Back to Documentation
Getting Started with Tally
Complete setup guide to get your restaurant running on Tally in about 1.5 hours.
~1.5 hours total
No credit card required
Step 1: Create Your Account
2 minutes
Sign up for your free 14-day trial
- Go to the signup page and enter your email
- Verify your email address
- Complete your restaurant profile
- Choose your location and timezone
Step 2: Upload Your Menu
10 minutes
Upload a PDF for best extraction results
- Upload a PDF of your menu for the most accurate results
- Alternatively, take a clear photo using your device's camera
- AI automatically extracts menu items and prices
- Review and refine descriptions and categories
Step 3: Upload Your Recipes
30 minutes
Automatically create prep and plating recipes from PDF
- Upload a PDF containing your recipe files
- System automatically creates prep and plating recipes
- New ingredients are automatically added to the database
- Review extracted quantities and instructions
Step 4: Upload Vendor Invoices
15 minutes
Build your master list of vendor products
- Upload digital invoices or photos of paper invoices
- Tally extracts product details to build your vendor catalog
- Create vendor profiles for streamlined ordering
- Maintain a history of price changes over time
Step 5: Assign Vendor Products
15 minutes
Connect ingredients to products for accurate costing
- Assign vendor products to your ingredients
- This link captures real-time ingredient costs
- Use AI to generate accurate unit conversions
- Verify pack sizes and cost units
Step 6: Review Your Costs
10 minutes
See your first real cost calculations
- View cost breakdowns for each menu item
- Check profit margins and pricing insights
- Identify high-cost ingredients and opportunities
- Set up inventory tracking for key items
Pro Tips for Success
Start with your top 10 dishes
Focus on your most popular items first. You can add more recipes later.
Use clear, well-lit photos
Good lighting helps our AI read your menu more accurately.
Upload invoices from the last 30 days
Recent prices give you the most accurate cost calculations.
Test on mobile first
Tally is mobile-first, so set up your account on your phone.
Don't skip vendor product assignment
This step is crucial - without it, your recipes won't have actual costs calculated.