Here is the quick maths. If your café or takeaway sells £3,000 a month through a delivery app and the app keeps 30%, that is £900 a month, or £10,800 a year, before you have paid for a single ingredient.
Marketplaces are useful for being found by new customers. But most of your takeaway orders come from people who already know you: regulars, office workers down the road, families who order every Friday. You don't need a marketplace to take their orders, and you don't need a £2,000 custom app either. You need your own order page.
The real cost of delivery apps vs direct online ordering
Delivery apps commonly charge a commission somewhere between 25% and 35% of each order, depending on the plan and whether they supply the riders. White-label ordering platforms charge less per order, but usually add a monthly fee and sometimes setup costs. A direct order page on a flat subscription has no percentage at all; you pay card processing to your payment provider and nothing else per order.
| Delivery marketplace apps | White-label ordering platforms | Café QR direct order page | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | Often an activation or tablet fee | Can include setup or hardware costs | None |
| Monthly fee | Varies by plan | Usually a monthly subscription per site | £14.99 a month (Order & Pay + Delivery) |
| Commission per order | Commonly 25%–35% | Depends on the provider; check the quote | 0% Café QR platform fee |
| Card processing | Built into the app's fees | Usually processed by the platform | Your own Stripe account at Stripe's rates |
| Who owns the customer | The app | Usually you | You |
Prices and terms change, so ask every provider for a written quote. Our Flipdish alternative page compares one well-known white-label platform using its published UK pricing.
Why white-label apps can still cost more than you expect
A white-label app looks like your own brand, which is a real step up from a marketplace. But read the quote line by line. Check for a per-order platform fee on top of card processing, a minimum contract, setup or "implementation" charges, and hardware you have to buy from them. A small independent venue rarely needs a branded app in the app stores; a fast web page your customers open from a link does the same job.
How a direct collection and delivery page works in practice
Your customer doesn't download anything. They tap your link from Instagram, Google or a flyer, and your menu opens in their phone's browser.
- They choose collection or delivery.
- For delivery, they enter their postcode and the page checks it sits inside the delivery zones you've drawn.
- They pick their items and options, such as oat milk or no onions, and see allergen information as they go.
- They pay with card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through your own Stripe account.
- The order lands in your kitchen straight away.
You can see this for yourself in the online ordering for takeaways walkthrough.
Handling click and collect for the lunch rush
Collection is where a direct page earns its keep. Customers order ahead from the office, pay before they arrive and pick up without queuing. You get the order while the queue at the counter is still short, and your kitchen can work through orders in the time they were placed rather than all at once at 12:30. For more on this, see how to speed up a café lunch rush.
Managing your own drivers without a dispatch system
If you deliver with your own staff, you don't need a separate dispatch tool. Café QR's delivery manager shows orders in lanes: ready, being made, out and delivered. You assign a rider and they get a private link on their phone with their runs, a map, a call button for the customer and the amount to collect if the order is cash. They tap to update the status, and you record cash or card collected when they return.
Keeping online orders and counter sales in one kitchen queue
Many takeaways end up with a tablet for every app: one pinging for one marketplace, another for a second, and the till on top. Orders get missed, and staff copy them by hand onto the till.
With Café QR, online orders arrive on the same kitchen screen and the same Star or Epson network printer as counter and table orders. One queue, in the order they came in, with timers that turn amber and then "Late" at thresholds you set. If you also sell through delivery apps, the Multi-site plan can bring those orders onto the same screen through the order API using a delivery-app hub.
4 ways to move your customers from delivery apps to your own link
1. Bag flyers with a first-order promo code
Every delivery-app order you send out is a chance to tell that customer about your own page. Put a small flyer in the bag with a QR code and a first-order promo code. Café QR's promo codes work at online checkout, so the discount applies automatically when they enter it.
2. Add your direct order link to Google Business Profile and Instagram
Most people find your opening hours on Google and your food on Instagram. Add your order link to your Google Business Profile and your Instagram bio so the quickest way to order is the one that doesn't cost you commission.
3. Use table QR codes to capture opt-in regulars
Guests who order at the table can choose to join your customer list. That gives you a way to reach them later about collection and delivery, with their permission. Our loyalty and marketing consent checklist explains how to do this properly.
4. Send WhatsApp and email offers when things are quiet
A wet Tuesday evening is the time to send a "free side with every collection order tonight" message. Café QR can send offers to regulars who have opted in, by WhatsApp or email, so you fill quiet hours without paying a marketplace for the privilege.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to process card payments on my own ordering page?
Card payments go to your own Stripe account and Stripe charges its standard rates; for standard UK cards online that is 1.5% + 20p. See Stripe's pricing for current rates. Café QR adds a 0% platform fee on top, and you remain the merchant, so payouts come from Stripe to you.
Can I mark items sold out on my till and online page at the same time?
Yes. Your menu is shared across the till, table QR ordering and your online page, so marking an item sold out stops it being ordered everywhere at once. You can also decide which staff are allowed to mark items sold out.
Related reading
- QR Ordering vs Delivery Apps
- How Much Does a Café POS System Cost in the UK?
- Kitchen Screen or Printed Tickets for a Small Café?
- What Is a Ghost Kitchen? A Guide for UK Restaurants
Want to see your menu on your own commission-free order page? Send us a photo of your menu on WhatsApp and we'll load your items, prices and allergens for free while you try Café QR for 30 days. See the takeaway POS system page or start your free month.