Research into restaurant challenges

What the restaurant industry data says. What TableX can actually do.

Six findings with links to their original sources, the question each raises for an owner, and a concrete TableX workflow to explore. Start with the challenge that matters to your restaurant.

Research published in 2025–2026. Industry statistics and advertised third-party fees are context, not results from TableX customers. Your restaurant's costs, configuration, and experience will differ.

01 · Restaurant economics

42%

Some restaurants are busy without being profitable.

In the National Restaurant Association's 2026 State of the Restaurant Industry report, 42% of surveyed restaurant operators said their restaurant was not profitable in 2025.

Ask the owner

When sales go up, do you know whether food costs, discounts, and other expenses are rising faster?

How TableX responds

With Full TableX, review configured menu-item recipe costs, promotions, inventory, and reporting to investigate the economics behind orders. Software cannot guarantee profitability.

See it: Menu-item profitability and promotion simulator.

Source and scope

National Restaurant Association · 2026 State of the Restaurant Industry · February 12, 2026 ↗

Operator survey finding about 2025, not a measured TableX customer result or your restaurant's profitability rate.

02 · Restaurant economics

36%

The cost of running a restaurant has changed.

The National Restaurant Association estimates that total expenses for an average restaurant rose 36% between 2019 and 2026.

Ask the owner

How do you check whether today's menu prices still cover today's ingredient and operating costs?

How TableX responds

With recipes and inventory configured in Full TableX, compare ingredient and menu-item costs with selling prices, and review purchasing and waste alongside sales.

See it: Recipe costs, purchasing, inventory, and item pricing.

Source and scope

National Restaurant Association · Elevated costs continue to pressure restaurant profitability · July 8, 2026 ↗

An industry estimate for the average restaurant over 2019–2026; your restaurant's actual expense change may differ.

03 · Ordering economics

15% / 25% / 30%

Marketplace delivery comes with a measurable channel cost.

DoorDash publishes U.S. Marketplace delivery commission rates of 15% for Basic, 25% for Plus, and 30% for Premier, after applicable introductory periods.

Ask the owner

Which orders bring you new customers, and which existing customers could order directly next time?

How TableX responds

TableX Online Only gives your restaurant a branded direct ordering channel and a way to manage incoming orders without replacing your current POS. Compare your actual marketplace statement with TableX's processing, subscription, and optional delivery costs.

See it: Branded storefront, checkout, and integrated Orders workflow.

Source and scope

DoorDash · U.S. merchant pricing · checked September 25, 2026 ↗

These are U.S. Marketplace delivery commissions, not pickup, direct-order or every merchant's contracted rate. DoorDash lists 6% Marketplace pickup on these plans. Direct ordering is not cost-free.

04 · Guest behavior

Nearly 75%

Off-premises ordering is a major part of restaurant traffic.

The National Restaurant Association's 2025 Off-Premises Restaurant Trends report says nearly 75% of U.S. restaurant traffic occurs off-premises.

Ask the owner

Can guests order directly and can your team move those orders through prep without changing your in-store POS?

How TableX responds

Online Only provides a branded menu, modifiers, merchant-activated checkout, and an integrated Orders screen. A separate kitchen display and new in-store POS are not required for that starting workflow.

See it: Customer order → restaurant Orders → preparing → ready → complete.

Source and scope

National Restaurant Association · Off-Premises Restaurant Trends · April 16, 2025 ↗

Off-premises includes takeout, drive-thru, and delivery. This is not a delivery-only or online-order-only percentage.

05 · Repeat business

More than 60%

Loyalty can influence where off-premises guests order.

In the Association's 2025 off-premises research, more than 60% of surveyed takeout and delivery customers said loyalty-program membership affects their restaurant choice.

Ask the owner

After a guest's first order, do you have a direct way to recognize and reward a return visit?

How TableX responds

When enabled, TableX connects customer order history with configurable loyalty tiers, rewards, and promotions so guests have a reason to come back to your restaurant's own channel.

See it: Customer history, loyalty setup, reward redemption, and direct ordering.

Source and scope

National Restaurant Association · Off-Premises Restaurant Trends · April 16, 2025 ↗

Surveyed consumer preferences, not a guarantee that a loyalty program will increase any restaurant's sales.

06 · Promotions

8 in 10

Guests look for value, but discounts need to make sense for the owner.

The Association's 2025 off-premises report says value deals, including limited-time and buy-one-get-one offers, resonate with eight in ten delivery, takeout, and drive-thru customers.

Ask the owner

Before you publish a promotion, can you see what it could cost and whether the offer leaves enough margin?

How TableX responds

With configured menu prices and cost inputs, use TableX's promotion simulator to compare projected offer cost, sales, gross profit, and margin before launching. Projections depend on the inputs.

See it: Promotion simulator and owner-controlled offers.

Source and scope

National Restaurant Association · Off-Premises Restaurant Trends · April 15, 2025 ↗

Stated customer interest, not measured purchases or proof that all discounts generate profit.

Turn research into your restaurant's numbers

The next step isn't another industry average. It's your workflow.

Tell us how orders reach your team, what you currently pay by channel, and where your staff loses time. We'll demonstrate the TableX mode and eligible features that match your operation, then discuss onboarding and activation requirements.

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