What is Back Office?

The back office in the restaurant industry consists of the administrative and operational operations performed behind the scenes in order to run the daily operations of a business. Unlike the front-of-house operations that directly deal with the customers, the back office deals with the management of finances, inventory, staff, reporting, and business administration.

Most restaurants use a back-office system to handle their management functions-

  • POS systems
  • Restaurant management software
  • Accounting software
  • Payroll software
  • Inventory management software

The back office system enables a restaurant owner or manager to track the performance of their business and operate the restaurant effectively.

What comprises the back office of a restaurant?

Commonly included in the restaurant back office are-

  • Inventory control
  • Employee scheduling and payroll
  • Sales reporting
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Vendor and supplier management
  • Tax reporting
  • Customer data management
  • Business analytics and reporting
  • Cash management or reconciliation