Back of House

What Back of House does

Back of House is a Chicago-based restaurant technology advisory platform founded in 2020 that operates a curated vendor marketplace and expert consultation service for restaurant operators. The company connects independent and multi-unit restaurant operators with vetted technology vendors across 13 categories including POS systems, food inventory management, online ordering, AI phone ordering, food safety, recruiting, scheduling, website builders, loyalty, reputation management, social media, and email/SMS marketing. The platform also segments guidance by business type — cafe, pizza shop, food truck, bar/grill, and institutional food service (healthcare, senior dining, education). A team of named restaurant technology experts authors category-specific content and conducts consultations; the company has completed 300+ expert consultations to date.

The platform is structured as a content-driven advisory and marketplace business rather than a technology product company. Their proprietary assets include a curated directory of 90+ vetted vendors with exclusive deal arrangements, a taxonomy organized by both technology category and business type, and a content library (articles, podcast, newsletter) designed to capture organic search traffic from operators researching technology decisions. Back of House explicitly states that paid partnerships do not influence editorial evaluations, positioning independence as a core credibility lever. The site offers no proprietary AI/ML systems, API, or mobile app; the 'technology' is editorial curation and consultation infrastructure.

Back of House generates revenue through two primary streams: paid expert consultation services delivered via discovery calls and advisory engagements, and affiliate/referral fees when operators purchase or subscribe to vendor products featured on the marketplace. The go-to-market motion is sales-assisted consultation anchored on an explicit 'no sales pitch' positioning, with customer acquisition driven primarily through SEO, content marketing, newsletter outreach, and the podcast. Pricing for consultation services is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the marketplace directory is free for operators to browse, while vendor partners likely pay for featured placement or referral economics. The company serves SMB restaurants and a growing set of multi-unit and institutional operators across the United States and Canada.

Name

Back of House

Legal name

Back of House

Website

https://backofhouse.io

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Back of House is a Chicago-based restaurant technology advisory platform operating a curated marketplace of 90+ vetted vendors and paid expert consultation services for independent and multi-unit restaurant operators across the US and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Expert Consultation Services: Back of House generates revenue through paid expert consultation services, where restaurant operators book discovery calls and receive personalized technology assessments and recommendations. They also earn referral/affiliate fees when customers purchase or subscribe to vendor products featured on their marketplace.
2. Vendor Marketplace & Referral Revenue: Back of House features 90+ restaurant technology vendors on their marketplace and earns referral/affiliate fees when operators purchase vendor products. Any paid partnerships are stated to have no influence on evaluations — evaluations remain independent.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Back of House is a restaurant technology consulting and advisory platform that helps independent restaurant operators select, evaluate, and implement technology. It combines personalized expert consultation services (discovery calls and paid advisory sessions) with a curated online marketplace of 90+ vetted restaurant technology vendors across categories including POS, inventory, online ordering, AI phone ordering, food safety, scheduling, loyalty, and marketing. The offering is supported by a content library of articles, a podcast, and published case studies.

Product overview

Back of House is a restaurant technology consulting platform and curated marketplace offering expert guidance and vendor recommendations. The platform features a directory of vetted technology vendors organized across 13 product categories: POS & Operations (POS Systems, Food Inventory Management, Online Ordering & Delivery, AI Phone Ordering), HR & Staffing (Food Safety & Training, Recruiting & Hiring Software, Scheduling Platforms), Sales & Marketing (Website Builders, Loyalty Programs, Reputation Management, Social Media, Email & SMS), plus business-type specific guidance. The core offering combines a vendor marketplace with expert consultation services, learning resources including articles and a podcast, and documented case studies to help restaurant operators navigate technology selection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Expert Consultation Services Personalized discovery calls and advisory sessions where restaurant tech experts assess operators' current tools, systems, and processes and recommend best-fit technology platforms from Back of House's vetted partner network. Discovery calls are free; paid consultations follow a custom quote model with a stated "no sales pitch" approach.
• Restaurant Technology Vendor Marketplace A curated online marketplace listing 90+ vetted restaurant technology vendors across POS, inventory management, online ordering, AI phone ordering, food safety, HR/staffing, scheduling, website builders, loyalty, reputation, social media, and email/SMS marketing. Operators can browse the marketplace for free, and exclusive deals are available for vendors referred through the platform.
• Back of House Podcast Audio content featuring expert discussions on restaurant technology, operations, and industry trends. The podcast supports Back of House's content-marketing and brand-authority strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Back of House has facilitated 300+ expert consultations and features 90+ vetted technology vendor partners.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration20 records

AI capability10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

54 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ToastcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerToast is featured as a top-vetted POS system recommendation on Back of House's marketplace. Toast is an all-in-one restaurant POS platform with features including handhelds, payroll, AI marketing, and robust reporting. Back of House offers exclusive deals (up to $999 off) for operators referred through the platform.
• SpotOncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSpotOn is featured as a top-vetted POS system recommendation on Back of House's marketplace with exclusive deals (up to $1,000 off). SpotOn is an omnichannel restaurant platform offering POS, labor management, scheduling, QR code capabilities, and AI financial reporting.
• GoTabcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGoTab is featured as a top-vetted POS recommendation for hospitality venues on Back of House's marketplace with a 25% annual discount. GoTab is an all-in-one restaurant platform with browser-based ordering, RFID wristbands, KDS, and loyalty capabilities.
• OttercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOtter is featured as a top all-in-one restaurant tech ecosystem on Back of House's marketplace with up to 20% annual discount. It unifies digital orders, real-time data, AI marketing, and menu/payment management across channels and locations.
• ClovercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerClover is featured as a top POS recommendation for multiple revenue streams on Back of House's marketplace. Clover is a cloud-based POS platform with payment processing, hardware, and a centralized app market for third-party integrations.
• SquarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSquare is featured as a top POS recommendation for mobile, counter-service, coffee stops, and food trucks on Back of House's marketplace. Square is an all-in-one platform combining POS operations, payments, online ordering, KDS, marketing, and reporting.
• MarginEdgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarginEdge is featured as a top food inventory management platform with a free month offer. It provides invoice processing, POS integration (60+ systems), recipe management, and daily profit insights for restaurants.
• MarketManminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketMan is featured as a top food inventory management platform with 5% + 50% off implementation fees for GFS customers. It is a cloud-based restaurant management system for order management, waste elimination, and procurement.
• OpsiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOpsi is featured as a top inventory and kitchen ops platform with 12 months free offer. It is a chef-built platform for recipe costing, inventory tracking, digital prep lists, and team communication.
• Navi Cost ControlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNavi Cost Control is featured as a top food inventory platform for low-maintenance operators with 50% off setup fees. It is a cloud-based cost control and inventory platform focused on plate costs, labor tracking, and menu engineering.
• ChowNowcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChowNow is featured as a top ordering and delivery platform for independent restaurants with up to 20% off. It offers commission-free ordering across all channels via a subscription model, with 30+ POS integrations and access to the Order Better Network.
• SauceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSauce is featured as a top ordering and delivery platform with up to 50% off annually. It is a commission-free pickup and delivery network with unlimited drivers, dispatch algorithm, and real-time order tracking.
• PaytronixcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPaytronix is featured as a top ordering and delivery platform for enterprise and multi-level brands with a free insights report. It unifies online ordering, loyalty, and automated marketing with native delivery network integration and AI-driven checkout optimization.
• DeliverectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDeliverect is featured as a top 3rd party aggregator for delivery dispatch with up to 10% off setup. It aggregates orders from all ordering platforms into one format and integrates directly with most POS systems or a proprietary tablet.
• Sadie AIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSadie AI is featured as a top AI phone ordering solution for reservation-heavy dining with 1 month free. Sadie is an AI host designed for reservations and guest inquiries with emotional intelligence, real-time OpenTable/Libro sync, and credit card deposit collection.
• Maple AI, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMaple AI is featured as a top AI phone ordering solution for menu syncing with 15% off first 12 months. It answers calls, takes orders, manages reservations, and sends orders into POS 24/7 in multiple languages (English, Spanish, French, Mandarin).
• Slang AIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSlang AI is featured as a top AI phone ordering solution for multi-units and events with no onboarding fees + 20% off SRP. It handles inbound calls, responds to inquiries, and manages reservations with custom call routing for VIPs.
• Loman AIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLoman AI is featured as a top AI phone ordering solution for high-volume phone ordering with up to 10% off and waived onboarding fee. It handles calls, orders, reservations, and deep POS integration for direct order injection.
• Kea AIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKea AI is featured as a top AI phone ordering solution for complex and large menus with up to 15% off annual pricing. It takes phone orders and answers questions with upsell identification on 100% of orders and live human operator backup.
• Trust20minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrust20 is featured as a top food safety training platform for modern virtual training with up to 20% off courses. It provides ANAB-accredited online food safety training with courses for managers, handlers, and allergens, plus a team progress dashboard.
• ServSafeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerServSafe (administered by the National Restaurant Association) is featured as a top food safety training platform for in-person training options. It provides ANAB-certified courses in food manager, food handler, alcohol, allergens, and workplace training in multiple languages.
• Opus TrainingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOpus Training is featured as a top food safety and compliance training platform for ongoing learning with up to $500 off. It provides AI-powered workforce training in 101 languages with mobile-first learning and compliance tracking for multi-unit restaurant brands.
• XeniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerXenia is featured as a top operations and compliance platform with 20% off monthly + free implementation. It is a comprehensive operations execution platform for checklists, audits, temperature logs, maintenance requests, and team communication.
• FoodiniminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoodini is featured as a top food safety platform for dietary restrictions with dietitian-reviewed menu experiences covering 50+ allergens and dietary needs. It provides real-time menu updates, auto-sync, and a reporting dashboard with diner insights.
• GoodJobminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoodJob is featured as a top recruiting and hiring platform for Canadian operators with 20% off first shift. It is an end-to-end workforce management platform connecting operators to 25,000+ independent workers for shifts.
• PoachedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPoached is featured as a top recruiting and hiring platform for all sizes with up to 20% off a job post. It is a hospitality job board connecting operators with talent for temporary, part-time, or permanent positions with boosted distribution to LinkedIn, Monster, and Indeed.
• WedgeHRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWedgeHR is featured as a top recruiting platform for asynchronous video screening with 30% off annually. It replaces traditional phone screens with one-way video interviews requiring no app downloads, reducing candidate ghosting and time-to-hire.
• HigherMeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigherMe is featured as a top recruiting platform for high-volume hourly hiring with 20% off. It is an all-in-one hiring software for posting to job boards, text-to-apply, automated screening, interview scheduling, and onboarding with payroll setup in under 30 minutes.
• 7shiftscoreGTM or Marketing Partner7shifts is featured as a top scheduling platform for staff ease of use with $1 for first two months. It is a restaurant-specific scheduling and team management platform with availability management, labor cost tracking, and shift feedback, integrating seamlessly with Toast POS.
• Push OperationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPush Operations is featured as a top scheduling platform for all-in-one HR management with up to 25% off. It provides scheduling, hiring, onboarding, HR compliance, payroll, and real-time labor cost analytics as an all-in-one restaurant HR platform.
• HomebaseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHomebase is featured as a top scheduling platform for restaurants on a budget with a free basic plan. It offers scheduling, time tracking, payroll, hiring, and HR compliance tools with a focus on accessibility and affordability for small teams.
• HotSchedulesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotSchedules is featured as a top scheduling platform for complex scheduling needs. It provides demand forecasting in 15-minute increments, KPI tracking, labor compliance risk monitoring, and 24/7 bilingual customer support.
• Owner.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOwner.com is featured as a top website builder for all-in-one platforms with 5% off monthly fees. It offers SEO-optimized websites, zero-commission online ordering, branded mobile apps, loyalty programs, and automated marketing at $499/month starting price.
• SociavoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSociavore is featured as a top website builder for DIY and online ordering with up to $200 off. It offers mobile-responsive themes, no-code website building, loyalty, gift cards, and online ordering at $49/month.
• Flavor PlateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlavor Plate is featured as a top website builder for speed and simplicity with up to 25% off setup. It offers mobile-friendly, SEO-optimized, ADA-compliant restaurant websites with integrated online ordering, gift cards, and event calendars at $39/month + $399 setup.
• AnchorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnchor is featured as a top website builder for branding and design with up to 25% off web strategy session. It offers custom, mobile-first restaurant websites, brand/visual identity, and menu design with ongoing website care packages.
• IncentiviominorGTM or Marketing PartnerIncentivio is featured as a top loyalty platform for overall guest engagement with up to 30% off setup fees. It provides white-label mobile apps, digital loyalty, automated marketing, AI-powered guest engagement, and POS integrations at $249/month plus setup.
• Loyalty Cubed IncminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLoyalty Cubed is featured as a top loyalty platform with up to 50% off setup fees. It offers customizable rewards, branded mobile apps, gamified challenges, and automated email/SMS campaigns at $159/month per location plus setup.
• ComominorGTM or Marketing PartnerComo is featured as a top loyalty platform for single units and multi-location operators. It offers points shop, digital punch cards, cash back, AI-driven personalization, and prepaid packages with custom enterprise pricing.
• LeatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeat is featured as a top loyalty platform for seamless integration. It provides loyalty programs, gift cards, vouchers, and automated marketing integrated with POS, ordering, and WiFi systems with simple pricing for businesses of all sizes.
• Froogal.aiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFroogal.ai is featured as a top loyalty platform for deep customizations with up to 20% off. It offers omnichannel loyalty, guest data collection, personalized campaigns, POS integration, and digital gift card issuance with custom pricing.
• CurateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCurate is featured as a top loyalty platform with zero commission ordering, built-in loyalty tools, and personalized engagement campaigns. It integrates with CRM, POS, and ecommerce tools and offers an instant restaurant-branded app.
• LocalyserminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocalyser is featured as a top reputation management platform for groups and multi-unit operators with up to 25% off first 3 months. It tracks, replies to, and analyzes reviews across every major platform with AI-powered insights and competitor comparisons.
• Table TouchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTable Touch is featured as a top reputation management platform with 50% off first 2 months. It monitors table service in real time by tracking server table visits and sending service gap alerts, providing visual dining room grids and performance data.
• LibrominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLibro is featured as a top reputation management platform for full service with 20% off annually. It manages reservations and waitlists, increases Google Reviews, and provides marketing modules and guest engagement tools at $119/month (Essential) or $139/month (Advanced).
• BenbriaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenbria is featured as a top reputation management platform for quick feedback with up to 30% off monthly. It provides real-time guest feedback collection via kiosk, mobile, web, and messaging channels with automated escalation workflows.
• Sprout SocialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSprout Social is featured as a top social media marketing platform with a free 30-day trial. It provides advanced multi-platform publishing, AI-powered optimal post-time recommendations, engagement tracking, and brand-level reporting for restaurant marketing teams.
• SocialPilotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocialPilot is featured as a top social media marketing platform with a free 14-day trial at $25/month. It offers social media calendar, AI assistant, team management, bulk scheduling, and analytics for smaller restaurants.
• Scale Social AIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerScale Social AI is featured as a top social media marketing platform with free onboarding and strategy session. It collects authentic customer photos/videos and deploys them as hyper-localized short-form video ads across Meta, Google, YouTube, and TikTok at $300/month/location.
• MomosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMomos is featured as a top social media marketing platform for multi-location restaurants with 10% off annually + free trial. It unifies AI review management, customizable surveys, and social media engagement into a single inbox at $300/month/location.
• AttentiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAttentive is featured as a top SMS marketing platform for overall SMS with a conversational commerce platform providing SMS, email, and list management with 100+ integrations and built-in compliance tools.
• BoostlyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoostly is featured as a top SMS marketing platform for hospitality businesses. It helps restaurants collect customer data, build compliant databases, automate SMS marketing, drive reviews, and track ROI with weekly reports at custom pricing (no contracts or setup fees).
• KlaviyominorGTM or Marketing PartnerKlaviyo is featured as a top email/SMS marketing platform for guest lifetime tracking with a sliding scale pricing based on subscriber count. It integrates with POS and loyalty programs, provides AI-enabled email design, and supports multi-location data unification.
• MailChimpminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMailChimp is featured as a top email marketing platform with a free plan available and tiered pricing based on emails sent. It offers drag-and-drop email templates, AI-generated designs, 300+ integrations, and 24/7 customer support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• G2: G2 is a B2B software marketplace with verified reviews, vendor listings, and category-driven content. It operates a near-identical marketplace-plus-content model to Back of House, but across all SaaS verticals rather than restaurant-only, and competes for the same SMB software-discovery mindshare.
• Capterra: Capterra is a long-running B2B software marketplace with vendor listings, user reviews, and category-driven content. It mirrors Back of House's vendor-comparison and content model and competes for the same independent-operator discovery audience across SMB software categories.
• Software Advice: Software Advice is a B2B software advisory site that combines curated vendor listings with free consultation/advisory services for buyers. It directly matches Back of House's discovery-call and recommendation motion, scaled across multiple verticals.
• GetApp: GetApp is an SMB-focused B2B software marketplace with category listings, vendor comparisons, and review-driven discovery. It competes for the same independent-operator and small-business software-discovery audience as Back of House.
• TrustRadius: TrustRadius is a B2B software review platform with verified buyer reviews and detailed vendor profiles. It mirrors Back of House's review-and-recommendation content model and competes for the same buyer's attention during technology research.

Emerging players

• Restaurant Business: Restaurant Business is a restaurant industry trade outlet covering operations, technology, and trends. It overlaps with Back of House's editorial audience but lacks the vendor marketplace and paid-consultation revenue model.
• Modern Restaurant Management: Modern Restaurant Management is a restaurant industry digital publication covering operations, technology, and marketing. It competes for some of Back of House's editorial mindshare but does not host a vendor marketplace or offer advisory services.
• QSR Magazine: QSR Magazine covers quick-service and fast-casual restaurant technology, operations, and marketing. It overlaps with Back of House's restaurant-tech editorial but is focused on QSR segments rather than the full independent-operator audience.
• Nation's Restaurant News: Nation's Restaurant News is a long-running restaurant industry trade publication covering operations, technology, and trends. It competes for restaurant-operator attention but lacks a curated vendor marketplace or consultation offering.

Others

• Eater: Eater is a restaurant industry media outlet covering dining, food trends, and the broader restaurant business. It draws on a similar operator and food-industry audience as Back of House but is tangential to the technology-advisory focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/backofhouse_io
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/backofhouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Back of House