- Staff upgrade priority: Train Ranchers first, then Farmers, then service staff.
- Max level: Employees can now be trained from Level 1 to Level 10.
- Why Ranchers first: They produce milk and eggs, key ingredients for high-value recipes.
- Best recipe focus: Tiramisu offers high profit and efficient production.
- Free-to-play tip: Earn diamonds from milestone quests and progress rewards.
Run a Restaurant Staff Upgrade Basics
The staff upgrade system in Run a Restaurant lets you train employees from Level 1 up to Level 10, the current maximum. Since training resources are limited, the order in which you upgrade staff has a direct impact on your ingredient supply, menu output, and overall profit.
Video Highlights:
- Latest update raises the staff training cap to Level 10
- Ranchers are the top priority because they supply milk and eggs
- Farmers come second, handling wheat, corn, and coffee beans
- Tiramisu is highlighted as a high-profit, efficient recipe
- Free players can earn diamonds through milestone quests
The core principle is simple: upgrade the staff who feed your most profitable production chain first. Ingredient producers (Ranchers and Farmers) generate value for every recipe you sell, so raising their levels compounds your income across the entire menu.
Always upgrade the staff connected to your highest-profit recipes first. A Level 10 Rancher supporting Tiramisu production earns back its training cost faster than any other investment.
Staff Priority Tier Comparison
Not all employees are equal when it comes to upgrade value. The table below ranks each staff type by how directly it affects your profit chain.
| Staff Type | Role | Upgrade Priority | Profit Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancher | Produces milk, eggs, and animal ingredients | ★★★★★ | Feeds most high-value recipes |
| Farmer | Grows wheat, corn, coffee beans, crops | ★★★★ | Supports recipe diversity and volume |
| Service Staff | Serves customers and manages the floor | ★★★ | Scales with customer traffic |
| Premium Furniture | +50% customer payment (some combos +100% with stock) | ★★★ | Diamond or top-up currency purchase |
Rancher-First Build
- Best early and mid-game
- Three Level 10 Ranchers ASAP
- Powers milk and egg supply
- Supports Tiramisu production
Farmer-Second Build
- Crop stability
- Wheat, corn, coffee beans
- Round out recipe ingredients
- Great follow-up after ranchers
Mixed Build
- Balanced but slower
- Spread levels across all staff
- Flexible recipe options
- Lower peak profit per slot
Do not spread your training resources evenly across every employee early on. Focused upgrades on Ranchers deliver noticeably stronger profit growth than balanced but low-level staff.
Step-by-Step Upgrade Strategy
Follow this sequence to get the most out of every training resource you spend.
Lock In Your Recipe Focus
Pick your profit engine first. Tiramisu is a proven choice thanks to its high profit margin and efficient production loop, but adapt to the recipes your kitchen runs best.
Push Ranchers to Level 10
Concentrate training on your Ranchers. Milk and eggs anchor most high-value recipes, so max them as early as possible. Aim for at least two to three Level 10 Ranchers.
Bring Farmers Up Next
Once ranchers are maxed, shift to Farmers. Their crops — wheat, corn, coffee beans — keep your kitchen stocked and unlock more recipe variety.
Reinvest Profits Into Staff
Route your restaurant income back into training the remaining staff to Level 9 or 10, then maintain output as new updates add milestones.
Layer In Diamond Investments
Spend diamonds earned from milestone quests on premium furniture, such as tables and chairs that boost customer payment by up to 50% (or 100% with the right stock combinations).
Rancher and Farmer upgrades increase ingredient production, which raises how many high-value dishes you can sell. More dishes sold means more profit, which funds further upgrades — a positive loop.
Free-to-Play Diamond Farming
You do not need to spend real money to make meaningful progress in Run a Restaurant. The game rewards consistent play through its milestone and progression systems.
| Diamond Source | How It Works | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Milestone quests | Complete progression milestones for diamond rewards | Repeats with updates |
| Progress rewards | Ongoing rewards tied to restaurant growth | Always active |
| Special tables and chairs | Premium furniture boosts customer payment | Diamond purchase |
| Furniture combos | Certain sets give +100% profit with stock | Diamond / top-up currency |
Complete every available milestone before considering premium purchases. Many players finish most milestones early and then wait for future updates to add more rewards — keep your diamonds banked until then.
Staff Upgrade Checklist
Upgrade Milestones:
- Choose a primary profit recipe (Tiramisu recommended)
- Train first Rancher to Level 10
- Train three Ranchers to Level 10
- Level up Farmers to Level 9 or higher
- Complete all milestone quests for diamonds
- Invest diamonds in payment-boosting furniture
Some players include pigs in their ranch strategy, but chickens and cows (milk and eggs) cover the most essential high-value recipes. Test what fits your menu, but prioritize the ingredients your best dishes actually use.
FAQ
Q: What is the best staff upgrade priority in Run a Restaurant?
Ranchers come first because they produce milk and eggs, the core ingredients for most high-value recipes. Farmers are the second priority for crops like wheat, corn, and coffee beans. Service staff can be trained afterward with leftover resources.
Q: What is the maximum staff level in Run a Restaurant?
Following the latest update, employees can be trained from Level 1 up to Level 10, which is the current maximum. A proven benchmark is three Level 10 Ranchers with the rest of your team at Level 9.
Q: Can free-to-play players get diamonds in Run a Restaurant?
Yes. Diamonds can be earned through milestone quests and progress rewards without spending real money. Many players complete most milestones and save diamonds for premium furniture or future updates.
Q: Which recipe should I focus my staff upgrades on?
Tiramisu is a strong pick — it offers high profit and is one of the most efficient recipes to produce. That said, the best choice depends on your own playstyle and which ingredients your upgraded staff supply.