Switching to 10Seat — EN
English translation of the "Overstappen naar 10Seat" blog — a guide for international restaurateurs on why and how to switch to 10Seat.
Switching to a Modern Reservation System: Why 10Seat Is the Smartest Choice
Written for restaurateurs who are fed up with costly commissions, complex software and reservation systems that take more than they give.
You know the feeling. You open your reservation system and see, once again, a booking from a regular guest – routed through a platform that charges you €2.75 per cover. The same guest also arrived via your own website, but your widget wasn't there, or your system was too slow, or your staff didn't answer the phone during the rush.
So you end up paying for your own customers. And somewhere you know: it could be done smarter.
Why switch?
As a restaurateur you're not a software buyer. You run a business. A team. A kitchen. You want reservations to come in, tables to be correct and guests not to be turned away at a closed door. The system simply has to work – period.
Yet many hospitality businesses unknowingly pay top‑dollar for a reservation system that holds them back. Three common frustrations:
1. TheFork: commission on your own regular guests
TheFork earns on every cover that comes through their platform – €2 to €3 per diner. Turn over 50 covers in an evening? That's €100 to €150. Per night. Over a year that can add up to €36,000 – €54,000.
2. Zenchef: increasingly complex, increasingly expensive
Zenchef markets itself as an all‑in‑one marketing platform, but for many independent restaurateurs it's overkill. You pay €129 to €249 per month for features you never use. Zenchef (backed by private‑equity firm PSG Equity) has bought Formitable. Restaurateurs who deliberately chose Formitable are now forced onto Zenchef. Resengo, once a well‑known player in the Dutch market, has also been fully absorbed by Zenchef and no longer exists as an independent platform.
3. Out‑of‑date systems: stuck in a 2018 contract
Some systems simply haven't kept pace. Slow load times, no mobile support, no POS integration, no automatic no‑show protection. And you're locked in – year‑long contract, automatic renewal.
A Dutch‑market alternative is Guestplan – a subscription player with no marketplace fees, much like 10Seat. The difference? Guestplan positions itself as a pure reservation tool, without the emphasis on data ownership and hospitality that defines 10Seat.
10Seat: the smartest choice
10Seat is built for people who do run a restaurant, but don't have an IT department.
No commission. Ever.
With 10Seat you pay a fixed monthly fee. Period. No €2.75 per cover. No hidden costs.
+30% reservations, –40% no‑shows
These aren't marketing buzzwords. They're what we see in restaurants that switch. The built‑in no‑show protection ensures tables don't sit empty at peak times.
Built by two founders with 25 years of hospitality‑tech experience
The founders together have 25 years of experience in hospitality technology – from floor management to POS integrations to guest profiles.
Personal service – no chatbot, real people
With 10Seat you get real people on the line who understand how a restaurant works.
The migration process: how it works in 15 minutes?
- Create an account – no setup fees, no demo obligation.
- Connect your existing reservations – we import your data from any other platform. TheFork, Zenchef, Formitable, Guestplan, you name it. No loss of existing bookings.
- Place the widget on your website – one line of code, copy‑paste. Done.
- You're live – on average 15 minutes from start to first booking.
Who is 10Seat for?
- The neighbourhood brasserie with 25 covers that mainly serves regulars
- The fine‑dining venue with 60 covers, multiple shifts per evening
- The brunch spot that explodes on weekends and runs quietly during the week
- The large‑scale restaurant with 100+ covers and several rooms
- The emerging restaurant group with 2 to 5 locations
Free for up to 50 covers per year. No credit card required.
10Seat vs. the rest
| 10Seat | TheFork | Zenchef | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed monthly fee | Commission per cover | Tiered subscription |
| Commission per cover | €0.00 | €2.00–€3.00 | €0.00 |
| Migration time | ~15 minutes | Weeks | Days to weeks |
| Service | Real people, direct contact | Automated, slow | Ticketing, variable |
| Guest data | 100 % yours | Stays with TheFork | Platform‑hosted |
| Contract | Monthly cancellable | Annual contract | Annual contract |
| No‑show protection | Built‑in | Via TheFork Pay | Available |
Your data is yours. Your guests are yours.
10Seat is built on a simple principle: your guests, your data. Export whenever you like. No vendor lock‑in.
Ready to switch?
- No commission. Ever.
- Migration in 15 minutes. From any platform.
- Personal service. Real people who understand hospitality.
- Free to start up to 50 covers per year.
No credit card. No contract. No hassle.
This article is part of 10Seat's knowledge base for independent restaurateurs. Questions? Email us at hello@10seat.com.