MarginEdge vs MarketMan vs Restaurant365: Food Cost Software
All three cut the hours spent typing invoices and counting stock, and show you food cost before the month is over. MarginEdge leads with invoice processing and a daily P&L, MarketMan with inventory and ordering, and Restaurant365 is a full accounting system.
The short answer
- Pick MarginEdge if invoice entry is your pain. It is $350 a location a month ($500 with the Freepour liquor scale), with unlimited invoice processing, a daily controllable P&L, recipe costing and no setup fees.
- Pick MarketMan if you want inventory and ordering at a lower starting price: Starter is $249 a month with 50 AI invoice scans, Growth $299 with unlimited scans and smart ordering, Enterprise from $449.
- Pick Restaurant365 if you have several locations and want to replace your accounting software too. Pricing is on request.
Count your invoices
MarketMan's Starter plan includes 50 AI invoice scans a month. A busy kitchen with daily produce, meat, dairy and dry-goods deliveries can pass that in two weeks, which makes Growth ($299, unlimited scans) the real comparison with MarginEdge ($350, unlimited processing). Count last month's invoices before you compare.
What to check
- Your POS link. Theoretical food cost needs sales data. Toast users should note Toast's own API fee: MarginEdge says Toast requires a $50 a location a month suite for integrations.
- Your accountant. Make sure exports or integrations match the accounting software they use.
- Contracts. MarginEdge month-to-month plans have no contract; annual plans are a 12-month commitment. Ask the others the same question.
- Canada. MarginEdge says its bill pay is U.S. only. Canadian operators should check which features apply to them.
Related reading
See our AI for bar inventory guide or browse Inventory & Food Cost.
3 tools compared
| Tool | Best for | Built for | Pricing (vendor-published) | Key features (vendor-described) | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MarginEdge Inventory & Food Cost | Independents and small groups that want invoices and daily food cost done for them | restaurants, bars | $350/location/month; $500 with Freepour; 10% off annual | AI invoice processing; Real-time food cost; Bill pay | 2026-10-20 |
| MarketMan Inventory & Food Cost | Kitchens that want inventory, ordering and recipe costing from $249 a month | restaurants | From $249/month (Starter); $299 Growth; Enterprise from $449 | Inventory; AI invoice scanning; Vendor EDI | 2026-10-13 |
| Restaurant365 Inventory & Food Cost | Multi-unit groups that want accounting, inventory and labour in one system | restaurants | Contact for pricing | Restaurant accounting; Inventory; Workforce | 2026-10-13 |
Browse every tool in Inventory & Food Cost, see all guides or browse all problems.
FAQ
How much does MarginEdge cost?
MarginEdge is $350 a location a month, or $500 with Freepour. Paying annually saves 10%. There are no setup fees.
How much does MarketMan cost?
MarketMan lists Starter at $249 a month, Growth at $299 and Enterprise from $449.
Is Restaurant365 worth it for one location?
Restaurant365 is built for accounting, inventory and labour across many locations. A single independent restaurant may get what it needs from MarginEdge or MarketMan for less. Ask Restaurant365 for a quote to compare.