
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: AVERO
Increase your profitability using the industry's best kept secret weapon.
VISIT: https://averoinc.com/
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: CHOWLY
The Chowly Platform unites powerful tools to transform your restaurant’s digital presence and grow profits ouside four walls. From Online Ordering and Third-Party Marketplace POS Integration to Smart Pricing and Digital Marketing, everything works together seamlessly—creating, capturing, and converting demand into meaningful growth. Your tools and data, all in one place, to save time, boost profits, and give you complete control.
VISIT: https://chowly.com/chowly-platform/
*****
When building a website that converts, you need to answer the following questions:
Who is the user?
Where did they come from?
What do they already know about you?
What do they still need to know about you?
... in order to take the action you want them to take?
And you reverse engineer your website to maximize CONVERSIONS.
Websites to review:
https://www.mightyquinnsbbq.com/
https://www.chipotle.com/
https://www.gramercytavern.com/
https://enjoypurefood.com/
https://handcraftburgers.com/
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Your restaurant should be generating a consistent, predictable, 20% return every single month. If you're still stuck at single digits, then I'd love to hear what's going on.
SET UP A CALL: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

Mar 17, 2025 • 32min
Embracing the Profit First Mindset
#429 - Embracing the Profit First Mindset
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: TIME FORGE
TIME FORGE provides labor management for efficient teams. Recruit, retain, and manage your talent with a powerful piece of software.
VISIT: https://timeforge.com/RestaurantStrategy/
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU
If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month.
VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO
Automate your sales taxes using DAVO BY AVALARA. The software integrates with most POS systems. It sets aside your sales taxes, files on time, and submits payments before the deadline.
VISIT: https://davosalestax.com/RestaurantStrategy
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Here's the bottom line... what you do is too difficult and too important to NOT make money doing it. So I want you to embrace the PROFIT FIRST mentality. It's a mindset shift. A philosophy. A way of moving through the world. This episode is all about how to make it a reality.
*****
Are you ready for consistent, predictable, 20% profit each month?
CHAT WITH US: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

Mar 13, 2025 • 29min
Do You Need a Loyalty Program for Your Restaurant?
#428 - Do You Need a Loyalty Program for Your Restaurant?
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: AVERO
Increase your profitability using the industry's best kept secret weapon.
VISIT: https://averoinc.com/
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: CHOWLY
The Chowly Platform unites powerful tools to transform your restaurant’s digital presence and grow profits ouside four walls. From Online Ordering and Third-Party Marketplace POS Integration to Smart Pricing and Digital Marketing, everything works together seamlessly—creating, capturing, and converting demand into meaningful growth. Your tools and data, all in one place, to save time, boost profits, and give you complete control.
VISIT: https://chowly.com/chowly-platform/
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Do loyalty program work? Yes.
Do you need one for your restaurant? Maybe.
Today's episode is all about helping you go deeper to create a program that ACTUALLY breeds loyalty among your guests. Don't just do plug-and-play and expect incredible results. You need to bring some passion and creativity to the table. I'll show you how to tackle the problem.
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Get access to THE SERVER PLAYBOOK now and learn ten new scripts for driving more revenue in 2025!
ACCESS FOR FREE: https://restaurantstrategyagency.com/server-playbook1

Mar 10, 2025 • 33min
Turning Order-Takers Into Selling Machines
#427 - Turning Order-Takers Into Selling Machines
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: TIME FORGE
TIME FORGE provides labor management for efficient teams. Recruit, retain, and manage your talent with a powerful piece of software.
VISIT: https://timeforge.com/RestaurantStrategy/
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: POPMENU
If you’re a restaurant owner you need a great website that not only looks beautiful, but helps drive more traffic and sales. Use POPMENU to take your business to the next level. Best of all, listeners of this show can lock in one, set monthly rate… and get $100 off their first month.
VISIT: https://popmenu.com/restaurantstrategy
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: DAVO
Automate your sales taxes using DAVO BY AVALARA. The software integrates with most POS systems. It sets aside your sales taxes, files on time, and submits payments before the deadline.
VISIT: https://davosalestax.com/RestaurantStrategy
*****
Your servers deserve more from you. Stop just trying to pump them up at pre-shift. Drill them. Give them tactics, scripts. Show them how to make YOU and THEM more money. Listen to this episode, then download the free video series below: The Server Playbook.
*****
Get access to THE SERVER PLAYBOOK now and learn ten new scripts and tactics for driving as much as 20-25% more revenue in 2025!
ACCESS FOR FREE: https://restaurantstrategyagency.com/server-playbook1

Mar 6, 2025 • 21min
The Connection Between Marketing and Culture (ENCORE)
#426 - The Connection Between Marketing and Culture (ENCORE)
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE
Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support.
VISIT: marginedge.com/chip
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: INKIND
To the over 1,800 U.S. restaurant owners who have been funded by INKIND, it is the source of capital that takes a lot of the pain out of starting and running a restaurant, ultimately helping their dreams come true.
VISIT: https://www.inkind.vip/restaurantstrategy
*****
"People like us do things like this." -Seth Godin
*****
The first marketing dollars you spend should be on Google Search Ads and Meta Ads. Why? Because you can measure the results and prove that they work. We're currnetly working with 25 restaurants all over the country. Are you curious to learn more about the Restaurant Strategy Agency?
Email me to start a conversation: chip@chipklose.com

Mar 3, 2025 • 41min
Operational Efficiency for Restaurants with Tork USA Marketing Director
#425 - Operational Efficiency for Restaurants with Tork USA Marketing Director
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: TORK
TORK understands that expectations for food service, sustainability, and guest experience are higher than ever. That’s why they provide products and services that help restaurants meet those demands.
VISIT: https://www.torkusa.com/your-business/solutions/overview/foodservice/restaurant-workflow?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_campaign=US_Tork_Social_PH-HoReCa_PH-All_Brand-Information_Brand-24-Hor_Influencer-Podcast_2024-01_2024-12_Internal
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN
Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin.
VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/
*****
Efficiency matters in the fast-paced world of restaurants.
*****
Ready for consistent, 20% profits? Click below to learn more about the P3 Mastermind.
BOOK A CALL: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

Feb 27, 2025 • 18min
Email Marketing By The Numbers
#424 - Email Marketing By The Numbers
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE
Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support.
VISIT: marginedge.com/chip
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: INKIND
To the over 1,800 U.S. restaurant owners who have been funded by INKIND, it is the source of capital that takes a lot of the pain out of starting and running a restaurant, ultimately helping their dreams come true.
VISIT: https://www.inkind.vip/restaurantstrategy
*****
By the numbers...
22% - Industry Average for Open Rate
2% - Average CTR is usually less than
2% - As long as your unsubscribe rate is under this, you're good
10-12 and 3-5pm - best times to send emails
5 - minimum number of data capture points (res, online order, waitlist, wifi, popup, loyalty)
4 - at least this many emails a month
1:1:1 Principle - own it
50 - minimum number of restaurants you should subscribe to
250 - net new subscribers to your list
*****
The first marketing dollars you spend should be on Google Search Ads and Meta Ads. Why? Because you can measure the results and prove that they work. We're currnetly working with 25 restaurants all over the country. Are you curious to learn more about the Restaurant Strategy Agency?
Email me to start a conversation: chip@chipklose.com

Feb 24, 2025 • 49min
Christin Marvin, Author of The Hospitality Leader's Roadmap (ENCORE)
#423 - Christin Marvin, Author of The Hospitality Leader's Roadmap (ENCORE)
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: TORK
TORK understands that expectations for food service, sustainability, and guest experience are higher than ever. That’s why they provide products and services that help restaurants meet those demands.
VISIT: https://www.torkusa.com/your-business/solutions/overview/foodservice/restaurant-workflow?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid-social&utm_campaign=US_Tork_Social_PH-HoReCa_PH-All_Brand-Information_Brand-24-Hor_Influencer-Podcast_2024-01_2024-12_Internal
*****
This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN
Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how restaurants and bars across the country are tipping out with Kickfin.
VISIT: https://kickfin.com/demo/
*****
Nothing left to be said except this: Go get Christin's book: https://www.solutionsbychristin.me/book
*****
Ready for consistent, 20% profits? Click below to learn more about the P3 Mastermind.
BOOK A CALL: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule