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.
Recipe Costing
Recipe Costing is a comprehensive back-of-house management software providing food service operators with real-time inventory tracking, menu engineering, and automated vendor integration to control food costs and maximize profitability.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ChowNow | Recipe Costing |
|---|---|---|
| Website | chownow.com | recipecosting.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $79/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days 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 | Deerfield Beach, 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.
Recipe Costing
Recipe Costing gives you total control over your kitchen's financial health by automating the tedious parts of back-of-house management. You can track every ingredient from the moment it arrives at your loading dock to the second it leaves the kitchen as a finished plate. By connecting directly to your broadline distributors, the platform updates your ingredient prices automatically, ensuring your margins stay protected even when market prices fluctuate.
You can manage multiple locations from a single dashboard, create digital recipe books for your staff, and analyze which menu items are actually driving your profits. The software eliminates the need for complex spreadsheets by providing real-time data on theoretical versus actual food costs. Whether you run a single food truck or a growing restaurant group, you can use these insights to reduce waste and make smarter purchasing decisions.
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.
Recipe Costing Features
- Automated Invoice Processing. Upload your invoices to automatically update ingredient prices and inventory levels without manual data entry.
- Menu Engineering. Analyze the profitability and popularity of your dishes to decide which items to promote or remove.
- Inventory Management. Track your stock levels in real-time across multiple locations to prevent over-ordering and reduce food waste.
- Vendor Integration. Connect directly with major suppliers like Sysco and US Foods to sync your purchasing and pricing data.
- Nutritional Analysis. Generate accurate nutritional labels and allergen warnings for your recipes to stay compliant with local regulations.
- Production Planning. Create prep lists based on historical sales data so your team knows exactly how much to cook.
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
Recipe Costing Pricing
- 1 Location included
- Unlimited recipes
- Basic inventory tracking
- Menu costing tools
- Standard reporting
- Email support
- Everything in Solo, plus:
- Automated invoice imports
- Advanced inventory management
- Vendor integrations
- Theoretical vs Actual reports
- Priority 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
Recipe Costing
Pros
- Automatic price updates save hours of manual entry
- Intuitive interface makes recipe building very fast
- Excellent customer support during the initial setup
- Detailed reporting helps identify hidden food waste
Cons
- Initial data entry for ingredients takes time
- Mobile app interface feels slightly dated
- Learning curve for advanced inventory features