BetterCater
BetterCater is a web-based catering management software designed to help food service professionals streamline order entry, create professional proposals, and manage kitchen production workflows efficiently.
Total Party Planner
Total Party Planner is a specialized catering and event management software designed to streamline your kitchen operations, menu costing, and front-of-house event coordination in one centralized platform.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | BetterCater | Total Party Planner |
|---|---|---|
| Website | bettercater.com | totalpartyplanner.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $59/month | $105/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✓ 0 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2013 | 1995 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | Richmond, USA |
Overview
BetterCater
BetterCater provides a centralized platform to manage your catering business from initial lead to final invoice. You can create professional, branded proposals in seconds and manage your entire menu database with automated food cost calculations. The software handles the heavy lifting of administrative tasks, allowing you to focus on food quality and client relationships rather than spreadsheets and manual paperwork.
You can organize your kitchen with automated pack lists and prep sheets that update in real-time as orders change. The platform is built for catering companies of all sizes, from solo entrepreneurs to large-scale event venues. By keeping your calendar, contacts, and kitchen requirements in one place, you reduce the risk of double-booking or missing critical order details during busy seasons.
Total Party Planner
Total Party Planner helps you manage every detail of your catering business from a single cloud-based dashboard. You can create professional proposals, manage complex recipes with real-time costing, and track your equipment inventory without jumping between different spreadsheets. It simplifies the transition from a lead to a finished event by keeping your staff, kitchen, and clients synchronized through automated workflows and shared calendars.
The platform is built specifically for caterers and event planners who need to maintain high margins while delivering consistent service. You can access your data from any device, allowing you to check event details or update orders while on-site. By centralizing your communications and financial data, you can reduce manual entry errors and ensure your team always has the most up-to-date event information.
Overview
BetterCater Features
- Proposal Generator Create and send professional, branded PDF proposals to your clients in seconds to win more business faster.
- Menu Management Build a digital library of your dishes and ingredients to quickly drag and drop items into new orders.
- Kitchen Prep Sheets Generate automated prep lists and pack sheets so your team knows exactly what to cook and load.
- Automated Costing Track your ingredient prices and calculate profit margins automatically for every event you book.
- Event Calendar View all your upcoming events in a centralized calendar to prevent double-bookings and manage staff schedules.
- Online Payments Accept credit card payments directly through your invoices so you get paid faster by your clients.
Total Party Planner Features
- Recipe Costing. Calculate exact margins for every dish by linking ingredients to current market prices and portion sizes.
- Proposal Builder. Generate professional, branded proposals and contracts that your clients can sign electronically to speed up bookings.
- Kitchen Production. Create automated prep lists and pack sheets based on your event orders to ensure nothing gets left behind.
- Staff Scheduling. Assign team members to specific events and track their hours to manage your labor costs effectively.
- CRM & Lead Tracking. Manage your entire sales pipeline and store detailed client preferences to build long-term repeat business.
- Calendar Sync. View your entire event schedule at a glance and sync it with your personal mobile calendars.
Pricing Comparison
BetterCater Pricing
- Unlimited events and orders
- Professional PDF proposals
- Kitchen prep and pack sheets
- Menu and ingredient costing
- Calendar and contact management
- Credit card processing integration
- Everything in Monthly, plus:
- Discounted rate for yearly commitment
- Priority email support
- Full access to all features
- Unlimited data storage
- Free software updates
Total Party Planner Pricing
- Event & Contact Management
- Basic Proposal Templates
- Calendar Management
- Task Tracking
- Standard Reporting
- Email Support
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Advanced Recipe Costing
- Kitchen Production Sheets
- Staff Scheduling Tools
- Online Payments Integration
- Priority Phone Support
Pros & Cons
BetterCater
Pros
- Extremely easy to set up and learn quickly
- Professional proposal templates impress potential clients
- Excellent customer support with fast response times
- Affordable flat-rate pricing for small businesses
- Simplifies complex kitchen prep calculations automatically
Cons
- Mobile interface can be difficult to navigate
- Limited customization options for document layouts
- Lacks advanced inventory tracking for large warehouses
Total Party Planner
Pros
- Highly specialized for catering-specific kitchen workflows
- Excellent customer support with industry knowledge
- Accurate recipe costing helps maintain profit margins
- Easy to generate professional-looking client proposals
Cons
- Initial setup of recipe databases is time-consuming
- User interface feels dated compared to newer apps
- Mobile browser experience can be slightly clunky