Average revenue by village size.
| Village | Annual revenue | Annual profit | Hours / week (team) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 homes | $16,000 | $2,000 | 10–12 hrs / week |
| 200 homes | $32,000 | $4,000 | 15–18 hrs / week |
| 300 homes | $48,000 | $6,000 | 18–22 hrs / week |
Figures assume a weekly Friday-night service at ~$25 per head, 12% blended margin after food and overhead. Hours shown are team totals across the rostered crew (typically 6–10 people on the night plus prep).
Benefits to the village.
The strongest weekly social event in the calendar. Residents plan their week around it.
Reduces the meal-prep burden for older or single residents one night a week.
Family and visitor magnet. Gives residents a reason to invite kids and grandkids in.
Showcases volunteer skill. Chefs, MCs, hosts, dishies all find their place.
Setup actions.
Confirm the kitchen and dining capacity
50–100 covers per service. Check ventilation, fridges, dishwasher capacity.
Apply for a food business licence
Under QLD Food Act 2006 (or extend the café licence if you already operate one). At least one Food Safety Supervisor required on every service.
Recruit a Kitchen Lead and rotation crew
Resident with hospitality experience ideal as Kitchen Lead, plus a 8–12 person rotation crew across kitchen, service and cleanup.
Plan a 4-week rotating menu
1–2 mains plus dessert. Same recipes every cycle keeps the kitchen team confident and food cost predictable.
Set the ticket model
Prepaid weekly via BillabongLife with Square, or a paper voucher booklet for residents who prefer cash. Close orders 2 days before service to lock the food order.
Soft launch fortnightly for 8 weeks
Before moving to weekly. Protects the volunteer pool while routines bed in.
Operating model.
Where BillabongLife fits.
Weekly meal pre-sale, dietary alerts, and a Friday-night roster that runs itself.
Meal ordering with Square handles weekly pre-sale and captures dietary alerts. Volunteer rostering keeps the Friday-night crew on the right week. Notifications send the menu out on Sunday so residents can book in.