How to Receive Online Orders From Your Restaurant (Without Commissions)
A complete guide to setting up online ordering for your restaurant without paying platform commissions. From choosing the right system to promoting your ordering page.
Online ordering has gone from a nice-to-have to a necessity. Whether it's delivery, takeaway, or pre-orders for dine-in, customers expect to browse your menu and place an order from their phone. The question isn't whether to offer online ordering — it's how to do it without giving away your margins.
Platforms like Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Glovo have made online ordering mainstream, but their commissions — typically 15–35% per order — eat into profits that are already razor-thin in the restaurant industry. There's a better way.
This guide walks you through setting up your own online ordering system: one where you keep 100% of the order value and own the customer relationship.
The Commission Problem
Let's put the numbers in perspective:
| Platform | Typical Commission | On a €30 Order | Monthly (20 orders/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uber Eats | 25–35% | €7.50–€10.50 | €4,500–€6,300 |
| Deliveroo | 25–35% | €7.50–€10.50 | €4,500–€6,300 |
| Glovo | 20–30% | €6.00–€9.00 | €3,600–€5,400 |
| Your own system | 0% + payment fees (~2%) | €0.60 | €360 |
The difference is staggering. A restaurant doing 20 online orders per day at €30 average could save €4,000–€6,000 per month by moving to a direct ordering system.
Keep the Platforms for Discovery
We're not saying delete your Uber Eats listing. Marketplace platforms are useful for reaching new customers. But once a customer knows you, every repeat order through a commission platform is money lost. The goal is to shift repeat customers to your direct channel.
Step 1: Choose the Right Platform
Your online ordering system needs to be three things: easy for customers, easy for your staff, and affordable for your business. Here's what to look for:
Must-have features:
- Mobile-optimized ordering page (most orders come from phones)
- Menu management with photos, descriptions, and modifiers
- Real-time order notifications (sound alerts, not just email)
- Payment processing (credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Order scheduling (not just "now" — allow pre-orders)
- Pickup and delivery options
Nice-to-have features:
- Multi-language menu support
- Integration with your POS system
- Automatic order printing to kitchen
- Customer order history and reordering
- Promotional codes and discounts
With Sigital, online ordering is built into your restaurant's digital presence. Your menu, your brand, your ordering page — all in one place. Customers order directly from your website, and you receive orders instantly with no commissions.
Step 2: Set Up Your Menu for Online Success
Your online menu is not the same as your dine-in menu. It needs to be optimized for the format:
Photography Matters
Items with photos get ordered 30% more than items without. You don't need a professional photographer — a smartphone with good lighting and a clean background works. Shoot from above (flatlay), keep it consistent, and make sure the food looks appetizing.
Write Descriptions That Sell
In-restaurant, your waiter can describe dishes. Online, the description does all the work. Be specific and appetizing:
| ❌ Weak | ✅ Strong |
|---|---|
| "Pasta with tomato sauce" | "Handmade pappardelle with slow-roasted San Marzano tomato ragù, finished with fresh basil and aged Parmigiano" |
| "Mixed salad" | "Crisp romaine, cherry tomatoes, shaved fennel, and citrus vinaigrette with toasted pine nuts" |
| "Chocolate cake" | "Warm dark chocolate fondant with a molten center, served with vanilla bean gelato" |
Structure Your Categories
Don't replicate your paper menu structure. Online menus work best with:
- Clear categories (Starters, Mains, Desserts, Drinks)
- "Popular" or "Chef's Picks" section at the top
- Lunch and dinner separated if the menus differ
- Allergen information clearly marked
The Power of Upselling
Add modifiers and extras to your items. "Add truffle shavings +€3" or "Make it a large +€2" can increase your average order value by 15–25%. This is much harder with paper menus and phone orders.
Step 3: Payment Setup
Online ordering requires online payment. Here's how to set it up properly:
Stripe is the most common payment processor for restaurant ordering systems, including Sigital. Setup takes about 15 minutes:
- Create a Stripe account (free — they charge ~2.5% + €0.25 per transaction)
- Connect it to your ordering platform
- Enable the payment methods your customers expect: credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay
Cash on pickup/delivery is still popular in many markets. Offer it alongside card payment to maximize conversions. Some customers simply prefer paying cash.
Important: Make sure your ordering page shows the total clearly before checkout — including any delivery fees. Surprise charges at the last step are the #1 reason for cart abandonment.
Step 4: Operations and Fulfillment
Having the system is one thing. Running it smoothly is another.
Order Notifications
You need to know the second an order comes in. Configure:
- Sound notifications on a dedicated tablet or phone
- Email backup notifications
- Clear order ticket printing (if you have a kitchen printer)
Preparation Time Estimates
Be honest about how long orders take. Underpromising and overdelivering is always better than the reverse. Set realistic preparation times and add a buffer for peak hours.
Delivery Options
You have three models:
| Model | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup only | Zero delivery cost, simple operations | Limits your radius |
| Own delivery staff | Full control, no commissions | Fixed cost, scheduling complexity |
| Third-party courier | Flexible, no staff needed | Per-delivery fee (but much less than full-platform commission) |
Many restaurants start with pickup only and add delivery once volume justifies it. This is the lowest-risk approach.
Step 5: Promote Your Ordering Page
You've built it. Now they need to come. Here's how to drive orders to your direct channel:
Your Existing Customers (Easiest Wins)
- Table inserts/cards: "Order for pickup or delivery at [yoursite].com"
- Receipt messaging: Add your ordering URL to every receipt
- Social media: Post your ordering link regularly — not just food photos
- Google Business Profile: Add your ordering URL as a website link
- QR code on packaging: Every takeaway bag should have a QR code linking to your ordering page
New Customer Acquisition
- Google Ads: Target "food delivery near [your area]" and "[your cuisine] takeaway [your city]"
- Instagram/Facebook ads: Target people near your restaurant with appetizing photos
- First-order discount: Offer 10% off the first direct order to incentivize the switch from platforms
Don't Forget Google Business
Your Google Business Profile is the most important free marketing tool for local restaurants. Make sure it's complete, has current photos, correct hours, and links to your direct ordering page. Most people find local restaurants through Google — make sure you capture them.
The Packaging Trick
This is the most underused strategy: when you fulfill orders through Uber Eats or Deliveroo, include a flyer or sticker in the bag:
"Love our food? Order directly next time at [yoursite].com and get 10% off!"
You're using the platform's customer acquisition to build your own direct channel. It's perfectly legal and incredibly effective.
Measuring Success
Track these metrics monthly:
- Direct order volume — is it growing?
- Average order value — direct orders typically have higher AOV than platform orders
- Repeat order rate — are customers coming back to your direct channel?
- Commission savings — compare what you would have paid on platforms
- Customer database growth — how many email addresses are you collecting?
Set a goal: within 6 months, at least 50% of your online orders should come through your direct channel. Within 12 months, aim for 70%.
Why Sigital for Online Ordering
Sigital integrates online ordering directly into your restaurant's digital presence. There's no separate app for customers to download, no marketplace competing for their attention — just your menu, your brand, and a smooth ordering experience.
Key features for online ordering:
- Commission-free orders with integrated Stripe payments
- Beautiful, mobile-first ordering interface
- Real-time order management dashboard
- Menu with photos, descriptions, modifiers, and allergen info
- Multi-language support for tourist areas
- Pickup and delivery time management
- Works alongside your digital menu and reservation system
Everything your restaurant needs, in one platform, for one monthly fee.
Ready to start receiving commission-free online orders? Set up your restaurant on Sigital — your ordering page can be live today.
