Show fees before they order — or face a fine

Morning, Chef. New state fee-disclosure laws are live — the surprise service charge at the bottom of the check is now a compliance risk, not just a one-star review. With 38% of Americans already spending less at restaurants than a year ago, every hidden fee is one more reason they don't come back.

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State laws taking effect this year require you to disclose service charges, automatic gratuities, credit-card surcharges, and delivery fees *before* a customer orders — not buried at the bottom of the check. Several states already require the fee up front, and the new 2026 rules are spreading state by state.

Do this today: 1. Audit every fee. List each service charge, auto-grat, card surcharge, and delivery fee with the exact percentage. 2. Show it before the order. Put those numbers on the menu, the QR landing page, and your online checkout — wherever the guest decides to buy. 3. Brief your front-of-house. Servers should name the charge when they present the menu — before anyone asks.

💡 A surprise fee is now both a one-star review and a compliance violation. Diners are already cutting back — transparent pricing protects your margin and your score. Fix the menu once; skip the fine.

Food costs are climbing and traffic is soft — one thin week can snowball into a cash crunch. Our free Cash-Flow Calculator maps money in and out so you spot the gap early and protect your margin. Built by operators, for operators.

RestaurantOwners.news is the daily brief from The Restaurant Owners Desk — plain-spoken, numbers-forward intelligence that helps independent operators run a tighter, more profitable restaurant in five minutes a day. Written by operators, for operators.