Kitchen Managers, Food Operators and Independant Owners
There were times I never thought I’d be writing this post.
In July, 2024, a motorcycle accident put me on the sidelines. For months, I couldn’t concentrate long enough to read a recipe, let alone build software. The fog was real. Some days I’d stare at my screen for hours and accomplish nothing. Other days, I couldn’t even get out of bed.
But here I am. And on December 8th, 2025, I’m finally, officially releasing the Food Cost Chef Calculator (FCCC) – professional food cost software built by a chef, for chefs.
I’m genuinely grateful to be able to do this.
What is the FoodCostChef Calculator?
FCCC is Excel-based food costing software designed for independent restaurant operators, kitchen managers, and chefs who need to know their real food costs – not next month, not after an accountant runs the numbers, but right now.
I spent 40+ years in commercial kitchens. I’m Red Seal certified. And I got tired of watching fellow chefs either guess at their margins or pay hundreds of dollars per month for software built for corporate chains with IT departments.
FCCC is different. One purchase. No monthly fees. No subscriptions. It’s yours forever.
Launch Details: December 8th, 2025
The PC version launches on December 8th. Mac users — I hear you. The Mac version is arriving in a few weeks. I currently run the PC version on my Mac using Parallels, and that’s how I’ve been doing all my testing. However, a native Mac version is in development.
Original Crew Pricing: $57 for the first 100 users.
The regular price for FCCC will be $127 — still a fraction of what you’d pay annually for subscription-based food costing software. But for the first 100 buyers, I’m offering “Original Crew” pricing at just $57. This is great value for food cost software – that really works!
Why? Because these early adopters matter to me. They’re not just customers – they’re partners in making this software better. Their feedback, suggestions, and honest critiques will shape future updates. If you’re in that first 100, you’re part of the crew that will make this thing really, really good. And, it’s good now! I have been using it for months, emulating as many real world scenarios of how folks are going to be using this software.
My Personal Support from Day One
When you buy FCCC, you’re not getting routed to a call center or left to figure things out from a knowledge base. I’ll personally help every new user get set up properly. I’ll respond as quickly as I can – usually within hours, not days. This isn’t scalable. I know that. But right now, while the user base is growing, I want to make sure everyone starts on the right foot. Proper setup means accurate food costs. Accurate food costs mean better margins. Better margins mean your operation thrives and so does your career!
Features I Coded Myself (After Two Programmers Couldn’t)
I’ll be honest – I didn’t start as a programmer. The accident gave me time to learn. And after two professional developers couldn’t deliver what I needed, I rolled up my sleeves and built it myself. Here’s what I’m most proud of:
Import/Export Feature: This was critical. When I release updates, you won’t lose your data. Your ingredients, recipes, plates, and settings all transfer to the new version intact. No starting over. No re-entering hundreds of ingredients.
Plates Feature: This is where FCCC really shines. A “plate” isn’t just a recipe – it’s everything that goes on the plate. Your main recipe, your base recipes (stocks, sauces, marinades), your sides, your garnishes, even your packaging costs. FCCC shows you the REAL cost of what you’re serving, not just the cost of the protein.
Conversion Feature: Add both weight AND volume measurements to any ingredient. Write your recipe in cups or grams – FCCC handles the math. No more guessing how many cups of flour are in a kilogram.
Recipe Credit Pop-up: Link instructions, credits, photos, or source URLs to any recipe. Click the credit and it opens wherever you want – a Google Doc, a website, a PDF – and my highest reccomendation – TRELLO. Keep your recipes organized your way.
Built to Handle Real Restaurant Data
In my testing, I’ve loaded 250 ingredients and over 75 recipes without any slowdown. The software runs fast because I built it lean. No bloat, no unnecessary features that look good in demos but slow everything down in practice.
What’s Coming Next
This launch is just the beginning. Here’s what you can expect:
Mac Version: Coming within weeks of the PC launch.
Tutorial Videos: I’m building out a library of how-to videos covering everything from basic setup to advanced plate costing strategies.
Free Google Sheets Version: Not everyone needs this full software. If you’re running a coffee shop or food truck with just a handful of recipes, I’m updating my free Google Sheets food costing template. It’s not as automated as FCCC, but it gets the job done for smaller operations.
Food Costing Tips and Strategies: This blog (and my YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook) won’t just be about software. I’ll be sharing practical food cost management strategies that work whether you use FCCC or not. Because at the end of the day, I want chefs to understand their numbers – that’s the real goal.
Join the Original Crew
December 8th. PC version. $57 for the first 100 users.
If you’ve been doing food costing in spreadsheets, guessing at margins, or paying monthly for software that’s overkill for your operation – this is for you. Head to foodcostchef.com (home page) to learn more.
This isn’t just about getting your food cost under control. It’s about giving you more time to enjoy your work life and your home life. The FCCC isn’t something that will require more of your time. I am not about killing myself and my body for the job, and I don’t expect you to be either. I sincerely hope this gives you more free time for you and your family to enjoy life more.
Chef Marty
