How much does restaurant billing software cost in India?

Most restaurant owners ask one question before anything else: how much will this cost me every year? The honest answer is that the licence price is only part of it. Here is how to add up the full cost before you sign anything.

The four things you actually pay for

1. The licence. Many billing apps charge a yearly fee per outlet. Some charge per counter or per device.
2. Add-ons. Kitchen screens, inventory, customer lists and online order sync are often sold separately.
3. Hardware. Some systems need their own billing machine. Others run on a phone, tablet or laptop you already have.
4. Messages. WhatsApp and SMS bills are usually charged per message, even when the app itself is free.

Questions to ask before you buy

• Is the price per outlet, per counter or per device?
• Which features are in the base price, and which are extra?
• Do I need to buy a special machine, or will my own phone or laptop work?
• What happens to my data if I stop paying?
• Is there a setup fee, and does it include training?

An example with real numbers

A small counter selling ₹4 lakh a month has one cashier, a thermal printer and a kitchen that works from printed tickets. On Dhaba.ai the first ₹1 lakh of sales each month is free, and the rest costs ₹20 for every ₹1 lakh. That outlet pays ₹60 a month, plus ₹0.50 for each bill it sends on WhatsApp. You can try your own numbers on the pricing page.

Add up one full year, including renewals and add-ons. That is the number to compare, not the price on the first page.

The short version

Write down every cost for twelve months: licence, add-ons, hardware and messages. Then compare that total, not the headline price.