Toast is designed for restaurants, centralizing all technology components to offer a comprehensive and efficient solution that simplifies business management. With the recent release of Toast Payroll & Team Management, Toast offers a complete enterprise solution.
Pros
- Tabletop payment for faster table turnover
- Designed for restaurants
- Easy to use and customizable Android tablets
Cons
- High setup and monthly costs
- Requires own hardware
Restaurateurs Are Raving
“Our tips have doubled since implementing Toast customer demos, just as I predicted… This is one of those times when technology has provided a great financial opportunity for a business.”
Jeff Good, Managing Partner of Broad Street and President of Mangia Bene Inc.
“We saved 15% to 20% annually by not paying for multiple platforms… When I acquired it, we would have saved thousands of dollars in a year just by moving everything to Toast Payroll.”
John Rhodes, CEO of Alto Pizza Kitchen and Bar
“Without Toast, it would have been much harder to reach our lunch hour sales. We can prepare 100 to 200 orders in just a few hours. The kitchen displays have helped us achieve that level of service.”
Brad Gillis, Co-Founder of Homegrown
How It Works
Toast is a web-based platform where all the information is stored in the cloud. A local area network (LAN) connection is required for customer service. All point-of-sale (POS) data, primarily the menu and local settings, is downloaded and stored on the individual connected devices. This allows the POS system to function even if the internet connection is interrupted.
Wi-Fi is not required, as the devices connect at the point of sale. However, some handheld tablets require a Wi-Fi connection. Printing is done over the local network. In the event of a service interruption, all credit card transactions are queued locally and processed in batches when the connection is restored.
The basic hardware package offered is the terminal package, which includes a receipt printer, tablet, stand, and credit card reader. Routers and additional kitchen printers are sold separately. You can also purchase a mobile device or handheld tablet package that allows you to order and pay directly at the table.
Toast does not use iOS integration and runs on Android. For their hardware packages, they offer Elo tablets that are pre-installed and configured by their operations team. This ensures that all customers have official Toast equipment, guaranteeing high-quality technical support in case of any issues.
Reporting
A wide range of reports are available, from standard sales reports to labor reports, product mix, tips, and more.
The summary report is the most comprehensive and includes net sales, tips, table turnover, a complete breakdown of all service types, and customer counts. It is an intuitive dashboard that provides a quick overview for managers or owners when they are too busy walking the floor to quickly review individual reports. More detailed information on any metric is available with a simple tap.
Ease of Use
Even without the help of a Toast representative for setup and training, learning to use this system is incredibly easy. Despite the many features built into Toast, you should be able to master enough to get your business up and running in a matter of hours. It’s easy to learn, and the initial 30-60 minute training will help you get up and running with the system, even without any technical knowledge.
Cost and Contracts
The Toast Basic package is free and ideal for small restaurants that only need one or two terminals. The Essential package, which includes online services like digital ordering and the Toast Takeout app, starts at $165 per month. Other pricing plans are available, but you’ll need to contact a Toast representative for details.
It’s important to consider the return on investment of the product and decide whether operating more efficiently with such a powerful platform will help you keep your premises cleaner, improve service, and thus recoup your investment. If you can get it to work properly, the price isn’t too high.
For restaurants that anticipate needing more than 6 terminals, we recommend speaking with a representative about custom pricing based on volume.
- $25/month to access the loyalty program
- $50/month to create and use physical and digital gift cards
- $50/month for integrated online ordering
Fortunately, contracts are not required. We offer financing with flexible payment options, so you don’t have to pay the full cost of the equipment upfront, which would likely require a contract. Ask your representative about financing requirements and terms.
Features and Add-ons
It’s surprising how many features Toast includes, considering its simple interface and intuitive design. For example:
- Simplify ordering with tabletop terminals or take orders directly at the table using mobile tablets.
- Send digital coupons to customers via email (a great way to collect their email addresses).
- Fully customizable menus, categorized into smaller menus like breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and further sub-categorized into sub-menu groups like appetizers, salads, entrees, kids’ menus, and more. The menu editing system is incredibly detailed, giving you extensive control over your menu.
- Native CRM functionality for customer management and remarketing.
- Employee management for scheduling and task planning.
- Loyalty programs.
Toast Payroll & Team Management
Toast helps you optimize operations with its payroll and team management platform designed specifically for restaurants.
What do you get with Toast Payroll and Team Management?
- Payroll syncs with your POS system.
- Automatic reminders.
- Time synced with payroll.
- Accurate payments.
- Tools to help you comply with applicable regulations.
Bottom Line
Toast is a complete POS system for restaurants that lets you manage your entire business from a single interface. This feature-rich platform is impressive in every way and runs on Android instead of iOS. This makes it more affordable and versatile, a great option for restaurants that prefer not to invest in Apple products.
