What’s Really Eating Your Profits? (Hint: It’s Not Just the Rent)

If you run a pub or restaurant, you already know margins are tight. Between energy bills, staffing, and supplier price hikes, it can feel like you’re constantly plugging holes in a sinking ship. But here’s something most owners and managers don’t realise:

👉 It’s what you don’t see in your kitchen that could be quietly draining thousands from your bottom line every year.

We’re talking about the invisible costs—waste, over-portioning, inconsistent ordering, theft, and sloppy stock control. They add up fast. One extra scoop of chips a day? That’s hundreds of pounds over a month. A few sneaky pints not rung through? You get the idea.

At Sterling Stock Auditors, we see it all the time. Pubs and restaurants running flat out, working hard, but still struggling to see the profit they expect. Nine times out of ten, the issue isn’t the takings—it’s what’s happening behind the scenes.

Here are a few silent profit killers to watch out for:

• Over-ordering due to poor stock visibility

• Under-portioning or over-serving leading to waste and customer complaints

• Staff misuse or theft—often unintentional, but costly nonetheless

• Stock not rotating properly, leading to expired or wasted goods

• Inaccurate stock counts, which throw off your entire cost control

The good news? All of this is fixable.

With consistent, professional food stocktaking, you gain control. You see where the leaks are—and more importantly, you stop them. Whether you run a high-volume bar, a gastropub, or a family-run kitchen, having accurate insight into your stock is the first step to reclaiming lost profit.

💬 Curious where your kitchen might be losing money?
Let’s have a quick chat—no pressure, no jargon.
👉 Book a free 15-minute call with us and let’s talk stock, savings, and strategy.

At Sterling Stock Auditors, we don’t just count your stock—we help you count on your profits. Stay tuned for the next post in our series, where we’ll show you how to make stocktaking a breeze (instead of a burden).