Small Business Shift Profit Analyzer

Add Your Shifts

Enter data for each shift you want to analyze. Add as many shifts as needed.

How It Works

This tool calculates key profitability metrics for each shift in your business:

• Labor Cost = Labor Hours × Hourly Rate
• Total Cost = Labor Cost + Other Variable Costs
• Gross Profit = Revenue − Total Cost
• Profit Margin = (Gross Profit ÷ Revenue) × 100%
• Revenue per Labor Hour = Revenue ÷ Labor Hours

Use this analysis to identify which shifts generate the most profit, where to optimize staffing, and whether certain shifts need adjustment or elimination.

Tips for Better Analysis

• Be consistent — Use the same time period for all shifts (per day, per week, or per month)
• Include all labor — Count all staff hours including managers, cooks, servers, etc.
• Track variable costs — Include supplies, ingredients, commissions, credit card fees
• Compare fairly — Longer shifts naturally have higher numbers; focus on margins and efficiency

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as "Other Variable Costs"?

Include costs that vary with sales volume: ingredients/supplies, packaging, credit card processing fees, delivery commissions, utilities above baseline, and any per-transaction costs. Don't include fixed costs like rent or insurance—those don't change by shift.

Should I include tips in labor costs?

If you're paying tipped minimum wage, use that rate. If tips are pooled and distributed, include the total effective hourly cost. Be consistent across all shifts for accurate comparison.

What's a good profit margin per shift?

It varies by industry. Restaurants typically aim for 3-9% net profit, but gross margins per shift should be 15-30%+ to cover fixed costs. Retail often sees 20-50% gross margins. Compare your shifts to each other first—eliminate or fix your worst performers.

My slow shift shows high margin but low profit—what gives?

High percentage margin with low absolute profit means you're efficient but not generating volume. Consider whether that shift is worth staying open for, or if you can cut labor to match the lower demand.

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Small Business Shift Profit Analyzer FAQ