Switching your booking system feels like open-heart surgery on a busy service. It doesn't have to be. Most of the fear comes from not knowing what to check. Here's the list.
1. Can you take your guest list with you?
Your list of past diners is one of the most valuable things you own. Before you move, find out whether you can export it. If you can't, that tells you a lot about who really owns that relationship. A good system lets you keep and use your own guests.
2. What are you actually paying?
Add up a real month: commission, per-cover fees, add-ons, the lot. Compare it to a flat monthly price. For a lot of independents the flat fee wins the moment they get busy, because it never climbs with your covers.
3. Whose brand do guests see?
If guests book through a marketplace, they remember the marketplace. Moving to a booking page in your own name and colours means the next booking is yours, not borrowed.
4. How much work is the switch?
The honest answer with most systems is "some". With a done-for-you setup it's close to none. We build your page, map your tables and set your service times, then hand you the keys. If your staff can answer the phone, they can run it.
5. Are you tied in?
Check the contract. Long lock-ins exist to stop you leaving. No lock-in means the system has to keep earning your business every month, which is the right way round.
You should be able to walk away any time. That's what keeps a supplier honest.
If you're weighing it up, book a demo and we'll talk you through what moving would actually look like for your venue. No hard sell.