SalesPalSales record book for food vendors and restaurants
Busy lunch rush, empty pots — but was today actually profitable? Here's how food vendors, bukas and small restaurants can see their real numbers every day.
Why food businesses struggle to see their profit
- Costs are daily and messy. Market runs for foodstuff, gas, charcoal, packs, water, transport — each small, together big.
- Prices at the market change weekly. A plate price that was profitable last month may not be now.
- Cash comes in fast. A busy day feels good, but without records you can't tell if you made money or just moved it.
- Regulars who pay "month end". Office workers on credit add up quickly.
A simple daily routine with SalesPal
- Add your menu — jollof rice and chicken, swallow and soup, small chops — with your selling price.
- Record sales through the day, or add the day's total at closing if you're too busy to record each plate.
- Record every expense: market shopping, gas, packs, transport. SalesPal subtracts them from your sales.
- Check your profit for the day, week and month — and see which days are really worth opening.
- Put "month end" customers on the debt book and send a friendly reminder on payday.
Pricing your plates properly
Work out roughly what one pot costs (all ingredients, gas and packs) and how many plates it serves. That gives your cost per plate. If your plate price isn't comfortably above it, raise the price or reduce portion costs. Recording expenses in SalesPal every day makes this easy to check.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate profit in my food business?
Add up everything you sold, then subtract everything you spent to make it: foodstuff, gas, packs, transport and other costs. What's left is profit. SalesPal does this for you when you record sales and expenses.
I'm too busy to record every plate. Can I record the day's total?
Yes. You can record one sale for the day's total at closing. Recording expenses every day matters just as much for knowing your profit.
Can I track customers who pay at month end?
Yes. Record their meals as owing and they go into your debt book, with one-tap WhatsApp reminders.
Is SalesPal free?
Yes. The free plan tracks sales, expenses and profit, with up to 20 products and 15 invoices a month. Pro (₦3,000/month or ₦30,000/year) removes those limits and adds multiple shops and AI business insights.