The Total Party Planner Alternative with Proposals Clients Love
TPP is great for internal BEOs. But when it comes to impressing clients, you need proposals that stand out. Curate gives you stunning, interactive proposals with contracts and payments built in. One link, complete information.
"I really couldn't imagine scaling at the level we're scaling without Curate... It's easily the best business decision we've made."
Chopped Winner Jimmy Matiz · Matiz Cuisine
What is Total Party Planner?
Total Party Planner (TPP) is catering software founded by a former caterer from Buffalo, NY. They market themselves as "built by caterers, for caterers" and serve a range of food service businesses including caterers, restaurants, venues, and corporate event organizers.
TPP offers solid event management features: custom events, calendar management, recipe costing, packing lists, and CRM tools in higher tiers. They integrate with QuickBooks, Nowsta, and other industry tools.
Where caterers often look for alternatives: TPP's strength is internal documents like BEOs, but the client-facing proposals aren't designed to impress. If you want proposals that help you win more business and keep everything in sync, Curate might be a better fit.
Why Caterers Are Switching to Curate
Looking for catering software that helps you win more business? Here's what Curate delivers.
BEOs instead of beautiful proposals
TPP focuses on Banquet Event Orders and internal documents. They're functional for kitchen coordination, but they're not designed to impress clients.
Curate creates stunning, interactive proposals that clients love. One web link with your proposal, contract, and payment options. Designed to win business.
Limited customization for custom events
TPP works well for set packages and standard menus. But when every event is unique and menus change constantly, customization can feel cumbersome.
Curate's highly customizable line items and flexible menu structure adapt to any event. Build proposals the way you actually work.
Proposal changes don't sync in real-time
When clients request changes, keeping everyone on the same page across multiple documents can be challenging.
With Curate, clients see real-time updates. Changes to the proposal automatically sync to contracts and payment schedules. Everyone stays aligned.
Client communication scattered across email
Finding the right email thread or message about a specific event becomes a time-consuming task when communication lives outside the platform.
Curate's communication portal keeps all conversations connected to each event. Even emails sent outside the app are automatically logged.
See How Caterers Scale with Curate
Chopped Winner Jimmy Matiz of Matiz Cuisine shares how Curate helps his team manage high-volume catering operations and deliver exceptional client experiences.
"I really couldn't imagine scaling at the level we're scaling without Curate... we're able to manage so many more events than we would have been able to otherwise."
— Chopped Winner Jimmy Matiz, Owner, Matiz Cuisine
Curate vs Total Party Planner: Feature Comparison
See how Curate stacks up against TPP on the features that matter most to caterers.
| Feature | Curate | TPP |
|---|---|---|
| Beautiful, client-facing proposals | ✓ | ✗ |
| One link for proposals, contracts & payments | ✓ | ✗ |
| Highly customizable line items | ✓ | ✗ |
| Real-time client communication portal | ✓ | ✓ |
| API access (Enterprise) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Built-in e-signatures | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stripe payment integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Cloud-based access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Event calendar and scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recipe and production management | ✓ | ✓ |
| QuickBooks integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dedicated migration support | ✓ | ✗ |
What Caterers Say About Curate
Don't just take our word for it. Here's what catering professionals have to say about Curate.
"Curate is easy to use and makes your business look good. For a seasoned pro or a curious mind, Curate can adapt for multiple uses."
"I'm booking 13 out of 15 proposals sent! Booking rate with this program is way higher than it was."
"AMAZING!!! So easy, intuitive, great onboarding staff. I can't say enough. Wish we'd made the move sooner!!"
Who is Curate Best For?
Curate is built for catering and event professionals who want powerful software without the hidden costs.
Off-Site Caterers
Perfect for caterers who go to their clients. Manage deliveries, custom menus, and events at any location.
Restaurant Catering Departments
Restaurant groups doing off-premise catering love Curate's affordable multi-location pricing and flexible menu customization.
Wedding Caterers
Create stunning proposals that match the elegance of the events you cater, with easy menu customization and seamless payment collection.
Corporate Caterers
Handle high-volume corporate events with streamlined workflows, professional proposals, and efficient communication with event planners.
Venues & Hotels
From boutique venues to luxury properties like Ritz-Carlton, Curate's room booking and proposal features help venues deliver exceptional client experiences.
Multi-Location Operations
Growing from one location to many? Curate offers affordable pricing for larger operations. Cloud-based access keeps your whole team connected.
Real Results from Real Caterers
Hear what caterers say about working with Curate.
"I'm booking 13 out of 15 proposals sent! Booking rate with this program is way higher than it was."
— Lavonne Cimbak, Sage Bleu Catering
"I really couldn't imagine scaling at the level we're scaling without Curate."
— Chopped Winner Jimmy Matiz, Matiz Cuisine
Our dedicated migration team gets you fully operational on Curate within 2-4 weeks of starting.
Proposals That Win Business
TPP creates functional documents for internal coordination. But when it comes to impressing clients, you need more than a packing list.
With Curate, you send one web link that includes your proposal, contract, and payment options. Your clients see a beautiful, branded experience that makes you stand out from competitors.
- Stunning, customizable proposal templates
- Built-in e-signatures and contracts
- Integrated payment collection via Stripe
"Using Curate helps me focus on why I started my business, rather than trying to learn new software."
Lisa Stonehouse · Stonehouse Catering
Keep All Client Communication in One Place
With most catering software, client communication happens outside the app. Finding the right email thread becomes a time-consuming task.
With Curate's communication portal, all conversations stay connected to each event. You can even email clients from outside the app and it's automatically logged inside Curate.
"We've sped up the time we spent doing proposals by a thousand percent!"
Whitney Fredin · Whitney Fredin Catering & Events
Payments Built Into Your Proposals
With Curate, payment collection is part of the proposal experience. Clients view your beautiful proposal, sign the contract, and pay their deposit. All in one place.
Curate integrates with Stripe, the global industry standard for payment processing. Collect deposits, send invoices, and get paid faster with payments built right into your proposals.
Why Caterers Choose Curate Over TPP
Beyond the features, here's what makes Curate the smarter choice for catering businesses.
Beautiful Proposals That Win Business
Your proposals are often the first impression clients have. Curate's stunning, interactive proposals help you stand out from competitors sending BEOs and spreadsheets.
One Link for Everything
Proposal, contract, and payments in one web link. Changes sync in real-time. Clients always see the latest version.
Highly Customizable Line Items
Every event is different. Curate's flexible menu structure and customizable line items adapt to how you actually work.
Communication in One Place
All client conversations stay connected to each event. Even emails sent outside the app are automatically logged in Curate.
API Access for Custom Integrations
Curate's Enterprise plan includes API access. Connect Curate to your existing systems and build custom workflows.
Dedicated Migration Support
Our team helps you transfer your data and get up and running. Most caterers are fully operational within 2-4 weeks.
We'll Help You Make the Switch
Switching business software can feel overwhelming. That's why our dedicated migration team works with you every step of the way.
Data Migration
We'll transfer your customers, menus, recipes, and historical data from TPP.
Personalized Training
Get one-on-one onboarding with your team. No extra charge.
Ongoing Support
Our team is always here to help via email and scheduled video calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about switching from Total Party Planner to Curate.
How is Curate different from Total Party Planner?
Both platforms serve caterers, but they take different approaches. TPP focuses on internal documents and BEOs. Curate focuses on beautiful, client-facing proposals designed to win business. With Curate, you send one link that includes your proposal, contract, and payment options. Changes sync in real-time so everyone stays aligned.
Can I use Stripe with Curate?
Yes! Curate integrates with Stripe, the global industry standard for payment processing. Collect deposits, send invoices, and get paid directly through your proposals.
How long does it take to switch from TPP to Curate?
Most caterers are fully operational on Curate within 2-4 weeks. Our dedicated migration team handles data transfer and provides personalized onboarding to make your transition smooth.
Can you migrate my data from Total Party Planner?
Yes! We work with you to migrate your customer data, menu items, recipes, and historical information. Our team handles the heavy lifting so you can focus on your business.
Does Curate have recipe and production management?
Absolutely. Curate includes full recipe management with ingredient-level costing, automatic quantity scaling based on guest count, shopping lists, and production documents.
Can Curate handle both on-site and off-site catering?
Yes! Curate works for off-site caterers, restaurant catering departments, and venues with in-house catering. Our room booking feature handles venue events while our flexible proposal system works for any location.
Does Curate integrate with QuickBooks?
Yes. Curate integrates with QuickBooks for seamless accounting sync. We also integrate with Stripe for payments, Nowsta and Staffmate for staffing, Galley for kitchen management, and Google Calendar for scheduling.
What if I need help after switching?
Curate provides ongoing support via email and scheduled video calls. You'll also have access to our extensive knowledge base with an AI assistant, video tutorials, and regular training webinars.
Can multiple team members use Curate at the same time?
Yes! Curate allows your entire team to access the system simultaneously from anywhere. Each team member gets their own login with role-based permissions.
Ready to Switch from Total Party Planner?
Schedule a free demo to see why caterers are choosing Curate for beautiful proposals that win business.
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