Restaurant marketing plan (2026): free one-page template and 90-day plan builder
A restaurant marketing plan should fit on one page: where you are now, one goal for the next 90 days, who you serve, three or four channels, a budget (most restaurants spend 3% to 6% of sales), a month-by-month calendar, and the numbers you will check. Use the free builder below to get a 90-day plan and budget split for your goal.
- A good restaurant marketing plan fits on one page: one goal, a budget, the channels, a 90-day calendar and the numbers you will check.
- Pick one main goal per quarter: new guests, regulars, slow nights, direct orders, catering or a launch.
- Most restaurants spend about 3% to 6% of sales on marketing.
- Fix the free basics first: Google profile, reviews and a website with the menu as text.
- Use the builder below to get a 90-day plan and budget split in a minute.
Restaurant marketing plan builder
Answer four questions and get a 90-day plan with a budget split you can print or copy.
The one-page restaurant marketing plan template
| Section | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Where you are now | Sales, covers per week, average check, Google rating and review count, where you rank on Maps | $70,000 a month, 1,100 covers a week, 4.3 stars from 210 reviews, not in the Maps top three for “thai food near me” |
| 2. One goal for 90 days | Specific and measurable | Increase weeknight covers by 15% |
| 3. Who you serve | Your main guest types and where they live or work | Families within 3 miles, office workers at lunch |
| 4. Channels | Three or four, no more | Google profile and reviews, weeknight special, Meta ads Monday to Thursday, email list |
| 5. Budget | Monthly total and split by channel | $2,800 a month: $1,000 ads, $800 tools and content, $1,000 management |
| 6. Calendar | What happens each month | See the builder output above |
| 7. Measures | The few numbers you check monthly | Weeknight covers, Google calls and directions, new reviews, list size |
How to choose your goal
- Sales are down overall? Find which number fell first with our sales diagnosis.
- Margin is the problem, not sales? Check your numbers with the profit margin calculator and look at delivery app fees.
- Need tactics for the plan? Pick from our 26 restaurant marketing ideas, or read the bigger picture in restaurant marketing strategies.
Restaurant marketing calendar
Plan big dates about four weeks ahead: Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl in February, Mother’s Day in May, Fourth of July catering, back to school in August, football season from September, Thanksgiving to-go orders and Small Business Saturday in November, and holiday parties and gift cards in December. Our marketing ideas guide has the full month-by-month calendar.
We write the plan with you, run Google, reviews, ads and AI visibility, and report monthly in covers, calls, bookings and orders. Restaurant SEO services · Free audit
Common questions
Short, direct answers.
What should a restaurant marketing plan include?
Seven parts: where you stand today (sales, covers, reviews, Google ranking), one main goal, who your guests are, the channels you will use, a budget, a month-by-month calendar, and the numbers you will measure. Keep it to one or two pages.
How much should a restaurant spend on marketing?
A common rule of thumb is 3% to 6% of sales. New restaurants usually spend more in their first year. Spend first on the free basics (Google profile, reviews, website), then on channels you can measure.
How do I write a marketing plan for a new restaurant?
Start before opening: verify your Google Business Profile, build a website with the menu as text, set up reservations and ordering, and start an email list. Plan a soft opening, invite local food creators, ask every early guest for a review, and run local ads for the first eight weeks.
What is the best marketing for a restaurant?
For most independent restaurants, the best return comes from Google: a complete Business Profile, steady new reviews, and a website with the menu as text. Then email and text marketing for regulars, and local ads for specific goals like events and catering.
How often should I update my restaurant marketing plan?
Review results monthly and rewrite the plan every quarter. Keep what moved your numbers and drop what did not.
Related
More for restaurant owners.
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