We’ve all come across management tips and strategies for restaurant owners. Some of them work, some of them clash with our personal principles. But every now and then we come across a list that actually makes sense and reminds us of what we may be forgetting. Here’s Inc.com’s take on what restaurant owners should do.

1. Buy wisely.
Make corporate procurement a shared effort, and you’ll be surprised at how much you can save by group buying. Take the case of Union Square Hospitality’s Danny Meyer. He managed to save as much as $200,000 by allowing their chefs to discover savings and subsequently do the group-buying.

2. Keep your staff close.
Involve your staff, bartenders, waiters, and chefs when brainstorming new ideas. They’re the ones who get down and dirty, and are therefore the ones who have an idea or two in mind to make your restaurant a great success.

3. Consider your guests’ mood
This is what the staff over at the Inn at Little Washington (Washington, Virginia) does. Once the guests arrive, the captain evaluates their mood from 1 to 10. The staff then has to do everything and anything to bring their mood up—from a kitchen tour to a complimentary wine toast. The goal? No guest leaves with a rating below 9.

4. Make room for expansion
Location is an essential factor when putting up a restaurant. Once you pick the location, strictly conform to the zoning laws and local building codes. Discuss the expansion possibilities with your contractor.

5. Understand accounting
This is a basic skill you have to understand as a restaurant owner. From your staff’s payroll to the rent to the average earnings of your restaurant…these are some things you just can’t overlook if you want to maximize your profits and minimize your losses,

6. Stand out as a manager
Define what kind of management style you have and if it’s any effective. Train people with your brand of management, and you’ll grow together with your staff.