Do you want to run your catering business more efficiently? If YES, here are 50 best catering system management software & apps and how much they cost.
Over the years, the catering industry has grown to let technology aid its services. Catering business system management software and apps help catering businesses in different ways and provide various benefits. There are a lot of aspects of a catering business that software can help automate, for example, the inventory.
Why Use a Catering Service Management Software?
If you are managing every item in your inventory manually, you’re wasting a lot time, and there is a good chance for human error. Another one is employee scheduling. It can take up a lot of your time trying to alert employees of their shifts.
A catering software can also be viewed as an investment. What you put in now will eventually save money for you and your business in the long run. Catering software allows you to analyze every financial area of your business so users can identify areas that may or may not need improvement. Things like food cost will no longer need to be eyeballed, and businesses will receive more exact calculations of their spending and how it affects their overall bottom line.
What are the Features of a Good Catering Business Management Software?
In Today’s market, it’s becoming pertinent for catering companies to have the capabilities to manage their business from anywhere. A good catering software will come with a mobile app. This will allow businesses to have everything from their shopping lists to important financials with them everywhere on their mobile device.
Also note that as a caterer, a client expects their event to be a memorable experience. The level of success you have on the event can actually rest on your ability to build the relationship with your client. The client experience all starts with your initial interaction.
Catering software allows you to easily create stunning proposals and send them off within seconds. Manual processes for proposals can take way too long, and can impact the amount of growth a business can do. Once you have landed the catering gig, it helps to have a centralized system that is easily accessible.
From knowing specific allergies to having the right amount of food, a successful catering operation has all of their client data centralized so they can deliver a faster and more efficient experience. Another key factor that can make a company unsuccessful is its inability to communicate effectively. When you have multiple departments from the servers to the kitchen, you need a streamlined communication system.
A good catering software allows you to discover new insights from your day-to-day business data. Although every relationship you have with your clients will determine the success of your business, but having a good catering software makes the job easier and faster. Below are 50 Best software applications for catering businesses.
50 Best Catering Business System Management Software & Apps and How Much They Cost
1. Deputy
Deputy is an all-in-one employee scheduling, time & attendance (time clock), tasking and communication platform. You can use Deputy’s mobile apps to manage your team from anywhere. Deputy iPad kiosk app provides clock in/out for employees with complete self service, all powered by simple, intuitive design. It also provides an end-to-end solution for managing your workforce.
From employee scheduling to payroll integration, all is provided as one solution. Do your scheduling using the mobile app and publish to your staff via email/sms/push notification with the option of having your employees confirm their shifts. Employees can clock in using Deputy mobile apps with geo-location tagging or they can use the Deputy Kiosk iPad app with face detection.
- Cost – $2.50 /month
2. Restaurant Catering Systems
Restaurant Catering Systems helps caterers to manage operations, sales, and marketing cost-efficiently and effectively. Cloud-based and feature-rich Restaurant Catering Systems allows users to take orders, track sales, view reports for kitchen planning, and manage employees in a seamless way.
This robust, all-in-one platform provides a plethora of features, such as online ordering, accounting and invoices, proposal generation, production reports, lead generation system, delivery management, and a built-in email marketing module.
- Cost – $129.00 /month
3. Total Party Planner
Total Party Planner is a cloud-based catering platform with features task management, communication tracking, event management, scheduling, and reporting. Total Party Planner caters to small, mid-sized, and large caterers and event planning organizations.
Note that with Total Party Planner, users are able to manage the catering process with ease. Total Party Planner easily integrates with third-party solutions such as Constant Contact, Quickbooks, Authorize.net, and more. Total Party Planner is accessible via Android and iOS mobile devices.
- Cost – $99.00 /month
4. Epos Now
Epos Now provides business management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses in the retail and hospitality industries. The company provides point of sale (POS) hardware and industry-leading cloud-based software, which comes with the Epos Now AppStore for seamless integrations with payments, accounts, marketing, and other essential business tools.
These scalable systems are tailored to individual business needs and come with full training. Premium support is also available 24/7.
- Cost – $39.00 /month
5. Caterease
Caterease is a full-featured catering and event planning software fit for any catering or event planning business. Caterease is event management software that is used to manage both clients and events. The software provides a single platform to store, organize and manage all the information related to your events.
You can use the software to design and print branded, custom contracts, invoices and kitchen prints. You can track events with calendars, graphs and detailed reports. Caterease offers advanced reporting, along with custom data exporting; single-click event copying; menu item ingredients and packing lists; event shift and staff management. You can also use batch emailing to extend your reach to multiple customers.
Caterease includes the event scheduler to show a graphic display of all your events at a glance. The New Even Wizard is a walk through process for entering all your most important event details. Data entry tools help with the process of entering data with a customizable drop-down quick-pick list, drop-down calendars and calculators to automatically calculate deposit due dates.
Other features include multiple deposit scheduling, customer menu scheduling, secure event payment, an ingredients report, weekly kitchen plan, employee management, required items tracking, venue diagramming tool, etc
- Cost – $35.00 /month
6. Function Tracker for Caterers
Function Tracker for Caterers is a cloud-based catering management solution ideal for small and mid-sized organizations. Function Tracker for Caterers’ features include staff management, equipment management, and menu management.
Note that with Function Tracker for Caterers’ menu management module, users can customize catering packages, design menus, and maintain the price lists. Function Tracker for Caterers’ documentation feature enables users to make contracts, quotes, running sheets, and event running orders.
- Cost – $49.50 /month
7. Jolt
Jolt is a tablet-based software used to manage daily operations for brands like Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Owners and managers get a real-time look at daily operations from their phone, and in-store tablets keep staff accountable and on task.
Jolt includes a training library, drag-n-drop schedule builder, text notifications, a time clock, and more. Trusted in thousands of food service locations across the globe, Jolt has helped workers complete over 700 million tasks.
- Cost – $89.99 /month
8. When I Work
You can establish work schedules for your employees in minutes with When I Work. A free online employee scheduling and time clock software, When I Work is the solution companies desire to schedule and communicate with hourly employees with ease.
Accessible on mobile via When I Work’s iPhone and Android apps, When I Work lets businesses fill shifts in 30 seconds, avoid schedule conflicts, and make staff communication easy, fast, and reliable. It is free to use for up to 75 employees.
- Cost – $1.00 /month/user
9. Better Care
As the leading catering software, Better Care offers you the best tools you need to create professional-looking proposals within minutes. Simple to use, Better Care makes it easier for you to manage and streamline your catering business with its professional templates, advanced reports, and an integrated calendar. Core features include cost and time analysis, contact management, profit and costs calculations, and proposals management.
- Cost – $59.00 /month/user
10. HotelFriend
HotelFriend is a cloud-based hotel management software. This software covers the organization of work, direct room & service sales, simplifies the processes of serving guests, making their stay at the hotel even more comfortable. It also gives the ability to manage the sales online from any device in any part of the world, analyze guest behavior and increase the income.
HotelFriend AG provides more than 10 ready-to-use products on one platform developed by the same company. The system is designed with no APIs and comprises all products a Hotelier needs in each stage of Hotel Development. It is unique to have no APIs between the products, no hidden costs for updates and support issues. A seamless process – simple and powerful.
- Cost – €25 /month
11. RDPWin
Resort Data Processing (RDP) has long been renowned as one of the pioneers of the property management software industry, and currently supports over 1000 installations worldwide. RDP specializes in providing a customized solution for each client.
They cater to properties of all sizes, from small luxury vacation rental companies, to 1500 room resort properties. The software solutions offer an endless feature set, that has evolved over 35 years from customer input and real world application.
- Cost – $500.00
12. eventmachine
Established in 2016, ZELFMADE is a software organization based in Germany that offers a piece of software called eventmachine. This software provides business hours support. It features training via documentation, and live online.
The eventmachine software suite is a SaaS software. Also a revenue management software, and includes features such as banquet management, booking management, calendar management, costing, event management, facility management, inventory management, and quote management.
- Cost – $95.00 /month
13. Releventful
Releventful includes training via live online. The Releventful product is an Android, and iOS software. Releventful offers a free version, and free trial. Releventful is an event management software, and includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, calendar management, contract management, costing, customer database, event management, and kitchen / menu management.
- Cost – $20.00 /month
14. MONKEY
MONKEY offers training via documentation, webinars, live online, and in person sessions. MONKEY is a catering software, and includes features such as billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, costing, customer database, event management, facility management, inventory management, kitchen / menu management, order management, and quote management. MONKEY offers online support, and 24/7 live support. It is available as SaaS software.
- Cost – $5000.00 /month
15. FreshCheq
This software can help catering businesses simplify day to day operations, save time and money with food waste logs, food safety temperature logs, checklists and so much more. It is a cloud-based application for restaurants and all other food service businesses.
Affordable enough for independent restaurants and robust enough for large corporate brands. Improve employee workflow and accountability. It has actionable and immediate dashboard reporting at all levels of the organization from any smart device or computer.
- Cost – Not Available
16. orderbird POS
orderbird is a Germany software company that offers a software title called orderbird POS. This software provide training via live online. orderbird POS offers a free version, and free trial. It includes features such as billing & invoicing, costing, and order management. With regards to system requirements, orderbird POS is available as SaaS, and iOS software, and includes 24/7 live support.
- Cost – $49.00 /month
17. Pxier Event
Pxier Event provides training via documentation, and live online. Pxier Event also offer a free trial. The event management software includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, contract management, customer database, event management, facility management, kitchen / menu management, order management, quote management, and waitstaff management. With regards to system requirements, Pxier Event is available as SaaS software. Pxier Event includes online support, and business hours support.
- Cost – $29.00 /month
18. Event Staff App
Event Staff App is a united states software company that was founded in 2011, and offers a software title called Event Staff App. Event Staff App provides training via documentation, and in person sessions. Event Staff App offers free trial, and includes features such as event management, and wait staff management. With regards to system requirements, Event Staff App is available as SaaS software.
- Costs – $29.00 /month
19. Online Food Ordering System
Online Food Ordering System provides training via webinars, and live online. Online Food Ordering System offers a free trial. Online Food Ordering System is food delivery software. With regards to system requirements, Online Food Ordering System is available as SaaS software, and it includes business hours support.
- Cost – $1500.00/one-time
20. CaterZen
This is an all-in-one catering platform designed to meet the CRM, sales, marketing, and operational needs of restaurant and corporate drop-off catering. Major features include online ordering, proposal generation with built in electronic signature contracts, accounting and invoices, delivery management, production reports, a lead generation system, and a built-in email marketing module.
The software’s CRM database enable users to import and group client contacts to manage relationships and keep up with all emails, to-dos, meetings or calls with prospects. Users can manage delivery addresses, securely store credit card information, and manage customer service with simple access to client orders, proposals, invoices and more.
The lead generation system enables organizations to add lead capture forms to their business website, alongside a loyalty referral program to reward current clients. It also offers the ability to establish personalized proposal templates for any event type in order to address the unique needs of each client.
All proposals can be quickly turned into an order, and the branded online ordering portal enables clients to place their own orders, access their events calendar, re-book events, and more. Instant notifications immediately alert caterers of new bookings, and the reminder system allows users to set follow-ups for clients.
Due to CaterZen’s features for accounting, catering organizations can accept and process credit cards as well as accept checks, and each day’s sales are reconciled. Users can create and send invoices, view total orders with outstanding balances or unprocessed payments, produce aging reports, and more.
- Cost – $129 /month
21. CaterPro for Windows
The CaterPro for Windows software suite is a Windows software that offers business hours support. CaterPro for Windows offers free trial and includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, customer database, event management, inventory management, kitchen / menu management, quote management, and waitstaff management.
- Cost – $495.00/one-time
22. PerfectTablePlan
Created by Oryx Digital a software organization based in the united kingdom, perfectTablePlan features training via documentation. The PerfectTablePlan software suite is a Mac, and Windows software that offers online, and business hours support. PerfectTablePlan offers a free tria and includes features such as banquet management, and event management.
- Cost – $29.95/one-time/user
23. CaterTrax
Renowned as a web-based business management platform for North American caterers and foodservice providers across a range of industries, which is designed to help streamline operations, manage inventory, and reduce costs. The solution suite allows users to manage catering, take-out, and floor stock, in addition to their company’s web presence.
This catering solution provides a variety of front and back of house features for taking and managing customer orders. Online ordering allows customers to place their orders through the business’ websites, with users able to control operating hours, lead times, and delivery times.
Note that custom menus can be uploaded, with support for menus with multiple categories, and standardized menus across multiple sites. Related items are displayed to customers automatically, providing opportunities for upselling. Payment gateway integrations allow customers to pay for their orders online.
Once orders are placed, customers can request changes and track their order, and kitchen and pack sheets are generated automatically. Users can track orders through the multiple calendar views, with configurable status pins to give an at-a-glance view of order statuses.
- Cost – $150 /month
24. Spoonfed
Spoonfed is payment processing software, and includes features such as billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, customer database, event management, kitchen/menu management, order management, and quote management. With regards to system requirements, Spoonfed is available as SaaS software. Spoonfed includes online support, and business hours support.
- Cost – $75.00 /month
25. FoodStorm for Catering
FoodStorm for Catering is a catering software, and includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, customer database, event management, inventory management, kitchen/menu management, quote management, recipe management, and waitstaff management.
With regards to system requirements, FoodStorm for Catering is available as SaaS software. FoodStorm for Catering includes online support, and business hours support.
- Cost – $79.00 /month
26. QuickStaff
QuickStaff provides training via live online, and in person sessions. QuickStaff is an event management software that includes features such as calendar management, employee scheduling, Reporting/Analytics, and time tracking. With regards to system requirements, QuickStaff is available as a SaaS software. QuickStaff includes online support, and business hours support.
- Cost – $20.00 /month
27. Cater-Flex
Cater-Flex provides training via live online. Cater-Flex is catering software that includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, customer database, event management, kitchen / menu management, and quote management. With regards to system requirements, Cater-Flex is available as a Windows software. Cater-Flex includes business hours support.
- Cost – $1200.00/one-time
28. ABC Event Manager
This software was created by Aggressive Banqueting Concepts a software organization based in the United States. The ABC Event Manager software suite is a Windows software. ABC Event Manager offers 24/7 live support. They offer features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, customer database, event management, facility management, inventory management, kitchen / menu management, quote management, and waitstaff management.
- Cost – $15000.00/one-time
29. Cost Genie
Cost Genie Software is a software organization based in the United States that provides a piece of software called Cost Genie. Cost Genie features training via documentation. The Cost Genie software suite is Windows software and it includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, costing, customer database, event management, inventory management, kitchen / menu management, and recipe management.
- Cost – $595.00/one-time
30. Better Cater
This software is popular as a simple, mobile-optimized catering software that serves various types of catering businesses, large and small, helping users to schedule, produce, and manage numerous events. It enables businesses to create and streamline professional-looking proposals for clients, generate a variety of reports, and organize event details using the integrated calendar.
Better Cater enables businesses to create and send professional proposals to clients, including all details on the products and services offered. Ordering and prep sheets can be created to help streamline the kitchen, while menus and invoices help organize tasks for the sales team. Scheduling and packing lists can also be created to guide the operations team.
Note that every details of the event can be organized within the solution’s integrated calendar which can be synchronized with Outlook, Google Calendar, and iCalendar. Also, users can view all events by day, week, month, or year, as well as manage all bookable spaces and reschedule events.
Have it in mind that the solution stores and keeps all information in a centralized location, allowing users to streamline all the documents needed in order to fulfill jobs.
Customizable reports can be based on previously entered information and generated to track various types of data such as overall food sales, inventory, and staff. Better Cater can be accessed from anywhere, using any computer, smartphone, or tablet in order to retrieve information and view menus, proposals, and event details while on the go.
- Cost – $59 /month
31. Caterman
The Caterman software suite is SaaS software that provides online support. Caterman is catering software that includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, costing, customer database, event management, facility management, inventory management, kitchen / menu management, order management, quote management, recipe management, and waitstaff management.
- Cost – $10.00 /month/user
32. STS
Sales&Catering.com is a software organization based in the United States and they offer a piece of software called STS. STS offers business hours support and features training via documentation, webinars, and live online. The STS software is catering software that includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, contract management, customer database, event management, facility management, kitchen/menu management, and quote management.
- Cost – $99.00 /month
33. Meido
Meido is a software business in Ukraine that publishes a software suite called Meido. Meido includes training via in person sessions. The Meido product is a SaaS software that includes 24/7 live support and has features such as banquet management, booking management, costing, event management, facility management, inventory management, kitchen / menu management, order management, quote management, and waitstaff management.
- Cost – $199.00 /month
34. ResortSuite CATERING
ResortSuite is a software company based in Canada that was founded in 1999 and offers a software product called ResortSuite CATERING. ResortSuite CATERING includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, customer database, event management, inventory management, kitchen / menu management, quote management, and waitstaff management.
ResortSuite CATERING offers 24/7 live support and effectively manages event details for single banquets to multi-day, multi-venue group bookings. ResortSuite CATERING also easily integrates with other ResortSuite modules including: PMS, SPA, F&B, GOLF, SKI, RETAIL, CONCIERGE, WEB, DASHBOARD, CONNECT, MOBILE and SOCIAL.
- Cost – $20000.00/one-time
35. Banquet Event Booking System
Banquet Event Booking System is event management software, and includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, customer database, event management, kitchen / menu management, and quote management. Banquet Event Booking System offers online support, and business hours support. Banquet Event Booking System is available as SaaS software.
- Cost – $999.00/one-time
36. CaterSOFT Occasion
CaterSOFT is a United Kingdom software company and offers a software title called CaterSOFT Occasion. CaterSOFT Occasion offers a free version and it includes features such as billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, contract management, customer database, event management, facility management, and kitchen / menu management. With regards to system requirements, CaterSOFT Occasion is available as SaaS software.
- Cost – $39.00 /month
37. FoodVenue Catering
FoodVenue Catering is catering software, and includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, calendar management, customer database, event management, kitchen / menu management, and quote management. With regards to system requirements, FoodVenue Catering is available as SaaS software. FoodVenue Catering includes business hours support.
- Cost – $170.00 /month
38. Gastronome
The creator of this software, Premicesoft is a software organization based in Canada. The Gastronome software suite is Windows software that offers 24/7 live support. Gastronome is event management software. Some competitor software products to Gastronome include Rendezvous, ReServe Interactive, and Rezware XP7.
- Cost – $5000.00/one-time
39. ESP2000
The ESP2000 software suite is a SaaS software that offers online, and business hours support. ESP2000 is legal calendar software, and includes features such as banquet management, billing & invoicing, booking management, customer database, event management, inventory management, kitchen/menu management, and quote management.
- Cost – $5000.00/one-time
40. Fusion
The Fusion software suite is a SaaS software that offers online, and business hours support. It includes features such as contract management, inspection management, inventory management, late fee calculation, maintenance management, Multi-Location, online booking, rate management, reservations management, scheduling, short / long term rental, auto/boat rental, and medical equipment rental.
- Cost – $75.00 /month/user
41. ChefTec
The ChefTec software suite is SaaS software that offers business hours support. ChefTec is bakery software, and includes features such as event management, inventory management, and kitche menu management. Some competitor software products to ChefTec include ChefMod, Jolt, and Kounta Point of Sale.
- Cost – $995.00/one-time/user
42. ChefMod
This software is known as an online recipe and purchasing lifecycle management solution for independent restaurant owners, full-service restaurants, and small foodservice establishments. The cloud-based solution can be accessed on laptops, desktops, and other mobile devices including smartphones and tablets.
This software also offers native mobile apps for Android and iOS platforms. The application can be used to streamline restaurant workflow, manage inventory, reconcile invoices, and place orders through a secure environment.
ChefMod’s Order 1-2-3 module aids restaurants manage their supply chain and place orders according to their purchasing requirements. The solution provides a secure order functionality that uses forecasting algorithms to determine the correct order name and quantity on the basis of past purchases.
ChefMod also alerts restaurant owners and chefs about low or high order quantity and amount. ChefMod offers insights into restaurant financials by handling the process of creating purchase orders and invoice reconciliation. The solution also breaks food cost by category and enables managers to analyze profitability for each category.
43. CaterShark
Reachoutside is a software company and offers a software title called CaterShark. CaterShark is catering software, and includes features such as event management, kitchen / menu management, order management, and recipe management. With regards to system requirements, CaterShark is available as SaaS software.
- Cost – $39.99 /month
44. Optimum Control Pro
The Optimum Control Pro software suite is SaaS software. Optimum Control Pro is catering software, and includes features such as billing & invoicing, costing, event management, inventory management, order management, and recipe management.
- Cost – $1088.74/one-time
45. AeroChef
AeroChef – Inflight Catering Management System is a comprehensive, fully integrated solution that covers various modules like Control room -Operations Management, Order Management, Menu Management, Service & Equipment Scheduling, Production Management-Kitchen, Inventory / Multi-Store Management (General, Equipment, Consumables) Purchase Management, Invoicing and Payment, Dispatch, Offloading / Retrievals.
- Cost – $100,000.00/one-time/user
46. MarketMan
This cloud based Restaurant inventory management software and app gives you the tools you need to manage your inventory, suppliers, orders, and menu costing. Get accurate food cost and know where your money is going in real time; set alerts when menu items become less profitable and get notifications when supplier prices fluctuate. The result is better control and more profits.
- Cost – $149.00 /monthly
47. Sapaad
Sapaad is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) and restaurant management system for cafés, fast food chains, restaurants, home delivery, and take-away outlets of all sizes. This software supports various order types such as dine-in, walk-in, take-away, and home delivery, and can be implemented in a single location or multi-location Business model.
Sapaad has stock and inventory management features which allow users to manage stock by inventory location, send purchase orders directly to suppliers, receive and transfer stock, run stock takes, and build par levels. Coupled with the recipe management feature, users can configure recipe ingredients, modify recipes and identify the cost effect of the ingredients on the menu item price.
The software has a dashboard and reporting system which provides an array of sales and marketing insights, as well as information on stock such as low running stock, stock on hand and overall cost of goods. The software’s add-ons include the online ordering module, in-built loyalty program, and SMS.
It also has a Kitchen Display System that enhances kitchen operations and provides real-time insights into kitchen efficiency. Sapaad has also partnered with various third-party apps to provide accounting integration and more. The software has a pay-as-you-go pricing model, and is available to restaurants across the world. It has ten different tiers of monthly subscription plans based on the number of outlets and users.
- Cost – $59 /month
48. Kounta Point of Sale
Created specifically with hospitality in mind, Kounta POS makes no compromises for straight retail. This software is flexible to all different types and sizes of business. Behind the scenes is a security hardened database of all your most valuable data.
You’ll get the same kind of big business reporting and analytics tools for all your stores backed up, as everything happens. And it runs on anything: iPad, Android, Mac, PC or even legacy POS hardware, a fully featured, always available, mobile POS.
- Cost – $50.00 /month
49. Event Staff App
This is a web-based platform for event organizations to streamline the processes of staff hiring and scheduling, availability tracking, management and communication. Organizers are able to send text messages and emails to staff to notify them when they are scheduled to work in an upcoming event.
Note that all staff members are provided with an account for Event Staff App, enabling them to log in from a web browser or any connected mobile device. Staff are able to check their schedule and respond to availability requests at any time of day, and while on the go.
- Cost – $29 /month
50. APICBASE Food Management
With this software, you can efficiently manage the back-of-house operations of a food service business. Create recipes step by step, display menus on screens in your kitchen, import ingredients for allergen tracking, calculate food cost, manage your stock and orders, and more. APICBASE provides a wide range of features to manage your business, whether you have one outlet or multiple outlets.
- Cost – $49.00 /month
It’s important for caterers to stay up-to-date and move with growing trends in the industry. Remember that when it comes to the hospitality industry every penny counts.