---
title: "Products and creating a menu"
description: "Create menu categories, products, extras, and tax assignments in the Product Management System."
canonical: https://docs.ordering.co/docs/products/ai-dashboard/orders-stores-operations/products-and-creating-a-menu/
---

# Products and creating a menu

_Create menu categories, products, extras, and tax assignments._

[Video: Products and Creating a Menu video walkthrough](https://docs.ordering.co/media/ai-dashboard/videos/products-and-creating-a-menu.mp4)

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.

[Video: Products and Creating a Menu — animated step 1](https://docs.ordering.co/media/ai-dashboard/clips/products-and-creating-a-menu/gif-01.mp4)

### 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.

[Video: Products and Creating a Menu — animated step 2](https://docs.ordering.co/media/ai-dashboard/clips/products-and-creating-a-menu/gif-02.mp4)

### 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.

[Video: Products and Creating a Menu — animated step 3](https://docs.ordering.co/media/ai-dashboard/clips/products-and-creating-a-menu/gif-03.mp4)

### 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.

[Video: Products and Creating a Menu — animated step 4](https://docs.ordering.co/media/ai-dashboard/clips/products-and-creating-a-menu/gif-04.mp4)

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## 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.

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## 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-

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## Conclusion

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

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