Overview
Learn the shortest path from signup to a restaurant workspace that is ready for real service.
Who should read this
This page is for owners, admins, managers, and staff leads who are setting up a restaurant, cafe, cloud kitchen, or multi-outlet group on Zesty.
You do not need technical skills. Follow the steps in order, run one test order before opening to guests, and use the Launch guide inside the app to track remaining setup tasks.
How onboarding works today
Zesty onboarding is shorter than a long paper checklist. In practice you will:
- Create your account — email or the sign-in method your organization uses.
- Choose your plan — and, if you arrived from the pricing page, whether you are paying monthly or yearly. Your 14-day trial covers this plan's modules.
- Complete the restaurant profile — address, phone, tax details, payment settings, hours.
- Choose sales workflow mode — Orders only, POS only, or Combined (see Sales workflow modes).
- Add your first Location — even single-outlet restaurants use one main Location.
- Review and pay — onboarding ends on a review page showing the plan, the price, and any code you have. You are not asked for a card before there is a workspace to look at.
- Invite staff — when you are ready; not required on day one.
Zesty is one organization with many Locations. You do not create a second organization for a second outlet; you add a Location. There is no "create organization" step beyond the first, which onboarding does for you.
After onboarding, use Settings → Launch guide for a step-by-step checklist: menu, tables, staff, test order, and first live shift.
Trial, plan, and feature catalog
| Topic | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| 14-day trial | Try the modules of the plan you chose, so what you try is what you keep |
| Your plan | Chosen during onboarding and paid for at the end of it; decides which modules you can keep |
| Feature catalog | The exact list of modules turned on for your organization |
| Core modules | Dashboard, Standard menu, and Settings stay available; Orders/Billing depend on workflow mode |
After trial, modules not included in your plan are disabled unless you upgrade. See Plans and billing for prices, yearly billing, and how to change plans. Owners update the catalog in Settings → Features. Each save requires password confirmation or a one-time email code.
Read the full module list in Feature catalog.
What each role usually does
Owner
- Billing and subscription
- Organization and branch settings
- Feature catalog and sales workflow mode
- Staff invites and permission reviews
- Support tickets and plan upgrades
Admin
- Menu, tables, payments, printers
- Branch configuration
- Day-to-day operational rules
- Staff management (when delegated)
Staff
- Orders, KDS, billing, POS, inventory, customers—only what their role allows
- Must work inside an open operational shift for most protected actions
Customer (guest)
- Orders from QR links in the phone browser
- No app install, no staff login
The setup path (detailed)
1. Profile and payments
Enter legal and customer-facing details correctly. They appear on bills, QR screens, and reports. Set how guests pay: at the counter only, or at the counter and by UPI to your own UPI ID. Zesty never collects your guests' money.
2. Sales workflow and features
Pick how you sell. A counter-only cafe may choose POS only. A full-service restaurant usually chooses Combined or Orders only.
3. Branches and tables
Single outlet: one main branch is enough. Multi-outlet: add each location. Create one table record per physical table and print a unique QR code for each.
4. Menu
Build categories and items. Set food type (Veg / Non-veg) where required. Mark sold-out items unavailable instead of deleting them. Import large menus via preview → apply.
5. Staff and permissions
Invite only the people who need access. Give the smallest permission set that still lets them do their job. Review access when someone leaves.
6. Operational shift and test order
Open a shift. Place a test order (staff or QR). Move it through KDS. Bill and collect payment. Review order history. Close practice via Shift Desk when training.
Try before you commit
One-hour demo (/demo)
- Synthetic restaurant data
- Auto-deletes after one hour
- Some actions blocked (billing changes, invites, branch admin)
- Good for clicking through the product
Pilot program (/case-studies)
- Real setup help from the Zesty team
- Menu import, kitchen routing, billing, first shift
- For restaurants planning to go live
First-day checklist
- Table QR opens the correct table and menu
- Sold-out items are hidden from customers
- Payment modes match how you collect money
- Staff see only the modules they need
- Operational shift opens and closes cleanly
- One full test order: order → kitchen → bill → payment → receipt
- Manager knows how to use Shift Desk at day end
Where to go next
- Feature catalog — every module explained
- Restaurant setup — profile, branches, tables, printers
- Orders and billing — daily service workflows