Commission-Free Online Ordering: How to Build a Direct Ordering Channel
By Bruno Vasconcellos, founder of Beatus MídiasOctober 2, 2026 · 6 min read
What are the options for a direct ordering channel?
Restaurants usually choose between an ordering system connected to their POS, an ordering site offered by a delivery platform, or a simple setup for phone, text or WhatsApp orders. Even the big apps offer direct tools now: DoorDash says restaurants can take orders from their own site through its online ordering without DoorDash commission, paying standard payment processing, and Uber Eats lists a Webshop with a 2.5% processing fee plus $0.29 per order.
Sources: DoorDash Marketplace pricing and Uber Eats pricing, checked October 2, 2026.
| Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| POS-connected ordering | Restaurants with steady volume | Setup time and monthly software cost |
| Platform ordering site | Restaurants already on an app | Read who owns the customer data |
| Phone, text or WhatsApp orders | Small menus and neighborhood regulars | Needs fast replies at peak times |
How do you get people to use it?
- Put it everywhere you own: Google Business Profile order link, Instagram bio, website header, receipts, bags and table tents.
- Send paid traffic to it: Meta and Google ads should point to your channel, not to a marketplace listing.
- Give a reason: an offer, a combo or an item available only when ordering direct.
- Make it fast: guest checkout, saved favorites and a menu that loads quickly on a phone.
What does it cost compared with marketplace orders?
On a $40 order, a 30% marketplace commission is $12. On Uber Eats Webshop's published pricing, the processing fee on the same order is $1.29. Your own system will have its own software and processing costs, but the gap per order is usually large enough to pay for the marketing that drives people there.
The bottom line
A direct channel is the asset; the apps are rented space. Build the asset, send traffic to it and let the apps do what they're good at: discovery.
Frequently asked questions
What is commission-free online ordering?
It is an ordering page or system the restaurant controls, where customers order directly instead of through a marketplace app. The restaurant pays software and payment processing costs but not a per-order marketplace commission, keeps the customer's contact details with consent and can invite that customer to order again without paying the app every time.
Is commission-free ordering really free?
Not entirely. You still pay payment processing and, depending on the tool, a software subscription or small per-order fee. Uber Eats, for example, lists its Webshop at 2.5% plus $0.29 per order. The point is that these costs are usually much lower than a 15% to 30% marketplace commission on the same order.
How do I move customers from DoorDash to my own ordering site?
Make the direct option easy to find and worth choosing. Add your ordering link to Google, Instagram and packaging, run ads that point to it, and offer something meaningful for ordering direct, such as a better combo or an exclusive item. Respect each platform's terms, and track how many orders shift to your own channel each month.
Want more orders on your own channel?
Free audit of your ads, ordering page and follow-up, with no lock-in contract.
Get my free audit