Overview

Menu Item Prices control what Customers are charged during Order Entry and Online Ordering.

You can update prices directly on individual menu items or use bulk tools when making larger pricing updates. This article explains how to change prices individually in Menu Manager, when updating multiple menu items or if using Pricing Tiers, it’s better to use Manager Etc. instead. 

Before You Begin

  • The menu item must already exist

  • The item must be assigned to a menu and category

  • Price changes apply to future orders only

  • Existing orders retain their original pricing

Changing the Price of a Single Menu Item

Use this method when updating one item or a small number of items.

Steps

  • Go to Admin

  • Select Menu Manager


Finding the Menu Item You Want to Update

In Menu Manager, there are two ways to locate a menu item before changing its price. Both methods work — choose the one that’s easiest for you.


Important Note: Both methods open the same menu item. Changing the price updates that item wherever it appears.

Option 1: Navigate Through the Menu and Category (Left Side)

Use this method if you know which menu and category the item lives in.

  • Open the menu on the left

  • Open the category

  • Click the menu item

The selected menu, category, and item will highlight in orange, confirming what you are editing.

This method is helpful when:

  • You’re reviewing pricing in context

  • You want to see how the item is grouped on the menu

  • You’re already working inside a specific menu


Option 2: Select the Item from the Item List (Right Side)

Use this method if you know the item name but don’t want to navigate through menus.

  • Locate the item in the Items list on the right

  • Items are listed alphabetically

  • Click the Menu Item to open it

This method is helpful when:

  • You have a large menu

  • You’re making quick pricing updates

  • You don’t need to view the full menu structure



  • Open the menu item you want to update and click Edit Item

  • Update the Price Name or Price Value field

  • Scroll to the bottom and click Save This Information

  • After saving, you will be prompted to clear your menu cache so the updated price appears everywhere.

The updated price will apply immediately to new orders.


When This Method Works Best

Use Menu Manager to change prices when:

  • You are adjusting a single item

  • You do not use Pricing Tiers

  • You need to review item details while editing

Pricing the Same Item Differently Across Menus

A single menu item can be placed in multiple menus, and each menu can have different pricing for that item.

This is the recommended approach when pricing varies by Customer.

Common examples include:

  • Public menu vs. Permission-Based Menu

  • Corporate or contract pricing

  • Internal or wholesale menus

Example:

  • Beef Brisket is $24.99 on your public catering menu

  • The same item is $21.99 on a permission-based corporate menu

This approach keeps pricing clear and production reporting accurate.

Important Pricing Best Practice

Within a single menu, you may see the option to enter multiple price rows for a menu item.

While this is technically possible, we do not recommend using multiple prices within the same menu to represent different sizes, portions, or configurations.

Why this is discouraged:

  • Prices entered here cannot be tied to Kitchen Production formulas

  • There is no way to associate yields or prep logic

  • This often leads to inaccurate production reports and kitchen confusion

Recommended Alternatives

If an item needs different pricing or sizes, use one of the following instead:

  • Separate menu items (Pint, Quart, Half Tray, etc.)

  • Options with pricing, where appropriate

  • Pricing Tiers for location-based pricing

  • Permission-Based Menus for Customer-based pricing

These methods ensure accurate pricing and Kitchen Production reporting.

Pricing Tiers vs Base Prices

Menu items can be configured with Pricing Tiers. 

To learn more about using Pricing Tiers, see:
→ Menu Manager: Pricing Tiers

Using Manager Etc. for Bulk Price Changes

Manager Etc. is designed for mass updates across menus and items.

Use Manager Etc. when:

  • Increasing prices across an entire menu

  • Updating pricing for multiple categories

  • Making global or company-wide price changes

  • Standardizing pricing across locations

To update multiple prices efficiently, see:
→ Menu Settings: Manager Etc.

Important Notes

  • Price changes apply to future orders only

  • Existing orders are not affected but you will see a warning when editing existing orders

  • Always review pricing after bulk updates

Troubleshooting

If updated prices are not appearing:

Support

For additional help, the CaterZen Support Center can help review your setup. 


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