Restaurant365 Vs. QuickBooks: A Comparison For Restaurants

Restaurant owners today have more options than ever when it comes to managing their accounting and finances. Two popular solutions are Restaurant365 and QuickBooks, but which one is right for your restaurant?

This comprehensive guide examines the pros, cons, features and key differences between Restaurant365 and QuickBooks to help you decide.

Brief Comparison Table

Features	Restaurant365	QuickBooks
Designed for restaurants	Yes	No
Menu management	Yes	No
Inventory management	Yes	With add-on
Online ordering	Yes	With add-on
Accounting	Yes	Yes
Payroll	Yes	Yes
Reporting	Industry-specific	General
Price	$$$	$$

Overview Of Restaurant365

Restaurant365 is a cloud-based all-in-one restaurant management platform designed specifically for the restaurant industry. Key features include:

• Accounting – Restaurant365 handles all essential accounting tasks including AP/AR, invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting and more.
• Inventory Management – Advanced inventory features such as recipe costing, order guides and inventory tracking help restaurants control food costs.
• Menu Management – Menus and menu items can be easily managed and updated across multiple locations.
• Online Ordering – Built-in online ordering, takeout and delivery management through integration with major delivery services.
• Labor Management – Tools to create schedules, track timecards and manage labor costs.
• Analytics – Real-time reporting and analytics provide insights into sales, costs, revenues, inventory and other KPIs.
• Multi-Location Support – Manage multiple locations with different menus and settings under one integrated platform.
• Integrations – Integrates with POS systems, payment processors, vendors and other restaurant tech stack.

Restaurant365 aims to be an end-to-end restaurant management solution. It is cloud-based, accessible from any device, and designed to cater to the unique needs of the restaurant industry.

Overview Of QuickBooks

QuickBooks is a popular general purpose small business accounting software made by Intuit. Key features include:

• Accounting – General accounting features for invoicing, payroll, expenses, taxes, reporting and more.
• Inventory Management – Inventory can be tracked with the QuickBooks Premier and Enterprise versions or an add-on.
• Menu/Recipe Management – No built-in menu or recipe management features. Would need to be handled outside of QuickBooks.
• Online Ordering – Online ordering requires integrating with 3rd party services through add-ons.
• Payroll – Standalone payroll capabilities available.
• Reporting and Analytics – Standard financial reports and dashboards available. More advanced reporting requires QuickBooks Premier.
• Multiple Businesses – Manage finances for multiple businesses from one QuickBooks account.
• Apps and Integrations – Connects with many apps and business services.
• Mobile Apps – QuickBooks apps available for iPhone, iPad and Android.

QuickBooks is a versatile and widely-used small business accounting software. It covers basic accounting needs but lacks native features specifically tailored for restaurants.

Key Differences Between Restaurant365 And QuickBooks

Now that we’ve looked at an overview of Restaurant365 and QuickBooks, what are some of the main differences between these two platforms?

• Industry Specific – Restaurant365 is purpose-built for restaurants with specialized features while QuickBooks serves all industries.
• Menu Management – Robust menu, recipe management and menu engineering in Restaurant365. QuickBooks has no direct menu capabilities.
• Inventory Management – Both have inventory tracking but Restaurant365 offers food cost management, order guides and inventory optimization specifically for restaurants.
• Online Ordering – Restaurant365 integrates directly with online ordering channels. QuickBooks requires add-ons.
• Reporting – Restaurant365 analytics and reports tailored for restaurant KPIs. QuickBooks has more general purpose reports.
• User Experience – Restaurant365 uses familiar restaurant terminology while QuickBooks uses general accounting language.
• Support – Restaurant365 offers restaurant-focused support. QuickBooks supports multiple industries.
• Price – Restaurant365 costs more compared to basic QuickBooks plans but offers complete restaurant management.

Pros Of Using Restaurant365 For Restaurants

Why should a restaurant choose Restaurant365 over QuickBooks? Here are some of the top advantages:

• All-in-one restaurant management – Combines POS, inventory, menu management, online ordering, accounting, analytics, and more in one seamless platform.
• Optimized for restaurants – Purpose-built for the restaurant industry with relevant features out-of-the-box.
• Industry metrics and reporting – Get insights into the metrics restaurants care about like food and labor costs rather than just general financials.
• Menu management and engineering – Tools to easily create, update, manage and analyze menus and recipes across all locations.
• Inventory management – Advanced inventory features specifically designed for restaurants help minimize waste and optimize purchases.
• Online ordering – Direct integration with third-party delivery services allows easy management alongside dine-in.
• Labor management – Scheduling, timecards and labor cost tracking provides control over one of the biggest restaurant expenses.
• Account management – Vendor, customer and general ledger accounts tailored for restaurant needs.
• Support – Get restaurant-focused support and onboarding from Restaurant365’s restaurant experts.

For restaurants looking for an integrated management platform designed specifically for their needs, Restaurant365 has many advantages over a general solution like QuickBooks.

Pros Of Using QuickBooks For Restaurants

QuickBooks may not be a restaurant-centric platform, but it still offers some benefits for restaurant owners:

• Familiar and intuitive – As one of the most widely used small business accounting platforms, QuickBooks will feel familiar with easy learning curve for many users.
• General accounting features – QuickBooks covers all the general accounting basics like invoicing, expenses, taxes and end of year tasks.
• Scalable pricing – Options for basic, starter QuickBooks packages if restaurants don’t need advanced capabilities. Can upgrade as needed.
• Payroll – Built-in payroll features allow processing payroll for restaurant staff and employees.
• Apps and integrations – QuickBooks connects with many popular restaurant management apps to fill in functionality gaps.
• Mobility – QuickBooks apps for iPhone, iPad and Android allow access and management on the go.
• User support – As a large mainstream platform, QuickBooks offers telephone technical support and an extensive knowledge base.
• Brand recognition – QuickBooks is a recognizable name both with accountants and consumers. Provides credibility.

For restaurants that only need general accounting software and plan to use other specialized tools, QuickBooks is a reasonably priced and capable option.

Also watch the video!

Restaurant365 Vs. QuickBooks: Which Is Better?

So when considering Restaurant365 versus QuickBooks, which restaurant accounting and management platform is right for your needs? Here are some factors to help decide:

• If you want an integrated all-in-one restaurant management solution, Restaurant365 is the better choice. It brings together POS, inventory, menu engineering, labor, accounting, analytics and more with specialized restaurant features.
• If you primarily need solid general accounting software and already use separate tools for other functions, QuickBooks will likely suit your needs at a lower price point.
• Larger full-service restaurants will benefit more from the robust menu management and inventory capabilities in Restaurant365.
• Smaller counter-service eateries may find QuickBooks sufficient if they outsource delivery and don’t serve alcohol.
• Chains and multi-location restaurants get a complete centralized management system with Restaurant365.
• Independent restaurants that handle most operations in-house will get more value from the end-to-end Restaurant365 platform.
• If you prioritize restaurant-focused features, reporting and support, opt for Restaurant365. If you mainly need accounting basics, QuickBooks is sufficient.

For most full-service restaurants, Restaurant365 provides an integrated solution catered specifically to the needs of the restaurant industry. But QuickBooks can be a more budget-friendly option for some simpler restaurant models as well.

FAQs

Also Read: Comparison Between Little Hotelier And Cloudbeds.

Conclusion

Restaurant365 and QuickBooks both offer accounting, reporting and operational solutions for restaurants. Restaurant365 has tailored features designed specifically for the restaurant industry while QuickBooks provides more general small business accounting software.

For specialized restaurant management, Restaurant365 is likely the better choice, but QuickBooks can also serve basic restaurant accounting needs, especially when supplemented with other tools. This comparison of features, capabilities and ideal use cases provides a detailed overview to help restaurants decide on the best platform for their needs and budget.