Hospitality and retail · Owner run
Fractional CFO for hospitality and retail
Business advice for cafes, restaurants and bars, retailers and online stores: the margin on each day, dish, range and order, prices that hold after each wage rise and the card surcharge ban, the cash for the quiet months, and what the business is worth.
Start with your business
Cafes, restaurants and bars
Penalty rates, menu prices and the quiet months
Owner run venues where a busy day can still lose money once the wages are counted.
Retailers
Stock, markdowns, rosters and what the shop is worth
Shops and showrooms that pay for stock months before it sells.
Online stores
Margin per order, advertising payback and the next stock order
Ecommerce brands whose gross margin hides what each order really keeps.
Dates that move your cash
Each is stated in general terms with its source. Your legal adviser or tax adviser can confirm how it applies to your business.
Hospitality and retail · Checked 26 October 2026
Since 1 October 2026: Card surcharges banned
Businesses can no longer add a surcharge when customers pay by eftpos, Mastercard, Visa or American Express. A clearly shown weekend or public holiday surcharge is still allowed. Source: Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, card surcharging ban
Cafes, restaurants and bars · Checked 26 October 2026
24 December 2026 to 3 May 2027: Queensland public holidays
Christmas Eve from 6 pm to midnight on 24 December 2026, then 25, 26 and 28 December, 1 and 26 January 2027, Easter from 26 to 29 March, Anzac Day on Monday 26 April and Labour Day on 3 May 2027. Source: Queensland Government, public holidays
Retailers · Checked 26 October 2026
From 1 December 2026: Junior rates step up
Under the General Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy awards, junior rates for employees aged 18 to 20 with more than six months service with their employer rise in steps from the first pay period starting on or after 1 December 2026, until all reach the adult rate from 1 July 2029. Under the General Retail award, 20 year olds with more than six months service already receive the adult rate. Source: Fair Work Commission, decision [2026] FWCFB 222
Online stores · Checked 26 October 2026
From 1 July 2027: Unfair trading practices law
The Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Act 2026 starts on 1 July 2027. It bans conduct that manipulates consumers or unreasonably distorts the environment in which they decide, to their actual or likely detriment, requires most unavoidable extra charges to be shown prominently close to the base price, and key subscription terms up front with an easy way to cancel. Source: Federal Register of Legislation, Act No. 64 of 2026
Cafes, restaurants and bars · Checked 26 October 2026
Every public holiday: Penalty rates in the Hospitality and Restaurant awards
The Hospitality award pays 225 per cent of the ordinary hourly rate, and the Restaurant award 225 per cent of the minimum hourly rate, for full time and part time staff on a public holiday. Both pay casuals 250 per cent, including the casual loading. Source: Fair Work Commission, award penalty rate tables (Hospitality Industry (General) Award, Table 14; Restaurant Industry Award, Table 8)
Each date checked against its source on 26 October 2026.
Tools to start with
Five free tools on the ProfitPulse tools site, each with its result on screen straight away.
Articles for hospitality and retail
- The two margins every Queensland cafe and restaurant owner needs to know
- What a busy cafe hides behind a strong coffee day
- The winter trading slump quietly eating hospitality margins
- Retailers: what to do with the stock that did not sell
- What every retail stocktake reveals about the actual margin for the year
- The discount stack: why a record Black Friday rarely means a more profitable Christmas for online retailers
How we work with hospitality and retail businesses
Every engagement starts with a diagnostic of your numbers and the way the business makes and spends its cash. It then settles into a monthly rhythm of reporting, forecasting and decisions, alongside your accountant and bookkeeper.
- Fractional CFO partnership from $3,750 a month
- Indicative valuation from $4,500
- Comprehensive valuation from $13,500
Engagements usually stay at the starting price. Some need closer oversight or a deeper assessment, and the scope and fee rise to match. Find your fit confirms your price based on the characteristics of your business, and the pricing page explains how everything is sized.
ProfitPulse was founded by a Chartered Accountant and former infrastructure investment banker.
Talk it through with us
A 45 minute discovery call is complimentary, and you will come away with at least one practical observation about your business.