BEO HQ vs CaterOps

BEO HQ turns event details into banquet event orders and related catering documents. From the same event data, it generates proposals, contracts, invoices and quotes, while calculating service charges, taxes, deposits and balances. Users can save client, venue and menu records or duplicate a past event. Its menu library supports courses, per-person or per-item prices, and dietary and allergen flags. Starter includes QuickBooks and CSV export; Pro adds shareable client approval links and e-signatures with an audit trail. BEO HQ does not process payments, leaving customers to keep their own payment setup. The service runs on the web and is described as built for solo caterers and independent planners. The Free plan permits one BEO and one catering invoice, and PDFs include a small BEO HQ footer credit. Starter costs $19 a month and Pro costs $39 a month. The first paid subscription has a 30-day money-back guarantee, available once per customer. The company says users can import and export their documents and financials.

CaterOps manages catering back-of-house operations, from inquiries and proposals through BEOs, prep lists, and floor plans. Its event pipeline follows events from inquiry through quoting, confirmation, and completion, with list, board, and calendar views. The BEO builder calculates food, labor, fees, taxes, gratuity, discounts, and food-and-beverage minimums as users enter them. Floor-plan tools support scaled layouts, reusable templates, PNG export, and client sharing within set limits. Through a branded portal, clients can review proposals, update details and guest counts, choose menus, arrange seating within set limits, and approve and sign. Signatures record a typed name, timestamp, and IP address. Signed BEO food lines seed station-based prep lists, and CaterOps also supports run-of-show schedules and staff role and time assignments. A free plan allows up to five events per month and one team member. Pro is billed at $3 per event; Enterprise offers custom volume pricing. CaterOps says signups are coming soon, as are its iOS and Android apps.