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Editorial Policy

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This page explains how we write, check and correct our guides and tools. Our readers make real money decisions with them, so we would rather say less than say something we can’t back up.

What we publish

Plain-English guides, calculators and checklists for independent restaurant owners in the US, on costs, card payments, menus, staff and day-to-day operations. They are educational, not financial, legal or tax advice.

Sources and figures

  • A number only appears if we can name where it comes from, and we link to that source.
  • We prefer primary sources: government agencies, card networks, published pricing and recognized research.
  • Where no public source exists, we give general advice instead of a figure, or label our own estimate as an estimate.
  • Worked examples use an invented example restaurant with round numbers, and we say so.
  • The sources behind our benchmarks and tools are listed on How we calculate.

Calculators

Results are worked out in code from the figures you enter. The formulas are covered by automated tests with hand-worked answers, and every assumption the tool makes for you is listed on the methodology page. The worked examples under each calculator are produced by the calculator itself, so they match what the tool shows.

Writing, review and AI

  • Guides may be drafted by our writers or with the help of AI tools.
  • A person checks every figure against its source and edits every piece before it is published.
  • We never publish AI-invented statistics, quotes, testimonials, people or case studies.
  • Payments guides may be reviewed by someone who works in card payments. When they are, we name the reviewer and say what they do, including if they sell payment services.
  • Allergen and food safety content always tells you to check with your kitchen and your local health department.

Independence

Partners and advertisers don’t choose what we write or what our tools recommend. A referral fee or affiliate link never changes a ranking, a result or a recommendation. See our affiliate and referral disclosure.

Dates, updates and corrections

  • Every guide shows when it was published or last reviewed.
  • We re-check sources at least once a year, and sooner for things that change often, such as minimum wages, card fees and surcharging rules.
  • If you spot a mistake, tell us. We will check it, fix it if we got it wrong, and update the date on the page.