Guide to Restaurant Accounting Software

Restaurant accounting programs for the kitchen

Managing and costing out recipes, ordering ingredients and tracking inventory keep the kitchen running efficiently while preventing theft and shrinkage. Often this kind of accounting software for restaurants is designed to integrate with POS systems.

I recommend: TracRite’s OC Lite is a basic recipe-costing program that suggests pricing to maximize profits. If you do more than $1 million per year in sales, OC Pro adds inventory tracking, ordering and purchasing, catering, reporting and systems integration for POS. Culinary Software Services’ ChefTec accounting software for restaurants, hotels and catering services offers menu costing, inventory control, nutritional analysis, purchasing and ordering. A hosted version is available as well as ChefTec PDA for Palm devices to facilitate inventory counting. Compeat Back Office combines restaurant specific accounting practices with menu costing, proportions, inventory and more.

Point of sale restaurant accounting applications

POS restaurant accounting applications combine POS hardware with a software package for management and reporting.

I recommend: Designed to integrate with Microsoft POS Retail Management System and Microsoft Quicksell, Aldelo NextPOS Restaurant software comes in three versions, including one specifically designed for pizza ordering and delivery. All three versions come with multilingual support. POSNation.com offers POS software that speeds credit card processing, accepts gift cards and handles other cash register accounting functions. Find more restaurant POS software options in the Business.com directory.

Integrated foodservice accounting software

Comprehensive restaurant accounting applications brings kitchen operations together with POS operations, providing complete visibility into your foodservice operation.

I recommend: Business Software Solutions’ Business Plus Accounting Restaurant Professional brings together POS features with menus, inventory, employee management and cash out as well as an optional Drink Module with cocktail recipes and alcohol inventory. Business Plus Accounting Restaurant Delivery adds the ability to take orders for delivery with mapping and driver management.

Multi-site and corporate accounting software for restaurants

Many foodservice accounting software programs are designed for restaurants, hotels and catering operations that have multiple locations that report back to a parent organization.

I recommend: Culinary Software Services’ CorTec restaurant accounting software for hotels, chains and franchises runs at corporate headquarters, connecting via the Internet with ChefTec Client software running in dispersed food service locations. CostGuard restaurant accounting software offers inventory control; recipe, menu, and liquor costing; nutrition analysis and sales management. It is designed to interface with suppliers, POS, accounting and catering systems.