Thanks to technology, managing a restaurant is more efficient than ever. Today’s software makes things possible that restaurant management of past generations could only dream of.
The restaurant industry constantly evolves, though. Keeping up with the latest and greatest technology can be a struggle, especially when you’re running between the kitchen and the front of the house 8 hours out of each day.
Here are 12 of the best pieces of restaurant management software on the market today.
1. TouchBistro POS
All restaurants need a good point of sale (POS) system to keep on top of their business. Founded in 2010, TouchBistro POS is one of the best options for restaurant management software on the market. It’s an iPad-integrated comprehensive management tool for restaurant owners all over the world.
Consider the features TouchBistro offers for day-to-day operations, such as floor layout, bill splitting, table side ordering. It also comes with a free trial and 24/7 support, so you can try before you buy and get customer service when you need it.
Priced at just $69 per month, TouchBistro POS is a great option for tech-savvy restaurant managers.
2. MarketMan
MarketMan boats that their software simplifies the ordering process, eliminates waste, and helps jump start profitability for new and established restaurants. It is cloud-based and syncs up to many other apps—like QuickBooks, for example—for easy integration of your data.
It is pricier than TouchBistro, coming in at about $149 per month. If you pay all at once or add features this price might change, depending on your restaurant’s needs.
3. Toast POS
Though Toast has been around for years, it still remains one of the best point of sale options on the market. It’s many features help cover the front of the house, back of the house, back office, and partner relationships.
One of the great features of Toast is that it’s built to serve different types and sizes of businesses. Not all restaurants need or want the same features, so you can customize your experience based on what makes the most sense for your business.
Toast starts at $79 per month, and fluctuates based on the amount of support and installation you need on the front end. Add-ons like online ordering or loyalty programs bump this price up.
4. Upserve
Upserve, which you may know by Upserve Breadcrumb (their name recently changed) is another all-in-one tool restaurant software tool for your business.
What sets Upserve apart is their cloud-based accessibility to all features, which allows managers to see what’s going on and work from outside the restaurant. It also comes with an extensive inventory management system, which saves you time and energy having to do it all by yourself.
The core version of the software starts at $59, but the more popular options jump up to $79 and then over $100 per month. You can serve multiple restaurants per month for $359.
5. When I Work
When I Work isn’t just for restaurants, but fits perfectly for scheduling employee shifts, doing payroll, and communicating with staff. The app has many features that rival even the best all-in-one POS systems. If you’re in the market for a change, this might be a good piece of software to try.
Their pricing models works on a per employee scale. For example, that if you have 100 employees you’ll be charged $2.50 per employee, or $250 per month.
Perhaps the best thing about WIW is that it’s free, forever, for up to 75 employees. If you run a small business, you can organize schedules without having to pay a dollar.
6. Plate IQ
If you’re keeping track of invoices—and you are—Plate IQ is an app you should know about. It’s job is to save you time and money by automating the invoice process, sending payments to vendors, and integrating with your existing point-of-sale technology.
The app keeps track of your menu, food costing, and does real-time inventory tracking. Using it can help you optimize not only your restaurant operations, but the cost of the food you’re putting out to customers.
For what it’s worth, titans in the restaurant industry like Blaze Pizza and Five Guys burgers give Plate IQ two thumbs up.
7. TablesReady
Managing a busy restaurant? The software you’re using should make that process easier for you. Apps like TablesReady can help.
TablesReady is a waitlist management system. It uses SMS text messaging instead of calls or emails to let people know the status of their reservations, wait time, and number of available seats from outside the restaurant or the comfort of their own home.
Unlike some of the other apps on this list, TablesReady is an app all parties can use and benefit from, too. It’s not just restaurant software; it’s customer software, too.
It starts at $69.95 per month with plenty of upsell options depending on your business. There are no contracts, so you can use it for as long as you want.
8. Restaurant365
No sense dodging the obvious—there’s a ton of point-of-sale software options out there, and this list wouldn’t be complete without featuring a handful of them. Restaurant365 is another example of all-in-one restaurant management software that comes packed with lots of features.
What sets this app apart from others on this list is their focus on serving different types of restaurants. Their pricing model and integration options are divided into four areas: independently owned restaurants, franchises, restaurant groups, and accounting.
One perk to this software is its pricing, which follows a pay as you grow model. Small businesses start at $129—steeper than others on this list—but only go up as your restaurant starts bringing in more money.
9. Epos Now
EPOS Now, another point-of-sale option for your business, places a large emphasis on generating insight-driven data for restaurant managers. The software provides timely data on trends, sales, and customer feedback that you can use to make informed decisions about your business.
Reviewers boast that EPOS is built with a clean, no-frills design that makes navigation easy. Pretty important for surviving the lunch and dinner rush.
EPOS works as a software on computers already in-house or can be purchased with iPads pre-installed. Their pricing is diverse and based on needs of the business, so you’ll need to inquire or book a free demo to get a better idea.
10. Sapaad
Two things that stand out right away about Sapaad: it’s affordable and user-friendly. The restaurant software company, based out of Dubai, has been slowly climbing up the competitive ladder of point-of-sale options.
And why not? It starts at just $59 per month for small restaurants, and increases based on the size of your establishment. It also offers the same features many of the more expensive options on this list have, too.
Plus, you can sign up for a 14-day, risk-free trial to see if it’s a solution for your business.
11. ResDiary
Another option for booking and managing reservations, ResDiary was built for restaurant owners, foodies, and concierges alike. Users can book reservations through the app, through Google, or even through social media. And their business model is not commission-based, so you’re not kicking back any of the money you make off bookings to the company.
Other fun features allow you to host and book events online, take deposits virtually, and market to your loyal customers.
Prices start at $280 per month, meaning this software is for bigger and already established restaurants (ones that likely take a lot of reservations).
12. Lavu
Rounding out this list is Lavu, another point-of-sale software designed for restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Because of this, Lavu offers many options depending on the type of business you’re conducting. You can set your system up for quick-service, more traditional restaurant flow, or for selling drinks at the bar.
Like many of the others on this list, Lavu also comes with a built-in loyalty and rewards program. You can connect with customers and give them incentives to come back through the app.
Lavu starts at $69 per month if you pay annually, increasing based on the number of restaurants you have.
Restaurant Management: Wrap Up
As you can see, the world of restaurant management software is comprehensive and diverse. No matter what type of eatery you run, there’s a piece of technology out there that can make your business run smoother and your life much easier.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, check out the handful of point-of-sale softwares on this list. Alternatively, specific solutions like When I Work or ResDiary can offer a specific solution—scheduling or taking reservations, in this instance.
Now that you know your options, narrow down the list of contenders and select the software that best fits your needs. Most come with free trials or options to try before you buy, so take advantage of this!
The right restaurant management software makes your job a little easier and the customer’s experience a little better. And that’s a win-win.
