A spreadsheet is where most tiffin services start — and where many get stuck. Here’s an honest look at when a spreadsheet is enough, and when a purpose-built tool saves you hours.
Spreadsheets are free, flexible and familiar. But a tiffin service isn’t a static list — orders arrive on WhatsApp, subscribers change daily, and you need to know exactly what to cook each morning. That’s where manual sheets start to cost you time and missed orders.
| Fomioo | Spreadsheet | |
|---|---|---|
| Take orders on WhatsApp | Shareable menu link + AI assistant | Copy-paste from chats by hand |
| Daily cook plan | Auto-built from confirmed orders | Manual formulas you maintain |
| Subscriber profiles & history | Built in | Another tab to maintain |
| Menu broadcasts | One tap, personalised | Not possible |
| Inventory & costing | Built in with alerts | Separate sheet, manual |
| Cost | Free to start | Free, but costs you time |
A spreadsheet is fine when you’re cooking for a handful of regulars, orders are predictable, and you enjoy maintaining formulas.
Fomioo wins once orders come from WhatsApp, subscribers grow past what you can track by hand, or you’re tired of rebuilding the same sheet every week.
Free to start. Set up your first menu in under 10 minutes.