I am sure you feel tired of reading through a lot of posts to get some useful information. Some of them are not worth your valuable time, aren’t they? So why wasting your precious time on those useless posts? This post is available for your rescue in this case and you will find “best software for restaurant business” and “restaurant management software free” here.
If you own a restaurant, you know that the software tools in your business help you keep track of important customer records and employee history. In this blog post, I’ll discuss the best software for restaurant business and restaurant management software free. Let’s get started.
Toast POS
Toast POS is a tool specifically targeted at US-based businesses such as bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. It allows for the improvement of worker efficiencies and customer experience while reducing costs. The software has a menu management feature that can handle menu pricing, customization for both online and offline clients, and preparation of the entire menu. An ordering capability allows managers to split items and customer bills and can generate notification upon the completion of an order.
The vendor offers a great free demo that lets you try out all the key features first. You can easily sign up for Toast POS free demo.
Orders are taken using POS Android-based tablet computers, eliminating the need to make runs in between kitchen, terminals and tables. Also, the system can monitor stocks and add or remove menu items. Customers can use the interface to sign receipts, pay, and hand out tips. Automation of loyalty and discount workflows, along with menu customization is achievable using the app; staff performance can be monitored through daily email alerts that the solution automatically sends out.
Transactions are hastened using the interface’s Quick Order feature as working from tablets servers easily take orders and receive payments at tableside. Another useful feature is that the application presents restaurant clients with reasonable tip percentages. All these transactions can be remotely monitored in real-time. However, as mentioned previously, this platform is only available to businesses that operate within the US.
7shifts
7Shifts is, like When I Work, an employee scheduling software. This is, however, not the biggest reason we’ve included it in our top 10 list. This software is specifically made for use by restaurant managers because it can improve employee attendance and schedule shifts seamlessly. As a result, your restaurant will be staffed accordingly, without redundancies and conflicts.
The best thing about 7shifts is that it simplifies the creation and modification of schedules. It has a native mobile app, so you can clock in anywhere and managers can approve schedule requests on the go. Other features include in-app messaging, push and email notifications, and integrations with payroll software.
7shifts also has comprehensive analytics with forecasting features. This software can allow you to project costs and budgets and give you numerical data on the performance of your restaurant—in real-time.
The system facilitates communication between managers and staff through integrated communication tools. One-on-one and group chat features make it easier for employees and management to communicate shift changes and other concerns. Managers can also use the system to send one-way and all-call messages to staff.
TouchBistro
TouchBistro is an application targeted at restaurants and just about every type of foodservice there is. The platform is designed to automate virtually every business process involved in restaurant management. It can effectively manage orders, tables, and staff scheduling, among others. The software can be accessed by iPad, making tasks such as access reporting and analytics easy to do anytime, anywhere.
Operating on local area networks, the system does not need to be online to do its job. This means that no downtime will ever occur, even if an internet outage takes place. This important feature is complemented by the application’s capability to report and manage menus using the cloud, which enables managers to continually monitor their businesses from anywhere.
TouchBistro comes with a Self-Ordering Kiosk, which can benefit fast-food services by helping cut costs associated with labor as it speeds up the ordering process. The application’s smart features help cater to the needs of most restaurants, which include table management, bill splitting, and menu updates. All these are done through the system’s iPad interface.
Also, TouchBistro can provide restaurant staff with needed mobility by customizing the ordering process. This feature enables employees to cater to incoming customers, generating more tips and sales in the process. Order errors are also prevented, allowing for a richer customer experience.
Restaurant365
Released in 2012, Restaurant365 is a cloud-based software solution designed specifically for restaurant owners. It offers a comprehensive platform to meet the needs of restaurants of all sizes, as well as owners ranging from beginners to experienced bookkeepers.
We chose Restaurant365 as our best overall accounting software for restaurants because of its robust features, ease of use, and full integration with other systems. It’s made specifically for the restaurant industry and has specific features beneficial to restaurant owners.
Restaurant365 is an accounting software program that combines bookkeeping with restaurant management tools like invoicing, ordering, and staff scheduling. It doesn’t offer payroll services but can be integrated with the payroll company ADP. It is also easily integrated with vendors, POS systems, and financial institutions for automated banking reconciliation.
Some features of Restaurant365 include:
- Accounts receivable and automated accounts payable
- Budgeting and sales forecasting
- Invoice capture
- Franchisee billing and payment collection
- Streamline ordering and fulfillment
- Recipe and catering management
- Inventory management
- Employee scheduling
- Manager log book with sales data and document storage
- POS, bank, vendor, and payroll integration
Pricing for Restaurant365 is broken down into tiers and starts at $249 per location per month and goes up to $459 per location per month. Both the Core Operations Plan and the Core Accounting Plan are $249 per month and are primarily focused on operating or accounting aspects of the business.
The Essential Plan costs $369 per location per month and includes accounting, scheduling, and inventory tracking features. The Professional Plan is the top-tier option and costs $459 per location per month. It includes scheduling, inventory, and accounting features, as well as labor, analytics, and custom financial reports.
If you want to see which plan best suits your needs, you can contact Restaurant365 directly via live chat, email, or phone.
QuickBooks Online
In 2001, Intuit launched QuickBooks Online as a packaged software. The program is constantly updated and improved and is ideal for restaurant owners with little to no accounting or bookkeeping experience who want to manage their own books. It is easy to use, integrated with your financial institution, and compatible with most major POS systems. However, since it’s not specific to the restaurant industry, it may take a little longer to set it up and customize it to your specific restaurant’s needs.
We chose QuickBooks Online as our runner-up because, while it isn’t designed specifically for restaurants, it offers an impressive lineup of features, including add-on payroll services. It’s also extremely easy to use for owners with no accounting or bookkeeping experience.
QuickBooks Online offers the following features:
- Miles, income, and expense tracking
- Invoice creation and accepting payments
- Maximum tax deductions
- Enhanced reports
- Receipt organization
- Sales tax tracking
- Manage bills and employees
- Inventory tracking
- Online training
- Automated workflow
- Payroll as an add-on feature
Pricing for QuickBooks Online starts at $25 per month and goes up to $180 per month with a 50% discount for the first three months. It offers plans for all types of operations, including sole proprietors, LLCs, partnerships, corporations, and nonprofits.
A Self-Employed plan includes tracking for miles, income, and expenses, capturing and organizing receipts, estimating quarterly taxes, invoicing clients, accepting payments, and running basic reports. However, QuickBooks has a variety of plans that offer different features depending on your business structure. You can contact them via phone or through their site to discuss your business needs and budget.
ZipBooks
Founded in 2015, ZipBooks is simple accounting software that can be used for any industry. It’s not restaurant-specific, so you will need to set up any customizations that you require. It’s best for restaurant owners who are looking for budget-friendly software. The software helps balance your books so you can spend time doing other things for your restaurant.
It offers a free option with limited features and paid plans that include more robust features. It can be used by owners with beginner-level accounting knowledge and those with a more advanced understanding of accounting. It can be integrated with your POS and bank and offers payroll services.
We chose ZIpBooks as our accounting software for restaurants with the best price because it offers a free option, which is great if you want to try it out or only need limited features. It also offers other monthly plans that are affordable, and some of them come with free trials.
Some of ZipBooks’ features include:
- Complete accounting solutions that are simple to use
- Automated expense tracking
- One-time and recurring billing
- Full suite of insights and financial reports
- Customer and vendor management
- Accept digital payments
- Communicate with customers on the platform
- Share documents and store them in a secure place
- Organize and customize books with a tagging system
ZipBooks offers a tiered pricing system; the first tier is Starter and is free, while the next tiers are $15 per month, $35 per month, and custom-priced (for the top-tier offering). Each tier includes specific features and a certain number of users, so it’s best to contact ZipBooks directly to see if one of their existing tiers is right for your business or if you want to customize your own plan.
Oracle Hospitality
Oracle Hospitality is not a single application but rather a suite of software, hardware, and cloud solutions designed to enhance hotel and restaurant operations while at the same elevating each guest’s experience. This represents Oracle’s full commitment in transitioning its hospitality unit into the digital economy.
Designed to create solutions that enable growth for the hotel and restaurant business, Oracle Hospitality provides the tools to create property management and point-of-sale systems that can better manage operations, increase efficiency, and provide improved guest experiences.
The complete suite is designed to maximize both profits and productivity by providing deeper insights into client behaviors. Through Oracle Hospitality, you can gather feedback from your customer base, tailor personalized services, and encourage direct reservations and bookings. At the same time, it can help address concerns in reservations, housekeeping, finances, guest management, and loyalty programs.
Conclusion:
The restaurant industry is one of the most challenging to work in. There’s a lot that goes into make it a success — from managing inventory and staff, to satisfying customers and keeping up with finances. You need the best software for restaurant business to help you make all this happen effectively.