# What Is ForkLine?

ForkLine is a point-of-sale and online ordering system built for independent restaurants. It replaces the separate register, online ordering marketplace, kitchen ticket printer, and loyalty punch card with one system that shares the same menu and the same order list.

If you're setting up for the first time, start with [Creating Your Account](/getting-started), then work through the [Go-Live Checklist](/going-live-checklist).

## The pieces

**Your ordering page.** A branded page at `forklines.com/menu/your-restaurant` where customers order pickup or delivery and pay by card. It's yours — your name, your menu, your customers' contact details. See [Managing Your Menu](/menu-management) and [Brand & Appearance](/brand-and-appearance).

**The register.** A full counter POS on a tablet: ring up walk-ins, take card payments on a Stripe reader, take cash, open the drawer, and handle phone orders. See [Using the Register](/register-pos).

**The kitchen display.** A screen in the kitchen showing live tickets in New / Preparing / Ready lanes, with timers. See [Kitchen Display](/kitchen-display). You can also print paper tickets — see [Receipt Printer Setup](/receipt-printer-setup).

**The order queue.** One admin list of every order from every channel — online, counter, phone — with status controls and history. See [Managing Orders](/orders).

**Rewards and marketing.** A points program that works identically online and at the counter, plus email campaigns. See [Rewards & Loyalty](/rewards) and [Email Marketing](/marketing-campaigns).

## How an order flows

Wherever an order starts, it ends up in the same place:

1. A customer orders — on your ordering page, at the counter, or over the phone.
2. Payment is taken (or deferred to pickup, if you allow that).
3. The order lands in the [order queue](/orders) and on the [kitchen display](/kitchen-display), and prints a kitchen ticket if you have a printer.
4. Staff move it through **Preparing** → **Ready**.
5. The customer is notified it's ready, and the order is completed at handoff.

Because every channel feeds the same queue, your kitchen has one list to work from rather than a tablet per service.

## What it costs

ForkLine is **$49.99 per month**, flat, with no per-order commission and no contract. Card processing is Stripe's standard published rate, paid to Stripe — ForkLine adds no markup. The full breakdown is in [Processing Fees Explained](/processing-fees).

## What you need

- A device for the admin and register — an iPad or any tablet works well, as does a laptop.
- A Stripe account to accept card payments. ForkLine creates one during setup; see [Setting Up Stripe Payments](/stripe-connect-setup).
- Optionally, a Star receipt printer and cash drawer — see [Receipt Printer Setup](/receipt-printer-setup).

## Where to go next

- **Setting up for the first time?** [Creating Your Account](/getting-started)
- **Ready to launch?** [Go-Live Checklist](/going-live-checklist)
- **Have a question?** [Frequently Asked Questions](/faq)