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What is the CRA “Receipt Message”?
The Receipt Message is a completely FREE way for you to help promote the industry we all love—and everything our businesses contribute to their communities each day. The message tells customers how much, on average, restaurants invest in their business and employees.
How much do restaurants invest in this way?
The answer is, a lot. Nationally, the average profit margin in restaurants is about 5 percent. That means 95 percent of what restaurants take in as revenue goes into the food, the employees, and everything else that comes with running the place. Profit margins at your restaurant may be slightly higher or slightly lower, but this is a national average.
How have consumers been responding to the message?
In testing both in focus groups and with real restaurant customers, consumers responded favorably to knowing that most of what they pay for a meal goes right back into the operation. They often walk away with a feeling that the establishment is ‘a quality place’, that the restaurant ‘cares about customers’ and that the profit margin ‘is not a lot.’
How do I use the message at my restaurant?
First, print the message on your receipts! The CRA estimates that there are an average of 10 million restaurant transactions a day in California. That’s 10 million opportunities for us to communicate directly with the public about issues that are important to our businesses and communities! If your restaurant uses check presenters, you can tuck a card that displays the message into the flap where customers put their credit card. Or, you can attach a sticker onto the check presenters. The CRA will provide the cards and stickers to restaurants for free!
Will there be other messages in the future?
Yes, the CRA believes that it’s important for restaurants to communicate directly with the public. Customers aren’t just people we sell a product to. They’re also voters, policy makers and business owners themselves. We should be telling them what an important part of the community restaurants are!
It’s easy to join us in this effort. Just email sshams@calrest.org. We’ll send you everything you need in the mail! Learn more at carestaurantfacts.com.
What is a chargeback and how can one be avoided?
Rule #1 of running your restaurant is to keep expenses as low as possible while eliminating unnecessary costs. And yet, one of the essential investments any restaurant needs to make is the ability to accept credit cards and a variety of other payment options.
Chapter Focus: Los Angeles
The California Restaurant Association actually began in Los Angeles in 1906. Then, it was called the Los Angeles Hotel and Restaurant Men’s Association.
No Signature Required
As of April 2018, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and Visa no longer require merchants to obtain signatures at the point-of-sale for credit and/or debit transactions.
Register for the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo, August 19-21
Join us at the 2018 Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo (WFHE) August 19 – 21, 2018 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This year, running concurrently with Healthy Food Expo West and Coffee Fest.
How to Attract More Job Candidates and Make Better, Faster Hires
If you’re struggling with filling your candidate pipeline, or dealing with escalating cost-per-hire and time-to-fill, there are a few critical factors you should evaluate. Sometimes a minor change can make a significant difference when candidates are learning about your jobs.
Member Benefit: Free passes to the NRA show
As part of your CRA membership, you receive a dual National Restaurant Association membership, which makes you eligible to receive one complimentary badge to the NRA Show.
Santa Cruz County restaurant alcohol fee delayed
For the 3rd time, the County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors has postponed the drastic fee proposal on restaurants to fund the proposed Alcohol Nuisance Abatement Program.
CRA helps prevent bill exempting Cal/OSHA from regulations
CRA has fought for good government approaches to analyzing, adopting and implementing statewide regulations that impact the restaurant community.
Restaurant Day FAQ
What is Restaurant Day at the Capitol?
California Restaurant Association (CRA) Restaurant Day at the Capitol is an annual event sponsored by CRA, where restaurant owners and operators like you gather to learn and practice lobbying for industry legislation at the state level.
California legislature returns for final year of 2017–18 session
California state Assemblymembers and Senators returned to the State Capitol to begin the second year of the two-year legislative session. It will no doubt be a very busy policy and political year for
You can help restaurant workers in fire-ravaged areas
California is no stranger to wildfires. Summer after summer, we see them both in Northern and Southern California, and year after year, Cal Fire reminds us that wildfires are growing in number.