Did you know that more than 60% of consumers order delivery or takeout at least once a week (1)? As a restaurant owner or operator, you may feel overwhelmed by the complexities of adding a food delivery service to your business. Navigating high third-party fees, managing orders across multiple platforms, and maintaining your food quality while keeping your brand integrity are all common challenges – not to mention, figuring out where to start!

Whether you're launching delivery for the first time or looking to optimize your current setup, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, step-by-step. From choosing the right delivery partners to streamlining operations and boosting sales, you'll gain practical insights and strategies to expand your revenue streams confidently and efficiently.

Let's get started on making delivery a seamless and profitable part of your restaurant business.

Why Add Delivery to Your Restaurant?

If you’re wondering whether or not it’s even necessary to add delivery services to your business, the answer is—it is. Here’s why.

Urgency: Delivery Is No Longer Optional

The U.S. restaurant industry is evolving at warp speed as digital ordering and delivery become central to American dining habits. The online food delivery market is projected to grow from $200 billion in 2024 to $350 billion by 2033 (2), reflecting sustained demand for convenience-driven dining experiences.

Consumer Behavior Shifts: Digital, Fast, and Personalized

Today's diners interact differently with restaurants than in the past. In a 2024 Restaurant Online Ordering Trends report conducted by DoorDash, 70% of U.S. consumers reported ordering food delivery at least once in the past month, while nearly 60% order food online at least once a month (2). Customers expect seamless digital experiences, and restaurants that don't adapt risk losing market share to competitors who do.

The Financial Upside: Revenue, Reach, and Off-Peak Sales

Adding delivery unlocks three key revenue opportunities. First, customers who order online visit restaurants 67% more often, and digital orders tend to be higher in value than traditional orders (3). Second, food delivery apps expand your reach beyond your immediate neighborhood, giving you access to a new customer base. Third, younger demographics are driving off-peak orders during traditionally slow periods. This creates an additional revenue stream when restaurants need it most.

The Bottom Line

Adding delivery unlocks new revenue streams, meets evolving customer expectations, and future-proofs your business. With the right strategy and support from delivery companies, you can expand your reach, boost profitability, and thrive in the digital dining era.

Understand the Types of Delivery Models

When adding delivery to your restaurant, you have three main approaches to choose from. Each comes with distinct advantages and challenges, and the right choice depends on your budget, operational capacity, and growth goals.

In-House Delivery: Maximum Control, Maximum Investment

In-house delivery means handling everything yourself: hiring delivery staff, managing routes, and communicating with customers. With this delivery model, you’ll have complete control over the customer experience, starting from the moment an order leaves your kitchen to its arrival at the customer's door. Like this, you can ensure food quality standards, maintain your brand, and keep all customer data for future marketing efforts.

However, this approach requires significant upfront investment. You'll need to hire and train delivery drivers, purchase or lease vehicles, secure proper insurance coverage, and develop logistics management systems for your delivery system. The delivery process becomes entirely your responsibility, requiring careful management of your delivery staff and delivery operations.

Third-Party Delivery Platforms: Instant Access, Ongoing Costs

Partnering with established platforms like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub gives you immediate access to millions of hungry customers without the operational headaches of managing delivery logistics. These delivery companies handle driver recruitment, route optimization, and customer service, allowing you to focus on food preparation.

The trade-off comes in the form of commission fees and reduced control over the delivery experience. You'll also have limited access to customer data, making it harder to build direct relationships with your diners through your own delivery operations.

The Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds

Many successful restaurants combine both models, using third-party delivery services to expand their reach while maintaining in-house delivery for nearby customers or high-value orders. This approach allows you to test delivery demand with minimal risk while gradually building your own delivery capabilities.

How to Set Up on Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Other Platforms

Not sure how to get started? Here's a practical guide to getting listed and optimizing your presence on these online ordering platforms.

Requirements to Sign Up

Before you begin, gather these essentials:

• Valid business and food service licenses for your location
• Bank account information including routing and account numbers
• Digital copy of your menu with item names, descriptions, and prices
• Legal business name, EIN, owner information, and contact details

High-quality photos are strongly recommended and can significantly impact your success.

Step-by-Step Merchant Onboarding

The onboarding process is similar across platforms, though each has its specific requirements. For Uber Eats, you'll submit an application through their merchant site, provide documentation including your menu and business licenses, then receive access to the Uber Eats Manager dashboard once approved. DoorDash follows a comparable process – complete their merchant sign-up form, choose how you'll receive orders, upload your menu and photos, connect your bank account, and within a few weeks you should go live.

Both platforms will verify your compliance with local regulations and review your menu before listing your restaurant. Once approved, you'll be given access to their respective management dashboards to handle orders, update menus, and track payments. Many restaurants also integrate these platforms with their POS system for streamlined order management.

Commission Structures and Fees

Understanding the cost structure is crucial for pricing your menu appropriately and protecting your profit margins. Uber Eats commission rates typically range from 15% to 30% per order, depending on your agreement and service level. DoorDash offers tiered plans—Basic at 15%, Plus at 25%, and Premier at 30%—with varying levels of marketing and support. Both platforms may charge additional delivery fees for marketing, promotions, or premium placement, so factor these into your pricing strategy.

Optimization Tips: Menu, Pricing, and Delivery Zones

Success on delivery platforms requires strategic optimization across several key areas:

• Menu Photos: Use natural light and clear angles, as menus with photos can increase sales by up to 44% (4)
• Smart Pricing: Account for commission fees to protect margins and create combo deals to boost average order value
• Delivery Zones: Customize areas by radius or postal code, adjusting delivery fees and minimums to optimize reach and profitability
• Menu Organization: Use clear categories with detailed descriptions highlighting bestsellers and dietary options
• Mobile App Optimization: Ensure your listings are optimized for mobile viewing since most customers order through mobile apps
• Real-Time Updates: Keep your availability and menu items current to provide the best customer experience

Adjusting Your Menu for Delivery

Creating a delivery-optimized online menu is essential for maximizing customer satisfaction and profitability in today’s off-premise dining era. Here's how to tailor your delivery menu offerings for what travels well and sells online.

Identify Top Sellers That Deliver Well

Not every dish is suited for delivery. Focus on menu items that maintain quality during transit and avoid foods prone to becoming soggy or falling apart. Barbecue meats like pork ribs and beef brisket travel exceptionally well and retain their flavor and texture. Pizza remains a top delivery choice due to its durability, while burgers and sandwiches arrive fresh with proper packaging. Asian cuisine including stir-fries, noodles, and dumplings perform well when sauces are packed separately, and Mexican food like burritos and quesadillas are naturally portable. Baked goods and desserts rarely lose quality in transit, making them excellent delivery menu options.

Avoid dishes that rely on crispiness unless you have specialized packaging, and steer clear of items with delicate presentation or components that separate easily, such as composed salads with dressing already applied.

Use Data to Create a Delivery-Optimized Menu

Leverage multiple data sources to refine your online menu offerings:

• Sales Analytics: Use POS and online ordering data to identify top performers and underperformers
• Customer Feedback: Monitor reviews to spot recurring quality issues with specific items
• Seasonal Adjustments: Update menus to reflect changing ingredients and customer preferences
• Menu Size: Streamline to 15-20 items to avoid overwhelming customers while ensuring efficiency

This data-driven approach increases average order value, reduces food waste, enhances customer satisfaction through consistent quality, and helps protect your profit margins by focusing on high-performing items.

Tips on Bundling and Combo Deals

Bundling is a proven strategy to boost order value and simplify customer decisions. Create value meals by combining a main dish, side, and drink at a discounted price. Alternatively, explore the possibility of designing cross-sell bundles that pair popular menu items together. Family and group bundles are especially attractive for larger delivery orders and can significantly increase ticket size. Seasonal or themed bundles work well as limited-time offers.

Bundling encourages customers to try new items, increases average order value, and streamlines kitchen operations by promoting set combinations.

Promote Your Delivery Offering

Once your delivery service is live, it’s essential to promote effectively. Here's how to maximize your visibility and make your delivery offering stand out.

Drive Awareness Through Multiple Touchpoints

Start by ensuring your delivery availability is visible everywhere customers might encounter your brand. Add prominent banners to your restaurant website that link directly to your online ordering page, creating an intuitive path from discovery to purchase. Your physical location is equally important – signs and decals informing walk-in customers and passersby that delivery is available can work wonders.

QR codes offer a powerful bridge between offline and online experiences. Print them on menus, table tents, receipts, and window displays, directing customers straight to your ordering platform. This technology makes it incredibly easy for diners to transition from in-person experiences to future delivery orders.

Launch with Compelling Incentives

First impressions matter, so launch your delivery service with promotions that encourage trial:

• First-Order Discounts: Offer special discounts or free items for first-time delivery customers to encourage trial
• Free Delivery Campaigns: Remove barriers by waiving delivery fees for all customers or orders above a certain threshold
• Delivery-Exclusive Bundles: Create value packages that combine popular menu items to increase average order value

These incentives give customers compelling reasons to choose delivery over pickup or dining in.

Leverage Digital Platforms for Maximum Reach

Your Google Business Profile needs regular updating to reflect your delivery options. Post special offers and add direct ordering links so local customers find you when searching for delivery options. Social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok should buzz with announcements about your delivery launch, featuring high-quality food photos, behind-the-scenes content, and customer testimonials. Use social media as a marketing tool to showcase your delivery experience.

Cross-promotion amplifies your efforts. Share positive Google reviews on social media, encourage delivery customers to leave feedback, and create user-generated content campaigns around delivery experiences.

Streamline the Ordering Experience

Make sure direct ordering links are visible throughout your digital presence. This includes your restaurant’s website, social media profiles, email newsletters, and even printed materials. Doing so makes it easy for customers to decide they want to order from you.

Additionally, all promotional materials should maintain consistency – from your logo to your restaurant’s colors. Customers should instantly recognize you, and associate your branding with your menu. In fact, Future Foods is an expert in keeping a brand’s presence uniform – check out what we’ve done for our virtual brands.

The Next Level: Virtual Brands

Once your restaurant is up and running on delivery apps, you're ready for the next growth opportunity, virtual brands. At Future Foods, we work with restaurants like yours to help you make the most of your existing kitchen. We match you with a delivery-only brand designed to bring in incremental orders, and we handle the setup, menu, and marketing for you.

References

1. Paytronix. (2024, February). Online Ordering 2024 Trends: Performance Optimization. https://www.paytronix.com/blog/online-ordering-2024-trends-performance-optimization
2. Verified Market Reports. (2025, February). Online Food Delivery Marketplace Market Insights. Verified Market Reports. https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/online-food-delivery-marketplace-market/ 
3. OysterLink. (2025, May). Online Ordering vs Dine-In Statistics. OysterLink. https://oysterlink.com/spotlight/online-ordering-vs-dine-in-statistics/ 
4. DoorDash. (n.d.). How to Take Amazing Restaurant Menu Photos. DoorDash Merchant Blog. https://merchants.doordash.com/en-us/blog/menu-photography

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