Meet the Restaurant Operations Expert Who Understands Your Multi-Unit Challenges

Hi, I'm April King, founder of Restaurant PhD and creator of the Restaurant PhD Framework™. I've spent 15 years solving the exact problems you're facing as a multi-unit restaurant owner.

After leading operations for nearly 20 years and advancing from server at 14 to multi-unit leadership, I discovered the critical gap that separates successful restaurant groups from those that struggle: documented systems that actually work. Restaurant PhD exists to solve this exact problem for owners who want to build businesses that run profitably with or without them in the building.

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April King — Restaurant PhD founder and multi-unit restaurant operations expert

Enterprise-Scale Experience That Informs Every Recommendation

Foodservice Distribution Experience

Working with hundreds of restaurants provided supply-chain and cost-management insights that shape my practical, operator-first approach.

Restaurant ERP Technology Experience

Deep experience in technology adoption and integration—how to implement tools that actually improve operations at scale.

Multi-Unit Leadership

Hands-on leadership across multiple locations created the foundation for sustainable success at scale—financial performance, team development, and consistent execution.

Areas of Proven Capability

  • Financial performance and P&L ownership
  • Operational excellence via systems and standards
  • Leadership multiplication and internal promotions

The Restaurant PhD Philosophy: Systems Create Freedom

Why Owners Become Prisoners of Their Own Success

When standards and procedures live only in leaders’ heads, the business depends on constant presence. The cost: missed family time, stalled growth, and burnout.

The Restaurant PhD Solution

A comprehensive framework that documents procedures, trains teams, develops leaders, and creates accountability—so excellence becomes predictable and scalable.

Specialized Expertise for Multi-Unit Restaurant Success

Leadership Development & Training

  • Executive coaching and manager development programs
  • Culture development and train-the-trainer systems
  • Performance coaching that raises results and confidence

AI Integration for Restaurant Operations

  • Marketing content creation that preserves brand voice
  • SOP development and documentation with AI assist
  • Real-time troubleshooting and administrative efficiency

Financial Accountability & Performance

  • P&L coaching and performance standards
  • Cost controls and revenue optimization
  • Motivating, measurable accountability systems

Multi-Unit Operations & Expansion

  • Operational readiness and scalable systems
  • Leadership pipelines to support growth
  • Brand consistency across diverse markets

Measurable Results That Demonstrate Proven Expertise

  • Top Sales Performance: Best sales increase out of 31 restaurants as General Manager
  • Financial Excellence: Only GM to hit controllables budget for the year
  • Leadership Innovation: First District Manager to develop two Top 20 GMs simultaneously in a 1,700+ location brand
  • Team Development: Oversaw 100+ internal promotions

Why "Restaurant PhD"?

The name reflects a systematic, research-level approach to operations. The Restaurant PhD Framework™ is a complete operating system that integrates documented standards, training, leadership development, accountability, and scalability—culminating in DIPLOMA certification.

Ready to Build a Restaurant Operation That Runs Without You?

Whether you're struggling with inconsistent results, planning for growth, or simply tired of being the bottleneck, the Restaurant PhD approach can help you build the systematic operation you need.

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