Commission-free online ordering: keeping more of every order

Delivery and ordering marketplaces bring in orders, but most charge a commission on each one. On a busy week, that adds up to a real share of your takings.

Your own ordering site works differently. Orders come straight to you, with no commission on each one. This guide explains why that matters and how to make the most of it. You can also see how online ordering in RestoGenius works.

How commission adds up

A marketplace usually takes a percentage of every order it sends you. The exact rate depends on the platform and your agreement.

The cost is easy to overlook because it comes out before the money reaches you. Add it up over a month and compare it with what you’d keep if the same customers ordered direct.

Why your own site changes the maths

Many of the people ordering through a marketplace already know you. They’re regulars who found the app convenient.

If those regulars order through your own site instead, you keep more of every order. You also keep the relationship: their order history, their loyalty and their next visit.

Marketplaces still have a place

Marketplaces are good at helping new customers find you. Plenty of venues keep them for reach, and use their own site for the regulars.

The key is making both easy to manage. If marketplace orders land on the same POS as everything else, you don’t need an extra tablet for each one.

Moving regulars to ordering direct

• Put your ordering link everywhere. On receipts, takeaway bags, menus, your website and your social profiles.
• Add a QR code to the counter. Customers waiting in line can scan it for next time.
• Reward direct orders. A loyalty stamp or member offer gives regulars a reason to order through you.
• Make it as easy as the app. A clean menu, clear prices and pickup times that customers can trust.

Keep pickups smooth

Direct orders only work if pickup is quick. Show a clear pickup time on every order, and keep a spot near the door where finished orders wait.

When online orders land in the same list as the counter, the team sees them in turn and nothing gets forgotten.

Watch the mix

After a few weeks, look at how your orders split between direct and marketplace. If more regulars are ordering through your site, the commission you save goes straight to the bottom line.

RestoGenius includes your own branded ordering site with no commission on direct orders, and Uber Eats orders land on the same POS. It’s all in one flat fee.