Free planning tool
HOW MUCH SHOULD A RESTAURANT SPEND ON MARKETING?
Enter monthly gross revenue and your stage of business. See an intentional budget range instantly, then compare it with the cost of an outsourced marketing department.
Monthly gross revenue is your total sales before paying any expenses. Check your point-of-sale system for last month's total sales, or average four typical weeks together. If you just opened, use your best estimate.
Recommended monthly range
$2,250–$4,500
3–6% of monthly gross revenue.
What a full department costs
FullhouseHQ gives restaurants one outsourced team across five recurring service lines. Special events are the sixth line and are priced per event.
See what a full outsourced marketing department costs →Use the right revenue number.
Exclude third-party delivery commissions from the revenue figure. Counting money retained by delivery platforms inflates the base and distorts the percentage.
Intentional beats reactive.
Most independent restaurants spend 1–2% reactively. The goal is not simply to spend more; it is to decide what the budget must accomplish and fund it consistently.