How to Set Up Online Ordering for Your Restaurant

DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub take 15-30% of each order. That's a massive dent in your margins. The fix? Your own online ordering system.

Why Third-Party Platforms Cost You

When orders come through DoorDash:

• They take 15-30% commission
• You pay for the delivery driver
• You don't own customer data
• Customers stay loyal to DoorDash, not you
• Your profit margin shrinks every busy night

That $100 order costs you $15-30 in fees. Do 50 orders a day and you're losing $750-1,500 daily to the platform.

Your Own System

Build ordering on your website. When customers order directly:

• You keep the money (minus 2.9% + 30¢ for credit card processing)
• You own the customer and their contact info
• You build loyalty programs and repeat orders
• You collect email addresses
• Your margins stay intact

What You Need

Your ordering system should have:

Menu Management

• Easy to update prices and items
• Organized by category
• Show dietary info and allergens
• Custom instructions field
• Track what's out of stock

Ordering

• Pickup or delivery or both
• Order for later option
• Delivery address or table selection
• Per-item instructions

Payment

• Secure checkout (Stripe, Square)
• Tip after total is shown
• Multiple payment options
• Order confirmation email

Customer Accounts

• See past orders
• Saved addresses
• Email and phone updates on status

Admin Dashboard

• Real-time orders
• Status tracking
• Update menu and prices
• See sales reports

Ways to Build It

Custom Development

• Cost: $5,000-15,000
• Time: 2-4 weeks
• Best for: Established restaurants, multiple locations

WooCommerce

• Cost: $250-3,900 setup + $500-1,500/year
• Time: 1-2 weeks
• Best for: Most restaurants
• You own it

Third-Party Ordering Platforms

• Cost: $99-500/month + fees
• Time: Few days
• Quick launch but you still rent it

Building It with WooCommerce

1. Create your website Use WordPress and WooCommerce. This is your restaurant online.

2. Add menu items Each menu item becomes a product with name, description, price, category, image, and options like size or add-ons.

3. Connect payment Stripe or Square handles checkout.

4. Set delivery/pickup No delivery fee for pickup. Delivery orders charge shipping. Show how long things take.

5. Set up notifications Customers get confirmations. Your kitchen gets alerted. Updates go out when food's ready.

6. Table ordering (optional) QR codes at tables. Customers scan and order. Food comes to them. Less work, faster service.

Use Delivery Services the Right Way

You don't deliver yourself. You can:

• Keep ordering on your site
• Use local services just for drivers
• Own the customer relationship
• Delivery is just logistics

Get People to Order From You

Having the system isn't enough. You need:

Promote it

• QR codes on your menu
• Social media mentions
• Email to your list
• Google Business Profile link

Give them a reason

• Loyalty: 10 orders gets $10 off
• Discount: Save 10% ordering directly
• Free item: First direct order gets a free drink
• Speed: Direct orders are faster

Stay in touch

• Collect emails at checkout
• Send weekly specials
• Remind them about the app

Make it easy

• Works great on phones
• Checkout in under 2 minutes
• Remember their info

Track What Works

After launch, watch:

• How many orders shift from DoorDash to your site
• Average order size
• How often customers reorder
• Revenue change
• Commission savings

A good launch moves 20-30% of orders directly within 3 months.

The Math

Restaurant doing $400k/month on DoorDash:

Before:

• Revenue: $400k
• DoorDash cut (25%): -$100k
• You keep: $300k

If 50% shift direct:

• Direct orders: $200k, fees: -$0
• DoorDash orders: $200k, fees: -$50k
• You keep: $350k
• Extra margin: $50k per month or $600k per year

Next Steps

Explore options for your restaurant, or talk with us about your setup.