Who this is for: Independent restaurant owners, operators, and GMs who want a fast, private way to understand how precise labor planning reduces overstaffing, supports service quality, and strengthens profit margins without spreadsheets or complex scheduling software. without hiring consultants or wrestling with spreadsheets.
Use this page as your quick-reference manual. You don’t need to read every section in order — jump straight to the part that matches what you’re trying to do today.
What This Tool Does
LaborFlowIQ shows you exactly how many labor hours each shift can afford based on your forecasted sales. Instead of relying on habits, guesswork, or spreadsheets, you get instant clarity about where your labor money should go — and where it's currently being wasted.
The tool reveals:
- Ideal labor hours for each shift
- Scheduled vs. ideal hours
- Actual vs. target labor percentage
- Total labor dollar variance
- Which shifts to tighten or reinforce
Everything runs locally in your browser. No logins, no accounts, no data sharing — just fast, clean answers for daily labor decisions.
What You Need Before You Start
You only need four simple inputs per shift. Most can be pulled from your POS forecast or your current schedule.
Shift Inputs
- Forecasted Sales (e.g., $1,200 for Monday lunch)
- Target Labor % (commonly 20%–30%)
- Average Wage (FOH + BOH blended)
- Scheduled Hours (total hours currently planned)
That's it. Enter each shift you operate — lunch, dinner, brunch, prep, late-night, etc. The tool will calculate the ideal hours automatically.
These do not need to be perfect. The tool gets more useful every time you refine your numbers.
How to Use LaborFlowIQ
Step 1 — Add Your First Shift
Select the day, enter a shift name, and type in your forecasted sales, labor target, average wage, and scheduled hours. Click Add Shift to see the results instantly.
Step 2 — Add Additional Shifts
Enter all the shifts you operate. Lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, prep blocks — whatever you schedule, enter it. The dashboard updates in real time.
Step 3 — Review Variance
The variance column shows where your schedule is heavy or light:
- Positive variance = overstaffed
- Negative variance = understaffed
This is where labor leaks or service risks appear.
Step 4 — Compare Actual vs. Target Labor %
The dashboard highlights whether you're under, close to, or over your target labor percentage for the day.
Step 5 — Print or Save Your Report
Use the Print Report button for weekly planning or GM review meetings. The tool prints a clean, high-contrast report with timestamp and location.
Understanding the Results
1. Ideal Labor Hours
How many hours the shift can afford based on forecasted sales and your target labor percentage.
2. Scheduled Hours
The hours you actually entered for that shift.
3. Variance
The difference between scheduled and ideal hours:
- Positive variance: too many hours
- Negative variance: too few hours
4. Actual Labor Percentage
The real labor percentage the shift produces when considering both hours and wages.
5. Dashboard Summary
- Total Forecasted Sales: all shifts added together
- Actual Labor Dollars vs. Target Labor Dollars
- Labor % Bar (green/ yellow/ red indicators)
- Total Scheduled Hours vs. Total Ideal Hours
- Overall Efficiency Tag: quick recommendation
This summary gives you a high-level view of whether your labor plan is healthy or needs immediate adjustment.
Use Case: Build Your First Schedule in Under 2 Minutes
Step 1 — Enter Your First Shift
Pick a common shift such as lunch. Enter your forecasted sales, target labor percentage, average wage, and scheduled hours. Click Add Shift.
Step 2 — Review the Shift Breakdown
LaborFlowIQ shows ideal hours, scheduled hours, variance, and actual labor percentage so you can see whether you're overstaffed or understaffed immediately.
Step 3 — Add Additional Shifts
Repeat for dinner, prep blocks, weekend shifts, or any custom shift. The tool builds your entire day's labor picture.
Step 4 — Analyze the Dashboard
- Total Forecasted Sales
- Labor Dollars: Actual vs. Target
- Labor % Indicator
- Total Hours Variance
This shows whether you're running lean, balanced, or heavy.
Step 5 — Identify Where to Adjust
Large positive variances highlight shifts that should be tightened. Negative variances highlight shifts at risk of slow ticket times.
Step 6 — Print Your Report
Use the Print Report button for shift reviews, weekly labor planning, or GM meetings. The report includes timestamp, location name, dashboard summary, and full shift details.
Tips for Better Accuracy
1. Enter Shifts the Way You Staff Them
Separate lunch and dinner if you schedule them differently. Combine only when your staff overlaps.
2. Update Forecasts Regularly
Small changes in forecasted sales can shift ideal labor hours significantly.
3. Watch Variance First
Variance highlights your largest labor opportunities.
4. Look for Weekly Patterns
Recurring overstaffing or understaffing becomes obvious when you use the tool regularly.
5. Share the Report With Managers
Consistency improves when all schedulers are working from the same numbers.
How to Use This Data Operationally
LaborFlowIQ helps you make fast, confident decisions such as:
- Where to cut hours without hurting service
- Which shifts need reinforcements
- How to reallocate hours between shifts
- How to plan for weather, events, or seasonal changes
- How to coach managers to build leaner schedules
- How to prevent burnout on peak shifts
Daily scheduling becomes data-driven — not opinion-driven.
Final Recommendations
The most efficient restaurants do one thing consistently:
They manage labor proactively, not reactively.
Use LaborFlowIQ to:
- Build tighter, more accurate schedules
- Protect margins without sacrificing service
- Coach managers using clear, consistent numbers
- Prevent labor creep across the week
- Make shifts more predictable and manageable
Small, informed adjustments made every week create major improvements in profitability over time.