Review criteria
- +Event pipeline with deposit and balance-due
- +Headcount and menu columns
- +Date highlighting so nothing is missed
- +Works in Google Sheets and Excel
Catering Order Tracker
The Catering Order Tracker is a copy-ready spreadsheet for catering that tracks events, menu, headcount, deposit, balance. It opens unchanged in both Google Sheets and Excel, needs no add-ons or macros, and takes about 10 minutes to set up.
Last updated: August 2026
Excel workbook · opens in Google Sheets · 3 tabs · no sign-up
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What’s inside “Catering Order Tracker”
Tabs: How to use · Orders · SummaryFormat: Excel (.xlsx) · opens in Google SheetsSetup: About 10 minutesColumns: 10
Columns (grey = calculated for you)
- Event date
- Customer
- Menu
- Headcount
- Price per person
- Deposit
- Status
- Order total
- Balance
- Days until
- Open the Orders tab and replace the sample rows with your own — one row per entry. Formulas fill in automatically for new rows.
- Days until turns amber inside 3 days: confirm the final headcount and dietary needs.
- Collect a deposit to hold the date; most caterers want the balance a few days before the event.
- Using Google Sheets? Upload the file to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets (or File → Import in an open sheet). Formulas, dropdowns and highlights carry over.
The file opens locally on your device — nothing is uploaded, and you own the copy outright.
Catering Order Tracker
About this template
It is built for people who want results without another subscription: caterers juggling multiple booked events. The whole template is free to copy — there is no paid tier. Because it is a plain spreadsheet, you own your data outright and can shape every column to how you actually work.
Review evidence
What to verify before choosing Catering Order Tracker
Use the review criteria below to decide whether this template fits your workflow.
Often worth considering when
- +Caterers juggling multiple booked events
- +Anyone tracking deposits and final balances
Pause before choosing when
- -Online booking and payment
- -Automatic reminders
About Catering
Why people consider this option
- +Quote events and cost menus to protect your margin
- +Track orders, deposits, and balances in one place
- +Schedule event staff without restaurant software
What to review before acting
- -No online ordering or payment processing
- -Large operations need dedicated catering software
Trust FAQ
Questions people ask before copying a template
Does the Catering Order Tracker work in both Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes. It is built with standard functions and no macros, so it opens and works the same in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel — on desktop or your phone.
Is the Catering Order Tracker really free?
The core template is free to copy and use. There is no paid tier — download the Excel workbook, replace the sample rows with your own, and you are ready to work.
What does the Catering Order Tracker track?
It tracks events, menu, headcount, deposit, balance. The workbook comes with these columns plus the formulas, dropdowns and highlights already set up. Replace the sample rows and the totals update as you go.