2023 FL Minimum Wage Guide for Restaurants
What is the minimum wage in Florida in 2023?
The 2023 minimum wage in Florida is $11.00 an hour for employers. On September 30, 2022, Florida’s minimum wage increased to $11.00 from $10, which is more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Below is Florida’s historical minimum wage over the last 10 years:
2013 - $7.79
2014 - $7.93
2015 - $8.05
2016 - $8.05
2017 - $8.10
2018 - $8.25
2019 - $8.46
2020 - $8.56
2021 - $8.65
2022 - $10.00
2023 - $11.00
Source: Florida Minimum Wage by Labor Law Center
Florida State vs. Federal Minimum Wage
Florida State’s minimum wage will be $15 by 2026 versus the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 as of 2023.
In a November 2020 decision, voters paved the way for a gradual increase of the minimum wage in Florida to $15 an hour by the year 2026. Progressing towards that goal, the Florida minimum wage will step up to $12 in September 2023, and with each passing year, it will rise by an additional $1 until it reaches the $15 mark in 2026.
How to Offer Competitive Wages in Florida
Coping with tight restaurant profit margins makes it difficult to provide competitive wages. Fortunately, there's a practical remedy: putting the spotlight on gratuity improvement. This win-win approach benefits restaurant owners, customers, and the dedicated staff alike. Let's delve into some ways to make it happen!
Tap into Table-side POS Service: Seize the advantages of using handheld tablets and table-side POS systems in your restaurant. Not only will you witness a surge in overall sales, but your guests will also experience enhanced convenience with faster service, leading to greater tips for your dedicated staff.
Table Turnover Rate: More tables served equals more customers served in a single shift. Which means the tip pool will naturally be much bigger! It’s a win-win for staff and management!
Emphasize Credit Card Tipping: Highlighting the convenience of credit card tipping enhances the guest experience, resulting in considerable tip growth. Moreover, it positively impacts overall sales and streamlines service efficiency.
Prioritize Outstanding Hosts and Hostesses: Splurge a little on your host staff – a robust greeting can lead to substantial tips! Ensuring short wait times, acknowledging reservations, and offering friendly attention, particularly during busy periods, keeps customers delighted.
Master the Art of Upselling: Elevate your tips by 10% through skillful upselling! Ensure your staff receives comprehensive training in upselling tactics. Moreover, craft your menu in a way that naturally promotes upselling, creating a win-win situation for both your valued staff and satisfied customers.
How to Improve Your Margins Overall
Increasing your margins creates the potential to offer more competitive compensation in the restaurant industry. Consequently, this draws in top-notch staff who often exhibit longer-term commitments (though exceptions do exist!). Explore these valuable tips to enhance your margins:
Boost Margins with Restaurant POS Solutions: Embrace the latest in point-of-sale systems, online orders, and reservation platforms to elevate service efficiency. By implementing intelligent staff scheduling during peak hours and cost-effective labor management during off-peak times, you can enhance your restaurant's margins.
Menu Fine-tuning: Engage in a comprehensive menu analysis to distinguish items with high and low profitability. Strategically highlight and upsell dishes with better profit margins. Be open to revamping or phasing out items that don't perform well financially. Furthermore, proficiently manage portion sizes and ingredient costs to ensure optimal profitability while delivering exceptional quality.
Optimize Your Budget: Stay on top of food and beverage costs with a proactive approach, diligently managing inventory, minimizing waste, and negotiating advantageous deals with suppliers. Bulk purchases and menu adjustments in response to shifting ingredient costs play a key role in budget optimization..
Summary
Staying in the loop about current wage laws and applying smart approaches to enhance compensation empowers restaurant owners to establish a remarkable workplace, entice the finest talent, and instill a sense of value and motivation in their incredible staff, who consistently deliver exceptional service. The outcome? An establishment that thrives and experiences remarkable growth.
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