Online ordering without commission
What it means to take orders on your own website instead of a marketplace app, what you still pay for, and how to compare the real cost per order.
2 min read
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Key takeaways
- When a customer orders through a marketplace app, the app usually keeps a percentage of the order, so read your own agreement.
- Ordering on your own site means the customer pays you and you keep the sale, but you still pay for software, card fees and delivery.
- Compare the real cost by working one typical order through both routes with your own numbers.
- A site only saves money if people use it, so put the ordering link on your Google profile, social pages, receipts and packaging.
When a customer orders through a marketplace app, the app usually keeps a percentage of the order. Rates differ by market and by contract, and figures around 30 percent are often quoted for delivery, so read your own agreement before you compare anything.
Ordering on your own website works differently. The customer orders from your menu, pays you, and you keep the sale. Nobody sits in the middle taking a share of each basket.
What you still pay for
Taking orders yourself is not free, and it helps to name each cost:
- The software that runs your ordering site and your kitchen screens.
- Card processing fees from your payment provider.
- Delivery, if you deliver: your own drivers, or a courier you hire.
- A little time to tell customers that they can order from you directly.
How to compare the real cost per order
Take one typical order and work it through both ways. On a marketplace, subtract the commission and any fees from the basket. On your own site, subtract the card fee and a share of your monthly software cost. Doing this with your own numbers tells you more than any general figure.
Bringing customers to your own site
A site only saves money if people use it. Put the ordering link on your Google profile, your social pages, your receipts and your packaging. Offer something small for a first direct order, and remember that a repeat customer who orders from you costs nothing extra to win back.
Where DineHarbor fits
DineHarbor gives a restaurant an online ordering site and a customer app with no commission on orders, and the same orders land on your kitchen screens and till. You can try it for 30 days free, and the plans are listed on the pricing page.
Questions and answers
Does online ordering without commission mean it is free?
No. You still pay for the software, card processing fees and, if you deliver, your drivers. What goes away is the percentage that a marketplace takes from every order.
Can I keep my marketplace listing and add my own site?
Yes. Many restaurants keep a listing for new customers and then invite them to order directly next time, which is where the commission saving comes from.
See it in DineHarbor
About the author
Editorial team
The DineHarbor team writes this blog for restaurant owners and managers. Every article is checked against the product before it is published, so what we describe is what the software does.
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