The Economics of Owning an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet | Why $19.99 Is the Trap

A buffet can promise unlimited food at one flat price to every person who walks in — and still make money. Not by controlling what you eat. By betting on who walks through the door. In this breakdown: the real cost per plate, why self-service is a payroll decision, the one item with zero appetite risk, and the single thing that kills buffets with good food and full tables. The four numbers — plates per guest, food cost per ticket, seats turned per night, and the guest count you need just to break even. 00:00 The bet 01:20 The average 02:31 Cost per plate 05:00 Labour you don't pay for 06:03 The drink 07:02 Waste and the clock 09:27 When the average breaks 10:03 The empty room 10:45 The four numbers We don't just talk about businesses. We unveil them. #business #money #buffet #economics #explained #businessdecoded #businessmodel #BuffetBusiness #restaurantbusiness #RestaurantEconomics #foodbusiness