Franchise Consultants

Build a restaurant CAM queue

Rank restaurant sites by files, dates, and review state.

By Angel Campa, FounderUpdated July 15, 2026

I work as a principal engineer. I built the engine behind these audits. Each finding points to the lease clause and the bill line. Your team reviews and signs first.

Build a restaurant CAM queue

Use one queue row per site and statement year.

Rank rows by known dates, file state, and review need. Do not rank by guesswork.

A lease group guide calls for one check per annual CAM bill. It tracks audit dates and lease terms.

A group total cannot replace each site's evidence file.

Set a firm row key

Use this key for every row:

Client + site + lease + statement year

That key keeps documents from crossing locations. It also keeps years apart.

Use a firm site code when street names change. Keep the legal client name too.

Add the queue fields

Queue rank sets work order. Site files still prove each call.

Field What it holds
Client Legal client name
Site Address or firm site code
Lease Signed lease name
Statement year CAM period under review
Lease type Gross, net, or mixed terms
Landlord Name shown on the bill
Statement date Date printed on the statement
Delivery proof Email or other receipt
Notice text Exact signed lease words
Possible notice date Sourced date needing review
Ratio change Directional screen only
File state Ready or named gap
Review stage Current work state
Reviewer Named firm owner
Stop code Reason work cannot move
Next action One clear step

Do not label a possible date as final. Let counsel guide unclear rights.

Use six work stages

Give each row one stage:

Stage Entry rule Exit rule
Logged Site and year exist Core files checked
Needs files One core file is absent File arrives or row closes
Ready Core files are present Reviewer starts work
In review Source tests have started Firm decision is recorded
Firm review Source and math are ready Named reviewer signs
Closed Close reason has a source Keep the source packet

Closed does not mean money returned. It only records the review end.

Add four stop codes

Use short codes across all sites:

  • FILE: A core source is missing.
  • DATE: Delivery proof is missing.
  • TERM: Lease meaning needs firm review.
  • LEGAL: Counsel needs to review rights.

Do not fill a gap from memory. Name one owner for the next step.

Rank the queue

Use this order:

  1. Put sourced notice dates first.
  2. Put complete file sets next.
  3. Group rows by named reviewer.
  4. Use ratio changes as a tie break.
  5. Keep missing files in a request lane.

The study came from Restaurant.org.

Its 2024 results split restaurants by type and location.

The source says these figures help managers. They are not standards or goals.

Use them only for context.

A high ratio cannot prove a wrong charge. The lease and statement must support that call.

Walk three sample rows

This example is fictional. All names and dates are made up.

Site File state Possible date Stage Next action
Cedar Grill Ready August 15 Firm review Named reviewer signs
Elm Cafe Lease missing Unknown Needs files Ask for signed lease
Pine Kitchen Ready July 29 In review Send date to counsel

Pine ranks first because its sourced date is closer. Counsel still decides its meaning.

Cedar has a complete packet. It stays behind Pine in this sample.

Elm does not enter CAM testing. Its lease request remains open.

The queue changes work order. It does not predict an outcome.

Copy this CSV header

Copy this header into your queue:

client,site,lease,statement_year,lease_type,landlord,statement_date,delivery_proof,notice_text,possible_notice_date,ratio_change,file_state,review_stage,reviewer,stop_code,next_action

Xenia describes common review forms and shared status views. Use that idea for work steps only.

Xenia does not test lease or CAM files. Keep food and labor outside this CAM queue.

Keep POS and menu work outside it too.

Move ready sites to the site cost audit card.

Send ratio flags to the CAM variance bridge.

Pass checked costs to the lease cost gate.

The restaurant advisor pillar maps each queued site's move.

Assign other site owners from the Practice Growth hub.

Pull each queue step from the franchise consultant hub.

Place the queue on your franchise consultant page.

Where CAMAudit fits

Restaurant advisors own the queue and site order.

CAMAudit reads eligible lease and CAM files. It can run repeat CAM math.

Its report links approved findings to source lines. Each row keeps its source path.

Your firm reviews and signs the branded CAM audit. You then close the row.

An approved queue item may support a dispute letter draft. The assigned firm reviewer checks it.

It is not legal advice. Have counsel review before sending.

Use the service line guide to set firm roles.

Get started

Sources

Practice Growth

Keep growing this service

See the Restaurant advisors growth guide

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