Getting Started with EasyMenus - 5-Minute Setup Guide

# Getting Started with EasyMenus

Get your restaurant's digital menu live in 5 minutes. This guide walks you through every step.

**What you'll need:**
- Smartphone or computer
- Your current menu (printed or digital)
- 5 minutes

---

## Step 1: Create Your Account (2 minutes)

### Sign Up

1. Go to [easymenus.xyz/signup](https://easymenus.xyz/signup)
2. Enter your email address
3. Create a password (8+ characters)
4. Click "Create Account"

**Or sign up with:**
- Google account (one click)
- Facebook account (one click)

### Verify Your Email

1. Check your email inbox
2. Click the verification link
3. You'll be redirected to your dashboard

**Didn't receive email?**
- Check spam folder
- Wait 2-3 minutes (sometimes delayed)
- Click "Resend verification email"

### Complete Your Restaurant Profile

You'll see a welcome screen asking for:

**Required information:**
- Restaurant name
- Restaurant type (café, pizzeria, fine dining, etc.)
- Location/address

**Optional (can skip for now):**
- Phone number
- Website
- Opening hours
- Logo upload

**Pro tip:** You can add this information later. Click "Skip" to get to menu setup faster.

---

## Step 2: Upload Your Menu (3 minutes)

You have three options. Pick the one that works for you:

### Option A: Scan Your Printed Menu (Fastest)

**Best for:** Restaurants with existing printed menus

1. From your dashboard, click **"Scan Physical Menu"**
2. Take a photo of your menu with your smartphone
- Hold phone steady
- Ensure good lighting
- Capture full page clearly
3. Upload the image
4. Our AI automatically extracts:
- Menu item names
- Prices
- Descriptions (if present)
5. Review and correct any mistakes (AI is 95% accurate)
6. Click "Confirm"

**Time: 3 minutes for a typical menu**

**Screenshot reference:** See "Upload Menu" screen with AI-powered recognition

---

### Option B: Upload Menu Images

**Best for:** Restaurants with menu photos already

1. Click **"Upload Menu Images"**
2. Select images from your device
- JPG, PNG, or PDF accepted
- Multiple images OK (one per page)
3. Upload
4. AI extracts content (same as Option A)
5. Review and confirm

**Time: 2-3 minutes**

---

### Option C: Create Menu from Scratch

**Best for:** New restaurants or major menu overhaul

1. Click **"Create New Menu"**
2. Click **"+ Add Category"** (e.g., "Appetizers", "Main Courses")
3. Click **"+ Add Item"** within each category
4. For each item, enter:
- Item name
- Price
- Description (optional)
- Dietary tags (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.)
5. Upload item photo (optional but recommended)

**Time: 5-15 minutes depending on menu size**

---

### After Upload: Quick Menu Review

Regardless of which method you used, review your menu:

**Check these:**
- ✓ All prices correct
- ✓ Item names spelled correctly
- ✓ Descriptions accurate
- ✓ Categories organized logically
- ✓ Dietary information included (if applicable)

**Common issues after AI scan:**
- Prices with decimals sometimes read as "1250" instead of "12.50" → Fix manually
- Similar item names may merge → Separate them
- Descriptions may be incomplete → Add details

**Don't worry about perfection:** You can edit anytime. Get it live first, perfect it later.

---

## Step 3: Customize Your Menu (Optional, 2 minutes)

### Basic Customization

**Menu Name**
- Give your menu a name (e.g., "Main Menu", "Dinner Menu", "Drinks List")
- Shows at top of customer's screen

**Menu Description**
- Add a short description (optional)
- Example: "Fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Updated daily."

**Currency**
- Defaults to USD ($)
- Change to £, €, or other currencies in Settings

**Language**
- Primary menu language
- Auto-translation available to 40+ languages

---

### Advanced Customization (Skip for now, come back later)

**Branding** *(Pro Plan)*
- Upload your restaurant logo
- Choose brand colors
- Custom fonts

**Menu Template**
- Choose from 5 pre-made templates
- "Modern", "Classic", "Minimal", "Bold", "Elegant"

**Allergen Information**
- Add allergen warnings to items
- Enable allergen filter for customers

---

## Step 4: Generate Your QR Code (30 seconds)

### Create QR Code

1. Click **"QR Codes"** in left menu
2. Your menu appears in dropdown (if you have multiple menus)
3. Select menu: "The Old Plough" (example)
4. QR code generates automatically

**Screenshot reference:** See "QR Code Generator" screen

---

### Customize QR Code (Optional)

**Style:**
- Square (default)
- Rounded corners

**Color Presets:**
- Classic Black
- Ocean Blue
- Forest Green
- Warm Orange
- Easymenus Red
- Dark Mode
- **Or choose custom colors**

**Size & Format:**
- Small (business card size)
- Medium (table tent)
- Large (poster)
- Extra Large (window display)

**Pro tip:** Classic Black is most reliable for scanning. Fancy colors look cool but sometimes scan slower.

---

### Download QR Code

1. Click **"Download QR Code"**
2. Choose format:
- PNG (for printing)
- SVG (for professional design)
- PDF (ready to print)
3. Save to your device

**What to download:**
- **Table tents:** Medium PNG
- **Window poster:** Large PDF
- **Business cards:** Small PNG
- **Website:** SVG

---

## Step 5: Print & Place Your QR Codes (5 minutes)

### Printing Options

**DIY Printing (Cheapest)**
- Print downloaded PNG/PDF on regular printer
- Use cardstock paper (thicker than normal paper)
- Laminate for durability (optional)
- Cost: ~$0.10 per QR code

**Professional Printing**
- Upload PDF to online printer (Vistaprint, Moo, etc.)
- Order table tents or stickers
- Delivered in 3-5 days
- Cost: $0.50-2.00 per QR code

**Our Recommendation:**
Start with DIY. See if customers use it. Order professional prints once you know it works.

---

### Where to Place QR Codes

**Table Tents (Most Important)**
- One on every table
- Stand upright, visible
- Text: "Scan for Menu"
- Replace weekly if damaged

**Window Display**
- Large QR code visible from outside
- Text: "View our menu - Scan here"
- Attracts walk-by customers

**Counter/Register**
- For takeaway customers
- While they wait in line
- Text: "Browse menu while you wait"

**Receipts/Business Cards**
- Add small QR code
- Encourages return visits
- Takeaway bags/boxes

---

## Step 6: Publish Your Menu (Click one button)

### Make It Live

1. From dashboard or Menu Editor, click **"Publish"**
2. Confirm: "Yes, publish menu"
3. Menu is now live (immediate)

**What happens when you publish:**
- QR codes become active (start working)
- Menu accessible via link
- Changes go live to customers
- Analytics tracking starts

**Before publishing checklist:**
- ✓ All prices correct
- ✓ Menu organized logically
- ✓ At least 1 photo (recommended)
- ✓ Restaurant info complete
- ✓ Test QR code yourself

---

### Test Your Menu

**Scan your own QR code:**
1. Use your smartphone camera
2. Point at QR code
3. Tap notification that appears
4. Menu should load in 2-3 seconds

**Check these:**
- Menu loads quickly
- All items visible
- Prices display correctly
- Images show properly (if uploaded)
- Categories organized well
- Text is readable on mobile

**Common first-time issues:**
- Menu shows as "Unpublished" → Click "Publish" button
- QR code doesn't scan → Re-download and reprint
- Menu loads slowly → Compress images (Settings → Menu → Optimize Images)

---

## Step 7: Train Your Staff (5 minutes)

Your staff needs to know how to help customers with digital menus.

### Quick Staff Training Script

**"We now have digital menus. Here's how they work:"**

1. **Customer scans QR code on table**
- Use phone camera (no app needed)
- Tap notification that appears
- Menu loads on their phone

2. **If customer asks for printed menu:**
- "Of course, here you go" (hand them backup printed menu)
- We keep 10-15 printed menus for this

3. **If customer can't scan QR code:**
- Ask: "Is your camera on?"
- Show them: Point camera at code, tap notification
- If still doesn't work: Give them printed menu

4. **If customer asks questions about menu:**
- Answer as normal (digital menu doesn't change your job)
- They can filter by dietary needs (vegetarian, etc.)
- They can translate to their language automatically

**That's it. Simple.**

---

## You're Live! What's Next?

### Immediate Next Steps (First Week)

**Day 1-2: Monitor Customer Adoption**
- Watch customers using QR codes
- Ask for feedback: "How's the digital menu working?"
- Fix any obvious issues immediately

**Day 3-5: Optimize Menu**
- Add item photos (if you haven't yet)
- Improve descriptions
- Add allergen information
- Organize categories better

**Day 6-7: Check Analytics**
- See which items customers view most
- Notice any items never clicked
- Check peak viewing times

---

### First Month Goals

**Week 1:**
- ✓ Menu published and working
- ✓ Staff trained
- ✓ QR codes on all tables
- ✓ Test with real customers

**Week 2:**
- Add professional photos (or good smartphone photos)
- Complete all item descriptions
- Set up dietary filters
- Add seasonal specials

**Week 3:**
- Review analytics data
- Adjust menu based on customer behavior
- Test different QR code placements
- Gather customer feedback

**Week 4:**
- Optimize high-traffic items
- Remove items nobody views
- Update pricing if needed
- Consider upgrading to Pro Plan

---

## Common Questions After Setup

**"How do I update prices?"**
1. Go to Menu Editor
2. Click item → Edit → Change price
3. Click "Save" → Changes live immediately

**"Can I hide an item temporarily?"**
Yes. Menu Editor → Click item → Toggle "Visible" off. Item hidden but not deleted.

**"How do I add daily specials?"**
1. Create "Daily Specials" category
2. Add today's special
3. Remove tomorrow when it changes
4. Takes 30 seconds

**"What if I run out of an item during service?"**
1. Pull out phone
2. Open Menu Editor
3. Hide that item (toggle off)
4. Customers stop seeing it immediately

**"Do I need to republish after every change?"**
No. Once published, all changes go live automatically when you save.

---

## Need Help?

**Still stuck on setup?**
- Email: support@easymenus.xyz (response within 24 hours)
- Watch: [Setup video tutorial](/help/videos) *(Coming soon)*
- Book: [Free 15-minute setup call](/demo)

**Ready for advanced features?**
- [Feature Tutorials →](/help/features)
- [Best Practices →](/help/best-practices)
- [Integration Guides →](/help/integrations)

---

## Upgrade to Pro

**Free Plan is great for:**
- Single-location restaurants
- Testing digital menus
- Basic features

**Upgrade to Pro when you need:**
- Multi-location menu management
- Advanced analytics
- Custom branding (your logo, colors)
- Priority support (4-hour response)
- Real-time inventory sync

[Compare Plans →](/pricing)

---

## Version Control
- Version: 1.0
- Date: 29 October 2025
- Format: Step-by-step setup guide
- Estimated completion time: 5 minutes (basic), 15 minutes (comprehensive)
- Target audience: New EasyMenus users, zero technical knowledge assumed