The Slowest Month of the Year: What To Do with Extra Time as a Restaurant Operator

3 Min Read By Society Insurance

We all know January is often the slowest time of the year for restaurants. In 2019, the NPD group found that restaurants often experience more than 10% decline in sales vs. their busiest month (historically June).

As restaurateurs find themselves with more time on their hands, why not use some of that time to ensure the longevity of your restaurant?

Whether restaurant owners and operators have just one hour, five hours in a week, or 10 hours over the next few weeks, they can make major improvements to their space and operations that will be felt throughout the entirety of 2026. 

Here are some suggestions should restaurants find themselves with a few extra hours to tackle those projects they’ve been putting off for months.

One Hour: Replace Floor Mats and Address a Common Fire HazardEven if you just have 60 minutes in your schedule, you can make progress on improving your restaurant.

One option is to spend that time ordering and replacing internal floor mats – yes, those…