Nevada Restaurant Association

What Nevada Restaurant Association does

Nevada Restaurant Association (NvRA) is a private nonprofit trade association founded in 1982 that serves as the primary advocacy, training, and member services body for Nevada's restaurant and foodservice industry, which encompasses 7,094 locations generating $23.3B in annual sales and employing 231,000 workers statewide. NvRA operates a two-tier membership model: Restaurant Membership for operators (starting at $200/year for establishments under $250K in annual sales, with higher tiers for larger operators) and Allied Membership for vendors, suppliers, and service providers ($650/year). Core member benefits include a Legal Hotline covering seven specialty areas of restaurant law, legislative advocacy monitoring 500+ bills per session, exclusive vendor discounts on workers' compensation, health insurance, POS systems, and credit card processing, ServSafe certification training at member rates, and networking events such as the Culinary Excellence Awards and Mix & Mingle series.

NvRA runs the ProStart high school culinary and restaurant management program in 21 Nevada high schools, serving 4,636 students with 23 certified educators and 50+ industry mentors, including Caesars Entertainment, Sysco, PepsiCo, and Nicholas and Company; this pipeline is funded through the NvRA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that accepts tax-deductible contributions. The association also operates an NvRA PAC with contributions starting at $250, an active newsletter program with over 1,000 subscribers, and a vendor directory of 70 allied member companies. Technology infrastructure consists of the GrowthZone association management platform powering the website and member portal; no proprietary technology products are developed. Revenue is diversified across recurring membership dues, per-course ServSafe training fees ($170-$205), event registrations and corporate sponsorships, PAC contributions, and educational sponsorships to the Foundation.

Name

Nevada Restaurant Association

Legal name

Nevada Restaurant Association

Website

https://nvrestaurants.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nevada Restaurant Association (NvRA) is a 1982-founded nonprofit trade association representing Nevada's 7,094 restaurant and foodservice locations through advocacy, ServSafe training, a legal hotline, member discounts, and the ProStart high school workforce pipeline program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restaurant Industry Trade Association Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Supper Clubs & Dinner-Theater Restaurants (THAFACAL)

Keywords

• Restaurant industry advocacy
• Trade association services
• ServSafe certification training
• Foodservice workforce development
• Restaurant member benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from restaurant operators, with pricing tier based on annual sales volume. Establishments under $250K in annual sales pay $200/year.
2. Allied Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from vendors, suppliers, and service providers at $650/year.
3. Training and Certification: ServSafe certification courses including Food Manager certification at $170-$205 depending on package. Custom group training for multiple employees at member rates.
4. Events and Sponsorships: Revenue from events including Mix & Mingle networking events, Culinary Excellence Awards, Nevada Restaurant Week, and NvRA PAC Legislative Caucus Series. Corporate sponsorship opportunities available.
5. Educational Sponsorship: Tax-deductible contributions to NvRA Foundation (501(c)(3)) supporting ProStart program operations, student scholarships, competition travel, kitchen equipment, and instructor development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Nevada Restaurant Association is a nonprofit trade association that provides legislative advocacy, member legal hotline access, ServSafe certification training, exclusive vendor discounts, and networking events to Nevada restaurant operators and allied industry vendors. Membership is sold in two tiers: Restaurant Membership starting at $200/year for establishments under $250K in annual sales and Allied Membership at $650/year for vendors and service providers. The association also runs the ProStart high school culinary education program through its affiliated 501(c)(3) NvRA Foundation.

Product overview

Nevada Restaurant Association (NvRA) operates as a membership-based trade association offering a portfolio of programs including Restaurant Membership ($200/year) and Allied Membership ($650/year) for industry operators and vendors. Core member benefits include a Legal Hotline (covering employment law, liquor licensing, health and safety, and tax compliance), ServSafe Certification training (Food Manager, Alcohol Awareness, Allergen Awareness), and Custom Training for group certification. The association runs the ProStart high school culinary education program with 21 participating schools and 4,636 students, supporting it through the NvRA Foundation 501(c)(3). Event offerings include the Culinary Excellence Awards, Mix & Mingle networking, and the ProStart Invitational competition. The association also provides compliance resources, a vendor directory, industry benchmarking data (Cost of Dining), and advocacy through the NvRA PAC. The organization uses GrowthZone as its membership management platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Restaurant Membership Core annual membership program for Nevada restaurant and foodservice operators. Includes legislative advocacy, member legal hotline, exclusive vendor discounts on workers' comp, health insurance, credit card processing, and POS; ServSafe certification at member rates, networking events, compliance resources, and access to the Cost of Dining benchmarking data. Priced at $200/year for establishments under $250K in annual sales with higher tiers for larger operators.
• Allied Membership Annual membership for vendors, suppliers, and service providers that serve the Nevada restaurant industry. Includes directory listing, networking access to restaurant operators, sponsorship opportunities, and partnership marketing. Priced at $650/year.
• ServSafe Certification Food safety and alcohol certification training program serving restaurant operators and their staff. Includes ServSafe Food Manager, Food Handler, Alcohol Awareness, Allergen Awareness, and Workplace certifications delivered at member and non-member rates in classroom and shipment formats. Food Manager class pricing ranges from $170 (class only) to $195 (with materials pickup) to $205 (with shipped materials).
• Custom Training On-site and group ServSafe training for restaurants certifying multiple employees. Covers Food Manager, Alcohol Awareness, and Allergen Awareness with flexible scheduling and member-rate volume pricing.
• NvRA Legal Hotline Member-only legal hotline providing guidance across seven specialty practice areas: employment law, liquor licensing, health and safety, lease and real estate, business formation, insurance and liability, and tax and compliance. Available to Nevada restaurant operators via the member portal.
• NvRA PAC Political Action Committee fundraising and advocacy vehicle that amplifies the Nevada restaurant industry's voice with state policymakers. Contributions start at $250.
• ProStart Program Two-year high school culinary arts and restaurant management education program that delivers 350+ hours of classroom instruction and 400 hours of mentored industry experience, culminating in national certification exams. Operates in 21 Nevada high schools with 4,636 students, 23 certified educators, and 50+ industry mentors from allied members.
• ProStart Invitational Annual statewide high school culinary and restaurant management competition. ProStart students compete for scholarships and the opportunity to advance to national recognition.
• Culinary Excellence Awards Annual awards ceremony celebrating excellence across Nevada's restaurant industry, featuring a cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner, and awards program for nominated operators and industry leaders.
• Mix & Mingle Networking Events Casual networking series held at top Nevada restaurants, allowing operators and allied members to meet, share ideas, and build relationships in a relaxed setting.
• NvRA Foundation Educational Sponsorship Tax-deductible contribution program through the NvRA Foundation 501(c)(3) that funds ProStart program operations, student scholarships, competition travel, kitchen equipment for participating schools, and instructor development.
• Vendor Directory Online member directory of 70 trusted vendors, suppliers, and service providers serving the Nevada restaurant industry. All listed vendors are NvRA Allied Members.
• Cost of Dining Data Industry benchmarking data covering food cost percentages by segment, labor cost benchmarks, and average check sizes across Las Vegas, Reno, and rural Nevada markets. Used by operators to benchmark performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• $105M in mandates killed through advocacy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SyscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSysco is a featured industry partner supporting Nevada ProStart program. They engage directly with students through mentorship, competition, and career opportunities.
• PepsiCocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPepsiCo is a featured industry partner and allied member supporting Nevada ProStart program with mentorship and career opportunities for students.
• Nicholas and CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicholas and Company is a featured industry partner and allied member providing food and supplies distribution services. They actively mentor ProStart students and support competitions.
• Chef WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChef Works is a featured industry partner supporting ProStart program with career opportunities for culinary students.
• Caesars EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaesars Entertainment is a featured industry mentor for ProStart program, providing industry mentorship, competition coaching, and career pathways for students.
• Bar BohememinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBar Boheme is an industry mentor for ProStart, engaging with students through mentorship and classroom involvement.
• Chefs for KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChefs for Kids is an industry mentor supporting ProStart program with culinary mentorship for students.
• American Culinary Federation (ACF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACF supports ProStart program as an industry partner providing professional development and career connections for culinary students.
• Women in Hospitality InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen in Hospitality Initiative is an industry partner supporting ProStart with mentorship opportunities for students interested in hospitality careers.
• National Restaurant AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Restaurant Association is shown as a partner/logo member. They provide research reports, compliance tools, education resources, and the Restaurants Work initiative. NvRA is affiliated with the national organization and uses their ServSafe certification program.
• UnitedHealthcarecoreOthersUnitedHealthcare is a group health insurance partner providing plans exclusively available to NvRA members through the partnership program.
• EMPLOYERS InsurancecoreOthersEMPLOYERS Insurance provides workers' compensation programs exclusively for NvRA members, with savings of $500-$2,000 annually compared to standard market rates.
• HealthiestYouminorOthersHealthiestYou provides supplemental health benefits available exclusively to NvRA members.
• BMIminorOthersBMI music licensing guidance and member discounts available to NvRA members through the partnership program.
• ASCAPminorOthersASCAP music licensing guidance and member discounts available to NvRA members to understand licensing requirements and stay compliant.
• ODP/Office DepotminorOthersODP/Office Depot Savings Center available to NvRA members for business supplies at discounted rates.
• Adesso CapitalminorOthersAdesso Capital provides equipment financing options available exclusively to NvRA members.
• RestaurantOwner.comminorOthersRestaurantOwner.com management tools available to NvRA members through the partnership program.
• Ogletree DeakinsminorOthersOgletree Deakins shown as allied member providing employment law services to the restaurant industry.
• Restaurant Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant Law Center is the public policy affiliate of the National Restaurant Association, providing legal and regulatory resources specific to the restaurant industry. NvRA provides access to their compliance library.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Texas Restaurant Association: Texas's statewide restaurant association offering ProStart, ServSafe, legislative advocacy, and allied membership in a large, geographically diverse market. Closest direct functional equivalent to NvRA in another state.
• Illinois Restaurant Association: Statewide Illinois association providing advocacy, training, and member programs to operators across urban and rural markets, with a similar service portfolio to NvRA.
• Florida Restaurant Association: Florida's statewide restaurant association providing the same mix of legislative advocacy, ServSafe training, networking events, and allied membership programs as NvRA.
• New York State Restaurant Association: New York's statewide restaurant trade body offering advocacy, ServSafe, networking, and member benefits in a different regulatory environment but with the same membership/dues business model.
• Georgia Restaurant Association: Georgia's statewide restaurant association running ProStart, ServSafe, advocacy, and member savings - directly comparable structure and offerings to NvRA.
• California Restaurant Association: California's statewide restaurant trade association, providing advocacy, training (ServSafe), legal resources, and member benefits to a much larger operator base. Operates the same membership-dues + training + events model as NvRA.

Broad incumbents

• National Restaurant Association: The U.S. national umbrella organization for restaurants. Owns the ServSafe program used by NvRA, publishes industry research, runs federal advocacy, and supports state associations like NvRA through shared resources.

Regional players

• Arizona Restaurant Association: A neighboring Southwestern state association covering Arizona's restaurant industry with similar services to NvRA. Geographically adjacent but not directly competing in Nevada.

Others

• American Culinary Federation: National professional society for culinary professionals and a named ProStart industry partner of NvRA. Adjacent to NvRA's workforce development mission and ProStart pathway.
• Restaurant Law Center: Public-policy affiliate of the National Restaurant Association. Listed as a strategic partner of NvRA, providing legal/regulatory resources and compliance library used by NvRA's legal hotline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nvrestaurants
• Facebookfacebook.com/nvrestaurants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nevada-restaurant-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/nvrestaurants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nevada Restaurant Association