{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"FULL COMP: Restaurant Tactics, Tools, & Strategies","title":"Office Hours: The most profitable way to grow a restaurant","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":570,"description":"I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.\n\nIn this episode, I’m tackling one of the biggest traps restaurant owners fall into—the idea that more locations automatically mean more profit. The truth? Scaling too soon can sink your business faster than a slow Tuesday night. I’ll break down how to know if you’re actually ready to expand, why strong leadership is non-negotiable, and how to squeeze every ounce of profit from your existing operation before even thinking about a second location. Plus, I’m sharing smart growth strategies—like diversifying revenue streams and testing new concepts—that can set you up for long-term success without unnecessary risk. Let’s get into it.\n\nTakeaways\n80% of restaurants barely break even.\nYou don't need more restaurants, you need better restaurants.\nBad expansion kills more restaurants than bad food.\nMore seats does not equal more money.\nBefore you scale outward, scale upward.\nAudit your first location.\nFind your revenue leaks.\nTest first with pop-ups or ghost kitchens.\nSmart growth builds empires.\nExpand when you're ready, not just because you're impatient.\nChapters\n\n00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Profitability Challenges\n02:08 Understanding When to Expand Your Restaurant\n05:55 Strategies for Smart Growth and Expansion\nIf you’ve got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/6OAanP6N7rKCCEP4OYgZT_i74QmCwgk2rH1cSWqhfvs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zYzkz/MGQ5M2Y5MWZmM2E0/NGM3MzFmNzQ0OGZl/NDhhYi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}