

RESTAURANT STRATEGY
Chip Klose
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?
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 14, 2025 • 26min
Managing Portions, Theft, and Waste
#437 - Managing Portions, Theft, and Waste
*****
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
*****
Understanding the variance between THEORETICAL and ACTUAL food cost is crucial to running a profitable restaurant. On today's episode we're talking about the three biggest culprits when it comes to the operation piece of executing foodservice.
Portion Contral
Waste Management
Monitoring Theft
*****
Tired of the 80-hour workweeks for pennies on the dollar? Our coaching program can help.
CHAT WITH US: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

Apr 10, 2025 • 45min
Should You Be Working with Restaurant Influencers?
#436 - Should You Be Working with Restaurant Influencers?
*****
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/
*****
We welcome back Rev Ciancio, marketer and restaurant influencer, to help answer this question!
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/revciancio/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/revciancio/
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@revciancio
*****
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

Apr 7, 2025 • 49min
Finding, Keeping, and Managing Great Employees with TimeForge CEO
#435 - Finding, Keeping, and Managing Great Employees with TimeForge CEO
*****
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
*****
Anthony Presley has built an incredible tool in TimeForge, one that's helping restaurants all over the country find great people, keep those people, and properly manage them to ensure profitability. I have worked with the platform for a long time at this point and have watched my clients flourish using the software.
Enjoy this wide ranging conversation with one of the smartest people I know in our industry.
VISIT: timeforge.com/RestaurantStrategy
*****
Tired of the 80-hour workweeks for pennies on the dollar? Our coaching program can help.
CHAT WITH US: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

Apr 3, 2025 • 27min
How to WIN with a GREAT Social Media Presence (ENCORE)
#434 - How to WIN with a GREAT Social Media Presence (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
*****
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/
*****
Remember the following rules:
Video first, or photo carousels
Uniformity so there's a brand identity
Think of your content pillars
Quantity doesn't matter as much as consistency
Use a tool like Linktree or Milkshake to have specific CTAs
Leverage all of the various tools like Stories, Highlights, Reels, etc
*****
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 31, 2025 • 1h 5min
Building a Better Restaurant with the Owners of Nashville Hotspot, Noko (ENCORE)
#433 - Building a Better Restaurant with the Owners of Nashville Hotspot, Noko (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/
*****
Noko's Website: https://www.nokonashville.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nokonashville/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086515181359
*****
Ready for consistent, 20% profits? Click below to learn more about the P3 Mastermind.
BOOK A CALL: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/schedule

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
*****
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/
*****
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/
*****
It's easier than you think.
*****
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/
*****
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
*****
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/
*****
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.
*****
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