Long before Matchbox struck its first match, lit its brick oven, and welcomed its first guest, there was a vision: to create a high-energy restaurant that served delicious food and brought people together. In 2002, that vision took shape when the founders discovered an old vacant building in the heart of Washington, D.C. Two decades later, Matchbox has grown to twelve restaurants across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. thriving by staying true to its original values. However, as the company expanded, its reliance on QuickBooks and spreadsheets for accounting and back-office operations created inefficiencies, requiring hours of manual data entry with no centralized system. This cumbersome process made it difficult to scale effectively, prompting Matchbox to seek a better solution.
As Matchbox scaled up its location count, its accounting process remained the same. It quickly became apparent to Operating Systems Manager for Matchbox Brian Anderson that continuing the status quo wouldn’t sustain the growth the business was experiencing. Relying on QuickBooks and manual spreadsheets created a slow, labor-intensive financial reporting process that was prone to errors and inefficiencies. To continue growing successfully, Matchbox needed a solution that could centralize its financial data and streamline operations. It needed a platform that could:
Without a more efficient system in place, Matchbox risked losing valuable time and profitability, making it essential to find a better solution.
After evaluating multiple options, Matchbox chose Restaurant365 for its restaurant-specific capabilities, seamless vendor invoice automation, and robust reporting tools. With Restaurant365, Matchbox eliminated time-consuming data entry by automatically importing invoices from multiple vendors, saving each manager up to 10 hours per week. The platform also provided real-time financial visibility, allowing leadership to make data-driven decisions faster. By streamlining accounting and back-office operations, Matchbox could focus on delivering an exceptional dining experience while improving operational efficiency.
Managing multiple entities (restaurants and companies) would be next to impossible without Restaurant365.
Brian Anderson, Operating Systems Manager
Matchbox, LLC
After switching to Restaurant365 Accounting, Matchbox immediately saw a transformation in its accounting and back-office operations. Prior to the switch, managers were manually work through vendor invoices multiple times per week. For example, one of Matchbox’s largest vendors Sysco made at least three deliveries per week per store, requiring a manager to spend an hour each time manually working through the five to six page invoice. Now this process is completely automated, allowing managers to redirect their focus to front-of-house operations, training staff, and enhancing the guest experience.
Along with the labor cost savings, managers have more time to spend in the front of the house supporting our staff and mingling with customers to ensure they’re having a spectacular dining experience.
Brian Anderson, Operating Systems Manager
Matchbox, LLC
With centralized financial reporting and real-time data access, Matchbox gained better control over costs and profitability. After successfully opening their first quick-service concept, DC-3, in 2010, they quickly realized that costs were too high. Operating Systems Manager Brian Anderson turned to Restaurant365 to verify the accuracy of all of his prep and menu item recipes. Next, he compared theoretical and actual cost variances, then ran a menu engineering report that ranked each menu item based on its contribution to the bottom line. The end result? Anderson was able to isolate problems and reduce food cost by 2%.
Finally, Matchbox used Restaurant365 to streamline its bar and liquor program, improving profitability through smarter pricing and inventory management. The software’s reporting tools enabled leadership to make informed business decisions based on historical sales trends and cost projections. With increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved financial oversight, Matchbox is better positioned than ever to continue expanding while maintaining its commitment to high-quality dining experiences.
Using Restaurant365 Matchbox transformed its accounting and back-office operations, allowing its team to focus on what truly matters: creating exceptional dining experiences. With improved accounting efficiency, cost savings, and better financial oversight, Matchbox has positioned itself for continued growth. As they continue to expand their footprint, Restaurant365 remains a key partner in helping them maintain operational excellence and stay true to their vision of bringing people together over great food and drinks.
10 hours saved on vendor invoicing
per week, per store
2% food cost reduction
using menu engineering
Bar and liquor pricing restructure
using profitability projections
Discover how you can start achieving savings like these for your business
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Restaurant365 bridges the gap between accounting and operations by centralizing all data, helping restaurant operators to become more efficient, accurately forecast, and tackle any challenge or opportunity with speed and accuracy.
