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Products and creating a menu

Create menu categories, products, extras, and tax assignments.

This narrated walkthrough demonstrates the same workflow documented in the written, step-by-step guide directly below.

Building a digital menu is the backbone of any modern retail or hospitality business. Whether you’re running a bustling pizzeria or a local café, organizing your products efficiently ensures a smooth checkout process and a better customer experience.

In this guide, we will walk through the core features of the Ordering.co Product Management System, from setting up categories to fine-tuning individual product details.

Getting started: organizing your menu​

The Ordering.co interface is designed to be intuitive, allowing you to manage multiple locations and deep-seated product customizations from a single dashboard.

1. Selecting your business​

Before adding products, you must select the specific location you wish to manage.

  • Navigate to the Products tab in the sidebar.
  • Use the search bar to find your specific store (e.g., "Pizza Place").
  • Click Manage on the store card to enter that location's specific inventory.

2. Creating product categories​

Categories act as the "folders" for your menu (e.g., Pizzas, Beverages, Desserts).

  • Click the + Add Category button.
  • Name: Give your category a clear title.
  • Image: Upload a representative photo (supports PNG, JPG, JPEG, and WEBP).
  • Description: Add a brief summary of what's in this section.
  • Click Create Category to save.

3. Adding products​

Once your categories are set, you can populate them with items.

  • Select the category you just created.
  • Click + Add Product.
  • Fill in the Name, Price, and a detailed Description (e.g., "Large Size, Original Crust").
  • Click Create Product. The item will now appear under its assigned category with its price clearly displayed.

4. Customizing product settings (extras & taxes)​

For items that require more detail—like pizza toppings or specific tax rates—you can dive into the product settings.

  • Extras: Click on a product to open the management window. Under Extras, click + Add Extra for modifiers such as "Mushrooms" or "Extra Cheese." Toggle the extra to Active when it should appear on the POS.
  • Edit Product: Switch to this tab to update basic information or manage the "Danger Zone" where you can delete products.
  • Tax Assignment: Scroll down in the settings to assign specific tax rates (e.g., VAT or local sales tax) to the product to ensure compliance at checkout.

Tips & tricks for a better menu​

  • Clear Visuals: Use clear, representative images for categories and products.
  • Consistent Naming: Keep your naming conventions uniform. Instead of "Coke" and "Diet-Pepsi," use "Soda: Coca-Cola" and "Soda: Diet Pepsi" for better searchability.
  • Use Descriptions for Allergens: The description field is a great place to mention "Gluten-Free" or "Contains Nuts" to assist your staff and customers.

Best practices​

  • Keep Extras Organized: Only add extras that are relevant to the specific product to avoid "option fatigue" for the operator.
  • Regular Audits: Review Inactive products and extras. Delete an item from Danger Zone only when your retention and recovery requirements allow it.
  • Test Your Flow: After creating a new category and product, simulate a sale on your POS system to ensure the pricing and extras appear exactly as intended-

Conclusion​

Review categories, product details, extras, and tax assignments before making a menu available to customers.