How much does restaurant software cost?
The cost of restaurant software depends on four things: how many workstations you have, which modules you switch on, how many messages you send guests, and what hardware you buy once. A small venue starts from about 149 RON/month, with hardware paid separately, up front.
Short answer
- Online restaurant software starts from about 149 RON/month for a small venue, hosting included.
- The price grows with the number of workstations, kitchen screens and active modules.
- A medium restaurant with 40–80 seats typically fits within 299–599 RON/month.
- The fiscal cash register, kitchen printer and tablets are one-off purchases, typically 2,500–6,000 RON.
- SMS or WhatsApp messages to guests are billed separately, in bundles or per message sent.
What you pay for (components)
The cost components of restaurant software
| Component | Online (e.g. 4restaurants.net) | Installed on site |
|---|---|---|
| Platform and hosting | Subscription from ~149 RON/month, hosting included | A pricier licence, plus your own server and backups |
| Restaurant modules | Reservations, menu, orders and stock included in the plan | Modules billed separately or built on request |
| Hardware | Tablet, kitchen printer, fiscal register — 2,500–6,000 RON, one-off | The same hardware, plus a dedicated computer |
| Guest messaging | A message bundle or a cost per SMS sent | An integration set up and paid for separately |
| Maintenance and backups | Included: updates, security, automatic backups | On you or on an IT administrator |
What the law says
- An electronic fiscal cash register is mandatory for on-site payments, whatever software you use (OUG 28/1999).
- The cost of connecting the register to the ANAF IT system belongs to the start-up budget, not to the monthly subscription.
- The menu must show complete prices and the dishes' allergens — requirements the software also handles (EU Reg. 1169/2011, OG 21/1992).
Practical example
Example: a 50-seat bistro with 2 waiter tablets and one kitchen screen, on a 399 RON/month online plan. That covers reservations with a floor plan, the QR digital menu, orders sent to the kitchen, stock and reports.
In the first year it pays 4,788 RON in subscription and about 4,200 RON in hardware. Against a monthly turnover of 90,000 RON, the software cost is under 0.5% of sales.
Common mistakes
- Comparing only the base subscription and ignoring the modules you actually need, such as stock or time-tracking.
- Forgetting the cost of the fiscal cash register and of connecting it, which are mandatory anyway (OUG 28/1999).
- Paying for an expensive implementation at a small venue that could be configured from the interface.
- Picking the cheapest plan, then paying monthly for every extra tablet you add.
How 4restaurants.net helps
- A predictable subscription in RON, with hosting, security and automatic backups included.
- Reservations, a menu with recipe cards, kitchen orders, stock and time-tracking in a single account.
- Setup in a few hours, with no implementation fee and no dedicated IT administrator.