Utensils

Can Restaurants Charge Automatic Gratuity?

A new report from Consumer Reports found that most major brands of household appliances don't meet safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC requires products sold in the United States to pass rigorous tests before being allowed to hit store shelves. But according to the consumer watchdog organization, only about half of the major brands it tested passed those requirements. The study looked at 10 categories of home appliances including refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, air conditioning systems, water heaters, range hoods, ovens, and microwave ovens. Only one refrigerator and five ranges met the CPSC's standard. In fact, only three of the 18 different types of washing machines and four of the 15 different types of dryers did. And only six of the 12 different types of ovens and microwaves passed. Consumer Reports says that some manufacturers are voluntarily following the CPSC's guidelines, while others aren't. "We're seeing a lot of voluntary compliance," said David Lazarus, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. "But we still see a number of companies that are not." In addition to the CPSC's strict testing requirements, the organization recommends that consumers check the warranty information on each product. If there isn't a manufacturer's warranty, Consumer Reports suggests checking with local retailers and asking what warranties they offer. According to Consumer Reports, there are several reasons why so few products pass the CPSC's test. For example, the agency doesn't require certain parts like motors and switches to be covered under a warranty. So even though a particular brand might say something about its motor, it could actually be a third party part. Another issue is that the CPSC allows manufacturers to use different materials depending on where the product is manufactured. This makes it difficult for consumers to know exactly how well a product will perform over time. Finally, Consumer Reports says that some manufacturers simply haven't been testing enough products to make sure they've got the bugs worked out. "There are just too many products out there," said Lazarus. "And they're coming out every day."

The average restaurant meal costs $30-$40 per person. But how much does it really cost? And where are those numbers coming from? Let’s take a look.

Legal Fees

What Do Other Restaurant Industry Professionals Say About Auto Gratuity?

Singleuse items must be available throughout any event. This includes utensils, plates, cups, glasses, napkins, flatware, knives, forks, spoons and straws. If you don't provide enough choices, guests will be charged.

What Do Other Restaurant Industry Professionals Say About Auto Gratuity?
4 Alternatives to Traditional Restaurant Tips and Automatic Gratuities

4 Alternatives to Traditional Restaurant Tips and Automatic Gratuities

Starting a new business can be expensive. You'll likely need to hire employees, purchase equipment, and buy supplies. All those expenses add up quickly. But there are some things you can do to keep costs down. One way to reduce the amount of money you spend on legal fees is to find a good attorney. But how much does it really cost to start a business? What factors go into deciding what price to charge clients? And how can you avoid paying too much? To answer those questions, we talked to three attorneys about their experience running businesses and how they've been able to cut legal fees.

Decide on Entity Choice

The IRS says that you can deduct certain costs related to table items. These include menu prices, beverages served during meals, and food served on tables. You can even deduct the price of a gift card used to pay for a meal. However, there are some exceptions. For example, you cannot deduct the cost of a gift certificate given away to customers. Also, you cannot deduct the value of gifts such as flowers, candy, or souvenirs.

Decide on Entity Choice
Consider Financing Options
Consider Financing Options

Sales tax applies to most goods sold in the United States. However, there are some exceptions. For example, food products are exempt from sales tax. There are also exemptions for certain items such as clothing and medical supplies. Some states do not charge sales tax on groceries purchased outside of state lines. Income tax is typically applied to wages and salaries paid to employees. Many states also apply income tax to dividends and interest. Other types of earnings may be taxed differently depending on the type of business. Local governments often impose additional taxes. These taxes can include a sales tax on retail purchases, an excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products, a real estate transfer or property tax, and/or an occupational privilege tax. Alexandria, Virginia, increased its citywide local meal tax from 4% to 5%. This tax increase is being considered because of the expected budget shortfall. Restaurants in Alexandria, Va., oppose the proposed hike in the citywide local meal tax. They say that the tax increase will hurt restaurant revenues. When the tax increases, it might impact how much money restaurants receive in tips from patrons. If the tip amount decreases, restaurateurs may reduce the number of hours worked by servers.

Establish Financial Reporting

Some states require automatic gratuity (also known as tip pooling) to be added to the bills automatically. Others allow restaurants to add automatic gratuities if they choose to do it. And some restaurants don't even charge customers for automatic gratuities. Here are the basics about how automatic gratuity laws work.

Establish Financial Reporting

Frequently Asked Questions

Pizza is delicious anywhere, but some places specialize in making really great pizzas. Try going to a local Italian restaurant or a specialty pizza shop.

Reservations aren't necessary unless the restaurant is extremely busy. However, it never hurts to call ahead to make sure the reservationist knows you're coming.

Tipping is not necessary unless the service was exceptional. However, tipping is customary in many countries around the world. In North America, tipping is generally 15-20%. In Europe, tipping is 10-15% depending on where you go.