Restaurant Commission Free Ordering: Keep Every Sale

You check your delivery app dashboard after a busy Saturday night. Hundreds of orders, the kitchen ran smoothly, customers seemed happy. Then you see the commission deductions: 25% here, 30% there. On a £20 order, you're handing over £6 before you've paid for ingredients, staff, or rent.

That's the reality for thousands of UK restaurants relying entirely on third-party platforms. Restaurant commission free ordering is the alternative a growing number of owners are switching to. Instead of paying a percentage of every sale to Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or Just Eat, you take orders directly through your own website or app.

What You'll Learn

• How much third-party delivery apps actually cost UK restaurants
• What commission free ordering systems are and how they work
• The real savings you can expect from switching
• Step-by-step guidance on setting up your own system
• Which platforms suit different restaurant types

Related: Restaurant Online Ordering

What Is Restaurant Commission Free Ordering?

Before diving into the how, let's clarify exactly what we're talking about. Restaurant commission free ordering is a framework where customers order directly from your restaurant through your own website, app, or QR code menu rather than through third-party delivery platforms. You pay a fixed monthly fee or a small transaction fee instead of giving away a percentage of every order.

Here's the simple difference. On Just Eat, Deliveroo, or Uber Eats, you pay commission on every single order. With commission-free systems, you own the ordering channel, keep the customer relationship, retain the data, and keep significantly more of the money.

For instance, a curry house in Bradford using their own ordering website pays a flat monthly fee regardless of order volume. The same restaurant using Deliveroo exclusively would pay several times more on the same number of orders.

According to Lightspeed's ordering research, 70% of consumers say they'd rather order directly from a restaurant. The appetite for direct ordering is already there.

If you're thinking "but delivery apps bring in customers I wouldn't get otherwise," that's partially true. The question is whether those customers are actually profitable after commission. For many restaurants, they're not.

Pro Tip: Track your actual profit per order on delivery apps. Include commission, packaging costs, and any promotional fees. Many owners are surprised how thin the margins really are.

How Much Do Delivery Apps Really Cost?

Now that you understand how restaurant commission free ordering works, let's examine what you're currently paying. The commission rates from major delivery platforms paint a clear picture.

These are baseline commission rates. Actual costs often include additional admin charges, marketing fees, and service fees.

For example, a Chinese takeaway in Liverpool processing a £30 Deliveroo order with platform delivery loses £9 immediately to commission. After food and labour costs, they're left with just a few pounds before rent, utilities, or any profit.

Compare that to a commission-free system charging a fixed monthly fee. The cost per order drops dramatically, keeping more money in your pocket.

Related: Online Ordering vs Delivery Apps

The Real Savings from Restaurant Commission Free Ordering

With those costs in mind, let's look at what savings actually look like for a typical UK restaurant switching to commission free ordering.

Example: A small Indian takeaway processing 400 online orders monthly

• Third-party apps at 25% commission: over £2,000 lost monthly
• Commission free system with fixed fees: around £300 monthly
• Monthly savings: roughly £2,000

That's over £20,000 per year back in your pocket. Enough to hire additional staff, upgrade equipment, or simply improve your margins.

But the savings go beyond commission. When customers order directly, you also own customer data for remarketing and loyalty programmes, build direct relationships without platform interference, set your own delivery zones and minimum order values, and control your menu presentation.

A gastropub in Birmingham switched 40% of their orders to direct ordering over eight months. The owner noted: "We're not just saving on commission. We're building a customer list we actually own."

Research from the UK Hospitality sector suggests that restaurants keeping customer data can increase repeat visits through targeted promotions.

Related: Restaurant Online Ordering System Free

Commission-Free Ordering Platforms for UK Restaurants

With those savings in mind, the next question is which platform to choose. Several options now offer restaurant commission free ordering specifically designed for UK businesses.

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Fixed Monthly Fee Platforms

These charge a predictable monthly rate regardless of order volume.

ORDERE replaces percentage commissions with a flat monthly fee. They focus on helping restaurants build repeat orders and brand loyalty through branded ordering experiences.

Orderbase is UK-based and offers table ordering, click and collect, and delivery options. Their all-in-one approach means you're not juggling multiple systems.

eTakeawayMax supports UK restaurants with branded websites, mobile apps, and EPOS integration. A kebab shop in Sheffield uses their system to handle orders through their own site while still appearing on Just Eat for new customer discovery.

Free or Low-Cost Options

GloriaFood offers a completely free ordering system with no commissions. Revenue comes from optional premium features. For instance, a new cafe in Edinburgh started with GloriaFood to test customer response before committing to a paid platform.

Lightspeed Order Anywhere integrates with their POS system and provides commission-free takeaway ordering. A gastropub chain in Leeds uses Lightspeed across their three locations, with all ordering data flowing directly into their existing management systems.

Best for Different Restaurant Types

Platform suitability varies based on your specific needs. Most offer free trials so you can test before committing.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by options, start simple. Test one platform that matches your current setup and see how customers respond.

How to Set Up Restaurant Commission Free Ordering

Now let's get practical. Once you've chosen a platform, setting up restaurant commission free ordering takes less time than you might expect. Most UK restaurants can be taking direct orders within a week.

Step 1: Choose your platform. Consider your order volume, existing systems, and whether you need delivery management or collection only. Request demos from two or three providers.

A pizza takeaway in Manchester tested three platforms over a month. They chose based on how easily the system handled their complex menu with multiple size and topping options.

Step 2: Set up your menu. Upload your menu with photos, descriptions, and accurate pricing. Most platforms let you import existing menus or build from templates. This typically takes 2-3 hours for a standard menu.

Step 3: Configure payment processing. Connect a payment provider like Stripe or PayPal.

Step 4: Integrate with your website. Add your ordering link or widget to your existing website. If you don't have one, many platforms create a site for you. For example, a sushi restaurant in Cardiff launched their entire online presence through eTakeawayMax in a single afternoon.

Step 5: Promote direct ordering. This is where most restaurants fall short. Print QR codes on receipts, add table tents, update your Google Business Profile, and offer incentives for first direct orders.

The setup itself is straightforward. The challenge is changing customer habits. If someone has ordered through Deliveroo for two years, they need a compelling reason to switch.

Making Customers Use Your Commission-Free System

So far so good. But having a restaurant commission free ordering system means nothing if customers don't use it. Would you follow your own restaurant's advice on where to order?

Offer a genuine incentive. A 10% discount for direct orders still leaves you better off than paying 25-30% commission. Make this visible on receipts, packaging, social media, and your Google listing.

Make it easier than apps. Your ordering process should be as simple as Deliveroo. One-click reordering for repeat customers. Saved addresses. Apple Pay and Google Pay support. For example, a burger joint in Glasgow added one-click reordering and saw repeat customer orders jump within two months.

Promote on every order. Every delivery bag should include a card explaining how to order direct. "Order through our website next time and save 10%. Same food, same delivery, better for us."

A fish and chip shop in Leeds implemented this strategy and saw direct orders grow from 5% to 35% of their takeaway business within six months.

If you're only promoting direct ordering when business is slow you'll always lose to delivery apps that market constantly. This needs to be part of every customer interaction.

Related: Online Ordering for Small Restaurants

When Delivery Apps Still Make Sense

That said, with your restaurant commission free ordering in place, should you abandon delivery apps entirely? Not necessarily. They still serve specific purposes.

Discovery. New customers find you through platforms. A Thai restaurant in Bristol found that 30% of their Deliveroo customers became direct ordering regulars after receiving a flyer with their first order.

Peak demand. During exceptionally busy periods, having orders flow through multiple channels can help manage volume, even with higher costs.

Testing new areas. If you're considering expanding delivery to a new postcode, platforms let you test demand without long-term commitment.

The smart approach is using platforms for customer acquisition while building your direct ordering channel for retention. Pay commission once to acquire a customer, then serve them commission-free on future orders.

If you can't tell whether a delivery app customer ever becomes a direct customer, that's usually a sign your conversion strategy needs work.

Key Takeaways: Restaurant Commission Free Ordering

Weekly Action

This week, complete these two tasks:

1. Calculate your current commission costs. Review last month's delivery app statements. Add up total commission paid across all platforms. That's your potential savings target.

2. Request demos from two commission-free platforms. Choose based on your restaurant type and current systems. Most offer free trials, so you can test before committing.