ClearMargin Consulting

The work that happens
inside the numbers.

We work directly with café and restaurant owners across New Zealand to fix the costs that are bleeding the business — and build the systems that make it worth owning.

How we work

Direct. Data-driven. No fluff.

1
We start with your numbers
Before we recommend anything, we look at what the data says. Your P&L, your roster, your menu costs, your trade patterns. The numbers tell the story — we just know how to read it.
2
We identify the real problem
Most owners know something is wrong. Very few know exactly what. We diagnose before we prescribe — and the diagnosis is almost always more specific than the owner expected.
3
We give you a clear plan
Not a report that sits in a drawer. A specific, prioritised action plan — the three things to change this week, the five things to build over the next 90 days, and the metrics to track whether it's working.
4
We stay accountable to outcomes
Our job isn't to make recommendations. It's to help you implement them. Whether that's one day on-site or an ongoing retainer, we measure what changes and what doesn't.
We've been inside the venues.
18 years in hospitality — as a chef, as an operator, and as a consultant. We've restructured rosters that recovered $24,000+ in annual labour cost. We've returned cafés to profitability after sustained losses. We've helped multi-site operators add significant catering revenue.

We know what the numbers should look like. We know how to get them there.
All engagements are confidential.
We don't share client details, financials, or business information. What happens in the consulting room stays there. Every engagement is covered by a standard confidentiality agreement.
What we offer

Choose the engagement that fits where you are.

All prices in NZD (New Zealand Dollars)  ·  Convert to your currency →

Starting point

Strategy Call

A focused 60-minute session to diagnose your biggest problem and give you a clear priority list. Best for owners who know something is wrong but aren't sure where to start.

  • 60-minute video or phone call
  • Pre-call questionnaire to review your numbers in advance
  • Clear diagnosis of your primary profit leak
  • A prioritised 3-point action plan to implement immediately
  • Follow-up email summary within 24 hours
$250 NZD
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Most popular

P&L Review

A thorough review of your profit and loss statement — identifying where the money is going, what the benchmarks say, and what needs to change. Delivered as a written report with recommendations.

  • Full review of up to 12 months of P&L data
  • Labour cost and food cost benchmarking against NZ industry standards
  • Identification of your three highest-priority cost levers
  • Written report with specific, actionable recommendations
  • 45-minute debrief call to walk through findings
$750 NZD
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On-site work

Half Day On-Site

Four hours at your venue — observing, reviewing, and working through your biggest operational or financial challenge with you in person. Best for roster restructures, menu engineering, or opening system builds.

  • 4 hours on-site at your venue (Auckland and surrounds, or travel by arrangement)
  • Pre-visit review of your current numbers and roster
  • Live walk-through and operational observation
  • Written action plan delivered within 48 hours
$950 NZD
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Deep dive

Full Day On-Site

A full trading day at your venue — across both a service period and a working session. Best for businesses that need a comprehensive operational review or are preparing for a significant change.

  • Full day on-site — service observation plus working session
  • Full review of P&L, roster, menu costs, and systems
  • Team briefing if required
  • Comprehensive written report and 90-day action plan
  • 30-day follow-up call included
$1,750 NZD
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Ongoing support

Monthly Retainer

Ongoing consulting support for owners who want a consistent set of eyes on the numbers — not just a one-off engagement. We become your external financial operations partner.

  • Monthly P&L review and benchmarking
  • Weekly labour and food cost check-in (async)
  • Unlimited email and message access for questions
  • Priority booking for on-site visits at retainer rate
Also available

Project-Based Consulting

Scoped to a specific outcome — menu engineering, roster restructure, exit preparation, opening systems build. Quoted individually based on scope and timeframe.

  • Menu engineering and full dish costing
  • Roster restructure and labour system build
  • Exit preparation and sale-ready financial presentation
  • New venue opening systems and 90-day plan
$1,500 NZD / month
Project-based from $2,500
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What to expect

No jargon. No generic advice.
Just the work.

01

Blunt, honest feedback

We tell you what the numbers actually say — not what you'd like to hear. If your labour cost is 38% and it should be 32%, that's the conversation we're having. If a dish on your menu is losing you money, we'll name it.

02

Specific, not generic

Every recommendation is specific to your business, your numbers, and your context. We don't produce templated reports. We look at your P&L, your roster, your menu — and we tell you what to change about those specific documents.

03

Practical from day one

Every engagement ends with something you can act on immediately. Not a strategic framework to consider. A specific change to make — to the roster, to a menu price, to a staff conversation — this week.

Who we work with

We work best with owners who are ready to act on what they find.

✓Café and restaurant owners who know something is wrong with the numbers but can't identify exactly what
✓New owners in their first 90 days who want to build the right systems before bad habits set in
✓Experienced operators who are thinking about selling and want to understand what their business is actually worth
✓Multi-site operators who need a consistent financial operating framework across venues
✓Owners who are willing to look at the numbers honestly — even when the numbers are uncomfortable
We don't work with everyone.
Consulting only works when the owner is ready to act on what they find. If you're looking for someone to validate decisions already made, or to produce a report that sits on a shelf, we're probably not the right fit.

If you're ready to look at your numbers honestly and make changes based on what they say — get in touch. That's exactly who we work best with.
Get in Touch
Get started

Ready to talk?

Send us an email with a brief description of your business and what you're trying to fix. We'll come back to you within one business day to discuss the best way to work together.

What to include in your email:
01 What type of venue you operate — café, restaurant, food truck, multi-site
02 Roughly how long you've been trading and your approximate weekly revenue
03 The one thing you most want to fix or understand — labour, menu, exit, opening systems
04 Which service you're interested in, or if you're not sure, just say so
Email Us — info@clearmargingroup.com

We respond within one business day. All enquiries are confidential.

Not ready for consulting yet?

Start with the playbooks — the same frameworks we use with clients, packaged for self-directed use.

Browse the Playbooks