The Prepsheets Blog

Practical guides on food costing, margins and kitchen know-how — written by chefs, backed by real numbers from real kitchens.

Costing & margins

What is a good gross profit margin for a restaurant?

Benchmarks by operation type, how to calculate GP correctly (ex-VAT, yield-adjusted), and why margins slip without anyone noticing.

5 min read

How do I cost a recipe? A step-by-step guide

The full process for professional kitchens: unit costs, yield, wastage allowances, batch and per-portion costs, and keeping it all up to date.

6 min read

How do I manage food costs in a restaurant?

Why costs go stale, where kitchens lose margin, and what a living recipe system looks like.

4 min read

What's your G.P. (gross profit)?

A worked explainer from a €3.20 scone to the bottom line — including VAT, labour and overheads.

5 min read

Running your kitchen

Labelling done right: compliant, accurate, and built into your recipes

FSAI labelling rules aren't optional. How Prepsheets manages allergens and nutrition at ingredient level so your food labels are right, every time.

6 min read

The importance of food labels and how Prepsheets ensures EU compliance

In the dynamic and low margin world of food service, transparency and compliance with food labelling regulations are paramount to the sustainability of your business.

5 min read

Opening a café — the complete checklist

We opened (and closed) over 20 cafés in our 25 years in Mange Tout. Here's the week-by-week checklist we created to keep us on track.

10 min read

Rules to control your labour costs

It's great to have control of your food margin but your other big cost is labour and if you don't have this under control then things quickly get difficult.

4 min read

Crafting a stellar menu: quality over quantity, creativity over complexity

How combining limited ingredients with innovative techniques can streamline your kitchen operations, reduce food waste, and elevate your offerings.

4 min read

A greener and more productive kitchen

Harnessing multi-use ingredients with Prepsheets for sustainable restaurants.

5 min read

Incentivised waste collection charges — time to get a handle on food waste

It really is the time to get a handle on reducing your food waste as the cost has just got even higher.

3 min read

Nuts in Bulk: a supplier worth looking at

Looking to save on ingredients? Bulk buying can cut costs. Learn how Nuts in Bulk and Prepsheets help food businesses boost margins and reduce waste.

3 min read

AI-enhanced recipe management: save time and ensure consistency

Don't want to type? Use AI to save time and get your recipe methods done in minutes - saving time and keeping you off the keyboard.

4 min read

Recipes with margins

Vegan sticky toffee pudding - decadence for your customer and your food margin

An all round crowd pleaser, not only is this tasty sticky toffee pudding vegan friendly and delicious it also has a very acceptable GP.

Recipe

12oz mocha recipe — what does that €4.20 really cost?

Today's recipe highlights the challenges of managing labour costs in the hospitality industry and asks whether a €4.20 mocha is actually profitable.

Recipe

Honey booster bar

Great treat even if it does fall into the higher VAT rate bracket — a versatile batch recipe with an attractive profit margin.

Recipe

Spiced pumpkin latte

Elevate your business with monthly coffee specials — this pumpkin spiced latte is the perfect seasonal addition to your menu.

Recipe

The true cost of an iced latte

Valuable insights into the true cost of an iced latte — the various expenses coffee shop operators face and why the margin is slimmer than it seems.

Recipe

Toffee, pecan and chocolate cookie

Indulge in decadence: toffee, chocolate, and pecan cookie recipe — a premium treat with an impressive margin.

Recipe

Seasonal tea brack

This seasonal Irish treat is kind to the planet and your customers' taste buds — with an impressive gross profit margin.

Recipe

Tried and tested recipes: carrot cake, soup and brown bread

Three tried and tested batch recipes — carrot cake, carrot coconut and coriander soup, and multi-seed brown bread — with margin, VAT and allergen insights.

Recipe

Product news and older announcements live in the archive.