10/16/2026
77% of restaurant operators reported higher labor costs in the first half of 2026.
For QSR operators, though, managing labor costs shouldn't simply mean finding ways to spend less on people.
Looking after your team, paying appropriately, providing good training and creating an environment where people want to stay can all contribute to a stronger operation. High turnover carries costs of its own, from recruitment and training to the operational impact of continually replacing experienced employees.
So when labor costs are rising, it's important to understand why.
Is overtime consistently high at certain locations? How is labor moving against sales? Is turnover adding unnecessary recruitment and training costs? Why might one location be performing differently from another?
Those are the numbers that can help operators make better decisions without treating their people as simply another cost to cut.
If you operate multiple QSR locations and want better visibility into your labor costs and performance, contact Indevia to discuss how we can help: https://www.indevia.com/discovery-call