The four ways catering software charges you
Strip away the marketing and almost every tool uses one of four pricing models. They look similar on a features page and behave very differently as your business grows:
- Flat monthly. One predictable price for everything, no matter how much you use it. Your cost per event falls as you book more.
- Per user (per seat). You pay for each person with a login. Cheap for a solo operator; it quietly penalizes you the moment you add a partner, an event manager, or seasonal staff.
- Per inquiry / proposal quota (tiered). The plan caps how many proposals, inquiries, or events you can handle, and you upgrade to a higher tier as you grow. You pay more for being successful — precisely when you can least afford the distraction of a forced upgrade.
- Percentage of revenue. The tool takes a cut of every event you cater — often a percentage of what your clients pay you. It's framed as "we only win when you win," but in practice it's a tax on your success that grows without bound.
What each model costs as you grow
Numbers make the difference obvious. Take an independent caterer with an average event value of about $3,000, and compare the monthly software cost at three stages of growth — 5, 15, and 40 events a month (roughly $15k, $45k, and $120k in monthly catering revenue):
| Pricing model | 5 events/mo | 15 events/mo | 40 events/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat monthly (nxcatering — $79/mo) | $79 | $79 | $79 |
| Per-user (≈3 seats at ~$40 each) | ~$120 | ~$120 | ~$120 |
| Per-inquiry / proposal quota (tiered) | entry tier | mid tier | top tier + |
| Percentage of revenue (≈2%) | ~$300 | ~$900 | ~$2,400 |
Illustrative math using round numbers (avg event $3,000; 2% revenue share; ~3 seats). Real figures vary by provider and plan; the point is the shape of each model, not any one vendor.
The flat line stays flat. The percentage line, meanwhile, goes from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand a month — for the same software — simply because you got busier. At 40 events a month, a 2% revenue share can cost more than 30× what a flat plan does, and every extra event you win makes the gap wider. Per-seat pricing punishes you for building a team; quota tiers punish you for booking more. All three share a design goal that isn't yours: the more successful you are, the more they collect.
Where nxcatering stands
We chose the model that's aligned with an independent caterer: $79/mo flat (or $790/yr), with unlimited proposals, inquiries, invoices, events, and users — and $0 taken from your catering revenue. Your clients pay you directly through your own connected Stripe account; your subscription is completely separate from what your events earn. Book 5 events or 50, add one teammate or five, and the price on your card is the same.
That's not a promotion that expires — it's the whole pricing philosophy. Software should be a fixed cost you can plan around, not a silent partner that takes a bigger slice every time you grow. See exactly what's included on the pricing page, or price your next event with the free catering pricing calculator to see how much of your margin you get to keep.
Flat pricing FAQ
Does nxcatering take a percentage of my catering revenue?
No. nxcatering takes $0 of your catering revenue. Clients pay you directly through your own connected Stripe account, and your subscription is completely separate from what your events bring in. The only fees on a payment are Stripe's standard processing fees, billed by Stripe — nxcatering adds no markup.
Is the price per user?
No. The plan includes unlimited users at no extra cost, so adding your partner, an event manager, or seasonal staff never raises your bill.
Is there a limit on proposals or inquiries?
No. Proposals, inquiries, invoices, and events are all unlimited on the flat plan. You never get pushed to a higher tier for being busy.
Does the price go up as I grow?
No. It's $79/mo (or $790/yr) whether you cater 5 events a month or 50. Your cost per event falls as you grow, instead of rising with your revenue.
What's included for $79/mo?
Everything: branded proposals with e-signature, deposit and final invoices, card payments, one-click BEOs, menus and packages, leads and pipeline, calendar, reports, and branded emails — with no per-event fees and no revenue cut.