Doing all the Things? Your Cafe is paying for it
The Real Cost of Doing Everything Yourself in a Café
There’s a cost to doing everything yourself, and it’s far more than just money.
I used to believe that by doing the jobs no one else wanted to do, mopping the floor, cleaning the dishwasher, placing the orders, serving the tables, I was setting the standard. Leading by example. Holding the business together.
But the truth is, I was holding it back.
You’re Not Just Paying in Dollars
As café owners, we often put the business first, our family second, and ourselves last. We think we’re being selfless. Responsible. Strong.
But over time, it drains you, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
When you’re giving all your energy to the day-to-day, the leadership you should be giving to your team and your family disappears.
Your staff try to stay out of your way instead of stepping up.
Your house is a mess, your health is slipping.
Your partner is picking up the slack.
Your kids start asking why you’re never home anymore.
That was me.
Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes it looks like constant busyness and slowly eroding joy, until you’re too exhausted to care.
You’re Driving in the Dark Without Headlights
And while you're reacting to problems, the bigger picture is getting ignored. You’re making decisions based on gut feel instead of numbers.
That’s dangerous.
If you don’t know your break-even point, you’re flying blind. If you don’t have budgets, KPIs, and clear financial dashboards, you don’t know where to spend, where to pull back, or how to actually grow.
And growth without clarity? That’s chaos.
Step Back to Move Forward
The turning point came when I gave myself permission to delegate and systemise. Not because I wanted to do less, but because I wanted to lead better.
I built out processes, trained my team, and started treating my finances like headlights, not just a rearview mirror. I stopped guessing and started measuring. That’s when I started running a business instead of just surviving a job.
If you feel like you’re drowning, you're not alone, and you don't have to stay stuck.
In the next post, I’ll share exactly how I created SOPs that freed up my time and empowered my team.
www.dadandthefrog.com.au
96 Fitzroy Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010