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.
Toast
Toast is an all-in-one point of sale and restaurant management platform designed to help you streamline operations, increase sales, and create better guest experiences through integrated technology.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | MarginEdge | Toast |
|---|---|---|
| Website | marginedge.com | toast.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $300/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2015 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Fairfax, USA | Boston, USA |
Overview
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.
Toast
Toast is a comprehensive restaurant management platform that unifies your front-of-house, back-of-house, and guest engagement tools. Instead of juggling multiple disconnected systems, you can manage your entire operation—from tableside ordering and integrated payments to kitchen displays and inventory—through a single, purpose-built interface. It helps you speed up service, reduce manual errors, and gain deeper insights into your restaurant's performance.
You can adapt the platform to fit your specific service model, whether you run a fine-dining establishment, a quick-service cafe, or a multi-location franchise. Beyond the point of sale, you can handle complex tasks like automated payroll, team scheduling, and loyalty programs. The software is designed to keep your business running even if your internet goes down, ensuring you never miss a sale during peak hours.
Overview
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.
Toast Features
- Tableside Ordering. Take orders and accept payments directly at the table with handheld devices to increase table turnover and improve accuracy.
- Kitchen Display System. Connect your front-of-house directly to the kitchen with digital screens that track prep times and notify servers when food is ready.
- Online Ordering. Take control of your takeout and delivery business with a branded online ordering site that integrates directly with your POS.
- Menu Management. Update your menu across all devices and online platforms instantly from any location to keep your offerings and pricing current.
- Automated Payroll. Sync your employee hours directly from the POS to payroll to ensure accurate paychecks and simplify your tax filings.
- Inventory Tracking. Monitor your stock levels in real-time and track food costs to identify waste and improve your overall profitability.
- Guest Loyalty Programs. Create custom rewards and marketing campaigns to turn first-time visitors into regulars and grow your customer database.
- Real-time Reporting. Access detailed sales and labor reports from your phone or computer to make data-driven decisions for your business.
Pricing Comparison
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
Toast Pricing
- Cloud-based POS software
- Payment processing integration
- Standard reporting
- Menu management
- Real-time fraud monitoring
- Everything in Quick Start, plus:
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- 24/7 customer support
- Gift card management
- Access to 100+ integrations
- Employee management tools
Pros & Cons
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
Toast
Pros
- Reliable offline mode keeps you running during outages
- Intuitive interface makes training new staff quick
- Seamless integration between front and back of house
- Hardware is specifically built for harsh kitchen environments
- Regular software updates add useful new features
Cons
- Requires use of Toast for payment processing
- Hardware costs can be high for multiple terminals
- Add-on features can significantly increase monthly costs