How to Run Restaurant Business with Open source software
In an industry with the razor-thin profit margins of the restaurant business, lowering costs is essential to the survival of your establishment. Restaurant management programs can be helpful in managing your business; commercial restaurant software can cost thousands of dollars. To keep costs down, use open source software to run your restaurant. Open source programs can provide a point-of-sale system, manage food and drink inventories, facilitate supply ordering, and allow your customers to make online reservations for your restaurant.
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Things You'll Need
- Used Pentium 4 or higher configuration computer.
- Regular desktop printer
- Internet connectivity
- Basic computing knowledge
Instructions
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Use the open source L'ânePOS point-of-sale (POS) software to manage sales and set up a line of communication between the waitstaff and the kitchen. L'ânePOS can print out bills, control a cash register and automatically transmit entered orders to a printer located in the kitchen. The L'ânePOS software is free to download and use; developer Burrell Business Systems also leases POS hardware and offers technical support for a monthly fee. Unlike other commercial POS systems, L'ânePOS can run on any standard computer.
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Manage your restaurant's food inventory using the open source DemiCHEF software. Using software to manage your restaurant's inventory allows you to keep detailed records of stock and orders, and it prevents waste. DemiCHEF allows you to create a database of all the dishes that your restaurant prepares, then break down dishes into their component ingredients. You can tag each ingredient with a cost and the name of a supplier from whom you purchase it, then use this information to generate detailed stock order lists.
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Set up an online reservations system using the open source MySeat software. Using an online reservation system makes it simple for guests to book tables. It also frees up staff who would otherwise need to answer the phone and take reservations. MySeat allows you to keep records of reservations, which you can study for patterns, then adjust purchasing and marketing strategies accordingly. The software is free to download and use on your own Web server; the developer also offers the use of its server for a subscription fee.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have some anti virus or firewall running in that computer you have to enable 1527 port or simply turn off that firewall.
When you buy old computer try to get minimum 1 GB Memory.
It does not require big hard drive. Anything more than 10 GB should be fine.
Before running in your restaurant you can try to install a copy in another computer and explore it go get habituated.
When you buy anything from eBay or Craigslist be careful. Scam is everywhere.
Try both electronic cash register and Floreant POS parallel until you completely understand the new system.
References
Resources
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