Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before you get started.
Getting started
- What is Catertoo?
- Catertoo is catering management software built specifically for caterers. It brings together your clients, events, menus, proposals, and payments in one place - so you spend less time on admin and more on the work that actually matters.
- Is it ready for my business right now?
- Yes - Catertoo is in public beta. Every core workflow ships today and is in use: clients, events, menus, proposals, invoices, Stripe-collected payments, staffing, and reporting. We label it "beta" to be honest that we're still iterating - copy gets refined, edges get polished, and we ship improvements regularly.
- How do I get access?
- Click "Start free" at the top of any page. Sign up with your email or with Google - there's no waitlist, no phone call, no credit card. You're in the app the moment you verify your email.
- Do I need a credit card to get started?
- No. Free is genuinely free with no card required, so there is nothing to bill at signup. Pro and Premium are optional paid plans you can choose later, and the platform fee only applies when a client pays you on an invoice you have sent.
Features
- What can Catertoo do today?
- You can manage clients and contacts, book and track events from inquiry to completion, build a reusable menu catalog, send itemized proposals, turn accepted proposals into invoices, collect online payment through Stripe, schedule staff, and pull revenue reports. The full catering workflow ships today.
- What's coming next?
- Active areas of work include richer reporting (bookings, clients, staff analytics), document templates so caterers can customize the look of proposals and invoices, in-app notifications, a native mobile app, and a client-facing portal for proposal accept + invoice pay. Feedback from beta customers shapes the priority order.
- Can I use it on my phone?
- Yes. Catertoo is a web application that works on any modern browser - desktop, tablet, and phone. There's no app to download. The full product is available on every device you already use.
- Does it work for my type of catering?
- If you quote events, collect deposits, and deliver food, it was built for you. That includes independent caterers, restaurant catering arms, drop-off operations, hotel and venue programs, campus dining, and more.
Pricing
- What does it cost to accept payments?
- Taking payments through Catertoo is optional. When you do, you pay Stripe's standard card rate (2.9% + 30¢) at cost - we never mark it up - plus a small Catertoo platform fee: 1% on Free (capped at $20 per payment), 0.5% on Pro (capped at $10), and 0% on Premium and Enterprise. Free has no monthly fee, there are no setup fees on any plan, and the platform fee only ever applies to payments you actually collect.
- How does pricing work?
- Start free with no card and no commitment. As you grow, Pro and Premium are a simple flat monthly or annual price - no per-user fees, no setup fees, and no contracts, so you can cancel anytime. Taking payments is optional; when you do, the cost is broken down in the "What does it cost to accept payments?" answer above.
- Is there a free trial?
- Free is genuinely free with no time limit, so there is no trial countdown. When you are ready, Pro and Premium are simple flat plans you can start anytime and cancel whenever - no contract. Taking payments is optional either way.
- What counts as an "active event" on the Free plan?
- An active event is one you are currently working - anything in Inquiry, Tentative, or Confirmed status, as opposed to Completed or Cancelled. The Free plan is designed for up to 3 active events a month; Pro and Premium remove the cap entirely, so you only move up when your calendar actually fills.
Data & security
- Is my data secure and isolated?
- Yes. Every catering business gets its own isolated data environment - your client records, events, and proposals are never accessible to any other business on the platform, regardless of their permissions. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. See our Security page for full details.
- Can I export my data?
- Yes. Your data is yours and you can request an export at any time. We believe you should never be locked in - if you decide Catertoo isn't the right fit, you leave with your data intact.
- How are payments handled?
- Payments are processed through Stripe. We never store raw card numbers. Funds collected from your clients go directly into your connected Stripe bank account - Catertoo only touches the platform fee. Stripe is PCI DSS Level 1 certified.
Get started
Ready to run catering the modern way?
Sign up free and send your first proposal this afternoon. No card, no setup, no contract.