As well as utility cost to run the stove, lighting, pos systems, etc. plus rent/mortgage/taxes on the building, upkeep of fixtures like tables, menus, and cutlery, insurance costs, inspection costs, non sales staff (think like general managers, janitorial staff, plus HR and IT if they have it), any planned building upgrades down the line (whether to the actual building eg renovating dining areas or upgrading kitchen appliances), theft/shrinkage, damage from customers and staff being assholes, from equipment breaking down, from natural disasters, etc

Probably a lot more too. There’s a whole bunch to factor in

That's too much math and I'm le tired

If the price per pound decreases if they get a special bulk rate, it means you need to eat even more pancakes until they lose money lol.

If that really does include everything, why do I always hear about how thin margins are in the food service industry? That doesn't sound like a thin margin to me.

Skill issue

The world record for pancake eating is 7 pounds in 8 minutes, set in 2016 by Matt "Megatoad" Stonie.

https://majorleagueeating.com/contests/693?action=detail&eventID=693

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jSgM4gAhK0

"Folks, I have no more desire to get through the rest of my life than I did to eat those pancakes. But I ate them, and the knowledge that I can keep going when all seems lost, that's a great thing to acquire. Eating thirty pancakes - FIVE STARS"

open the reserve tanks

If there is, theydidthemonstermath is sure to follow

Because unlimited pancakes breaks the laws of physics and decency. Even if you had a machine whose primary goal is to make pancakes and use whatever mass is available to it, eventually there will be no more matter in the universe to make pancakes and it would be finite, not truly unlimited. This is blatant false advertising, hence I've got it out for IHOP.

I don’t know why someone would hate it, but it’s a really trash chain that is easily outdone by the dingiest of local diners.

Nonsense is a bit of a stretch.

The IHOP exists and is staffed whether or not you are there gorging yourself on pancakes. The rent and staffing is already being spent by IHOP. The factors that can contribute is if the amount of dishes you create make them run the washer an extra time and if the pancakes cool the griddle down enough to increase the cost of heating the griddle. Both of which are negligible.

The only extra cost is the batter itself.