The Business Case for Personal Back of House Uniforms

Like many restaurant owners, you may have been drawn to BOH rental uniforms for several reasons: there’s little up front expense, and it’s convenient to have clean coats and pants delivered weekly. But when you stop to think about it more carefully, the trade-offs of renting uniforms are actually quite high.

Personal Uniforms Are Ultimately Less Expensive

First, as you probably know, it doesn’t take very many washes of rented uniforms for your costs to exceed those of buying and laundering your own basic but well made pieces. Depending on the size of your staff, the time to savings from purchasing instead of renting could be as little as one quarter. And when you start doing the math on the lengthy contracts required by rental companies, the higher cost of renting can be staggering.

Personal Uniforms Differentiate Your Image

Second, it’s just about impossible to differentiate yourself with rented uniforms. You’ll have very few design, cut, and material choices, let alone access to advanced features that improve comfort, and as a result your team will look pretty much like every other restaurant that rents. In contrast, purchasing your own uniforms allows you to stand apart, even a little bit, in a manner that reinforces your brand image and helps fulfill your unique vision.

Rental Uniforms Are Not Really Low-Maintenance

Third, it’s a myth that uniform rental companies manage everything for you. They wash what your employees throw into the linen bag—and charge you replacement fees for anything left out. You still have to stay on top of your account manager to make sure that missing buttons are fixed, torn garments are replaced, and the right sizes are sent when your staff changes. Perhaps most importantly, you still have to manage the space between your employees and the linen bag.  

Personal Uniforms Strengthen Crew Morale

And that brings us to what really matters to your restaurant’s ultimate success: your crew’s morale. There is no soul in cheap, thin polyester jackets and aprons that don’t fit correctly, regardless of what the rental company tells you. Personal uniforms—whether they’re simple stock models or custom designs—are more comfortable and look better. By outfitting your BOH team in truly well made, properly fitting garments, you demonstrate that you care as much about their performance as you expect them to care about the food they prepare. Show such respect, and you’re far more likely to see a well-run kitchen that makes everyone happy.