Staff Augmentation for Restaurants: Simplifying Back-Office Operations
Managing the financial operations of a restaurant can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to tasks like accounts payable (AP) processing, bookkeeping, and inventory management. At Over Easy Office (OEO), we’ve spent years perfecting how to simplify these tasks for hospitality businesses, using staff augmentation as a game-changing solution.
What Is Staff Augmentation for Restaurants?
Think of staff augmentation as a way to expand your team without the hassle of traditional hiring. At OEO, we connect restaurants with skilled, full-time equivalent employees (FTEEs) who handle crucial back-office tasks remotely. Whether it’s day-to-day bookkeeping, AP processing, or strategic accounting, our augmented staff integrates seamlessly into your operations.
Why Does It Matter?
For restaurant owners, juggling financial tasks can distract from what they love—serving great food and creating memorable experiences for customers. Staff augmentation allows you to delegate these responsibilities to experts while maintaining control over your processes.
The Pain Points of Restaurant Accounting
Accounts Payable: The Hidden Monster
We’ve been there—restaurants drowning in vendor invoices, late payments, and a never-ending paper trail. AP processing can be the most time-consuming and error-prone task in the restaurant business. Missing deadlines or mismanaging cash flow risks tarnishing vendor relationships and adding unnecessary costs. For those considering outsourcing to address such issues, understanding the top outsourcing destinations, like the Philippines and Colombia, can help pinpoint the most effective regions to augment staff correctly.
Data Entry and Bookkeeping: The Grind
Many restaurants still rely on outdated systems or manual entry, which leads to errors and wasted time. From reconciling credit card transactions to managing daily sales summaries, these repetitive tasks can take a toll on your team.
Tax Prep and Strategic Accounting: The Overlooked Essentials
While compliance and strategy are critical, they often take a backseat until the last minute. Without expertise, it’s easy to miss opportunities to optimize costs or prepare for growth.
How Staff Augmentation Can Help
At OEO, we’ve seen firsthand how the right support can transform a restaurant’s back-office operations. For restaurants exploring nearshore or offshore solutions, reviewing the benefits of hiring offshore accountants can provide additional insights into how this model can complement staff augmentation efforts.
Streamlined Accounts Payable:
One of our early clients, a multi-location restaurant group, was buried in unpaid invoices and struggling with cash flow management. By assigning an AP-focused FTEE, we implemented automation tools that reduced errors by 40% and saved the team 20 hours weekly.
Inventory Management Simplified:
Accurate inventory is the foundation of profitability. We’ve helped restaurants leverage platforms like MarketMan and R365 to streamline inventory tracking, eliminate waste, and accurately forecast purchasing needs.
Reliable Bookkeeping:
Whether it’s reconciling bank accounts or preparing financial reports, our augmented staff ensures your books are accurate and up-to-date, giving you real-time insights into your performance.
Types of Staff Augmentation
Staff augmentation categories explained:
On-site vs Onshore vs Nearshore
On-Site Staff Augmentation
Definition: Staff work physically at your restaurant or corporate office.
Benefits:
Hands-on presence for in-person collaboration.
Direct supervision and team integration.
Limitations:
High costs due to workspace and overhead requirements.
Limited scalability and geographic talent pool.
Nearshore Virtual Staff Augmentation
Definition: Professionals based in nearby countries provide remote support, sharing similar time zones.
Benefits:
Time zone alignment for real-time communication.
Cost efficiency with lower labor rates compared to onshore models.
Access to specialized talent pools for back-office tasks.
Ideal For:
Accounts payable processing
Inventory management
Data entry and bookkeeping
Onshore Virtual Staff Augmentation
Definition: Remote staff based within the same country as your business.
Benefits:
Familiarity with local regulations and compliance.
Clear communication with no language barriers.
Immediate responsiveness to time-sensitive needs.
Ideal For:
Payroll processing
Financial Reporting
Compliance monitoring
Why Virtual Models Are the Future of Restaurant Operations
Virtual staff augmentation—whether onshore or nearshore—offers numerous advantages over traditional on-site models:
Cost Savings: Avoid expenses related to physical workspaces and equipment.
Scalability: Easily adjust team size to match operational needs.
Access to Talent: Broader reach for specialized roles without geographic constraints.
Operational Continuity: Seamless integration into existing workflows without disrupting operations.
Personal Insights: Why We Love Helping Restaurants
Tony Aiazzi, one of our founders and a former corporate chef, recalls how ChouxBox—the AP automation tool he co-developed—started as a personal solution to his restaurant’s struggles. "We knew there had to be a better way to manage vendor payments and invoices," he says. "That’s when we realized that offering skilled accountants alongside great tools could revolutionize back-office work for restaurants everywhere."
The OEO Difference
With over a decade of experience, OEO specializes in helping restaurants optimize their back-office tasks. Our FTEEs are trained in industry-leading platforms and adapt to your existing systems. From AP automation to inventory control, we make sure every detail is covered so you can focus on growing your business.
Ready to Simplify Your Back Office?
If you’re ready to transform your restaurant’s back-office operations, Over Easy Office is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about staff augmentation and how it can make your life easier. Together, we can ensure your business runs smoothly from the kitchen to the books!