Several free options for small food businesses looking for an affordable yet efficient order management system can help streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and boost sales.
This article highlights the top 8 free order management systems ideal for small food businesses. These platforms offer features such as point-of-sale (POS) systems, online ordering, inventory tracking, and delivery integration, all designed to streamline operations and boost efficiency. Solutions like Square for Restaurants, Toast POS, and GloriaFood provide versatile tools for both in-person and online orders. At the same time, Loyverse and eHopper cater to customer loyalty and inventory management needs. For businesses relying on third-party delivery services, Deliverect offers seamless integration. Each system is tailored to cafes, food trucks, and small restaurants’ unique needs.
Here are some of the best free order systems available:
1. Square for Restaurants
- Key Features: Square offers a free POS system designed for small food businesses. It allows for in-person, online, and delivery orders, with features like menu management, inventory tracking, and sales reporting.
- Advantages:
- Free POS system with no monthly fees
- Integrated online ordering and payment processing
- Real-time sales tracking and reporting
- Best For: Restaurants, food trucks, and cafes that need an easy-to-use POS system.
2. Toast POS (Free Starter Kit)
- Key Features: Toast offers a free starter plan tailored for small food businesses, covering in-person and online orders. The platform supports payment processing, menu customization, and order tracking.
- Advantages:
- Cloud-based, so accessible from anywhere
- Integrated with delivery and online ordering platforms
- Can handle both front- and back-of-house operations
- Best For: Quick-service restaurants and cafes looking for a scalable solution.
3. GloriaFood
- Key Features: GloriaFood offers a free online ordering system for small restaurants. It includes a fully functional ordering system with the ability to take orders from your website, social media, or mobile apps.
- Advantages:
- No monthly fees for taking orders
- Customizable online menu
- Supports pickup and delivery orders
- Best For: Small restaurants that want to boost their online presence with free ordering tools.
4. Zettle by PayPal
- Key Features: Zettle offers a free POS system that’s perfect for small food businesses. It provides mobile point-of-sale solutions, inventory management, and integration with various online ordering platforms.
- Advantages:
- Easy-to-use mobile POS with PayPal integration
- Supports contactless payments
- No monthly subscription fees
- Best For: Mobile food businesses like food trucks and pop-up restaurants.
5. eHopper
- Key Features: eHopper is a free POS system for small food businesses, offering features like order management, payment processing, and inventory control. It is available for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.
- Advantages:
- Free for small businesses
- Available across multiple platforms (mobile, desktop, tablet)
- Multi-location support for growing businesses
- Best For: Cafes, bakeries, and small restaurants that need a versatile order management system.
6. Loyverse POS
- Key Features: Loyverse offers a free POS system with features like order management, inventory tracking, and customer loyalty programs. It supports multiple locations and provides a user-friendly interface.
- Advantages:
- Free and easy to set up
- Supports customer loyalty programs
- Works across multiple devices
- Best For: Cafes, bars, and small eateries that prioritize customer retention.
7. Deliverect
- Key Features: Deliverect integrates with third-party delivery platforms (e.g., UberEats, DoorDash) to streamline online orders. It offers features like automatic order syncing, menu management, and performance analytics.
- Advantages:
- Streamlines third-party delivery services
- Automated syncing with major delivery platforms
- Helps reduce manual errors in order to processing
- Best For: Small food businesses relying on delivery apps for their operations.
8. Odoo (Community Version)
- Key Features: Odoo is an open-source ERP platform with a free version that includes POS and order management tools. You can manage customer orders, inventory, and payments from a centralized platform.
- Advantages:
- Free to use with customization options
- Offers a wide range of business management tools
- Cloud-based, so it can be accessed from anywhere
- Best For: Restaurants and food businesses looking for a more customizable solution.
Conclusion:
- Square for Restaurants and GloriaFood are excellent choices for restaurants looking for a free and easy-to-use order management system.
- Toast POS and Loyverse POS are ideal for cafes and small eateries that need both in-person and online order processing.
- Deliverect is perfect for small businesses leveraging third-party delivery platforms to increase sales.
Each of these platforms offers varying levels of support for in-person and online orders, so the best system will depend on the specific needs and scale of your small food business.
You might also like our TUTEZONE section which contains exclusive tutorials on how you can make your life simpler using technology.
