With starting wages rising to between $9 and $12 per hour in many states, and as much as $15 per hour in cities such as San Francisco and Seattle, the cost to produce your menu keeps getting more expensive. Twenty-nine states have set higher minimum wages than the federal minimum of $7.85 per hour, and many this year started indexing those to the cost of living.

Meanwhile, as the economy continues to improve, other industries are hiring potential candidates out from under you, making it increasingly difficult to staff your kitchens with qualified employees.

The original content of this post was featured on Foodservice Equipment Reports and written by Michael Sherer. Read his full article and Steve’s thoughts on lowering labor costs here.