8 Things to Know About Commission-Free Delivery Software

Third-party delivery apps can make it easy for restaurants to reach customers, but they also take a significant cut from every order. A 15%-30% commission on a $50 order means giving up $7.50-$15 before paying for ingredients, staff, rent, and other expenses. Over hundreds or thousands of orders, that can become a serious hit to a restaurant’s profits.

That’s why many restaurant owners are looking at commission-free delivery software. Instead of relying entirely on platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub, restaurants can take orders through their own website, app, or QR code and keep more of what they earn.

However, there’s one thing to keep in mind: commission-free doesn’t always mean completely free. There may still be software, payment processing, hosting, or other costs involved. 

So, before choosing a platform, some important things you should know about commission-free delivery software.

Things to Know About Commission-Free Delivery Software

For restaurants, every percentage saved on each order can make a real difference. Commission-free delivery software offers a way to take orders directly and have more control over your revenue and customers. 

But before making the switch, here are 8 important things to consider beyond the promise of “0%” commission.

1. “Commission-Free” Usually Means a Flat Fee Instead

Commission-free platforms don’t work for nothing; they just change how they charge. Instead of taking a cut of every sale, most charge a flat monthly subscription, a small per-order fee, or a one-time setup cost. This matters because it flips the math in your favor as volume grows: a percentage-based commission scales up with your sales, while a flat fee stays the same whether you sell 50 orders a day or 500. 

500. Before signing up, ask for the complete pricing breakdown, including payment processing fees, which are usually charged separately from the software fee itself.

2. You Own the Customer Data

With third-party marketplaces, the platform owns the customer relationship. You may get the order details, but you often have limited access to the customer’s name, phone number, or email address.

With commission-free delivery software, orders come through your own branded website or app, so you can collect customer details directly with each order. That information can become a great asset for your business. You can use it to build loyalty programs, send win-back emails, offer personalized deals, and encourage customers to order again.

Over time, having a direct relationship with your customers can be worth even more than the money you save on commissions.

3. Delivery Logistics Still Need to Be Solved

Going commission-free can help you keep more of each order, but it doesn’t automatically put a driver at your doorstep. Some platforms are simply ordering systems; you still need your own drivers or a separate courier network to deliver the food.

Others go a step further by offering access to a nationwide courier network. They give you the delivery support you’d normally expect from a third-party marketplace without taking a percentage of every sale.

For example, if a restaurant starts accepting orders through its own website, it may still need to figure out who will pick up the food, where the driver is, and how the customer can track the order.

So, before choosing a platform, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting: an ordering system, a delivery and dispatch system, or both.

4. Setup and Integration Complexity Varies Widely

Not every commission-free food delivery software is equally easy to set up. Some are designed for a quick start, with a hosted ordering page and minimal configuration. Ideal for a small, independent restaurant that simply wants to start taking direct orders.

Others are built for larger or growing brands and can connect with POS systems, kitchen display screens, loyalty apps, and multi-location management tools. These platforms may take more time to configure but scale better for growing brands.

For example, a single-location restaurant may only need an ordering page and payment integration. A restaurant chain with five locations may need POS integration, centralized order management, and separate menus for each location.

Before choosing a platform, list the tools you already use and check how well they integrate. The goal is to create one connected system, not another tool that leaves you switching between disconnected platforms.

5. Marketing Tools Are Often Built In

Commission-free platforms are designed to help restaurants build direct relationships. Many include built-in marketing features, such as:

• Promo codes
• Loyalty points
• Abandoned-cart reminders
• Automated email or SMS campaigns

These features are worth paying close attention to when comparing platforms. Because getting customers to order directly again and again is what can make commission-free ordering more valuable over time, not just the money saved on marketplace fees.

6. Marketplace Visibility Isn’t Included

Going commission-free can give you more control over your orders and customer relationships. However, there’s one important trade-off: you lose some of the built-in visibility that marketplaces provide.

On platforms like DoorDash or Uber Eats, customers are already browsing nearby restaurants, which can help new businesses get discovered. With your own branded ordering page or app, you have to bring those customers in yourself through your website, social media, in-store signage, email campaigns, or QR codes.

Many restaurants run a hybrid model using marketplaces for new-customer acquisition while pushing repeat customers toward the commission-free channel for higher margins. 

7. Pricing Models Differ More Than They Look

Not every “commission-free” delivery platform charges in the same way. Some look affordable at first glance, but the actual cost can change depending on how many orders you process and which features you need.

Common pricing models include:

• Flat monthly subscription: You pay a fixed amount each month, regardless of how many orders you receive.
• Small fee per order: You pay a fixed amount for every order, so the cost increases with your sales volume.
• Tiered plans: Pricing changes based on order volume, number of locations, or the features included.
• Free base plan with paid add-ons: You can start with basic features for free and pay extra when you need advanced tools.

For example, a platform charging $49 per month may be cheaper for a restaurant processing 500 orders a month than one charging $0.30 per order. But as order volume increases, the calculation can change.

Therefore, it’s better to run your actual order volume through each pricing model. Rather than comparing platforms based only on their advertised monthly price. Also check for additional costs such as payment processing, premium features, setup fees, and extra-location charges. 

8. It Works Best as Part of a Bigger Strategy, Not a Full Replacement

Switching to commission-free delivery software doesn’t mean you have to ditch marketplaces overnight. For many restaurants, the smarter approach is to use both channels and give each one a different job. 

Marketplaces can help bring in new customers and handle extra demand. Your own ordering channel gives you more control over your margins and customer relationships. 

The goal isn’t necessarily to eliminate marketplaces. It’s to move your most loyal and profitable customers to your direct channel while continuing to use marketplaces for discovery and additional orders.

Commission-Free vs. Commission-Based Delivery Software

The two models solve the same problem: getting orders from customer to kitchen to doorstep, but they charge for it in opposite ways. 

Here’s how they are different from each other.  

Factor	Commission-Based	Commission-Free
Pricing	Percentage per order, 15-30%	Flat monthly fee, small per-order fee, or tiered plan
Cost as volume grows	Scales up; more sales means more fees	Stays predictable, even flat
Customer data	Owned by the marketplace	Owned by the restaurant
Discovery / new customers	Built-in app browsing drives new orders	Not included; you have to drive your own traffic
Branding	Marketplace branding on the ordering experience	Fully branded to the restaurant
Delivery drivers	Included via the marketplace’s courier network	Varies; some platforms include couriers, others don’t
Marketing tools	Limited, often marketplace-controlled promotions	Usually built in: loyalty, promo codes, email/SMS

Where Commission-Based Wins

Marketplaces remain hard to beat for pure discovery. A new restaurant with no website traffic or social following can start receiving orders almost immediately just by listing on an app people already have installed. There’s also no setup complexity; the marketplace handles drivers, payments, and support.

Where Commission-Free Wins

Once a restaurant has a base of repeat customers, commission-free software usually wins on margin. A regular who orders weekly is far more profitable through a direct, low-fee channel than through a platform taking 20–30% every single time. 

It also builds an asset the restaurant actually owns. A customer list and a branded ordering experience rather than renting access to someone else’s audience indefinitely.

Most Restaurants Use Both

You don’t have to choose one channel and forget the other. For many restaurants, the smarter strategy is to use both for a different purpose:

1. Marketplaces attract new customers who are already searching for restaurants nearby.
2. Commission-free software brings those customers back through your own website or app using receipts, loyalty offers, and QR codes.
3. Marketing tools like email, SMS, and loyalty programs encourage customers to keep ordering directly.

The result? Fewer orders paying marketplace commissions and more repeat customers ordering directly, helping restaurants keep more of the revenue they earn.

Case Study: How Borku Used Enatega to Go Commission-Free

A strong real-world example of commission-free delivery software is Borku. A food delivery platform built using Enatega’s white-label, open-source system.

The Challenge

Borku wanted to create a delivery platform focused on African cuisine, connecting local restaurants and riders through its own branded app instead of relying on a commission-heavy marketplace. 

To make this work, Borku needed to support a diverse, culturally specific menu, create a smooth onboarding process for restaurants and riders, and deliver a unique user experience. The platform integrated Stripe to handle transactions.

The Approach

Instead of building a delivery platform from scratch, a process that can take months and cost tens of thousands of dollars, Borku launched using Enatega’s ready-made, customizable multi-vendor system. 

It provided a customer app, restaurant app, rider app, and admin dashboard. Borku could then brand and configure the platform around its own menus, restaurant partners, and workflows rather than operating within someone else’s marketplace.

The Result

By owning its platform instead of paying a percentage of every order, Borku reported saving $100,000 in commissions during its first year. 

FAQs

---