Add a restaurant site cost audit
A restaurant site cost audit is a narrow lease service.
It tests landlord charges against signed terms and source files. It excludes food and labor work.
Start with leased sites that have a CAM statement. Then screen the lease file.
A restaurant lease guide says some leases add CAM to base rent. They may also add taxes and insurance.
The signed lease controls the exact scope. Do not use a broad industry rule.
Keep the work separate
Restaurant advisors often review many cost sources.
Gilkey lists these restaurant records used in a money review:
- Sales
- Payroll
- Rent
- Utilities
CAM needs a different proof path. Use the lease and landlord statement.
Use this lane map:
| Work lane | Main source | Firm owner |
|---|---|---|
| Food cost | Inventory and vendor files | Restaurant advisor |
| Labor cost | Payroll and schedule files | Restaurant advisor |
| Sales mix | Sales system reports | Restaurant advisor |
| Lease cost | Lease and CAM files | Lease cost reviewer |
Do not blend a food variance into landlord work. Keep POS work in the sales lane.
Screen the client first
Ask these questions before setting a fee:
- Does the client lease the restaurant site?
- Does the file hold the signed lease?
- Does the file hold all signed changes?
- Is the CAM statement present?
- Is the statement date known?
- Is proof of delivery present?
- Does a named reviewer own the file?
Stop when a core lease file is missing. Ask for that file first.
Do not call a legal right expired. Send unclear notice terms to counsel.
Use this offer card
Use this card to set the lease review boundary.
| Offer field | What to write |
|---|---|
| Client fit | Leased site with review files |
| Required files | Lease, changes, and CAM statement |
| Included tests | CAM terms, share, caps, and support |
| Excluded work | Food, labor, sales, and menu advice |
| Reviewer | Named person at your firm |
| Main output | Branded findings report with sources |
| Open legal issue | Send the exact text to counsel |
| Follow up | Client review and next decision |
The offer does not promise a finding. A sound review may confirm the bill.
The report should still show its sources. That makes the work easy to check.
Walk one sample screen
This example is fictional. The site name is made up.
Oak Table Grill leases one restaurant site. Its signed lease is present.
The latest CAM statement is also present. One signed lease change is missing.
The file state is Needs files. The team requests the missing change.
No CAM math starts yet. The missing text may change the scope.
Now assume the signed change arrives. One notice term still seems unclear.
The file state becomes Counsel review. It does not become Ready.
This path keeps scope honest. It also avoids a false sales promise.
Send one file list
Ask for these items:
- Signed lease
- All signed lease changes
- Current CAM statement
- Prior CAM statement, if held
- Landlord support, if held
- Proof of statement delivery
- Site sales for ratio work only
Sales data does not prove a CAM issue. It only supports a site cost review.
The 2024 Restaurant.org survey says these figures help managers. They are not standards or goals.
Do not use a median as the lease test.
Scope group audits in the restaurant CAM board.
Use the CAM variance bridge to scope ratio requests.
Keep menu work outside audits with the menu pricing gate.
The restaurant advisor pillar maps each audit handoff.
Choose other audit owners in the Practice Growth hub.
Pull audit scope tools from the franchise consultant hub.
Place scoped audits on the franchise consultant page.
Where CAMAudit fits
Restaurant advisors own the offer card and client scope.
CAMAudit reads supplied lease and CAM files. It runs fixed CAM math.
Its report links approved findings to source lines. Your firm checks each source.
Your firm reviews and signs the branded CAM audit. You then deliver it.
An approved audit item may support a dispute letter draft. Your firm reviews it.
It is not legal advice. Have counsel review before sending.
Use the service line guide to shape the work.