ChowNow
ChowNow is an online ordering and marketing platform that helps independent restaurants build their own branded digital storefronts to take commission-free orders directly from their customers.
MarginEdge
MarginEdge is a restaurant management software that automates invoice processing, tracks real-time food costs, and integrates with POS systems to help you eliminate paperwork and maximize your profitability.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ChowNow | MarginEdge |
|---|---|---|
| Website | chownow.com | marginedge.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $300/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has 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 | 2011 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, USA | Fairfax, USA |
Overview
ChowNow
ChowNow provides you with the tools to take control of your restaurant's digital presence and eliminate high third-party delivery fees. You can launch your own branded ordering system across your website, social media profiles, and a custom-built mobile app. This allows you to keep 100% of your profits on every order while capturing valuable customer data that third-party apps usually keep for themselves.
The platform focuses on sustainable growth by providing you with automated marketing tools and a dedicated success manager to help increase your order volume. Whether you run a single local eatery or a growing regional chain, you can manage your entire digital menu and track sales performance through a centralized dashboard. It integrates directly with your existing POS system to keep your kitchen operations running smoothly without manual data entry.
MarginEdge
MarginEdge is a comprehensive restaurant management platform designed to take the manual labor out of your back-office operations. By simply snapping photos of your invoices, you can automate data entry, track price fluctuations in real-time, and keep your inventory counts accurate without the headache of spreadsheets. It bridges the gap between your POS system and your accounting software, giving you a daily view of your prime costs and controllable expenses.
You can manage multiple locations from a single login, making it easier to spot trends and identify where you might be losing money on food waste or rising supplier costs. Whether you run a single independent cafe or a large multi-unit franchise, the platform helps you gain total control over your margins by providing the data you need to make smarter purchasing decisions every day.
Overview
ChowNow Features
- Commission-Free Ordering Keep every dollar you earn from your online orders instead of paying 15-30% in fees to third-party delivery platforms.
- Branded Mobile Apps Launch your own custom-branded iOS and Android apps so your customers can order directly from their home screens.
- OrderBetter Network Get discovered by new diners through a network of high-traffic sites like Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor with integrated ordering.
- Automated Marketing Send automated email campaigns and push notifications to your customers to drive repeat business and increase order frequency.
- POS Integrations Sync your online orders directly with your existing point-of-sale system to eliminate manual entry and reduce kitchen errors.
- Customer Data Ownership Access your own customer database including email addresses and order history to power your personalized marketing efforts.
MarginEdge Features
- Automated Invoice Processing. Snap a photo of any invoice and let the system automatically extract line-item data for your accounting and inventory.
- POS Integration. Connect your point-of-sale system to see daily sales data alongside your real-time food costs and labor expenses.
- Recipe Costing. Build digital recipe cards that update automatically as ingredient prices change so you always know your exact plate costs.
- Inventory Management. Conduct digital counts on your mobile device and instantly see your theoretical versus actual usage to identify waste.
- Bill Pay. Pay all your vendors electronically directly through the platform to save time on manual check runs and mailing.
- Theoretical Food Costing. Compare what you should have spent based on sales against what you actually spent to find missing profit.
- Commissary Tools. Manage internal orders and production if you operate a central kitchen serving multiple restaurant locations or brands.
- Performance Reporting. Access daily P&L statements and category-level spending reports to catch budget variances before they become major problems.
Pricing Comparison
ChowNow Pricing
- Commission-free ordering
- Ordering on your website
- Google Search & Maps ordering
- Digital menu management
- Standard payment processing
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Custom-branded mobile app
- Automated email marketing
- Dedicated Success Manager
- Loyalty program tools
- Advanced data reporting
MarginEdge Pricing
- Unlimited users and invoices
- Automated line-item data entry
- POS and Accounting integrations
- Real-time recipe costing
- Inventory and waste tracking
- Daily P&L reporting
- Everything in Full Platform, plus:
- Centralized commissary management
- Inter-unit transfers
- Consolidated corporate reporting
- Dedicated account management
- Custom implementation support
Pros & Cons
ChowNow
Pros
- Eliminates expensive per-order commissions entirely
- Provides full ownership of customer contact data
- Responsive customer support and dedicated success managers
- Easy-to-use interface for updating menus quickly
Cons
- Initial setup fees can be high
- Requires your own staff for local delivery
- Limited customization options for the mobile app
MarginEdge
Pros
- Eliminates hours of manual data entry
- Excellent integration with major accounting software
- Highly responsive customer support team
- Accurate line-item detail for every invoice
- Easy-to-use mobile app for inventory counts
Cons
- Initial setup and recipe building takes time
- Handwriting on invoices can occasionally cause errors
- Learning curve for the reporting interface