Marcus Rivera

Marcus Rivera is a restaurant industry veteran with over 15 years of hands-on experience — from line cook to restaurant owner and multi-unit operator. He has opened 6 restaurants across the U.S. (Texas, Florida, and Colorado), managed teams of up to 80 staff, and consulted for over 40 restaurant businesses on everything from pre-opening planning to turnaround strategy. Marcus holds a B.S. in Hospitality Management from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and a professional certification in Restaurant Operations from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. His work has been featured in Restaurant Business Online, QSR Magazine, and Modern Restaurant Management. Marcus founded RestaurantLaunchpad.io to share proven, real-world guidance for aspiring and existing restaurant owners — skipping the theory and focusing on what actually works in a real kitchen.

Best Restaurant Loyalty Programs for 2026: Top Platforms Compared

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Disclosure: RestaurantLaunchpad is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Read our editorial policy. By Marcus Rivera | May 14, 2026 | How We Evaluate Quick Answer: The best restaurant loyalty programs in 2026 are Toast Loyalty (best all-in-one for full-service), … Read more

Restaurant Menu Pricing Strategy: 7 Methods That Actually Work (2026)

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Disclosure: RestaurantLaunchpad is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Read our editorial policy. By Marcus Rivera | May 14, 2026 | How We Evaluate Quick Answer: The most effective restaurant menu pricing strategy combines cost-plus pricing as your baseline with … Read more

Restaurant Equipment Financing: Best Options, Rates & How to Apply (2026)

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Disclosure: RestaurantLaunchpad is reader-supported. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links at no extra cost to you. By Marcus Rivera | May 12, 2026 | How We Evaluate Quick Answer: For most new restaurants, equipment financing through Lendio or Crest Capital offers the best combination of speed, flexibility, and competitive rates. … Read more

Restaurant Social Media Marketing Strategy: Complete Guide for 2026

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Disclosure: RestaurantLaunchpad is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Read our editorial policy. By Marcus Rivera | May 11, 2026 | How We Evaluate Quick Answer: The most effective restaurant social media strategy in 2026 focuses on Instagram Reels and … Read more

7 Best Restaurant Website Builders in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)

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Disclosure: RestaurantLaunchpad is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Read our editorial policy. By Marcus Rivera | May 11, 2026 | How We Evaluate Quick Answer: The best restaurant website builders in 2026 are Squarespace (best all-around), BentoBox (best for … Read more

7 Best Restaurant Website Builders in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)

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Disclosure: RestaurantLaunchpad is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Read our editorial policy. By Marcus Rivera | May 11, 2026 | How We Evaluate Quick Answer: The best restaurant website builders in 2026 are Squarespace (best all-around), BentoBox (best for … Read more

Best Accounting Software for Restaurants in 2026: QuickBooks vs Xero vs Restaurant365 and More

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This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. By Marcus Rivera | May 9, 2026 | How We Evaluate Quick Answer: For most independent restaurants, QuickBooks Online is the best accounting software — it’s familiar to accountants, has robust restaurant integrations, and scales well. Xero is a … Read more