Hi, I’m Dan Carver.
I’ve owned and run restaurants and convenience stores. At my busiest, I had over 100 employees to schedule, pay, and keep happy. I know what a Friday dinner rush feels like when two people call out, and what it’s like to find out about overtime only when payroll comes through.
For years I ran my schedule on a spreadsheet. It worked until it didn’t. Restaurant staff change shifts constantly, and keeping up with it cost me time and money.
Why I started The Back of House Tech
Most restaurant software reviews are written by marketers who have never worked a shift. I wanted to write the reviews I wish I’d had as an owner: honest, practical, and focused on what actually matters when you’re running the floor.
Here you’ll find straightforward comparisons of POS systems, scheduling apps, online ordering, inventory tools, and the new AI tools showing up in restaurants. I’ll tell you what each one does well, where it falls short, and who it’s really for.
How I review
- I judge tools by the problems owners actually face: labor cost, call-outs, shift swaps, food cost, and keeping things simple for staff.
- I try the software myself whenever I can.
- I point out the downsides, not just the features.
- Some links on this site are affiliate links. They never change my opinion. See my affiliate disclosure.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope this saves you some of the headaches I had.
— Dan