Raise the average bill
A small rise in what each table spends adds up faster than chasing new customers. Start with what is already on the table.
1. Engineer your menu
Find your best sellers and your most profitable dishes, then give the profitable ones the best spots: the top right of each page, a box, or a "chef's special" label. Drop dishes that sell rarely and tie up stock. A shorter menu also makes the kitchen faster.
2. Build combos and set meals
Pair a main with a drink and a dessert for a price slightly below the total. Momo with soup and a lassi, or a thakali set with a sweet, gets guests to order more than they planned while feeling like a deal.
3. Train staff to suggest, not push
"Would you like a fresh lime soda with that?" and "Our sekuwa goes well with this" are easy add-ons. Give staff two or three items to suggest each week, and recognise the person who sells the most.
4. Reward bigger bills
Give extra loyalty points when a bill passes an amount, such as 50 bonus points on bills over Rs 2,000. Groups will add a dessert or another round of drinks to reach it.
Turn first-time diners into regulars
Most restaurants lose track of a guest the moment they pay. A regular who visits twice a month is worth far more than a one-off group, and keeping one costs much less than finding a new one.
5. Run a digital loyalty program
Paper stamp cards get lost and tell you nothing. With a digital program, staff scan the guest's QR at the counter, points land in their app, and you build a list of your regulars as you go. Points on every bill work well for restaurants, with a welcome bonus on the first visit to get people to join.
6. Remember birthdays and win back lost guests
A birthday voucher brings a guest back with friends, often a bigger table than usual. Guests who have not come back in 30 or 45 days are worth a "we miss you" discount: it costs far less than an advertisement and reaches people who already like your food.
Fill your slow hours
7. Make quiet hours worth the trip
If tables are empty between 3 and 5 pm, offer an off-peak bonus: double points or a tea-and-snack set during those hours only. You already pay for the staff and the rent, so each extra guest in a quiet hour is close to pure profit.
Get found and reviewed
8. Keep your Google Business Profile complete
Many diners search "restaurant near me" before deciding. Add accurate opening hours, your phone number, photos of real dishes and the menu with prices. Reply to reviews, good and bad, politely and quickly.
9. Reward reviews and social posts
Ask happy guests for a review at the right moment, after a good meal rather than while they wait for the bill. You can reward feedback and Instagram story mentions with points, approved by your staff, so the posts are real and you control the cost.
Plan for festivals
10. Run Dashain, Tihar and New Year campaigns
Festival weeks bring family gatherings and office parties. Announce a festival set menu early, give double points during the festival so guests choose you over the place next door, and send a reminder message a few days before. Valentine's Day, Teej and New Year's Eve are worth planning for too.
A restaurant loyalty program you can copy
- 10 points for every Rs 100 spent, and 500 points for a free main course
- 100 welcome points when a guest joins on their first visit
- 50 bonus points on bills over Rs 2,000
- Birthday voucher: a free dessert for the table
- Refer a friend: 100 points for both people
- Double points during Dashain and Tihar
- Win-back: Rs 200 off for guests who haven't visited in 45 days
All of these run in HamroPoints from a phone at the counter, with no POS system needed.
Questions
What is the fastest way to increase restaurant sales?
Raising the average bill is usually fastest, because it works with the guests you already have. Combos, staff suggestions and a bonus for bills over a set amount can show results within weeks.
Do loyalty programs work for restaurants in Nepal?
Yes, especially for restaurants with regular local guests. Points on every bill, birthday vouchers and festival bonuses give guests a reason to choose you again, and the program shows you who your regulars are.
How much should a restaurant give back in rewards?
Many restaurants give back between 3% and 10% of spend. For example, 10 points per Rs 100 with 500 points worth a Rs 400 dish is about an 8% return. Start lower, see how guests respond, and raise it during festivals.
How do I get guests to join my loyalty program?
Offer a welcome bonus they can use on the same visit, put a table stand with the offer on each table, and have staff mention it when presenting the bill. Joining takes guests under a minute in the app.