The UK budget update: 5 ways hospitality businesses can fight back

If you run a pub, restaurant, café or takeaway, the latest UK Budget may have felt like another punch in the face.

Hospitality businesses are already dealing with rising wages, higher operating costs, expensive energy bills and increasingly tight margins. Instead of giving the industry the breathing space it desperately needs, the latest announcements have left many operators facing yet more pressure.

At Eposbuddy, we understand that burden because we're not just a technology provider. We're a business built by a hospitality business owner, with first-hand experience of what it takes to run a venue. We know the long hours, the tight margins and the constant pressure to make every pound count.

We can't change the costs facing the industry, but we can help you make more of the technology you already have. Your EPOS system can do far more than take payments. It can help you control labour costs, bring customers back, increase sales and make your day-to-day operation more efficient.

So, while the pressure isn't going away, there are ways to make your business work smarter. Here are five features that could help you save costs and increase revenue.

1. Take control of labour costs and potentially save almost £12,000 a year

Staff costs are one of the biggest expenses for many hospitality businesses. And while you can't run a successful venue without a good team, you can make sure you're getting the most from the hours you're paying for.

Do you know exactly when your staff are clocking in and out? Are people regularly arriving early, staying late or clocking in before they're actually ready to start work? A few minutes here and there might not seem like much, but multiply that across a team and it soon adds up.

With staff time and attendance tools in your EPOS system, you can monitor hours, keep track of clock-ins and clock-outs, and spot patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. That gives you better information when planning rotas and managing overtime.

Here's an example of what those minutes could cost you.

Imagine a business with 15 members of staff. If each person is paid for just 15 minutes they don't actually need to work, across 250 working days, that's almost £11,916 a year in basic wages.

That calculation uses the 2026 National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. Actual savings will depend on your team, pay rates and working patterns, and the figure doesn't include employer on-costs.

It isn't about asking staff to work harder or cutting corners. It's about making sure the hours you're paying for are hours your business genuinely needs.

2. Don't miss out on marketing – bring your customers back

Getting new customers through the door takes time and money. But what about the people who already know your business?

Your regulars are valuable. They know what you offer, they've chosen to visit before, and with the right reason, they may be happy to come back more often. That's where integrated marketing can make a difference.

Rather than relying on social media posts and hoping people see them, marketing tools connected to your EPOS can help you communicate directly with customers. With marketing integrated to your system, you could promote a new menu, advertise a special offer, remind customers about an upcoming event or encourage people to visit again.

You could also use customer information to make your messages more relevant. For example, a lunch offer might be more useful to someone who regularly visits during the day than someone who only comes in on a Saturday evening.

A 2026 analysis by UpMenu, covering 69 restaurants across five countries, found that restaurants using its loyalty programme had 22% higher revenue. This is an association found in the study that shows the potential value of keeping customers engaged.

For a business turning over £500,000, a hypothetical 22% increase would represent another £110,000 in annual sales.

The message is simple: don't overlook the customers you already have. Give them a reason to return, and make it easy to keep your business in mind.

3. Make the most of table service and increase your sales

Why do you think Wetherspoon has invested in letting customers order from their tables?

Customers like convenience. Being able to order without queuing at the bar can make a visit easier, particularly when a venue is busy.

But table service can offer hospitality businesses another opportunity: more chances to sell. With a mix of digital and traditional waiter-led table service, your staff can visit customers at their tables, take orders directly through the EPOS system and send them straight through to the kitchen or bar. These little conversations can increase the value of an order without making the customer feel pressured as they can order by scanning the QR code.

For example, if a restaurant turning over £1 million increased its sales by 10–15%, that could mean an additional £100,000–£150,000 in annual revenue.

The important thing is to give your team the tools to take orders efficiently and the opportunity to make those extra recommendations.

4. Give your staff an incentive to sell more with commission

Your staff are already talking to customers every day. They know the menu, understand the products and often know exactly what regular customers enjoy.

So why not give them an extra reason to recommend those additional items?

A staff commission or incentive scheme can encourage your team to suggest another drink, recommend a dessert, promote a premium option or highlight a special offer.

It doesn't have to be complicated. You could reward staff for reaching sales targets, selling selected products or increasing the average value of orders.

Your EPOS system can help you monitor sales and see which products are performing well, giving you useful information when setting targets and reviewing results.

Let's look at the example. For a business turning over £1 million a year, a 10% increase in sales would mean an extra £100,000 in annual revenue.

The idea is to create a win-win: your business benefits from additional sales, while your team gets recognised and rewarded for helping to achieve them.

5. Could self-service kiosks create up to £162,000 in annual financial benefits?

Why are big names such as McDonald's investing in digital ordering and self-service technology?

Because it can make ordering quicker, give customers more control and create opportunities to increase the value of each order.

McDonald's is a particularly interesting example. Its Experience of the Future initiative included the introduction of self-service kiosks across its restaurants. According to Evoke Creative's McDonald's case study, the wider initiative increased average order value by 30% across McDonald's UK and Ireland operations.

For independent hospitality businesses, self-service kiosks can help customers browse the menu, customise orders, add extras and pay without needing to queue at the counter. Orders can then be sent directly to the kitchen or preparation area.

They can also reduce pressure on front-of-house staff, particularly during busy periods, allowing your team to focus on preparing orders, serving customers and keeping the venue running smoothly.

So, what could the numbers look like? Here's an example based on a business with annual turnover of £600,000:

• £54,000 in potential staff cost savings – based on the equivalent of two £27,000 salaries.
• £108,000 in potential additional sales – based on a 30% increase in average order value across 60% of existing sales.

That's a combined potential financial impact of £162,000 a year.

Actual savings and sales would depend on how the kiosks are used, staffing requirements, customer uptake and the costs of the technology. Nevertheless, it's an opportunity worth exploring if you're looking for ways to make ordering more efficient and encourage customers to spend a little more.

Are you getting everything you can from your EPOS system?

We hope that after reading our blog, you have a good understanding of where the quick wins lie and how they could help you save money in an increasingly challenging economy.

At Eposbuddy, we understand hospitality because we're part of it. We're here to help you get more from your EPOS system and find practical ways to save costs and increase sales.

If you want to find out how Eposbuddy could help your business, get in touch with our team.