Restaurant billing software: 9 features that stop money leaking

1. Fast billing any cashier learns in minutes

Every dish should be a button with its price and picture, grouped by category. Type part of a name to search, or scan a barcode for packaged items. Sizes like half and full, and add-ons like extra cheese, should each carry their own price. If a new cashier needs a week of training, peak hour will suffer.

2. Deals that price themselves

Meal deals are everywhere in Pakistani fast food. Your billing software should let you build a deal, such as a burger, fries and a drink at one price, and let the customer choose what goes inside. Promo codes like EID20 should apply themselves when typed.

3. Discount limits per person

Discounts with no name and no reason are one of the quietest leaks. Set how much each staff member may discount, by amount or percentage, and require a manager PIN above that.

4. Split payments and local payment methods

Customers pay with cash, card, bank transfer, JazzCash and Easypaisa, and groups often split the bill. The software should record each payment method separately, so your closing report shows exactly what should be in the drawer and what should be in the bank.

5. Service charge, tips and delivery fees

Service charge, tips and delivery fees should be added automatically or by hand, and appear as separate lines in your reports. Delivery fees should come from delivery zones you mark on a map.

6. Shift closing and the X report

Each register should open with its starting cash and close with a statement of what it should hold. The X report gives a mid-shift snapshot of sales without closing the shift. Till expenses, like paying the ice supplier from the drawer, are recorded as they happen.

7. Kitchen tickets sent from the bill

The moment an order is placed, each item should reach its station as a kitchen ticket or on a kitchen screen. Billing and the kitchen working from the same order means nothing gets cooked without being billed.

8. Offline billing

When the internet drops, your billing software must keep taking orders, payments and printing receipts. Everything should sync later. Read more in why your POS must work offline.

9. Reports and an activity log

Sales by item, hour, cashier, waiter and branch, plus a log of every void, refund and discount with the name of the person who did it. This is what lets you run a restaurant without standing at the counter all day.

Billing software or a full restaurant POS?

Plain billing software prints bills. A full restaurant POS also handles the kitchen, tables, delivery, recipes, stock, staff and accounts. If you have more than one cashier, any delivery, or plans for a second branch, the full system pays for itself in the leaks it closes. Our restaurant POS buyer's guide goes deeper.

RestaurantOS does both. It starts as fast billing at the counter and grows with you to kitchen screens, Foodpanda orders, riders, recipes, payroll and accounts. FBR digital invoicing is available if your business needs it.