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In-depth analysis on what’s working (and what’s not)
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Systems and tools worth your time

Your first edition arrives Wednesday. Check your inbox and add newsletter@theprep.co to your contacts so you never miss a beat.

⚡ Exclusive tools & pricing for the Prep subscribers below

The Prep is a Tech.co newsletter bringing you restaurant-focused insights backed by 10+ years of software research. Here are the tools we’ve vetted that can make a real difference for your operation.

⚡ Exclusive tools & pricing for the Prep subscribers below

The POS System Built for Fast Casual—Not Retrofitted for It

Tested by Tech.co

We’ve seen too many restaurant owners piece together five different tools just to run their operations. After comparing pricing and real-world feedback, one system consistently delivers what fast casual operators actually need in a single package:

SumUp

9.2
   

Best for:

  • Fast Casual & Quick Service Restaurants

SumUp gives restaurants an all-in-one system for order management, payments, and customer loyalty—no third-party add-ons required.

Built for fast casual and quick service operations with integrated online ordering, automated marketing, and transparent flat-rate processing.

 

  • 2.6% + 10¢ flat processing—no hidden fees
  • Self-service kiosk option for faster checkout
  • Automated customer rewards and loyalty program
  • Cloud-based POS with offline mode
  • SMS and email marketing
  • Dedicated installation and training included
  • Kitchen display system included
  • QuickBooks integration

Why SumUp?

Most restaurant POS systems charge extra for the tools you actually need—loyalty programs, online ordering, marketing, and kitchen displays often cost $200-400/month in add-ons. SumUp bundles these into one transparent monthly price starting at $99. You get flat 2.6% + 10¢ processing, a money-back guarantee on higher tiers, and US-based support available 7 days a week. For fast casual operators who want a complete system without piecing together five different vendors, it’s a straightforward choice.

Toast for Growing Restaurants
Subscriber Perk

As a Prep subscriber, you get fast-tracked access to Toast—the POS built for multi-location operators and growing restaurants. Get your custom quote below.

What makes Toast stand out:

Multi-location reporting in real-time:

See performance across all locations from one dashboard.

Labor management that adapts:

Built-in scheduling, time tracking, and forecasting.

Online ordering that actually integrates:

Digital orders flow directly into kitchen operations.

Limited Time Offer

$4K off hardware + free digital storefront (12 months)

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Please be advised that the operator of this site accepts advertising compensation from the companies listed, and such compensation impacts the location and order in which the companies (and/or their products) are presented. Company listings on this domain do not imply endorsement.

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