How can my bar or restaurant lower its costs?

Where does a venue’s money go without you noticing?

Look first at the bills that renew themselves: card payment fees, energy, insurance, and contracts for tills, software and services. Each one is easy to ignore on a busy week.

Before you compare anything, gather your last few statements and note for each one: who it’s with, what you pay, when the contract ends, and what it costs to leave.

Are you overpaying for card payments?

The fee the card issuer takes (interchange) is currently capped at 0.2% for consumer debit cards and 0.3% for consumer credit cards. Everything your provider charges on top of that is theirs to set.

When the Payment Systems Regulator looked at the market in 2021, it found it doesn’t work well for businesses with card takings up to £50 million. On average, existing customers paid more than new ones. 43% of merchants had never looked for a better deal. But nearly 9 in 10 of those who negotiated got one.

Read how card machine fees work, or see how three big providers compare: Dojo vs SumUp vs Square.

Is your energy contract about to roll over?

Business energy has no price cap, so the rate you agree is the rate you pay. Out-of-contract and “deemed” rates are usually higher than a fixed deal, and there’s no cooling-off period on business contracts.

Ofgem counts you as a microbusiness if you have fewer than 10 staff and a turnover or balance sheet of £2 million or less, or if your energy use is low enough. If you are one, your supplier can’t ask for more than 30 days’ notice, a rollover can last 12 months at most, and you can leave a rollover without notice or a fee. Since October 2024, suppliers have had to show any broker’s fee in your contract terms, so you can see what you’re paying for the introduction.

Are you claiming the right business rates relief?

The rules changed in England in April 2026. The 40% retail, hospitality and leisure relief ended on 31 March 2026. Instead, eligible properties pay a lower multiplier: 38.2p in the pound below a rateable value of £51,000, and 43p from £51,000 to £499,999. Your council confirms whether you’re eligible.

On top of that, for 2026/27 only, pubs and live music venues get an extra 15% relief. Restaurants, cafés and nightclubs don’t qualify. Small business rate relief still gives 100% off for a rateable value of £12,000 or less, tapering to nothing at £15,000. Check your bill shows what you’re entitled to. Business rates are set separately in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Is your insurance still right for your venue?

Cover that was right when you opened may not be now. The Association of British Insurers says getting your building’s rebuild cost right has a significant impact on the premium. It’s also worth checking you’re not paying for cover you no longer need. See what affects the cost of hospitality insurance.

What about staff, rotas and door costs?

Wages are hard to cut without hurting service. What you can cut is waste: rotas built in spreadsheets and group chats, shifts that run long, and door cover booked out of habit rather than need. Here’s what door staff cost and what your licence actually asks for.

How can we help?

We look at what you’ve got, compare it with established UK providers on our partners page, and tell you plainly what you could change. If you’re already on a good deal, we say so. If you want to switch, we can handle it and stay your one contact. It costs you nothing.