The commission problem
Third-party delivery platforms changed how customers order food. They also changed who keeps the money.
DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub charge restaurants 15 to 30 percent of every order. On a $40 order, the platform takes $6 to $12. For a restaurant running on 10 to 15 percent net margins, that commission can turn a profitable order into a break-even transaction — or a loss.
The math is straightforward. A restaurant doing $8,000 per month through a delivery platform at a 25 percent commission rate is paying $2,000 per month for the privilege of fulfilling orders. That is $24,000 per year — enough to hire a part-time employee, upgrade equipment, or simply keep as profit.
The hidden cost beyond commission
Commission is the visible cost. The less obvious cost is losing the customer relationship.
When a customer orders through DoorDash, DoorDash owns that customer. You do not get their email. You do not get their phone number. You cannot message them about a new menu item or invite them to a tasting event. If you run a promotion, the platform decides how it is displayed — right next to three of your competitors.
Your regulars — the ones who order every Friday — look identical to first-time customers on a platform dashboard. There is no loyalty, no recognition, no way to reward repeat business. The platform is designed to keep the customer loyal to the platform, not to your restaurant.
Direct ordering with zero commission
Simplrr gives you a direct online ordering link. Your customers visit your menu — not a marketplace — and place orders directly with your restaurant. No commission on any order. No per-transaction fees from Simplrr.
You pay a flat monthly fee. The Starter plan includes online ordering for up to 50 orders per month — zero commission on every one. The Pro plan unlocks unlimited online ordering.
What this looks like in practice
| Third-party platform | Simplrr direct ordering | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission per order | 15-30% | 0% |
| Monthly cost at 200 orders ($30 avg) | $900-$1,800 in commission | One flat monthly fee |
| Customer data | Owned by platform | Owned by you |
| Customer sees competitors | Yes | No |
| Loyalty/rewards | Platform-controlled | You control it |
| Branding | Platform branding dominant | Your branding |
Pricing last verified: March 2026
How customers find your menu
You get a link to your restaurant’s ordering page — something like simplrr.app/your-restaurant. Share it anywhere:
- QR codes on tables, receipts, flyers, or your storefront window
- WhatsApp and social media — drop the link in your Instagram bio or message it to regulars
- Your website — embed the link or redirect your “Order Now” button
- Google Business Profile — add it as your ordering link
Customers who already know your restaurant do not need a marketplace to find you. They need a link.
This is not a replacement for everything
Third-party platforms are good at one thing: discovery. New customers searching for “Thai food near me” at 8 PM are more likely to find you on DoorDash than through a direct link. That has real value.
The strategy that makes financial sense for most small restaurants is to use both. Let marketplaces bring in new customers. Move repeat customers to your direct ordering link where you keep 100 percent of the revenue and own the relationship. Over time, the ratio shifts in your favor.
Pricing
- Free: Full POS with offline mode — no online ordering on the free plan
- Starter: Online ordering (up to 50/mo), unlimited in-store orders, menu management
- Pro: Unlimited online ordering, rewards program, analytics, inventory
No commission. No transaction fees. No contracts.
Start free and add online ordering when you are ready. Or try the demo to see how direct ordering works.