# How do I work out the food cost of each dish on my menu?

A Dae reads your supplier invoices in Gmail and your recipes sheet, works out what each plate costs and its food cost percentage, and hands you an Excel file with the dishes that earn the least and what a price change would do.

**The Cost out my menu Dae** (Restaurant): Works out what each dish costs to make from your supplier invoices, and shows which ones earn the least.
Apps: Gmail, Google Sheets, Files.

## How to set it up

1. **Connect Gmail and Google Sheets.** Sign in to Gmail and Google Sheets once from daework. No API keys, no MCP servers, nothing to install. You choose which Daes may use each App.
2. **Tell a Dae the job.** Start a new Dae and say it in plain words: “Cost out the menu from this month's Sysco and Depot invoices. Which dishes earn the least?”
3. **Read the result.** It only reads, works and reports, so it needs no OK. The result stays in the chat and in your Files.

## The run, step by step

A sample run at a made-up business. Names and numbers are made up.

- You: Cost out the menu from this month's Sysco and Depot invoices. Which dishes earn the least?
- (Searched email · Gmail · Sysco and Depot · 9 invoices)
- (Read sheet · Google Sheets · Recipes · 14 dishes)
- (Ran Python · computer · cost per plate, food cost %)
- Result, menu-costs-october.xlsx:
  - menu-costs-october.xlsx (Excel · from 9 invoices and the Recipes sheet): Dish | Price | Cost | Food % | Sold
  - Al pastor tacos | $13.50 | $3.38 | 25% | 612
  - Carnitas tacos | $13.50 | $3.65 | 27% | 488
  - Chicken tinga bowl | $14.00 | $3.92 | 28% | 301
  - Carne asada plate | $17.00 | $6.97 | 41% | 355
  - Shrimp tacos | $15.00 | $5.70 | 38% | 214
  - Veggie enchiladas | $13.00 | $3.12 | 24% | 143
  - Guacamole and chips | $9.00 | $2.43 | 27% | 702
  - Elote | $6.00 | $1.26 | 21% | 390
  - 14 dishes, Sept |  |  | 29.4% | 3,912
  - Beef went up 18% at Sysco in October. At $19, the carne asada plate is 37%; with Depot's flank steak it is 33%.
- Menu costs: Most dishes cost 24–28% of their price. Two earn the least: - Carne asada plate, 41%. Beef went up 18% at Sysco this month. - Shrimp tacos, 38%. Raising the carne asada to $19 and buying flank steak at Depot brings it to 33%. The sheet has both options.

## Questions

### Does it send or change anything without me?

No. This job only reads, researches and reports. If it ever needs to send an email, pay or post, that waits for your OK.

### Do I need an API key or MCP server for Gmail and Google Sheets?

No. You sign in to Gmail and Google Sheets once from daework and the Dae uses it. There is no API, MCP or Zapier setup.

### What does it cost?

Every plan includes every App and every Dae. Plus is $30 a month and covers a full week of everyday jobs like this one. There is no free plan.

### Are these numbers real?

No. This is a sample run at a made-up business, played in a copy of the app. Every step is something a Dae does with the Apps shown.

---

daework: A Dae is an AI coworker. It reads your email, works in your Apps and runs on a schedule. Anything that reaches someone outside waits for your OK. Start at https://app.daework.com/sign-up. Contact support@daework.com.