The verdict in three sentences
A Miami restaurant group director running multiple sites can no longer manage POS, inventory and purchasing on siloed tools. A custom build (50,000 to 130,000 EUR) centralises data across every restaurant and recovers 3 points of food cost — one of the most profitable margin levers in the sector. The real cost shows up in the monthly run (200 to 800 EUR) and per-site POS rollout (2,000 to 5,000 EUR/site).
The modules of a multi-site build
A group of 4 to 8 restaurants needs a POS per site, centralised inventory and food-cost control. Here is the 2026 breakdown.
| Module | 2026 range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-site core (central back office) | 50,000-80,000 EUR | 3-5 months |
| POS per restaurant | +2,000-5,000 EUR/site | 1-2 weeks/site |
| Food cost and recipe management | +6,000-15,000 EUR | 4-6 weeks |
| Centralised supplier ordering | +8,000-18,000 EUR | 4-6 weeks |
| Real-time multi-site dashboard | +5,000-12,000 EUR | 3-5 weeks |
| Monthly run (hosting, support) | 200-800 EUR/month | ongoing |
For a group of 5 restaurants, the realistic total budget lands between 80,000 and 130,000 EUR in year one, run included.
Restaurant SaaS or custom: when to switch
A POS SaaS is enough for a single site. Once you consolidate several restaurants and want fine food-cost control, custom takes the lead.
| Criterion (2026 ballpark) | POS SaaS | Multi-site custom |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 50-150 EUR/site/month | 50,000-130,000 EUR |
| Multi-site consolidation | Limited | Native |
| Per-recipe food cost | Basic | Fine and automated |
| Supplier ordering | Manual/plugin | Centralised |
| Data ownership | No | Yes |
| 3-year cost (5 sites) | ~9,000-27,000 EUR | 80,000-130,000 EUR + run |
Below 3 sites, SaaS stays relevant. At 4-8 restaurants, centralised control and food-cost gains justify the investment.
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Mini case study
Laurent, director of a 5-restaurant group in Miami, posts food revenue of 4,000,000 EUR/year with an average food cost of 31%. He invests 110,000 EUR in a custom build (core + POS + food cost + ordering). By managing recipes and waste, he gains 3 points of food cost, worth 120,000 EUR/year in purchasing savings. Payback in under 12 months, before even counting admin time saved (automated ordering, less data entry).
FAQ
How much does multi-site restaurant software cost in 2026? Custom starts at 50,000 EUR for the core and climbs toward 130,000 EUR with food cost, ordering and dashboards. Add 2,000-5,000 EUR per site for POS.
What is the monthly run? Expect 200 to 800 EUR/month for hosting, backups and support, depending on the number of sites and traffic.
Is the food-cost module worth it? Yes: gaining 3 points of food cost on 4M EUR of food revenue is worth 120,000 EUR/year. Integrating it costs 6,000 to 15,000 EUR.
How long to roll out across sites? The central core ships in 3 to 5 months, then each POS deploys in 1-2 weeks per site. Expect 4-8 months for a group of 5 restaurants.
Can we keep an existing SaaS POS? Yes, via connectors, but food-cost and inventory consolidation is more reliable when the POS is integrated into the custom core.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of restaurants, your priority modules (food cost, supplier ordering) and your indicative budget. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
