With more events being planned than ever before, you need to find the right tools to maximize your catering manpower and run your business more efficiently. Here are the top catering management software solutions on the market today
After a couple of years full of cancellations and postponements, people around the world are finally able to organize weddings, celebrations, conferences, and various other in-person events.
While this return to normality is bound to benefit them, catering businesses are under more pressure than ever to maximize their workforce and time management, while staying on top of all administrative tasks.
As a catering business owner, you need to find ways to tackle employee turnover, reduce labor costs and operate more efficiently.
A catering management software could be the difference between a business sinking and thriving in a time when there are more events than ever before.
In order to make an educated decision when it comes to implementing the right software for your business, let’s focus on some of the best catering apps that the industry has to offer.
If you don’t have the time to read through our research, jump down to our quick comparison table.
Our Top Picks
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Best all-in-one catering management software
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Good for restaurants
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Good for online ordering
What to Look For in a Catering Management Software Solution
When choosing catering management software, you should consider if it includes the following features and capabilities:
- Employee scheduling: The ability to create and share schedules with your workforce, assign shifts to individuals and grant workers control over them.
- Task management: Easily create tasks and assign to employees, including to-do lists and one-off tasks, with timely reminders and the ability to internally communicate regarding tasks.
- Time management: Managers should be able to track their employees’ work hours, while employees should be able to clock in and out, preferably from their mobile devices.
- Booking management calendar: Sales and catering management software should include some kind of digital calendar to easily manage bookings, prevent double-bookings and schedule appointments/calls. Ideally, such a calendar should also be able to sync with other digital calendars such as Google calendar.
- Report generation: The ability to create, generate and share any kind of report, including proposals, invoices, event details, checklists, and more.
- Customer relationship management (CRM): Features designed to help catering business owners organize and track customer and vendor information in real-time, while also providing all relevant employees with the same information.
With all of these capabilities in mind, we have compiled a list of the best catering management systems that will help you maximize your workforce.
The 8 Best Catering Management Software Solutions of 2023
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Connecteam —
Connecteam is an award-winning catering business software that managers can use to get the most out of their workforce. Both its desktop and mobile user interfaces are simple and easy on the eye, simplifying all business-related processes.
This all-in-one employee management solution helps catering teams digitize their time tracking, employee scheduling, internal communication, and much more. With Connecteam, you can:
- Ensure that employees only clock in and out from the workplace, and not before their shift starts, with a geofence time clock.
- Guarantee that work hours/wages are 100% accurate with digital timesheets. When ready, export them to your payroll software (such as QuickBooks Online) in a couple of clicks.
- Always know when employees are available, allow them to trade shifts, and assign shift tasks with effective employee scheduling. Every shift includes the exact roles required, including shift managers, bartenders, kitchen staff, and cleaners.
- Easily create any task and track their progress with task management capabilities.
- Create any kind of report (proposals, invoices, and safety checks) with digital forms and checklists.
- Simplify cross-business communication, and replace private apps and text messages with an in-app employee team chat.
- Effectively onboard every employee with personalized employee training courses, providing all relevant policies and preparing workers for any kind of event.
- Build a comprehensive knowledge center that includes all catering dishes, menu items, how tables and food should be set, etc.
Connecteam isn’t exclusively a catering management software, meaning that it currently doesn’t include some typical capabilities that are associated with a catering app (CRM, and booking management, etc). However, when it comes to employee management, Connecteam’s all-in-one capabilities are absolutely essential.
Key Features
Employee scheduling based on roles
Pros
All-in-one solution
Super easy to use, no training needed
Completely Scalable
Amazing, quick-to-respond customer support
Cons
Lacks some catering management features
Pricing
Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users
Join Connecteam’s Catering Management Software Solution
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Tripleseat — Good for: restaurants
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Tripleseat’s cloud-based catering management system is designed for restaurants and other hospitality industries. This system helps businesses respond to leads and communicate with guests. It also assists in tracking event details, taking payments, and more. Tripleseat ensures everyone, from the event manager to the head chef, is on the same page.
Event planners praise Tripleseat for being easy to learn and use. It’s excellent for managing events and scheduling appointments with minimal effort. Payment connections are also easy to make.
The obvious downside is the fact there is no mobile app version. Users will need to log into the software via the web page. Also, using the events calendar can take more steps than desired.
Learn more about TripleseatKey Features
- Centralized bookings calendar
- Branded documents and proposals
- PCI compliant online credit card processing
- Offline payment tracking with your POS
- Automatic payment reminders and alerts
- eSignatures
Pros
- Great customer service
- Easy to use
Cons
- Some features are a little complicated
Pricing
Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No
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FoodStorm — Good for: online ordering
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
FoodStorm allows users to automate processes, generate more sales, and satisfy their customers. This catering management software is ideal for online ordering and retail catering. It also helps with onsite catering, event catering, and corporate catering. Depending on one’s catering needs, the features may vary.
Regarding the software’s main selling points, its ease of use and simplicity to set up can’t be ignored. The customer support team is also accommodating in addressing users’ issues.
Many users have commented on how the software’s CRM capabilities could be improved. And the sheer amount of features can be somewhat overwhelming for users who aren’t so tech-savvy.
Learn more about FoodStormKey Features
- CRM features
- Online ordering
- Order tracking
- Reporting
- Payment and invoicing
Pros
- Nice interface
Cons
- Mobile phone compatibility is limited
Pricing
Licensing starts at $500/month Trial: No Free Plan: No
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Better Cater — Good for: Saving food costs
Available on
- Web
Better Cater is great for restaurants and large-scale caterers alike. It’s also a good fit for function and event caterers, corporate catering, food trucks, and onsite catering. This catering business software offers one solution to manage events, create automated packing lists, and generate reports.
When it comes to entering jobs, pricing, invoicing and emailing, there aren’t many apps that make it easier for managers. Others have noted the strong customization options to tailor the software to your catering business’s needs.
One problem users highlighted was the need to create a separate account per location. This can be a headache for businesses that operate in many locations.
Learn more about Better CaterKey Features
- Professional-looking proposals
- Simple & customizable reports
- Intuitive scheduling
- CRM database
- An integrated calendar that syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
- No mobile app at the moment
- Not many features
Pricing
Starts at $69/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: No
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Priava — Good for: Venue and event managers
Available on
- Web
Priava is an award-winning catering business software for venues and events. Priava assists teams with managing catering orders, CRM, and sales and marketing. It also helps with quoting, equipment tracking, resource requirements, and business intelligence.
There are also add-on options available. For example, catering, inventory, online bookings, ticketing, advanced permissions, packages, and more.
While the software is generally easy to use, some reports can be complicated to set up. Also, customer support can take a while to resolve technical issues.
Learn more about PriavaKey Features
- Opportunities and quotes
- Task management
- Reporting
- Email functionality
- Cloud-based file storage
- GDPR compliance
Pros
- Great customer management and support
Cons
- Hard to understand how to use some features
Pricing
Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No
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Curate — Good for: Florists
Available on
- Web
Curate considers itself a modern and intuitive catering management system. This software allows users to automate processes, so it’s easier to grow their catering company. It also saves time when it comes to proposal processes and helps to increase bookings.
Reviewers commented how it’s easy to access work contacts and prices to do business quickly. With the ability to add photos, making proposals visually attractive is simple. Others would prefer it if they could do this on an existing mobile app instead of on the website.
Some also took issue with needing help to attach files to emails they’d send to clients. Instead, they had to send two separate emails, which took double the time.
Learn more about CurateKey Features
- Turn digital forms into proposals
- Keep track of customers and vendors
- Project accurate prices based on recipe costs
- Send orders off to the supplier of your choice
- Inventory tracking
- Overbooking notifications
Pros
- Top notch customer support
Cons
- Some features are glitchy
- Can be complicated to use
Pricing
Starts at $1500/year Trial: No Free Plan: No
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Caterease — Good for: Event planning
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
With Caterease, users can manage every aspect of their catered orders and events. Managers can track business through flexible reports and customizable queries. Also, they can use customizable wizard tools and create prints to reflect one’s brand image.
On the positive side, users find it easy to create proposals, enter prospects, and manage their clients. Others appreciate the ability to archive staff, communicate with customer support, and quickly verify schedules.
Some of the reporting tools are limited in capabilities. Some users believe that the software should have seen more changes when they’ve been using it.
Learn more about CatereaseKey Features
- Wizard driven event booking
- Drag and drop menu management
- Equipment inventory
- Automatic packing lists
- Site location management
- Cost and profit management
Pros
- Awesome customer support
Cons
- Not super user-friendly
Pricing
Starts at $125/month + $35/user/month Trial: No Free Plan: No
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Total Party Planner — Good for: Saving time on manual tasks
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Total Party Planner’s web-based management system allows managers to streamline their catering business. This software helps boost creativity, translating it into profitability.
This catering management software’s customization features and customer support set it apart from other solutions. Some even commented how they’ve never had an issue that wasn’t solved within an hour.
With that said, this software can take a while to get to grips with. With so many features, this can be overwhelming for some users. With some patience and help from customer support, Total Party Planner can be worth persisting with.
Learn more about Total Party PlannerKey Features
- CRM
- Calendar reminders
- Task management
- Accurate food costing controls
Pros
- User-friendly
- Great customer support
Cons
- Lacking in some features
- Mobile app could be better
Pricing
Starts at $65/month Trial: No Free Plan: No
Compare the Best Catering Management Software Solutions
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Start for free
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| Reviews |
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| Pricing |
Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users
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Contact vendor for price
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Licensing starts at $500/month
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Starts at $69/month
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Contact vendor for price
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Starts at $1500/year
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Starts at $125/month + $35/user/month
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Starts at $65/month
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| Free Trial |
yes
14-day
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no
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no
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yes
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no
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no
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no
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no
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| Free Plan |
yes
Free Up to 10 users
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no
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no
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no
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no
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no
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no
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no
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What Is Catering Management Software?
Catering management software is a digital solution that can help restaurants and food service companies better manage all of the organizational challenges that come with running a catering business.
There is a variety of catering software that differ in what they offer in terms of features, implementation, ease of use, and price. Generally, this kind of software is designed for catering, banquet management and event management industries.
How Does Catering Management Software Work?
There are some common features and functionalities that are present in most catering management software solutions. For a start, these solutions usually allow managers to track employee hours, schedule events via an online calendar and send bills to customers.
This kind of software also usually includes a main dashboard which managers can operate from their desktop. For, admins can build processes, like creating forms and checklists that they can allocate to both employees and customers.
A mobile catering app may also be available for employees to use on their end. Through this, they can claim and trade shifts, clock in and out and communicate with co-workers and managers, amongst other things.
The Benefits of Catering Management Software
Here are five ways that a catering management software can benefit your business:
- It saves time: Managing a catering business through manual processes can be awfully time-consuming. With catering management software, all processes become digitized or automated, making scheduling, time management and communication all much easier.
- It reduces business costs: Investing in catering management software can ultimately save your business money. It allows managers to keep track of every financial aspect of their business, receive accurate calculations, and identify areas of improvement.
- Can manage business operations from anywhere: Going mobile means that catering businesses can do everything from any location. This can include financial management, communication, scheduling, and more. All important information is stored in one place and accessible, wherever you may be working.
- Better customer experience: CRM capabilities that catering businesses can stay aware of customer’s specific requirements, food allergies, guest numbers, price details, etc.
- Boost employee communication: Without efficient communication, a catering business will suffer in virtually every other aspect of their operations. When employees can easily communicate from their mobile devices with each other and upper management, every question gets answered instantly and emergencies are handled in real-time, with no time wasted.
How Much Does Catering Management Software Cost?
Catering management software usually varies in pricing depending on the features included and the number of users required.
The reality is that most catering management systems tend to veer on the pricier side of things. Take Better Cater, for example, which costs $69 per month, while each additional users costs an extra $30 per month. Either that, or the catering app in question doesn’t provide pricing information on their website. In which case, customers will need to contact sales representatives.
With this in mind, it’s worth considering a catering business software that provides the widest range of capabilities at the most affordable price. Connecteam’s all-in-one catering management software has a basic pricing plan of just $29 per month for the first 30 users. It’s also worth considering free catering software solutions too.
FAQs
Are apps for catering businesses expensive?
It depends on the catering business software that you choose to implement. No catering software is created equal. Some will charge heavily per user or per event. Others qualify as free catering software, but can only deliver limited features. So it really depends on what functionalities you need to operate your catering business successfully.
Do I also need a catering scheduling app?
Some catering software already includes a version of a catering scheduling app, like Connecteam for example. So if you need a separate catering app with scheduling capabilities – like to book appointments – you might want to look at what you really need to manage to schedule.
Are apps for catering businesses easy to use or implement?
This is similar to the pricing question, it depends on the catering software that you implement. Some may be affordable but hard to use. While others may give you the best of both worlds. If a certain free catering software is available, then sign up to test out how easy it is to use and implement. After all, you want to use it on a daily basis and you want your employees to do the same.
The Bottom Line On Catering Management Software Solution
The list of the best catering software solutions above can help to eliminate common issues your catering business faces on a daily basis. While also streamlining day-to-day operations like efficient management, billing and invoicing, scheduling staff, tracking hours, venue management, in-depth reports, and more. Therefore, ensure you go through each of the catering software we listed so you can choose the best choice for your business.