The Final Sprint: How to Maximise Q4

3 Steps to Get Ahead of the Chaos

The final quarter of the financial year is almost upon us and if you’re running a hospitality business, you’re either feeling on top of your game or like you’re sprinting towards June 30, praying to the cash flow gods.

No judgement, we've all been there.

The good news? You’ve still got time to make this quarter work in your favour. Q4 is packed with high-impact events that can drive revenue, boost customer loyalty and set you up for a strong start to the new financial year.

So, instead of the last minute scrambling, let’s get ahead of the chaos. Here’s your three-step plan to maximise Q4 and finish strong.

Step 1: Plan Your Calendar Around Key Events

Q4 is full of golden opportunities but if you’re not planning for them, someone else is and they will get your customers. Let’s map out what’s coming up and how you can leverage it.

April – The Big Spender Month

April is full of long weekends and high-energy events, which means more people out and about, ready to spend.

Easter (April 18-21) – Family gatherings, brunches, themed cocktails. Make sure your venue is prepped for groups and consider limited-time menu specials.
ANZAC Day (April 25) – A huge day for hospitality. Promote dawn service breakfasts, ANZAC-themed menus and post-march drinks.
AFL Gather Round (April 10-13, Adelaide) – If you’re in SA, this is a no-brainer. Elsewhere? Run game-day specials to attract sports fans.

May – Celebrate, Sip and Spend

With Mother’s Day and major food & wine events, May is about premium experiences.

Mother’s Day (May 11) – One of the biggest dining-out days of the year. Promote set menus, high teas or VIP Mother’s Day packages well in advance.
Aussie Wine Month (May 2-11) & Tasting Australia (SA, May 2-11) – Perfect for wine-pairing dinners, tasting flights or collabs with local winemakers.
State of Origin (May 28-29) – Sport lovers = full bars. Create game-day deals, beer buckets and footy snack platters.

June – End-of-Financial-Year Rush

The final push! EOFY means businesses are wrapping up budgets and looking for ways to celebrate.

EOFY Corporate Events (All Month) – Market function packages for end-of-financial-year team celebrations.
King’s Birthday Long Weekend (June 9) – Long weekends = more bookings. Plan ahead with brunch specials, live music or themed events.
National Pie Day (June 1) & National Cheese Day (June 4) – Fun food-themed days are great for social media buzz and special menu items.

Action Step: Map out which events suit your venue and start promoting them NOW not the week before.

Step 2: Get Your Cash Flow and Costs in Check

With big events comes big spending, but also big costs. The last thing you want is to boost sales but drain profits because you weren’t tracking expenses properly.

✅ Analyse your profit margins – Are you running your most profitable dishes and drinks? If a special event isn’t bringing in at least a 30% margin, tweak the pricing or offerings.

✅ Lock in supplier deals early – Easter, Mother’s Day and EOFY drive up demand, which means suppliers run low on stock (or jack up prices). Secure your orders now to avoid last-minute price spikes.

✅ Run an EOFY stock audit – Know what’s selling and what’s dead weight. Sell through slow-moving stock with creative specials, tasting nights or limited-time offers before June 30.

✅ Check your tax-deductible expenses – EOFY is the perfect time to upgrade equipment, invest in training or boost marketing spend while maximising deductions.

Action Step: Set aside one hour this week to review your numbers and create a plan to maximise profits.

Step 3: Make Customer Retention Your Priority

With all these events happening, you’re going to have a lot of new customers walking through your doors.

But here’s the million-dollar question: Will they come back?

The best hospitality businesses don’t just focus on getting people in the door, they have a strategy to keep them coming back.

How to Turn Q4 Customers Into Regulars:

✅ Capture their details – Collect email addresses or phone numbers through bookings, competitions, or loyalty programs.

✅ Follow up! – A quick “Thanks for celebrating with us! Hope to see you again soon” email or text goes a long way.

✅ Offer a reason to return – Run a promo where Mother’s Day diners get a VIP service on their next visit, or ANZAC Day guests get first dibs on EOFY specials.

✅ Leverage memberships & VIP perks – Invite your best customers to exclusive tastings, behind-the-scenes events, or priority bookings.

The goal is to stop running on the hamster wheel of constantly chasing new customers. When you focus on repeat business, your revenue becomes more predictable and your marketing becomes easier.

Final Thoughts: Q4 Success is About Strategy, Not Stress

Q4 can either feel like a chaotic sprint or a well-planned revenue boost. It all depends on how prepared you are.

Plan around key events to drive foot traffic and increase sales.
Get your financials in check to maximise profit (not just revenue).
Prioritise customer retention so this quarter fuels growth beyond June 30.

You’ve got this! If you need a little help getting organised, download my FREE 90-Day planning templates HERE.

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