Starting a Kebab & Takeaway in the UK: The Software & Tools Checklist
Why the Right Software Matters for Your Takeaway
Opening a kebab and takeaway in the UK is more competitive than ever, with customers expecting fast service, online ordering, and card payments as standard. The right software stack can mean the difference between a smooth Saturday night rush and a chaotic one. This checklist walks you through every category you need to cover, with practical tool recommendations suited to UK operators.
Point of Sale (POS): Taking Payments at the Counter
Your POS system is the heart of your operation — it needs to be fast, reliable, and accept all card types. All three options below offer a free starting tier, making them ideal if you're just getting going.
Square POS
Square POS offers a genuinely powerful free tier with integrated payments and transparent UK transaction fees — no hidden surprises. It's very easy to set up on a tablet and works well for busy counter service environments like takeaways.
Zettle Go
Zettle Go is a strong choice if you already bank with a UK high-street bank, as it integrates neatly with several UK accounts. The free app accepts varied card payments including contactless and mobile wallets, and is trusted by thousands of UK food businesses.
SumUp POS
SumUp POS uses an affordable freemium model with a user-friendly interface that's quick to set up. It integrates seamlessly with SumUp card readers, which are widely used at UK markets, events, and takeaways.
Managing Online Delivery Orders
Most kebab shops now take orders through platforms like Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats simultaneously. Without the right tool, managing multiple tablets and menus becomes a real headache.
Deliverect
Deliverect (from £70/month) centralises all your online delivery orders into a single screen and integrates directly with your existing POS. It also streamlines menu management across platforms, so a price change only needs to be made once — a genuine time-saver.
Shipday
If you run your own delivery drivers rather than relying solely on third-party platforms, Shipday offers a free tier with comprehensive order and driver management. Real-time tracking improves the customer experience and reduces "where's my order?" calls.
Staff Scheduling and HR
Takeaways often rely on a mix of full-time and part-time staff across split shifts, which makes rota management genuinely complex. Getting this wrong can lead to understaffing on busy nights or costly overstaffing.
Deputy
Deputy starts from just £6 per month and streamlines scheduling and time tracking with excellent mobile apps for staff. It integrates well with UK payroll providers, which is important as you scale and need to stay on top of PAYE obligations.
BrightHR
BrightHR (from £5/month) is built with UK employment law in mind, offering GDPR-compliant secure document storage alongside simple rota and shift scheduling. The mobile app allows staff self-service for holiday requests and availability, reducing admin for you.
Rotaready
Rotaready (from £40/month) is a more feature-rich option for takeaways with larger teams, with streamlined rota creation and mobile apps for both staff and managers. It also simplifies UK payroll preparation, which is essential as your obligations grow.
Accounting and Making Tax Digital Compliance
If your taxable turnover exceeds £90,000, you're required to register for VAT and comply with Making Tax Digital (MTD) rules, which means keeping digital records and submitting returns via compatible software. Even below that threshold, digital bookkeeping saves you hours at year-end.
For accounting software, well-established UK-friendly options include Xero, FreeAgent, and Sage, all of which are MTD-compliant and connect to UK bank feeds. Speak to your accountant about which suits your setup — many UK accountants have a preference and will support you in onboarding.
Marketing: Keeping Customers Coming Back
Repeat customers are the lifeblood of any takeaway. A simple email or SMS marketing tool helps you promote deals, announce new menu items, or reward loyal customers — without spending a fortune.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp offers a generous free plan for small contact lists and includes GDPR consent tools built in, which is essential for any UK business collecting customer data. The drag-and-drop email builder means you don't need any design skills to send professional-looking campaigns.
Jasper AI
Jasper AI (from £49/month) saves hours on writing marketing copy — from social media posts to promotional emails — with no technical skills required. Its Brand Voice feature keeps your content consistent across channels, which helps build recognition in your local area.
Your Quick-Start Checklist
- Set up a free POS system: Square, Zettle Go, or SumUp
- Centralise delivery platform orders with Deliverect
- Manage your own drivers using Shipday
- Sort staff rotas with Deputy or BrightHR
- Confirm your MTD-compliant accounting software with your accountant
- Start building your customer list with Mailchimp