If your restaurant is using Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub as your only online ordering channel, you’re handing over 15–30% of every order to a third party. For a restaurant doing 100 orders a day at an average of $20 each, that’s up to $400 a day — or $146,000 a year — going straight to a food delivery app instead of your pocket.
The good news: you don’t need third-party apps to take orders online. Setting up your own restaurant online ordering system is simpler than most restaurant operators expect, and the savings add up fast. In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up your online ordering from scratch — from choosing the right platform to promoting your online ordering page — so you can get your restaurant taking direct orders without the fees.
Online ordering for a restaurant is a system that lets customers browse your online ordering menu and place food orders through your website, a dedicated ordering page, or a link you share — without walking in or calling. Ordering allows customers to choose pickup, food delivery, or dine-in depending on how you configure it, and sends every order directly to your kitchen.
There are two main models: ordering through third-party marketplaces like DoorDash, Grubhub, or Postmates, or ordering through your own direct online ordering system. The difference matters — a lot.
With your own system, you control the ordering experience, keep all your revenue, and get your customers’ contact details so you can deliver food to your customers on your terms. With third-party apps, you share revenue, lose customer data, and compete side-by-side with every other restaurant in the area.
Before you set anything up, it helps to understand the three types of online ordering options available to restaurants — because the one you choose determines how much you pay, how much data you own, and how much control you have over the customer experience.
| Type | How It Works | Commission Fees | Customer Data | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Marketplace (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub) | Your restaurant is listed on a delivery app alongside competitors | 15–30% per order | Owned by the platform | New customer discovery, high-volume delivery markets |
| First-Party Direct Ordering (your own system) | Customers order directly from your website or ordering page | $0 (flat monthly fee only) | Owned by you | Keeping revenue, building repeat customers |
| POS-Integrated Online Ordering (Toast, Square, etc.) | Integrated online ordering that syncs with your POS system / point-of-sale | Varies (often 0–2.9% processing fee) | Owned by you | Restaurants wanting tight POS integration |
Most restaurants benefit from having a direct online ordering channel as their primary system — and optionally staying on one or two marketplaces for discovery. Some POS providers like Toast or Square also offer built-in online ordering, while standalone platforms give you more flexibility without requiring a specific point of sale. This guide focuses on setting up your own direct ordering system, since that’s where the real financial benefit lies.
According to a 2025 DoorDash restaurant report, 41% of customers prefer to order directly from a restaurant’s own website or app rather than a third-party platform. That’s a large share of customers actively looking for a way to order from you without going through a middleman.
Here’s why every restaurant should consider having its own online ordering system:
Third-party apps take 15–30% of every order. With your own system, you pay a flat monthly fee (typically $10–$50/month) and keep every dollar your customers spend. At 100 orders per day, even a 20% commission cut costs $40,000–$70,000 per year.
When someone orders through DoorDash, DoorDash owns that customer relationship. You don’t get their email or phone number. With a direct system, every order builds your own customer database — which you can use for promotions, a loyalty program, and re-engagement campaigns to drive repeat business.
On a third-party app, your restaurant sits next to your competitors. Online customers see ads, cross-promotions, and other restaurants while browsing. With your own ordering page, there are no distractions — just your menu, your branding, and a clear path to order and checkout.
Direct orders come straight from your customer to your kitchen. There’s no phone miscommunication and no relay through a third-party driver taking notes. Customers enter their own specifications — sizes, modifications, special requests — which means fewer mistakes and fewer refunds.
Many direct ordering platforms support a wide range of online payments — credit cards, digital wallets, PayPal, WhatsApp ordering, and even cash on delivery. More delivery options and payment flexibility can meaningfully reduce cart abandonment at checkout and improve the overall user experience.
Because you have your customers’ contact details, you can send them special offers, new menu announcements, and loyalty rewards. Restaurants that use restaurant promotions tied to direct ordering consistently see higher repeat order rates than those relying solely on third-party platforms. This is a major opportunity for restaurants looking to build a stronger online presence and keep customers coming back.
The cost of setting up online ordering depends on the type of system you choose. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Platform Type | Setup Cost | Monthly Fee | Per-Order Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-party marketplace (DoorDash, Uber Eats) | $0 | $0 | 15–30% commission |
| Direct ordering platform (Menubly, GloriaFood) | $0 | $0–$10/month | $0 commission |
| POS-integrated online ordering (Toast, Square) | $0–$300+ | $0–$75/month | 2–3% processing fee |
| Custom-built ordering website | $5,000–$20,000+ | $50–$200+ | Hosting/maintenance fees |
For most small and mid-sized restaurants, a direct ordering platform with a low monthly flat fee is the most cost-effective path. Across the restaurant industry, more operators are switching away from high-commission marketplaces and moving toward flat-fee systems that let them keep their margins. You get all the features you need — menu management, order notifications, payment processing — without the overhead of a full POS integration or the ongoing losses from commission fees.
If you’re already paying 25% commission on 50 orders a day at $20 each, that’s $250/day or $91,000/year. Switching to a $9.99/month direct platform saves the equivalent of that commission on every single order.
Now that you understand the options and the math, here’s exactly how to create online ordering for your restaurant and get a new system running.
The online ordering process doesn’t require technical experience or a developer. Most platforms are designed so any restaurant owner can set up your online ordering in under an hour. Here are the practical tips and steps from start to finish.
Your first decision is which platform to use. Look for a specific online ordering system that offers commission-free ordering, supports multiple order types (delivery, pickup, dine-in), and doesn’t require technical knowledge to set up.
Key features to evaluate when choosing an online ordering platform for your restaurant:
Menubly is one option designed specifically for small and mid-sized food businesses. It offers online ordering without commission fees, supports delivery, pickup, and dine-in order types, and accepts 100+ payment methods worldwide — all for $9.99/month with a free 30-day trial. You can have your restaurant’s online ordering page live in under 30 minutes, and the platform is fully customizable to match your brand.
Whatever platform you choose, make sure the trial period is long enough to test the full workflow before committing.
Once you’ve chosen a platform, the next step is uploading your menu. A well-organized online ordering menu directly affects how many online customers complete an order, so it’s worth spending time here.
Tips for building an effective online menu:
If you already have a paper or PDF menu, many platforms let you upload it and will convert it to a digital format automatically — saving hours of manual data entry. With Menubly, you can send a photo of your existing menu via WhatsApp or live chat and the team will convert it into a digital menu within 24 hours, for free. You can also import from CSV if you have a spreadsheet.
On Menubly, you organize your menu into sections (like Food and Drinks), then add subcategories (Appetizers, Mains, Desserts) within each section. For every item, you add a name, price, description, and photo. You can also mark items as Active, Sold Out, or Hidden — so you can instantly pull something off the menu without deleting it. For the full walkthrough, see Menubly’s step-by-step menu setup guide. And for more general tips on structuring your menu, our guide on how to create an online menu covers the full process.
Also set up option groups for any items that need customization — sizes (Small, Medium, Large), toppings, sides, or preparation preferences. On Menubly, you create an option group (like “Choose your size”), add the choices, set it as required or optional, and then apply it to the relevant menu items. Menus that let customers personalize orders tend to have higher average order values.
Don’t forget to review your menu pricing before going live. Online ordering often attracts different customer behavior than in-person dining, and your pricing should reflect any delivery or packaging costs you’re absorbing.
Your payment setup determines how easy it is for customers to complete a purchase. Every extra click or unsupported payment method is a potential dropped order.
At minimum, your online ordering system should accept:
Some platforms also support WhatsApp ordering, where customers can place orders via messaging — useful in markets where WhatsApp is a primary communication channel.
Many platforms give you two paths: manual payment (cash on delivery, bank transfer, Venmo — you send an invoice after the order) and instant online payment through a processor like Stripe (credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and 100+ other methods at checkout). You can offer both and let the customer choose.
On Menubly, you set up manual payment by going to the Payment Setting tab, adding your payment method name (e.g., “Cash on delivery” or “Bank transfer”), and entering instructions for the customer. For instant online payments, go to Account → Stripe Connect and follow the onboarding — once connected, customers can pay at checkout with credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and 100+ other methods. You can enable both options so customers pick what works for them.
When you configure payments, also set your currency and any applicable taxes or service charges that should appear at checkout. Test a full order yourself before going live to make sure the payment flow works as expected.
Most direct ordering platforms let you configure which types of orders you’ll accept: dine-in, takeaway pickup, or delivery. You can also decide whether to offer online ordering for off-premise orders only or include in-store dine-in ordering too. Set up each one based on your restaurant’s actual operations.
For pickup orders:
For delivery orders:
For dine-in ordering:
With Menubly, this setup takes about two minutes: go to the Order Setting tab, switch the Ordering Mode to Online, enter your WhatsApp number for instant order notifications, and choose your shipping methods — pickup, delivery, or both. Enter your pickup address or delivery zone details, hit Save, and your menu is now accepting orders. Every new order sends a WhatsApp message with the full details — items, customer name, phone number, and pickup or delivery preference. For a complete walkthrough with screenshots, see Menubly’s online ordering setup guide.
You don’t have to enable all three from day one. Many restaurants start with pickup only, then add delivery and dine-in ordering as their team gets comfortable with the workflow.
Your online ordering system is only useful if customers know it exists. Having a strong online ordering strategy doesn’t require a big budget — it mainly requires putting your ordering link in front of people where they already look.
Places to share your online ordering link:
With Menubly, you can grab both your public URL and a downloadable QR code from your dashboard. The QR code never changes — even when you update prices, add new items, or mark something sold out, the same QR code always links to your latest menu. Print it once and you’re set.
You can also run a short-term promotion to drive first-time online orders — a free dessert, a percentage off, or free delivery for the first week. For more ideas, see our guide to restaurant marketing on a small budget.
Once customers have used your direct ordering system once, many will come back through it rather than a third-party app — especially if the experience is faster and easier. Restaurants that actively promote their direct link can increase online orders by 20–35% compared to those that rely on third-party platforms alone.
If you already have a restaurant website, you can offer online ordering by embedding a button or link that points to your ordering page. Most direct ordering platforms give you a shareable URL that works on any device — no installation or plugin required. This is the fastest way to get your restaurant accepting online orders.
Here’s how to add it in practice:
If you don’t have a restaurant website yet, some platforms give you everything in one place. Menubly, for example, includes a built-in one-page restaurant website builder alongside your online menu and ordering system — all on a single page. Your customers see your restaurant info, location, hours, social media links, and menu in one scroll, and can place an order without leaving the page. It works as your link-in-bio for Instagram and TikTok, your Google Business profile link, and your ordering hub — no separate website needed. You can build a restaurant website and have ordering running in the same setup session.
For restaurants already running on platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress, just paste your ordering page URL into a button on your existing site. No developer needed.
Google lets restaurants display an ordering link directly in their Google Business Profile — so when someone searches your restaurant name, they see an “Order Online” button right in the search results.
To add your ordering link to Google:
Google also has a “Reserve with Google” and “Order with Google” integration for select platforms. Not all direct ordering platforms are eligible, but most will let you manually add an ordering link through your Business Profile settings.
Having your ordering link visible in search engine results reduces friction significantly — customers can go from search to order in under a minute. This also helps with your overall restaurant SEO, since Google sees your ordering link as an active business signal.
Once your system is live, these steps help increase the number of orders you receive through your direct channel:
Put your most popular and most profitable items at the top of each category. Customers who see your bestsellers first are more likely to order without scrolling through the full menu. Review your menu engineering to identify which items deserve top placement.
Items with photos consistently outperform text-only listings. You don’t need a professional photographer — good natural lighting and a clean background are enough. Add photos to your top 10–15 items first, then work through the rest of the menu over time.
Let customers customize your online menu orders — extra sauce, no onions, different sizes. Menus that allow customization see higher average order values because customers feel more comfortable ordering exactly what they want rather than settling for a default option.
Use your customer contact list to send exclusive discounts that are only available through your direct ordering channel — not on third-party apps. This trains your regulars to order directly from you and builds loyalty over time. Consider using digital marketing strategies to grow your contact list and drive repeat orders.
More than 60% of online food orders are placed from smartphones. Whether customers use a mobile ordering app or your browser-based ordering page, make sure it loads quickly, buttons are large enough to tap, and the checkout process doesn’t require creating an account. Every extra step loses customers.
Customers who are considering a new restaurant almost always check reviews first. A strong review profile drives more first-time orders. Proactively ask satisfied customers to leave reviews, and respond to negative feedback professionally. See our guide on how to handle negative reviews for a practical approach.
Yes. Many platforms offer a free plan or a free trial period. Free plans typically have basic features — enough to get started with pickup and delivery ordering. As your order volume grows, upgrading to a paid plan (usually $10–$50/month) gives you more customization, payment options, and analytics. The key is choosing a platform with zero commission fees, so you keep all your revenue regardless of plan level.
No. Most online ordering platforms give you a standalone ordering page with its own URL that you can share directly — on Instagram, Google, via QR code, or in a text message. You don’t need an existing website to start. That said, having a simple restaurant website gives you a more professional base to drive customers to your ordering page.
With a modern direct ordering platform like Menubly, most restaurants can go from sign-up to a live ordering page in 30 minutes to a few hours. The main time investment is building your menu — adding items, descriptions, and photos. If you already have a digital menu or PDF menu, some platforms can import it automatically, cutting setup time significantly.
Both can have a role, but they serve different purposes. Third-party apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats are useful for customer discovery — getting in front of people who don’t know your restaurant yet. Your own direct ordering system is where you want loyal, repeat customers to order, because you keep 100% of that revenue. Many restaurants run both: third-party for new customer acquisition, and a direct system for retention.
Yes. Most direct ordering platforms support delivery orders. You can either use your own network of drivers, partner with a local courier service, or use a third-party delivery logistics provider that integrates with your platform. With your own ordering system, you can set your own delivery fees and keep all order revenue — rather than losing 15–30% to a marketplace app like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Postmates.
Most platforms send order notifications via the dashboard app, by email, or through a tablet/printer connection. You’ll receive a notification when a new order arrives, see the full order details, and can update the status (accepted, in preparation, ready for pickup) from the same dashboard. Some platforms also integrate with kitchen display systems so orders appear directly on a screen in your kitchen.
A mobile ordering app requires customers to download something from the App Store or Google Play. An online ordering website works directly in any browser — no download required. For most small restaurants, a browser-based system is better because there’s no friction for new customers. Customers just click a link and order, even if they’ve never visited your restaurant before.
No. Modern online ordering platforms are built for restaurant owners, not developers. You create an account, add your menu items, configure payment and fulfillment settings, and share your ordering link. Most platforms have step-by-step setup guides and support teams that can help if you get stuck. No coding or technical background is needed.
Setting up online ordering for your restaurant is one of the most direct ways to increase revenue without adding seats, staff, or marketing spend. The key is using a direct ordering system — one where you own the customer relationship and keep 100% of every order, rather than paying 15–30% to a third-party platform on every transaction. It’s an opportunity for restaurants of all sizes to offer online ordering on their own terms.
The steps are straightforward: choose a commission-free platform, build your menu, set up payments and fulfillment, and promote your ordering link wherever your customers already spend time. Most restaurants can complete the entire setup in under an hour.
If you want to increase restaurant sales without depending on third-party apps, a direct online ordering system is the place to start. Your regulars will appreciate the convenience of ordering directly from you, and you’ll appreciate keeping the money that was previously going to a delivery platform.
Try Menubly free for 30 days — set up your online menu and commission-free ordering in minutes, no credit card required.
