At the assumed 100 guests per trading day and $26.00 net check, the Massachusetts wage reference produces -$1,751.54 mature monthly EBIT after the full paid roster and depreciation. EBIT break-even is approximately 104.05 guests per trading day. 20% fewer paid sales units changes EBIT to -$10,404.34. Opening cash, sales, premises and cost shares remain scenario assumptions; these results are before financing, distributions and income taxes.
Planning answer updated . Source periods appear below.
48-seat counter-service restaurant
State benchmarks: May / July 2025 · Page prepared September 5, 2026
Use the result as a test of one defined format. 48-seat counter-service restaurant. At unchanged price, cost shares and paid hours, an average of 104.1 guests per trading day clears modeled EBIT break-even. This is an average across the trading calendar, not a promise that every day sells that many units. Confirm that the complete paid workload can deliver it. The negative reference month clears EBIT only if sufficient paid sales can be delivered at the same contribution, or if price and costs change. Extra opening funds do not remove an ongoing operating loss.
What the wage evidence changes. For the same paid roster, the selected Massachusetts wage benchmarks produce $32,682.21 loaded payroll per month, $5,563.67 above the national roster ($27,118.53). May 2025 BLS state OEWS supplies occupation medians; the page's paid hours and exact source rows turn them into payroll using the assumed 18% employer allowance. The medians describe employee jobs across industries. They are neither a hiring offer nor a statutory wage floor.
Choose one trading area before choosing a lease. This page isolates the paid roster at Massachusetts wage benchmarks. Its population observations describe statewide residents; they do not establish neighborhood footfall, a realized selling price or a complete premises quote. Use the local validation steps for the chosen address and operating format.
What is still assumed. Net selling yield, paid sales volume, premises and opening allowances, staffing hours, the employer load, cost shares, operating calendar, ramp and cash buffer are authored planning inputs. A scoped city fee or advertised premises subtotal does not validate all of them.
At the reference sales level, monthly EBITDA is $1,081.79, EBIT after $2,833.33 depreciation is -$1,751.54, and steady-month cash after $500.00 maintenance investment is $581.79. Opening payments of $201,464.63 plus $153,124.54 modeled reserve give $354,589.17 funding. The reserve covers the peak modeled deficit and stated buffer; funding is not a researched state startup average or owner income.
The mathematical daily-average thresholds are approximately 97.5 for EBITDA, 104.05 for EBIT and 98.66 for steady-month cash after maintenance, all in guests per trading day at the same price and cost share. A daily average of 98.7 clears that steady-month cash boundary in this fixed-input model. The cash threshold assumes steady receivables. It does not include new working-capital movements, loan payments, income taxes, owner distributions or recovery of opening cash; the single calculator's 60-month schedule handles the reference ramp and collection timing.
100 paid guests × 26 trading days × $26.00 realized net check produces $67,600.00 mature monthly revenue. Count completed meals and net receipts, then cost the sold recipe mix, waste, payment fees and packaging against the 36% variable share. The 48-seat, three-turn assumption gives a 144-guest service ceiling. It does not establish sufficient guests or kitchen throughput: time cooking, handoff, dining-room turnover and cleaning within the stated paid roster before using it.
Of the three one-input tests below, 20% fewer paid sales units has the largest absolute EBIT effect: -$10,404.34 per mature month, a $8,652.80 change from the reference. These tests have different sizes and do not rank probabilities or all business risks.
Compare all three sensitivity tests and their fixed-input scope. Test a valid scenario in the page's calculator, then compare its opening cash and full schedule. The reference copy above keeps its stated inputs when the calculator is edited.
We examined the available wage records for this 48-seat counter-service restaurant, checked the Census population observations and calculated the staffing implications using the stated wage benchmarks. The results below show what that completed analysis establishes.
The same roster costs $32,682 at the selected Massachusetts wage benchmarks versus $27,119 at national medians, including the stated employer-cost allowance. This isolates wage differences; it does not compare local rent or customer spending.
Inspect the roles and source rows →At unchanged price, cost shares and paid hours, an average of 104.1 guests per trading day clears modeled EBIT break-even. This is an average across the trading calendar, not a promise that every day sells that many units. Confirm that the complete paid workload can deliver it.
See the calculation and cash results →| Component | What the evidence establishes | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wage records and state population | Selected May 2025 occupational records and July 2024/2025 Census estimates, with exact fields and source rows. | Source records checked |
| Paid payroll and break-even | Calculated from observed wage benchmarks and the explicitly modeled roster, employer allowance, price and costs. | Derived result |
| Opening budget and commercial costs | Published fit-out, equipment, occupancy and other allowances define this comparison scenario. State-specific commercial quotes have not yet replaced them. | Reference assumptions |
| Revenue | $67,600 per mature month follows 100 guests per trading day at the stated price. It is not observed sales or a researched state revenue average. | Modeled sales assumptions |
Each test changes one input from the published reference. These are sensitivity tests, not local market forecasts or probability ranges.
| Test | Monthly EBIT | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Published reference | -$1,752 | The stated inputs on this page |
| 20% fewer sales units | -$10,404 | 80 guests per trading day; other inputs unchanged |
| 25% higher occupancy cost | -$3,252 | $7,500 per month; other inputs unchanged |
| 10% higher wage rates | -$5,020 | Same paid roster; employer allowance unchanged |
The completed research covers the source observations and analysis described here. The funding and revenue scenarios still contain commercial assumptions; they are not a completed local feasibility study. Read the evidence and its limits.
Published research and calculations support business planning and education. They are not personalized financial, investment, tax or legal advice, and they do not guarantee costs, revenue, profit or financing. Estimates depend on the stated format, location, source periods and assumptions. Check the requirements and commitments that apply to your circumstances.
This completed planning profile combines checked state wage and population sources with a transparent financial scenario. Use its opening-cost, operating-cost and revenue figures as planning inputs, then replace location-sensitive assumptions when evaluating a specific address or service area.
| Evidence family | Published basis | What to confirm locally |
|---|---|---|
| Opening costs | Published planning inputs — replace with local quotes | premises scope, fitout, equipment, installation freight tax, deposits, preopening training, opening inventory, contingency |
| Operating costs | Published planning inputs — replace with local quotes | occupancy, utilities, insurance, materials, payment fees, marketing, software administration, maintenance |
| Paid labor and employer costs | State wage benchmark used — confirm employer costs | paid roster, wages, wage floor overtime, employer taxes, benefits leave, workers compensation, owner role |
| Revenue and collections | Published planning inputs — validate price and demand locally | realized price mix, demand volume, capacity, industry cross check, launch ramp, seasonality, collections |
| Permissions and fees | Confirm for the selected address | activity address jurisdiction, initial fees, recurring fees |
National equipment prices can support the plan where configuration, delivery and taxes match the intended purchase. Confirm rent, selling prices, demand and permissions for the actual location instead of applying a generic state adjustment.
The Census estimate for Massachusetts is 7,154,084 people. It grew by 15,524 between July 2024 and July 2025 (+0.22%). This statewide movement cannot identify a viable frontage or the trading pattern of a neighborhood.
Using the same paid roster, Massachusetts occupational wages produce $32,682 of monthly loaded payroll. That is +20.52% relative to the identical roster priced with national occupation medians ($27,119). Only wage benchmarks change in this comparison; it does not measure a state’s overall business attractiveness.
BLS wage source · Census population source · Exact fields and workbook rows
48-seat counter-service restaurant. A leased neighborhood restaurant with a focused menu, counter ordering and a fully paid kitchen and service team.
48 seats × 3 guest turns = 144 guests per day. This is a simplified service ceiling; kitchen throughput and table timing can reduce it.
| Input | Reference assumption |
|---|---|
| guests per trading day | 100 |
| Net selling price per guest | $26.00 |
| Trading days / month | 26 |
| Variable cost share | 36% |
| Occupancy / month | $6,000 |
| Other fixed costs / month | $3,500 |
| Employer cost allowance | 18% above base wages |
32% ingredients and food waste plus 4% payment processing and packaging. Utilities $1,600; insurance $650; marketing $650; software, waste collection and other operating costs $600 per month.
| Role / SOC | Paid hours / month | Wage benchmark / hour | P25–P75 / hour | Base wages / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager11-9051 · Food Service Managers · State observation | 173.3 | $44.35 | $35.31–$49.48 | $7,687 |
| Restaurant cooks35-2014 · Cooks, Restaurant · State observation | 416 | $21.92 | $18.45–$23.58 | $9,119 |
| Counter service team35-3023 · Fast Food and Counter Workers · State observation | 416 | $17.24 | $16.23–$17.78 | $7,172 |
| Dishwashing team35-9021 · Dishwashers · State observation | 208 | $17.88 | $17.16–$20.15 | $3,719 |
Base wages total $27,697 per month. An authored 18% allowance for employer costs adds $4,985, giving $32,682 of loaded payroll. The allowance is a planning shortcut; it is not a state-specific payroll tax calculation or benefits quote for Massachusetts.
Counter-service workers provide a broad service proxy. The roster uses no tipped-server credit. Hours are aggregate team coverage, not the schedule of one employee. Every operating role is paid, including management or supervision. If the owner performs a modeled role, their compensation occupies that role once; no additional owner draw is included in operating profit.
The middle 50% wage interval describes the occupation’s observed wage distribution. It is not a confidence interval for this business’s total payroll. Allocate the aggregate hours across an actual roster and check wage rules, overtime, leave and employer obligations for the chosen location.
| Use of funds | Cash paid |
|---|---|
| Fit-out and installation | $95,000 |
| Kitchen equipment | $55,000 |
| Furniture, POS and smallwares | $20,000 |
| Professional and setup allowance | $8,000 |
| Opening inventory | $5,000 |
| Refundable deposit (two months of occupancy) | $12,000 |
| Paid pre-opening training | $6,465 |
| Total payments before opening | $201,465 |
The equipment and premises allowances are the same in all 50 states for this operating format. They are a comparison baseline and must be replaced with local scopes and quotes. Training uses 240 aggregate paid hours at the modeled team’s weighted loaded rate. The refundable deposit is cash tied up, not an operating expense.
The cash schedule tests 60 months, with sales ramping through 40%, 55%, 70%, 82%, 90%, 96%, 100% of the volume assumption. Full payroll and fixed costs begin in month one. The reserve covers the deepest cumulative operating deficit plus the stated buffer. A buffer is retained cash, not spending and not part of project payback twice.
Customer sales are collected within the month. Opening inventory is funded upfront and its balance is held constant; replenishment is represented in variable expenses. Asset purchases are depreciated over 60 months for this scenario. No sale or deposit recovery is assumed at the end.
At the assumed 100 guests per trading day, the reference scenario loses $1,752 per mature month after paid labor and depreciation. The approximate EBIT break-even threshold is 104 guests per trading day. More starting cash alone does not solve that operating gap.
| Measure | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Revenue | $67,600 |
| Variable operating costs | $24,336 |
| Loaded payroll, including management | $32,682 |
| Occupancy assumption | $6,000 |
| Other fixed operating costs | $3,500 |
| EBITDA | $1,082 |
| Depreciation | $2,833 |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | -$1,752 |
| Maintenance capital expenditure | $500 |
| Mature project cash flow | $582 |
EBIT break-even revenue is $70,337 per month: $45,016 of fixed costs plus depreciation divided by a 64% contribution margin. At $26.00 per guest, that means 104 guests per trading day and 72.3% of the stated capacity.
| Measure | Months 1–12 | Mature month |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $698,308 | $67,600 |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | -$93,269 | -$1,752 |
| Project cash flow | -$65,269 | $582 |
Project payback is not reached within the 60-month reference schedule. It measures recovery of actual pre-opening payments from cumulative project cash, with no financing or owner distributions. It does not measure cash paid back to an owner.
Physical capacity places a ceiling on sales. A larger dining room does not establish demand.
Waste, promotions and a different menu mix can make the effective food share higher than the modeled average.
Change the assumptions to see how this format responds. The sections above remain the published reference, so you can compare your scenario with the original. Use the browser-local export buttons below to save only the scenario you are working on.
Reference scenario. JavaScript enables editing and exports.
2,600 guests per month × $26.00 = $67,600 revenue. Loaded payroll: $32,682 per month. Break-even uses 72.3% of capacity.
The download preserves the published scenario and its source references.
Bring the menu, preparation methods, floor plan, proposed equipment, seating and any alcohol service to the address-level review. Ask which food, building, fire and other approvals apply and what must happen before construction and trading.
| Workstream | Official starting points | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Business and activity | Which entity, name or activity registrations apply, and which local or specialist office also has responsibility? | |
| Tax | Which registrations and treatment apply to the actual goods or services, location and staffing arrangements? | |
| Employers | Which employer accounts, reporting steps and labor obligations apply to the planned paid roster? |
Take the activity, address, proposed equipment and staffing plan to the relevant office. Record applicability, supporting documents, fees, dependencies and renewal terms from the actual official response.
Agency routes were listed on the IRS Massachusetts directory when retrieved September 5, 2026. Links identify starting offices; they do not verify a permit, tax treatment, fee or opening time for this business. Open the full Massachusetts opening checklist →
Obtain a lease proposal, a contractor scope and equipment quotes. Check power, ventilation, grease handling and delivery access before committing to fit-out.
Identify the authority for the chosen address. Confirm food establishment, plan review, zoning, occupancy and fire requirements; investigate alcohol separately if the concept changes.
Cost the opening stock, training and an opening delay. Compare the opening ramp with observed trading patterns and retain a cash buffer.
Contractor scope and the responsible health authority need to be resolved at the address level. A state profile cannot price a conversion.
For a selected address or service area, collect an evidence pack covering premises and equipment quotes, paid demand, staffing, collection terms and the responsible authorities. The state wage and population evidence on this page does not supply those location-specific inputs.
State: Massachusetts, FIPS 25. Cross-industry, ownership 1235. H_MEDIAN supplies an available hourly benchmark; H_PCT25 and H_PCT75 describe the occupational distribution. 11-9051 (Food Service Managers), state workbook row 14845; 35-2014 (Cooks, Restaurant), state workbook row 15223; 35-3023 (Fast Food and Counter Workers), state workbook row 15228; 35-9021 (Dishwashers), state workbook row 15232. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
The national comparison uses the same paid roster and these national H_MEDIAN observations: 11-9051, national workbook row 51; 35-2014, national workbook row 690; 35-3023, national workbook row 699; 35-9021, national workbook row 708. Any national value substituted for a suppressed state value is identified separately. National observations do not become state observations.
SUMLEV 040; STATE 25; POPESTIMATE2025 and POPESTIMATE2024. July 1 estimates; change and percentage change are calculated within the same vintage. Population is context, not a customer forecast.
OEWS covers employee jobs across industries. It is a statistical benchmark, not a hiring quote or legal wage floor. Employer benefits and overtime premiums are outside the wage measure; tips can be included.
An official route to the state government and major agencies. This directory does not confirm the fees, permits or approval times for a particular address or business.
All selling prices, demand, paid hours, employer allowance, premises, startup allowances, cost shares, ramp and cash buffer are authored planning inputs. No commercial quote or researched state total is implied.
The stated operating format and paid roster define the scenario. Wage and population observations keep their geography and period. Replace commercial assumptions only with evidence that matches the scope, then reconcile the same inputs across earnings, cash and the delivery schedule.
Plan your next evidence check →