Restaurant Commission Fees: How Much Are Delivery Apps Really Costing You?

Commission fees are the single biggest hidden cost for restaurants using third-party delivery platforms. Most owners know the headline percentage, but few have sat down and calculated what it actually costs over a month, a quarter or a year.

Let’s do the maths.

Commission rates by platform (2026)

These are the standard rates restaurants pay per order. Actual rates vary by market, plan tier and negotiation, but these are representative:

A real-world example

Take a neighbourhood restaurant doing 300 delivery orders per month at an average order value of $25. That is $7,500 in monthly delivery revenue.

• At 25% commission: $1,875/month goes to the platform. That is $22,500 per year.
• At 30% commission: $2,250/month - $27,000 per year.
• At 0% commission (Kllivo): $0. You keep every dollar.

$22,500 a year is roughly the cost of a part-time employee, a kitchen equipment upgrade or a marketing budget that actually grows your business. Instead, it disappears into a platform that treats your restaurant as interchangeable inventory.

The fees you do not see

Commission is just the start. Most platforms also charge:

• Tablet rental - $3–$7/week for hardware you do not own.
• Promotional placement - pay extra to appear higher in search results on the app.
• Menu photo shoots - some platforms charge for professional photography.
• Activation or setup fees - one-time fees to get started.
• Price parity clauses - some contracts require your app prices to match or beat your own website, limiting your ability to offer direct-order discounts.

What about the “exposure” argument?

Platforms argue they bring you new customers. And they do - sometimes. But consider:

1. The customer belongs to the app, not to you. They will not see your branding, your story or your loyalty offers.
2. The app actively cross-sells competitors. A customer who searches for your restaurant sees three alternatives before they even reach your menu.
3. You cannot contact that customer afterwards. No email, no SMS, no re-order nudge. The app keeps the data.

Exposure without retention is just renting someone else’s audience - at 30% of your revenue.

How to transition without losing orders

You do not have to quit delivery apps overnight. The smart play is a phased approach:

1. Launch your direct channel first. Set up your Kllivo storefront in 10 minutes. Share the link everywhere - social media, Google Business, printed materials, receipts.
2. Incentivise direct orders. Offer a small discount or free add-on for orders placed directly. You can afford it - you are saving 25% in commissions.
3. Track the shift. Kllivo’s analytics dashboard shows order volume, revenue and customer data in real time. Watch your direct channel grow week over week.
4. Reduce app dependency gradually. As direct orders increase, consider raising app prices slightly or pausing low-performing platforms.

The bottom line

Commission fees are not a cost of doing business - they are a choice. Every restaurant that moves even a fraction of its delivery volume to a direct channel immediately improves its margins. The maths is simple: keep 100%, or keep 70%.