Technology Solutions for Restaurants & Retail
Walk down Main Street in Kalispell or Whitefish and you'll see restaurants and shops thriving because they're thoughtful about what they serve and who they serve it to. You're competing on quality and local relationships.
But behind the scenes, you're fighting with technology that doesn't work together—menus that are wrong on Google, pricing that doesn't match your POS system, inventory that looks available when it's not.
That costs you money and customer trust.
The Montana Restaurant Reality
Summer Transformation
June through August, tourists flood Flathead Valley. Your restaurant that runs 40 covers on a quiet Tuesday suddenly seats 200 on a busy summer weekend. Your menu might shift toward items that work for volume service. Pricing changes. Staffing changes. Everything is different.
Fall and Spring Transitions
Labor Day hits and the tourist rush evaporates. You shift back to local clientele. Your menu changes (farm-to-table relationships shift with seasons). Your pricing adjusts. Staffing goes back to lean.
Winter Realities
November through April, depending on location. Locals come more consistently. Tourism drops. Skier traffic in Whitefish. Fewer covers, different menu, different staffing needs.
Local Food Movement
Montana restaurants are embracing local suppliers, seasonal menus, and farm-to-table relationships. That's great for your brand and your food. It's chaos for your technology.
Your mushroom supplier has them Tuesday through Thursday only. Your bread comes from a specific bakery. Seasonal produce changes what you can offer. Your menu genuinely changes week to week.
You can't manage that with a static website updated quarterly.
The Core Problem
Your restaurant or retail business has information scattered across incompatible systems:
Google Business Profile
- Hours might be wrong (you closed for a private event last week and forgot to update it)
- Menu information is outdated or vague
- Pricing doesn't match your POS system
- Address and phone number might be out of sync with your website
Your Website
- Menu is posted as a PDF from three months ago
- Pricing is sometimes on the menu, sometimes not
- Dietary restriction information is vague
- Online ordering links to an old system
Your POS System
- Has current menu and pricing
- But your customers don't see it
- New menu items go live in POS but not on your website
- Your staff sees different pricing than what customers see
Social Media
- You post specials or seasonal items on Facebook
- Nobody on Instagram knows about them
- Email newsletter has old information
- No coordination between platforms
Delivery Apps
- DoorDash has one menu
- Uber Eats has another
- Menu on your website is different
- Pricing doesn't align
- Restaurant owner sees discrepancies but updating each one is a nightmare
Phone & Email
- Customers call asking if you're open (why? Check your Google profile)
- "Do you have any vegetarian options?" (should be on website)
- "What's your private event menu?" (different from online menu)
- "Can I order takeout?" (of course you can, but nowhere does it say so clearly)
Your staff spends time answering questions that should be on your website. Customers see inconsistent information. You lose sales because people can't find what they need.
Specific Problems for Montana Restaurants
1. Menu Changes & Seasonal Specials
You change your menu seasonally. Maybe monthly. Maybe weekly. Each time you do:
- Update Google Business Profile (how long does this take?)
- Update your website (if you remember)
- Update the PDF menu (if you have time)
- Tell your staff the old menu is no longer valid
- Update DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub (are you even on all of these?)
- Adjust your POS system
- Email your regular customers
- Post on social media
One of these doesn't get updated. Someone from out of town sees your website (month-old menu) and comes in expecting something you haven't served in weeks. The tourist thinks you're not local because your menu doesn't match your marketing.
What's the problem? You define your menu once, but you maintain it everywhere. If you want to do seasonal menus (which you should—it's good food and good marketing), the maintenance burden is crushing.
What happens when you don't maintain it? Inconsistent information costs you credibility and customer satisfaction.
2. Allergen Information Chaos
You need to communicate dietary restrictions clearly:
- Gluten-free options
- Vegetarian/vegan
- Nuts
- Shellfish
- Dairy
This information lives in:
- Your POS (maybe—some items are marked)
- Your website (probably incomplete)
- Your menu (vague or missing)
- Staff knowledge (varies)
- Your head (maybe you know what's gluten-free, but your new cook doesn't)
A customer has a severe allergy. They ask your server. Your server says "I'll ask the chef." The chef says "I think that dish is okay." The customer gets sick. That's a liability nightmare and a destroyed reputation.
What's the problem? Dietary information is important and serious. It can't be vague or scattered.
What happens when you get this wrong? Sick customers. Lawsuits. Lost business. Reputation damage.
3. Google Business Profile Chaos
Your Google Business profile is often the first thing potential customers see. If it's wrong, you've lost them before they even call.
Common problems:
- Hours are out of date (you're closed for a private event, still showing as open)
- Menu information is vague or missing
- Photos are old
- Reviews exist but you're not responding
- Address or phone is wrong
- You have multiple profiles (Google thinks you're two different restaurants)
- Pricing information doesn't match your actual prices
Every time something changes, you need to update Google. If you don't, customers get the wrong information.
A customer sees old hours on Google, drives across town, finds you closed. They leave a bad review and never come back.
4. Pricing Synchronization Nightmares
Your prices are different in different places:
- Your POS system (source of truth)
- Your website menu
- Google Business
- DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub (each one might take 8-15% commission, so your prices might be different there)
- Your printed menu
- Your blackboard specials
- Email promotions
You raise the price on a popular item. It updates in your POS but not on your website. Customer orders online, expecting the old price. You deliver, they're angry about the upcharge.
You offer a special on DoorDash. It's not mentioned anywhere else. Regular customers feel like they're being treated differently.
What's the problem? You manage pricing in one place but it needs to appear everywhere, sometimes with slight variations (delivery app markups), but always transparent.
5. Availability and Inventory Visibility
You run out of an item. It's gone from your POS. But your website still shows it as available. A customer orders it through your website. You have to cancel. Bad experience.
You have a special that's only available in-house, not for delivery. How does the customer know? DoorDash shows all items as available for delivery.
You're closing early one day. It's on your Google profile but not your website. People show up.
Specific Kalispell & Whitefish Examples
Kalispell Main Street Restaurant
You're a popular Kalispell restaurant with good food and a loyal local customer base. Summer brings tourists. Your menu is thoughtfully local.
Current chaos:
- Menu changes seasonally based on local suppliers
- Each change means updating website, Google, printed menus, staff
- Tourists look you up on Google and see outdated menu
- You offer specials but coordinating the announcement across all platforms takes time
- Delivery apps have your old menu
- Your staff answers the same questions repeatedly
What we'd build:
- A system where you update your menu once
- It appears on your website, Google Business, and other platforms automatically
- Seasonal changes happen on schedule
- Specials are easy to announce
- Dietary information is clear and consistent
- Staff has documentation about current offerings
Result: Less staff time answering questions. Customers see accurate information. You can do seasonal menus without the tech burden.
Whitefish Fine Dining
You're a higher-end restaurant in Whitefish. Your menu changes frequently. You have wine pairings, tasting menus, and a private dining room.
Current chaos:
- Your menu changes monthly, sometimes weekly
- Keeping Google updated is a lower priority than running the restaurant
- Online reservations don't sync with phone reservations
- Dietary restriction requests go to email, sometimes get lost
- Private dining menu is different from public menu
- Wine list is printed on paper and gets outdated
What we'd build:
- Automatic menu management (public menu, wine pairings, private dining menu)
- Reservation system that knows about special requests
- Google and website stay current without extra work
- Staff has documentation about all menus and pairings
- Customer communication is consistent (email confirmations match what you discussed)
Result: Smooth operations even with frequent menu changes. Customers have accurate information. Staff time is freed up for service.
Retail: Whitefish Outdoor Shop
You sell outdoor gear, clothing, and equipment. You have seasonal shifts (winter gear vs summer gear). Inventory is complex.
Current chaos:
- Website shows items out of stock
- Google shows you open when you're actually closed
- Hours change seasonally (you close earlier in winter)
- Inventory doesn't sync between online and physical store
- Customer reviews on Google but you're not engaging
- Your social media hasn't been updated in months
What we'd build:
- Inventory that syncs between physical store and website
- Hours management (you can set seasonal hours)
- Google Business that's always current
- Social media scheduling so updates happen automatically
- Review management system
- Staff can manage inventory from anywhere
Result: Accurate online presence. Less inventory conflicts. Customers find real information. You're more discoverable.
Retail: Bigfork Seasonal Shop
You're a seasonal business (summer only or mostly summer with some winter). Your website and platforms need to reflect that you're closed for six months.
Current chaos:
- Your website still shows as open after you've closed for winter
- Google doesn't reflect seasonal hours
- Customers call or try to book
- You lose bookings because information is vague
- When you reopen in spring, updating everything takes time
What we'd build:
- Automated seasonal transitions (your website and Google update automatically)
- Clear communication about seasonal hours
- Email to past customers when you're opening again
- Easy way to reopen—systems are already configured, just activate
Result: Clear communication with customers. Less confusion about seasonal operations. Smooth transitions between seasons.
The Technology Stack for Restaurants & Retail
What you need is not complicated. It's:
- One Source of Truth — Your actual information (menu, hours, prices) defined once
- Automatic Sync — That information goes everywhere it needs to go (Google, website, social media)
- Easy Updates — You can update menus, hours, specials without technical knowledge
- Staff Visibility — Your team knows what's current
- Customer Visibility — Customers see accurate information
This solves almost all the problems restaurants and retail shops face.
Specific Montana Restaurant & Retail Scenarios
Seasonal Menu Changes
Current way: You update menu in POS, remember to update website, email Google's form, post on Facebook, call DoorDash support to update their system.
Better way: You update menu once. It propagates everywhere. Seasonal changes happen on schedule.
Allergen Information
Current way: Menu lists "may contain nuts" vaguely. Server has to ask chef. Chef guesses.
Better way: Menu clearly states which items are gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian, etc. Staff and customers have the same information. You're compliant and safe.
Private Events & Custom Menus
Current way: You discuss custom menu with customer. It's not documented anywhere except email. Staff doesn't know about it. Customer arrives and expectations don't match.
Better way: Custom menu is documented. Staff has access. Customer gets confirmation of exactly what they're getting. No surprises.
Delivery App Integration
Current way: You manage menus separately on DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub. Each one gets out of sync. Pricing is different on each platform.
Better way: One menu, one pricing structure, automatically updated on all platforms. Delivery apps always show current information.
Local Supplier Coordination
Current way: You work with local suppliers. Their availability changes. You want to feature their products when available, deemphasize when not. Your menu doesn't reflect this.
Better way: Your menu dynamically shows what's available from your suppliers. When they have good mushrooms, you feature them. When they don't, you offer alternatives. Your customers see seasonal availability naturally.
Pricing for Restaurants & Retail
Most restaurants and retail shops start with the Business + Chat tier ($50/month, $1,000 setup) and often move to Custom Systems ($200+/month, $2,500+ setup) if they have complex inventory or delivery integrations.
Why Business + Chat is good for restaurants:
- Website with current menu and hours
- AI chatbot for common questions (are you open? Do you have vegetarian options? What's your phone number?)
- Automatic updates across Google, website, social media
- Priority support
Why Custom Systems makes sense if you have:
- Multiple locations
- Delivery app integrations
- Complex inventory
- Private event menus
- Seasonal pricing that varies significantly
The Real Question
You're running a good business. You have good food, good service, loyal customers. The last thing you need is technology making your life harder.
The right technology should:
- Be easy to update (you can do it, not hire someone)
- Work reliably (no downtime during lunch rush)
- Keep your information accurate and current
- Free up your staff to focus on customers, not answering questions
That's what I build.
Let's Talk About Your Specific Restaurant or Shop
I understand Montana restaurants. I understand seasonal menus. I understand the local food movement. I understand retail in Whitefish and Kalispell.
What I need to know:
- What are the two biggest technology problems you're facing right now?
- Do you use delivery apps? Which ones?
- How often do you change your menu?
- How many staff are dealing with information updates?
Next step: Let's have a conversation about what would actually improve your business.
Tell Me About Your Restaurant or Shop →
Email: mark@beargrasstransitions.com
Industries I Work With
- Fine dining restaurants
- Casual restaurants and cafes
- Seasonal restaurants
- Farm-to-table concepts
- Breweries and tasting rooms
- Retail shops (outdoor, general, seasonal)
- Boutique retail
- Multi-location retail
- Local food shops and markets
- Coffee shops
- Bakeries
If you're in the restaurant or retail business in Western Montana, let's talk about making your technology work for you instead of against you.