Let me ask you something:
Have you ever flown blind?
No dashboard. No numbers. Just vibes and maybe a prayer.
That’s what it feels like trying to run a catering operation without clear, accurate reports.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years - whether running a $1M+ catering profit center or coaching restaurant operators - it’s this:
What gets measured gets managed.
And what gets managed… makes you more money.
At CaterZen, we’re not in the business of “just enough” when it comes to your data. We’re on a mission to give you the kind of crystal-clear insight that makes it easier to run your catering empire, one delicious event at a time.
That’s why we’ve just rolled out a suite of upgrades to our accounting reports in our catering software - many straight from client requests. So yes, if you’ve been asking for it, chances are it’s now in there.
Let’s break it down:
Aging Report Just Got Smarter (and More Honest)
Our AR Aging Report is like your collections assistant that never sleeps. Now with the latest update, you’ll see what’s owed with precision, including negative numbers when a customer overpays.
No more wondering who needs a nudge or who’s due a refund—it’s all right there.
So whether you’re following up with that one client who “swears they mailed the check” or just want to keep the cash flow flowing, this upgrade’s got your back.
Deposit Report: Transparency Like Never Before
Refunds are now tracked directly in the report. That means your Remaining Balance is actually… well, accurate.
If a canceled event had no deposits, the balance shows $0 - exactly what it should be. If there were deposits, it shows as a negative balance (aka money you owe the client). Simple. Clean. Correct.
We've renamed the “Amount” column to “Adjustments (Deposits/Refunds)”, because clarity matters, and we added convenient filters for Deposits/Refunds and Event Status (Active or Canceled).
Invoice Report: Now With Location and Export Features
Keeping things consistent across accounting reports, the Balance Due now reflects the true owed amount - including refunds and canceled events.
For all you multi-location operators (and control freaks like me), we added the Location field. No more squinting at invoices wondering which store it came from.
Oh, and yes—we added an Export to Excel button. Because sometimes, you just want to play in spreadsheets.
Order List Report: Now With 5 New Columns
We’ve pumped up the Order List Report with 5 new columns:
- Customer Email
- Location
- Event Type
- Driver Name
- Groups
You’ll also find a Groups filter, perfect for niche marketing, performance analysis, or sorting your school orders from your office party regulars.
Contact List Report: Enhanced for Segmentation
Two new columns here:
- Primary Restaurant Location
- Groups
So now, when you want to run a church outreach campaign or re-engage your holiday party list from last year? You’ve got the tools to do it.
More Than Reports: A Bigger Vision for Your Data
Here’s the part I’m most excited about:
This isn’t the finish line. It’s just the next step.
We’re hard at work on some powerful data and reporting tools:
- A robust contact list builder with filters across contacts, companies, events and form submissions, for taking actions on segments of your contact database
- A public API to help you connect CaterZen with your favorite tools and platforms.
- A powerful custom report builder so you can slice, dice, and dig into your data any way you want.
We know that catering success comes from knowing your numbers. And we’re 100% committed to helping you gain full visibility into your business - from marketing and sales to operations and finance.
Because at the end of the day, we don’t just want to help you get organized.
We want to help you grow.
More Data. Better Decisions. Bigger Profits.
If you’ve been making decisions without solid data—or sifting through outdated reports and clunky spreadsheets—it’s time to level up.
Let CaterZen give you the insights you need to grow smarter, not just busier.
👉 Already a CaterZen client? Book a free training session and we’ll show you exactly how to use the new reports to uncover hidden revenue and tighten your operations.
👉 New to CaterZen? Start your free trial or book a “Non-Demo” Demo to see how our software helps you take control of your catering business—one powerful report at a time.
Data isn’t just numbers. It’s clarity. It’s confidence. It’s cash.
