0% Commission Possible

How to Set Up Online OrderingWithout Paying Fees

Tired of giving 15-35% to delivery apps? This guide shows you how to accept online orders—pickup, delivery, and table ordering—without the massive commission fees.

Why Most Restaurants Lose Money on Online Orders

Online ordering is essential for modern restaurants. But the big platforms have created a system where they win and you lose.

The Commission Problem

Deliveroo

25-35%

£8.75 on a £25 order

UberEats

15-30%

£7.50 on a £25 order

Just Eat

14-25%

£6.25 on a £25 order

On thin restaurant margins (typically 3-9%), these fees can mean you're losing money on every delivery order.

The Alternative

Commission-Free Ordering: How It Works

Instead of paying per-order commission, you pay a flat monthly fee for ordering software. Whether you process 10 orders or 1,000 orders, you pay the same amount.

Commission Model

£10,000/month in orders

× 25% commission

= £2,500/month in fees

Flat Fee Model

£10,000/month in orders

× 0% commission

+ £39/month platform fee

= £39/month total

That's £2,461/month saved — £29,532/year

How to Set Up Commission-Free Ordering

1

Choose a Commission-Free Platform

Look for platforms that charge flat monthly fees instead of per-order commission. Key features to look for:

  • 0% commission on orders
  • Supports pickup, delivery, and table ordering
  • Mobile-friendly ordering experience
  • Order management dashboard
  • Customer notifications

Pro tip: Servd offers all of this from £39/month with 0% commission. There's also a free tier to test with digital menus.

2

Set Up Your Digital Menu

Create your menu with all the details customers need to order confidently:

  • Clear item names and descriptions
  • Accurate prices
  • Appetising photos (optional but recommended)
  • Allergen information
  • Modifier options (sizes, add-ons, etc.)

Pro tip: Good photos can increase order value by 30%. But even without photos, clear descriptions work well.

3

Configure Your Order Types

Decide which order types you want to offer:

  • Pickup — customers collect from your restaurant
  • Delivery — you deliver to customers (own drivers or partners)
  • Table ordering — customers order from their table via QR code

Pro tip: Start with pickup if you're not ready for delivery. You can always add it later.

4

Set Up Payment Processing

Connect a payment processor to accept online payments. Most platforms use Stripe:

  • Create a Stripe account (free, takes 10 minutes)
  • Connect Stripe to your ordering platform
  • Payments deposit directly to your bank account
  • Standard fees: 1.4% + 20p per transaction

Pro tip: Card processing fees are unavoidable, but 1.4% is much better than 25% commission.

5

Promote Your Direct Ordering

Get customers ordering directly instead of through commission platforms:

  • Add ordering link to your website
  • Update Google Business Profile with ordering link
  • Post on social media
  • Display QR codes in your restaurant
  • Add to email signatures and receipts
  • Train staff to mention direct ordering

Pro tip: Consider offering a small discount for direct orders. Even 10% off costs less than 25% commission.

Types of Online Ordering You Can Offer

Pickup Orders

Customers order online and collect from your restaurant. No delivery logistics needed.

  • No delivery costs
  • Fast to implement
  • Works for any restaurant

Delivery Orders

Customers order online for delivery to their address. You handle the delivery.

  • Higher order values
  • Reach customers at home
  • Use own drivers or partners

Table Ordering

Customers scan a QR code at their table and order directly from their phone.

  • Faster table turns
  • Higher average spend
  • Reduced staff workload

Our Recommendation: Servd

We built Servd specifically to solve the commission problem for restaurants. Here's what you get:

0% commission on all orders
Pickup, delivery, and table ordering
Digital menus with QR codes
Order management dashboard
Kitchen display system
Customer notifications
Promo codes and discounts
Works on any device

£39/month

0% commission forever

Start Free Trial

Start with a free digital menu. Upgrade when you're ready for ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Commission-based platforms (Deliveroo, UberEats, Just Eat) take 15-35% of every order. Flat-fee platforms charge a fixed monthly subscription regardless of how many orders you receive. With high order volume, flat-fee platforms save you significantly more money.

Ready to Keep More of Your Revenue?

Every order through commission platforms is money leaving your restaurant. Set up commission-free ordering today.

Get Started Free

Free plan available. No credit card required.