Public holidays can look like great revenue days and weak profit days at the same time.
If pricing is set from habit, penalty-rate shifts eat the upside. If communication is vague, customer trust drops fast.
Quick Take
- ABS reported annual CPI movement at 3.8% in December 2025.
- In the same release, meals out and takeaway foods rose 3.5% year over year.
- Fair Work’s 2024-25 Annual Wage Review raised the National Minimum Wage by 3.5% to AUD 24.95/hour (from 1 July 2025).
- Fair Work pay-guide structures for restaurants show higher weekend/public holiday multipliers.
- ACCC says surcharge disclosure must be clear before purchase.
For owner-operators, margin protection starts with shift math and clear signage.
The Shift-Level Pricing Formula
Required holiday uplift % =
(Holiday shift labour uplift + extra variable costs)
/ expected holiday shift salesExample assumptions:
- Expected holiday sales: AUD 8,500
- Additional labour cost vs normal day: AUD 510
- Extra consumables and utilities: AUD 90
Required uplift % = (510 + 90) / 8,500
= 600 / 8,500
= 7.1%That gives you a defensible starting point for surcharge or menu-structure changes.
3 Practical Pricing Options
- Flat holiday surcharge (simple operations)
- Holiday-specific menu pricing (clean customer perception)
- Hybrid: smaller surcharge + selective item repricing
Pick one model and document it in SOP, POS, and staff script.
Disclosure Rules That Prevent Conflict
Use one sentence everywhere:
“A [X]% surcharge applies on public holidays.”
Then ensure the same text appears on:
- printed menu
- ordering counter signage
- online ordering/cart flow
ACCC guidance emphasizes that customers must be able to see surcharge information before they buy.
Community Signal
Australian community threads about surcharges are consistent: people react hardest when the charge feels hidden or inconsistent.
When wording is clear and staff explain it calmly, friction drops.
Public Holiday Checklist (Run 72 Hours Before)
- Forecast expected holiday sales window by hour
- Calculate shift-level labour uplift
- Decide pricing model (surcharge, menu, or hybrid)
- Update menu/POS/online text in one wording
- Brief staff with one 10-second explanation
- Track complaints, refunds, and contribution after service
Staff Script (Short and Neutral)
“A public holiday surcharge applies today and is shown on the menu before ordering. If you want, I can walk through the total before we finalise.”
Short, calm, and consistent beats long justification.
Related Guides
- Australia Hospitality Award Penalty Rates Pricing Guide (2026)
- Australia Award Wage + CPI Menu Pricing Guide (2026)
- Recipe Cost Calculator Guide
KitchenCost helps you convert labour minutes and cost shifts into menu decisions you can explain with confidence.