Operational Guide
How to Reduce DoorDash and Uber Eats Commissions
Last updated: March 2026
Third-party delivery platforms charge 15-30% commission. On a $30 order, that means $4.50-$9.00 disappears directly from your margin. For restaurants that typically operate on 5-10% profit margins, this commission rate can easily consume all profit on online orders.
But abandoning DoorDash and Uber Eats entirely is not wise either — the customer discovery value they provide is real. The smart approach is a hybrid strategy: reduce the total commission you pay while retaining the exposure platforms bring.
The Real Cost of Third-Party Delivery
Let us run the actual numbers. Take a restaurant with 200 DoorDash orders per month at a $35 average ticket:
- Monthly online revenue: 200 x $35 = $7,000
- At 25% commission: $7,000 x 25% = $1,750/month
- Annual commission: $1,750 x 12 = $21,000/year
That $21,000/year is pure commission cost — before your own food cost, labor, and other expenses. If your food cost is 30%, labor is 30%, plus 25% commission, you are left with just 15% on each DoorDash order — and that still needs to cover rent, utilities, and other overhead.
Four Strategies to Reduce Commissions
Strategy 1: Negotiate Lower Rates
DoorDash and Uber Eats commission rates are not fixed. Restaurants with higher order volumes have negotiating room. DoorDash offers tiered plans: Basic (lower commission, lower search ranking), Plus (middle), Premier (highest commission, highest visibility). Some restaurants report negotiating custom rates by contacting their account manager directly, especially when threatening to leave the platform or committing to exclusivity.
Best for: restaurants with 200+ monthly orders. More volume means more leverage.
Strategy 2: Use Pickup-Only or Basic Tiers (Lower Commission)
If many of your online orders are pickup rather than delivery, consider switching to a pickup-only or basic tier. DoorDash pickup commission is typically 6-15%, much lower than delivery orders with drivers (15-30%). If you are in a high foot-traffic area, many customers actually prefer pickup — they use DoorDash just because it is convenient for browsing and ordering, not because they need delivery.
Best for: restaurants with high pickup ratios, especially fast-casual concepts.
Strategy 3: Build Your Own Online Ordering (POS-Integrated)
The most direct way to reduce commissions is to capture orders through your own online ordering channel. POS-integrated online ordering — where orders flow directly into the POS and kitchen printers from the same menu database — eliminates manual re-entry and sync issues. Ginger offers built-in online ordering with a $1/order platform fee paid by the customer and zero monthly fees. Square also includes free online ordering. Toast's online ordering is a paid add-on.
Best for: all restaurants. This should be the foundation layer of your online strategy.
Strategy 4: Hybrid Approach (Discovery + Direct Ordering)
This is the most practical strategy. Keep DoorDash and Uber Eats as customer discovery channels (new customers finding you), but actively redirect repeat customers to your direct ordering. Put a card in every delivery bag promoting your direct ordering URL. Offer small incentives (free drink, first-order discount) to encourage direct ordering. Over time, your direct order percentage rises and your blended commission rate drops continuously.
Best for: any restaurant already active on third-party platforms. This is not all-or-nothing — it is a gradual transition.
Online Ordering Channel Cost Comparison
| Channel | Commission | Cost on $15 Bowl | Cost on $50 Order | Customer Data | Menu Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoorDash (standard) | 15-30% | $2.25-$4.50 | $7.50-$15.00 | No | Limited |
| Uber Eats (standard) | 15-30% | $2.25-$4.50 | $7.50-$15.00 | No | Limited |
| DoorDash (pickup only) | 6-15% | $0.90-$2.25 | $3.00-$7.50 | No | Limited |
| Ginger online ordering | $1/order flat | $1.00 | $1.00 | Yes | Full |
| Square online ordering | 0% (processing only) | $0 + processing | $0 + processing | Yes | Full |
| Toast online ordering | Varies (add-on fee) | Varies | Varies | Yes | Full |
The Ginger Approach: $1/Order, Orders Direct to POS
Ginger's online ordering shares the same database as the POS — not a third-party integration, but the same system. This means:
- Online orders print directly to kitchen printers, no manual steps
- Menu prices changed in one place update both POS and online menu
- Modifiers are 100% identical online and in-store — no sync discrepancies
- Flat $1/order platform fee paid by the customer, zero extra cost to the restaurant
- You keep customer data — emails, phone numbers, order history — usable for direct marketing
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I completely stop using DoorDash and Uber Eats?
No, for most restaurants. Third-party platforms provide genuine value in customer discovery — new customers who have never heard of your restaurant find you through DoorDash and Uber Eats. The smart approach is hybrid: keep your DoorDash listing active for discovery, but redirect repeat customers to your direct ordering channel. Include a flyer in every DoorDash order saying "Order direct next time and skip the fees — [your ordering URL]." Over time, your direct order percentage grows while you still benefit from platform discovery.
How much can I realistically save by shifting orders to direct ordering?
The math depends on your order volume and average ticket. Let us use a realistic example: a restaurant doing 300 online orders/month with a $30 average ticket. On DoorDash at 25% commission, that is $2,250/month in commissions. If you shift 50% of those orders (150) to direct ordering through Ginger at $1/order, the commission on those 150 orders drops from $1,125 to $150 — saving $975/month. The remaining 150 DoorDash orders still cost $1,125, but your blended commission rate drops from $2,250 to $1,275 — a 43% reduction.
Can I negotiate lower rates with DoorDash or Uber Eats?
Yes, but leverage matters. Restaurants with higher order volumes have more negotiating power. DoorDash offers tiered commission plans — lower commission rates in exchange for lower placement in search results, or higher rates for better visibility. Some restaurants have negotiated custom rates by threatening to leave the platform or by signing exclusivity agreements. The key is to know your numbers: what percentage of your orders come through each platform, and what is the actual dollar cost? Platforms are more willing to negotiate when you have specific numbers showing you are considering alternatives.
What is the difference between DoorDash delivery and DoorDash pickup?
DoorDash charges different commission rates for delivery orders versus pickup orders. Delivery orders carry the full 15-30% commission because DoorDash provides the driver. Pickup orders typically carry a lower commission (6-15%) because there is no driver involved — the customer picks up the food themselves. If a significant portion of your DoorDash orders are pickup, you are still paying commission for something you could handle through your own ordering system at a fraction of the cost.
How do I get customers to order directly instead of through DoorDash?
Three proven tactics: (1) Include a physical card in every third-party delivery bag that says "Order directly from us and save" with your ordering URL or QR code. This converts DoorDash customers into direct customers over time. (2) Offer a small incentive for direct orders — a free drink, 10% off first direct order, or loyalty points. The incentive costs less than the DoorDash commission you save. (3) Make your direct ordering URL prominent — on your Google Business Profile, on receipts, on in-store signage, and on social media. Many customers would prefer to order direct if they knew how.
Related Pages
- How to Set Up Online Ordering for a Restaurant
- Restaurant POS Costs Explained
- Best Free POS Systems in 2026
- Ginger Pricing
See how this applies to specific restaurant types: boba shops, poke shops, ramen shops
Replace 15-30% Commission with $1/Order
Ginger online ordering integrates directly with your POS, zero monthly fee, orders to kitchen.
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