What do a deli’s staff schedules show about its busiest hours?
Schedules show where the owner puts people, and that usually follows demand. Set several weeks of rosters against hourly sales and you can see the true rush, whether lunch is overstaffed or thin, and who covers the key shifts. Note who works the busiest hours, because that is who you cannot lose.
Ask for staff schedules going back several months and line them up with hourly sales from the till. The hours with the most people and the most sales are the real peaks. Check that these match what the seller told you. A deli that says morning is its best time but staffs heavily at noon is giving you a clue.
Then look at who is on those shifts. If the same two people always work the lunch rush, ask about their roles, how long they have worked there and whether they know the regulars. Note any shift covered mostly by the owner, because you will have to take it over.
Look too at gaps. Are there times of the day when staff stand idle? Are there times when the line is long and no one is added? Ask how the owner decides on hours and how often the schedule changes. Finally, think about the team you inherit. Retention matters, so ask the seller how and when staff will be told about the sale. Compare the schedule with what the seller says about hours, since any difference between the two deserves a direct question.
Key takeaways
- Line up schedules against hourly sales to find the real peaks.
- Note who always works the busiest shifts and how long they have been there.
- Look for idle stretches and understaffed rushes.
- Ask how and when staff will hear about the sale.
Related reading
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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