PrepOptimizer
8/10
Demand Score
Over-prepping wastes $500-2000 weekly in food and labor. Under-prepping causes service delays, angry customers, and stressed staff. Managers spend 2+ hours daily on prep planning.
8/10
Blue Ocean
Competition Level
$179-379
Price/Month
Predicted customer spend
55 days
Time to MVP
Difficulty: Hard
The Problem
Lack of transparency around billable expenses remains a major source of conflict between firms and clients. According to industry data, lawyers fail to collect 11% of the hours they bill clients, with a significant portion stemming from expense-related disputes. Clients commonly question charges like $0.25 per page for photocopying, $99 charges for "electronic research," and even bills for sandwiches eaten during working lunches.
🔗 Validated by Real User Complaints
This problem has been verified through 2 real user complaints:
Competitor Landscape
- MarketMan - Full inventory system, $300+, overkill for prep
- BlueCart - Focused on ordering, not prep optimization
- Spreadsheets - Used by 60% of restaurants, no intelligence
- 7shifts - Scheduling only, no prep correlation
Must-Have Features for MVP
AI-driven prep quantity predictions
Station-specific prep lists with timing
Real-time prep level tracking
Waste correlation analysis
One-click prep list distribution
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Complex ML model for accurate predictions
- Integration with various POS systems for sales data
- Resistance to changing established prep routines
Risk Level: Low
🎯 Keys to Success
- Start with single category (produce) to prove value
- Partner with restaurant consultants for credibility
- Offer free waste audit to demonstrate opportunity
- Build in seasonal menu change support
Ready to Build This?
This hard-difficulty project could be your next micro-SaaS success.