Home » Guides » Operations » Restaurant Equipment and Supplies » Restaurant Management Software

Frances Sharpe

Guide to Restaurant Management Software

A growing software menu that lowers costs, saves time and improves profits

By Frances Sharpe, freelance writer/editor

Most people don't consider the restaurant business a high-tech endeavor. However, a growing number of restaurant-specific software programs have emerged to help you with nearly every aspect of running your business. And there's more good news: most of this software is affordable for smaller businesses that operate only a few eateries or even a single location. The various software products currently available can help you:
  1. Maximize profits
  2. Lower food costs
  3. Streamline staff scheduling
  4. Improve table and customer management
  5. Improve your reservations system
  6. Control inventory
  7. Design menus

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Cost out your recipes

Accurate recipe costing can put you on the fast track to success. With the right figures, you can easily identify your most profitable menu items as well as items that aren't cost-effective. Software programs eliminate human error in this crucial area.
I recommend: Download a demo of OCLite, a food and recipe-costing software program that helps you adjust menu prices based on recipe costs so you can maximize profits. Try a trial version of CostGuard, which suggests selling prices based on recipe costs. Or download iPro recipe-costing software.

Reservations and table management

Reservation software can help you reduce no-shows, take reservations from your Web site, identify VIPs and regulars, track customer preferences, capture customer contact information, and more. It can also help you maximize table management and improve your guest management.
I recommend: Check out iMagic Restaurant Reservation or RCMS, or enroll with an online reservations system, such as OpenTable.com.

Control and track inventory

In the restaurant business, controlling inventory is crucial in order to minimize waste and to avoid running out of necessary ingredients.
I recommend: Compeat Restaurant Accounting Systems features a comprehensive inventory control feature that allows for customization.

Ordering and purchasing

Look for software that streamlines the ordering and purchasing process so you can concentrate on revenue-generating activities.
I recommend: The ordering and purchasing feature of ChefTec compares vendor bids, places orders based on the lowest cost, converts orders into invoices and transfers invoices into your accounting system.

Menu design

If you make frequent changes to your menu or you simply don't want the hassle and expense of hiring a graphic designer, use software that helps you create designer-quality menus.
I recommend: MenuPro includes more than 100 pre-designed menu styles, hundreds of food illustrations and even a culinary spell-checker

Staff scheduling

Every restaurant owner knows that scheduling employees can be a real headache. When performed manually, the task is time-consuming and often results in mistakes, such as understaffing or overstaffing.
I recommend: ScheduleWriter is a useful software tool that lets you create daily, weekly or monthly schedules in minutes. It also minimizes overstaffing and understaffing problems and alerts you to scheduling conflicts.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • If you operate more than one restaurant, test-drive the software in one before implementing it system wide.
  • Many restaurant software programs have powerful reporting features. Use them to analyze your sales, your customers and your menu. Make changes based on what you learn.

The official source of Restaurant Management Software is
the Restaurant Software page at Business.com

Restaurant Manager POS: The Right POS for Tough Times
Courtesy guide - Surviving Tough Times. POS that helps boost revenue and cut cost. Real time alerts, integrated online ordering and much more.
Table Service POS | Pizza & Delivery | Bar & Club POS | Wireless POS
www.rmpos.com
Restaurant POS Software
We've Been Supporting Restaurants For Over 20 Years and Work With All Restaurant POS Hardware & Software. A Better Value. Why Go Anywhere Else?
About Us | POS News | Testimonials | Contact Us Today
www.pos-for-restaurants.com
Restaurant Management Software Directory
Compare restaurant management software using Capterra's free, comprehensive directory.
Capterra.com
Restaurant Management Software Resources
Find Restaurant Management Software. Search listings and reviews of retailers, specialists and services in your local area now.
JustClickLocal.com

Recommended Solution Providers

Capterra: Restaurant Software Directory
Lists companies who provide restaurant software.

POS Guys: Restaurant Software
Provides restaurant POS software.

Action Systems: Restaurant Manager
Software program specializing in table service, nightclubs & bars, pizza & delivery and quick service.

ExecuTouch: Restaurant Management Software
Focuses on tables, inventory, attendance, and gift cards.

Open Table: Restaurant Application
Specializes in reservations, table seating, and marketing management.

Compeat: Foodservice Management Software
Software to help manage inventory and accounting for foodservice companies.

Optimum Control: OCLite
Software for precise food and recipe costing.

Cost Guard
Software that calculates and reduces your actual food costs.

iMagic Restaurant Software
Tracks restaurant reservations through software.

Best Sites to Learn More

Foodservice 411: Foodservice Technology
Lists various forms of technology that assist owners of foodservice businesses.

Restaurant Owner: Technology Advice
Browse articles evaluating restaurant management technology.

KnowledgeStorm: Restaurant Software Review
Provides reviews of software for the food and beverage industries.

Best Blogs and Forums

Foodservice.com: POS & Software Forum
Discussions about restaurant point-of-sales systems and other software applications.

About: Restaurant Experts
Pose a question to experts about restaurant management.

All Business
Provides posts on cleanliness, ordering, and other issues that confront restaurant owners.

Tips Waiter Bell: Restaurant Owner Blog
Interact with other restaurant owners to get information about management issues.



FEATURED LISTINGS

What WorksTM for Restaurant Equipment and Supplies

Daniel Kehrer

Point-of-Sale (POS) Software and Systems

How point of sale software and a point of sale system can boost your business
Cash registers are kaput. Today even the smallest business rings up sales with POS software and point of sale systems that performs multiple tasks such as gathering customer and inventory information, scanning bar codes, reading credit cards, printing receipts and displaying messages to buyers. The ability of point of sales systems to instantly update inventory after each sale is huge. Point of sale software and hardware can tell ... Read more

Free B2B search marketing whitepaper, B2B Search Marketing Strategy Guide: Advice From the Pros.
Download

To advertise on Business.com, click here