Any single unit or independent restaurant operators in the business know the hustle is real. From managing invoices to optimizing inventory, to putting out fires (yes, sometimes the literal ones too), there’s always something to tackle. That’s where restaurant management software solutions like Restaurant365 and MarginEdge swoop in to save the day.
But with both tools boasting a suite of features promising to streamline your operations, help you cut costs and stay profitable in our ever-changing industry, how do you pick the one that’s right for you?
We've got you covered! We’re breaking down the pros and cons of Restaurant365 and MarginEdge across critical factors so you can find out what you really need to know, cut through all the marketing fluff and make the right decision for your small business.
Pricing transparency
- MarginEdge: Offers an initial setup fee, basic onboarding support and a flat monthly fee with no surprise charges. Even better, their all-in-one offering includes unlimited invoice processing and bill payment, making budgeting straightforward.
- Restaurant365: Features a lot more complexity in pricing. Be prepared for potential add-ons, depending on the features you choose and integrations needed for additional platforms like accounting.
⚖️ Verdict: If clear, predictable pricing is a must, MarginEdge takes the crown.
Ease of use and onboarding
- MarginEdge: Built by restaurant operators for restaurant operators. The interface is user-friendly, and onboarding is a breeze thanks to their hands-on, highly responsive support team. Any bumps? They’ll walk you through fixes like it’s their life’s mission. Need a little extra hand-holding? Tiered onboarding packages will have you feeling like Goldilocks ain’t got nothing on you.
- Restaurant365: Powerful tools but can often be overwhelming, especially for smaller teams that don’t have dedicated people to get up and running and continue to manage the platform. Onboarding takes more time, with some users noting a steeper learning curve.
⚖️ Verdict: If you want simple, intuitive software and friendly onboarding that fits your team’s needs, MarginEdge has your back.
Integration capabilities
- MarginEdge: Seamlessly integrates with more than 60 POS and accounting systems, including favorites like QuickBooks and Toast. It prioritizes real-time data syncing, so you won’t be stuck manually pulling reports or crunching numbers.
- Restaurant365: An all-in-one platform that reduces reliance on other systems. It’s powerful but requires significant setup if your existing software doesn’t align with their suite.
⚖️ Verdict: If you prefer a solution that easily plugs into your existing ecosystem, MarginEdge wins. However, if you need a platform to do “everything,” Restaurant365 could be your pick.
Invoice processing automation
- MarginEdge: Combines advanced tech with human review for total accuracy. Whether it’s handwritten notes or a coffee spill, invoices are processed in 24–48 hours. The auto-updates make managing costs stress-free, and they process invoices by product, not vendor item name, so there's no need to update recipes or inventory sheets if you switch vendors. MarginEdge also automatically categorizes your spend, saving you hours.
- Restaurant365: Automates digital invoice processing, too, but relies on you to correctly categorize your purchases. While efficient, there’s a chance errors on tricky invoices could slip through.
⚖️ Verdict: For bulletproof accuracy and speed, MarginEdge crushes this one.
Inventory management
- MarginEdge: Inventory prices update automatically as invoices are processed. Plus, they help streamline the dreaded inventory counts with customizable features like “sheet-to-shelf” organization and automatic new product additions. You can also take inventory from your phone with their mobile app (even in sketchy walk-in wifi!). They also offer a smart scale to speed through bar and liquor inventories that fully integrates with the rest of the system, giving you accurate food and liquor costs in one place.
- Restaurant365: Also gives you automatically updated pricing sheets, automated posting to your accounting system and mobile inventory tools, but doesn't have the game-changing bar inventory tools.
⚖️ Verdict: Both are solid, but if you’re after simple yet efficient inventory tools, MarginEdge is more customizable and operator-friendly, and if your concept is bar-heavy, MarginEdge's bar inventory suite sweeps the competition.
Reporting and analytics
- MarginEdge: Gives you daily controllable P&L reports, theoretical food usage insights (so you can find and stop waste before it impacts your bottom line), and simple, real-time dashboards that keep you on top of your costs and revenue.
- Restaurant365: Goes big with customizable reports, variance tracking, and labor insights every 15 minutes. Ideal for large-scale operations that thrive on granular data.
⚖️ Verdict: If you prefer easy-to-digest, actionable insights without the fluff, stick with MarginEdge.
Recipe and menu analysis
- MarginEdge: Recipes are updated in real time as ingredient prices fluctuate. You can also display recipes on tablets for staff, complete with step-by-step videos, pictures and yield conversions built in (meaning no more mental math!). Menu analysis takes minutes with their 2x2 chart reporting and plug-and-play recipe building, pulling from your most recent invoice prices so your recipes are always up to date.
- Restaurant365: Focuses on menu profitability and provides advanced analytics to help you spot your star dishes from the duds.
⚖️ Verdict: Both excel here, but MarginEdge’s tech-forward recipe features are incredibly user-focused and help your kitchen staff too.
Customer support
- MarginEdge: Responsive, empathetic, and fast. Their team prioritizes restaurant owners, ensuring minimal downtime with dedicated support, email follow-ups, and proactive fixes.
- Restaurant365: Support is available, but users have noted delays and less hands-on interaction during troubleshooting.
⚖️ Verdict: If amazing support is a need-to-have, MarginEdge easily leads here.
Best fit
Choose MarginEdge if:
- You want an easy-to-use solution tailored to operators.
- Fully automated invoice processing and clear pricing matter to you.
- Great customer support is non-negotiable.
Choose Restaurant365 if:
- You need a solution for everything from accounting to workforce management.
- Your operation relies heavily on advanced analytics and reporting.
The bottom line
For restaurant operators seeking seamless integrations, accurate invoice processing, and unmatched ease of use, MarginEdge is the clear choice. It’s like having an extra hand in your daily operations, making life simpler while your margins thrive.
On the other hand, if you’re in need of an all-in-one solution with dynamic capabilities that doesn’t need to integrate with your current tech stack and have the capacity to dedicate someone on your team to upkeep and maintenance, Restaurant365 might be a better fit.