Total Party Planner Reviews

Pros

This program saves hours in all aspects of event planning - initial proposals, budget considerations, contracts, menu pricing, tracking profits, you name it.

Their staff is incredibly efficient and helpful. I was working remotely late on a Friday - after business hours - had an issue, and they contacted me back within 30 minutes and had the problem fixed. Awesome!

Cons

It would be nice if it could integrate with FSA Star Solutions database.

A final count due date indicator would be nice.

Pros

Total Party Planner really helps us organize and keep the team on the same page. When we moved from using spread sheets to this software, our team alignment skyrocketed overnight, with our clients seeing the most benefit from this.

Cons

To be able to attached PDF files for events such as floor plans. Also, scheduling and staffing sign in and out functions would be key

Alternatives Considered

Caterease

Reasons for Switching to Total Party Planner

It seemed better than caterease. Which it is.

Pros

If I don't know how to do something, then I can call and the customer service representatives will help me out!

Cons

Sometimes it glitches.

Pros

No question that the absolute best feature of Total Party Planner is your excellent customer service. They respond super promptly. They are always helpful and easy to talk to and will, when necessary, walk us through any steps we need to get the results we're looking for.

Cons

A robust mobile app would be great to have.

Pros

Easy integration from our older catering database to TPP.

Cons

Sometimes freezes during use of the software

Alternatives Considered

Caterease

Reasons for Choosing Total Party Planner

Internet based with immediate support

Reasons for Switching to Total Party Planner

Price and ease of integration. Customer service always is there to answer any question we may have.

Pros

I can do most of my work on this software.

Cons

1) I wish there was an customized online forms for questionnaires.
2) Once contracts are signed, I would like for them to be saved under the clients
event tab.
3) Would love to have the capability to set up an automatic email to remind the client that a contract/proposal has not been signed or an invoice has not been paid or if they owe us some information pertaining to their event.

Pros

The customer service behind this company and product are what make this product so excellent! TPP is versatile on how you can use it and where something may not work the same way as other products, the Client Care team are always open to helping you figure out how to make it work.

Cons

There are some features that are not as developed. The Client Care team are always willing to have a conversation to try to make it work. In instances where it doesn't work, they take the feedback and work with their development team and see of there is a growth spot that they can grow in.

Pros

Easy to setup events, integrates with google calendar and quickbooks. Great for tracking events, preparing menu's and listing setup instructions. Also used for Labor tracking and cost, menu creation and inventory.

Cons

when adding items having to enter amount and check them off also before it will post, seems like double work. Some reports are do not give enough detail. I would like more items available when
I setup my own Query.

Pros

Total Party Planner is the best catering software. I use it several times a day. It keeps track of all my events in an easy to use platform.

Cons

It sometimes has glitches. I usually point them out and they get fixed sooner or later. The phone app needs real help.

Pros

We use this on a daily basis to run our beverage service at our venue. It is great for tracking inventory and sales.

Cons

We would like to use this to book our clients into their space rental, but there isn't functionality for that at this point.

Pros

I love that my reports generate easily and quickly

Cons

Integration was pretty easy for us; and I feel that the software covers the majority of the features we need. I'd love it if the phone numbers automatically translated from 1234567890 to 123-456-7890 (from inquiry form to the software), it would be one less edit I would have to frequently make. It would be great to have an overall company profile and be able to add different employees as different departments place orders, to keep delivery fees, addresses, tax exempt numbers, etc, together and more efficiently tracked.

Pros

The details and the ability work around and create your own options. The menu details and invoicing ease was great too.

Cons

At the time I was using it (I stopped 2 years ago to raise our son and hire someone to take over for me) there was very little I could do on a mobile device or phone. The ipad version was very difficult. I think that's been worked on but I believe it still lacks a lot of features of the full computer version.

Pros

This is the go-to for professional caterers large or small. I purchased it 16 years ago as I needed to streamline my calendar. It did that and so much more. Truthfully, it does way more than I use it for, but it does everything they say it will.

I was a fan from the start but whenever I needed customer service and technical assistance, I was treated as if I was their only client. I still tell the story as I was having trouble with formatting a menu proposal and spoke to [SENSITIVE CONTENT], who asked for my suggestion. Three days later it was implemented and is a ridiculous time saver.

Cons

Not that I know of. The team works hard to ensure everything is just right for their customers.

Pros

At a glance you can see upcoming events, schedule staffing, run payroll reports, initiate event workshetts for the culinary staff as well as the packing department.

Cons

Every once in a while when you need customer service, I want to talk to a person. I do not want to leave a message and wait for someone to get back to me and if I am not standing by the phone when they call we play this ring around the rosey for hours. This area definitely needs improvement.

Pros

Intuitive, customizable, customer service is prompt, thorough, beyond friendly, continually being updated.

Cons

We've used the software for years and haven't found anything we do not like.

Alternatives Considered

Caterease

Reasons for Switching to Total Party Planner

User friendly, intuitive, customizable.

Pros

Very easy to use and implementation was simple as TPP staff did a great job setting everything up for my company. With over 500 events per year, the TPP software has become a critical part of my business as it keeps us organized, has excellent customizable quotation system and a solid CRM system. The mobile app is also very useful as we are on the go constantly. And the integration with my staffing software is great and saves a lot of time.

Cons

I don't really have any negatives to share. Like most software products there is always room for enhancements and improvements and the folks at TPP listen well and have continually enhanced their product since we have been a client.

Pros

Very easy to learn and although it has tons of functionality it is easy to navigate
Customer support is better than other software that we use and training is all included which is rare.

Cons

The only feature that I ever wish for is being able to set up menus according to services.
For example separating appetizer, dinner and dessert into different functions.
I know there is a time line and headers but other software has the ability set to set up each meal service separately.

Pros

The software was easy to implement on the fly.
It understands catering the way we do it.
Customer Support ROCKS!!!

Cons

It was so easy to jump into we missed some important details in the initial stages so are having to redo to take advantage of the many, many features 2 years later.

Pros

Contact management tools and tasks to stay on top of every event

Cons

I would like to be able to schedule future emails to clients.

Pros

I love that it's very user friendly and essential in order for me to keep my clients and menus organized.

Cons

I like everything about his sofware!

Pros

I no longer have to remember to update worksheets when I make a change to the menu or pack list

Cons

the ability to change the name of the gratuity field
PLEASE FORMAT PHONE NUMBERS

Pros

The convenience and user friendly navigation!

Cons

I can not list anything I don't like about this software. It is PERFECT for my business!

Pros

Easy to use, web based, keeps track of all details for events, integrates with google calendar and Quickbooks, schedule staff with email notification, tracks inventory, great report function for payroll.

Cons

I would like more options to create my own reports.

Pros

This product has made my life so simple. Our entire company is run through this program from the initial entry of the event, to the pricing of the event, to building the menu, to the closing of the event and sending it over to quickbooks via the web.
The ease of clicking on my party via the calendar, the ease of finding a client or venue as well as changing them during set up of the event, the ease of adding menu items when creating the menu are all great. Total Party Planner is always making their product easier to use through updates from their knowledge and clients input.
We have the web version and the business can be tracked from the comfort of my home or when out of town or on vacation. Because we are on the web, we have full access to our company. We can email invoices or proposals from anywhere.
I can go on and on on how great this program is and how it has made my life easier in our catering business.

Cons

I can't find any cons. If there is an issue, we call customer service and make a suggestion and the folks over at Total Party Planner usual try to implement the idea if it makes sense for the users.