Your monthly revenue is the total of all sales in a month. Many hospitality entrepreneurs only look at their POS system, but forget revenue from catering, delivery or events.
Most restaurant owners think monthly revenue is just what their POS system shows - but that's only half the picture. You're missing thousands in catering, delivery, and event income that never touches your main register. Here's how to capture every dollar flowing through your operation.
What counts toward your monthly revenue?
Your total monthly revenue consists of all income from sales. That's way more than just your daily restaurant sales:
- Restaurant sales (food and drinks consumed on-site)
- Takeaway and delivery sales
- Catering and events
- Private dinners and closed parties
- Product sales (such as homemade sauces)
⚠️ Note:
Always calculate with amounts including VAT. That's what you actually receive from guests.
Basic formula for monthly revenue
The formula's straightforward:
Monthly revenue = Sum of all daily sales in that month
But you've got different income streams that need separate tracking:
💡 Example:
Bistro The Golden Spoon in March:
- Restaurant sales: €45,200
- Takeaway/delivery: €8,300
- Catering (2 events): €3,500
- Private dinner (1 party): €1,200
Total monthly revenue: €58,200
Daily vs. monthly calculation
You can calculate your monthly revenue two ways:
Method 1: Add up daily sales
Add up your POS revenue each day. At month's end, total everything together.
Method 2: Average per day × number of days
Calculate your average daily revenue and multiply by operating days.
💡 Example method 2:
Restaurant open 26 days in March:
- Average per day: €1,850
- Number of operating days: 26
Estimated monthly revenue: €1,850 × 26 = €48,100
Tracking different income streams
For a complete picture, track each income stream separately:
1. POS sales
This is your main stream. Food and drinks that guests consume on-site.
2. Takeaway and delivery
Here's where it gets tricky: with delivery platforms like Uber Eats you receive less than the menu price due to commissions.
3. Catering and events
Often larger amounts, but irregular. From tracking this across dozens of restaurants, catering typically represents 15-25% of total revenue but gets overlooked in daily calculations.
💡 Example delivery:
Order via Uber Eats:
- Menu price: €100
- Uber Eats commission (30%): -€30
- VAT on commission: -€2.70
Your revenue: €67.30 (not €100!)
VAT and net vs. gross revenue
Your monthly revenue contains VAT. For your administration you also need to know how much VAT is included:
Formula to calculate VAT:
- Food and non-alcoholic beverages: 9% VAT
- Alcoholic beverages: 21% VAT
If you mainly sell food, your total revenue contains approximately 8% VAT.
⚠️ Note:
For your profit calculation you need the net revenue (excluding VAT). Divide your gross revenue by 1.09 for the net revenue at 9% VAT.
Comparing and analyzing monthly revenue
Your monthly revenue alone doesn't tell the whole story. Always compare:
- With last month: Increase or decrease?
- With the same month last year: Growth or decline?
- Per day: Which days perform well?
- Per income stream: Where does your revenue come from?
A system like KitchenNmbrs can make these comparisons automatically, so you immediately see where your revenue comes from and how it's developing.
How do you calculate your monthly revenue? (step by step)
Gather all POS reports from the month
Print or download all daily POS reports. Make sure you have every operating day, including weekends and holidays.
Add up all daily sales
Sum all daily amounts from your POS reports. Use the gross revenue (including VAT) as shown on your reports.
Add separate income streams
Add catering, private parties, takeaway via external platforms and other sales that don't go through your main POS.
Check your final total
Compare your calculated monthly revenue with your bank transactions. Large differences may indicate missed sales or administrative errors.
✨ Pro tip
Pull your POS reports every Sunday night for the past 7 days and log them in a simple spreadsheet. After 12 weeks, you'll spot exactly which days and seasons drive your highest revenue.
Calculate this yourself?
In the KitchenNmbrs app you can do this in just a few clicks. 7 days free, no credit card.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I include VAT in my monthly revenue?
Yes, your monthly revenue always includes VAT. That's the amount guests actually pay and what you receive.
How do I count delivery sales if I pay commission?
Count the amount you actually receive after deducting commissions. Not the menu price the guest pays.
What if I have catering invoices that haven't been paid yet?
For your monthly revenue you count invoiced amounts, even if they haven't been paid yet. For your cash flow you look at actual receipts.
How often should I calculate my monthly revenue?
Calculate your monthly revenue at the end of each month. Track your daily revenue during the month so you can make adjustments as needed.
What about gift card sales and redemptions?
Count gift card sales as revenue when sold, not when redeemed. Gift card redemptions don't count as new revenue since you already recorded that income.
Do I include tips in my monthly revenue calculation?
Only include tips that go through your POS system. Cash tips paid directly to staff aren't part of your business revenue since they never enter your accounts.
📚 Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- Warenwetbesluit Bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen (2024) — Official source
- WHO — Foodborne diseases estimates (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
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