SMS marketing

Restaurant SMS Marketing: How to Text Customers the Right Way

By Bruno Vasconcellos, founder of Beatus Mídias
October 2, 2026 · 6 min read

Direct answer: Restaurant SMS marketing is one of the most direct ways to bring customers back, as long as it starts with consent. FCC rules say commercial texts require written consent, which can be collected through a website form. Send few, useful messages: a new dish, a weekday offer, a reminder to reorder. Make opting out easy and track the orders each text brings.

What do the rules say about marketing texts?

According to the FCC consumer guide on robocalls and robotexts, commercial texts require written consent, and consumers can opt out of robocalls and robotexts at any time and in any reasonable manner, even after giving consent. Written consent can be collected on paper or electronically, including website forms. This article is practical guidance, not legal advice; confirm the details for your situation with your SMS provider or an attorney.

How do restaurants collect SMS consent?

A checkbox at online checkout, unchecked by default, explaining what kind of messages the customer will receive.
A text-to-join keyword on the receipt, bag or table tent, followed by a confirmation message.
A simple signup form on your website, linked from your Google profile and Instagram bio.

What should a restaurant send?

SMS messages that bring orders back
Message	When	Example idea
Welcome	Right after signup	A thank-you and a reason for the next order
Slow-day offer	Before a weak service	A weekday combo valid today
New item	On launch	One photo link and the order button
Win-back	After a long gap since the last order	We miss you, plus a small incentive

How often should a restaurant text customers?

Less than you think. Each message should be worth reading, short and tied to a clear order link. Watch opt-outs: if they rise, you are texting too often or sending things people don't care about. Always identify the restaurant in the message and keep the opt-out instruction clear.

The bottom line

SMS works for restaurants because it reaches people who already ordered and liked the food. Earn the consent, send fewer and better messages and measure orders, not opens.

Frequently asked questions

Is SMS marketing legal for restaurants?

Yes, with proper consent. The FCC's consumer guide states that commercial texts require written consent, which can be collected electronically, including through website forms, and that people can opt out at any time in any reasonable manner. Use clear signup language, honor opt-outs right away and check the details with your SMS provider or an attorney.

How often should a restaurant send marketing texts?

Only as often as you have something genuinely useful to say, such as a new dish, a slow-day offer or a reminder to reorder. Many restaurants do better with a few well-timed messages a month than with frequent blasts. Track opt-outs and orders per message; rising opt-outs mean the frequency or the content needs to change.

What should a restaurant text to customers?

Short messages with one clear reason to order and a direct link: a new item, a weekday combo, a welcome offer after signup or a win-back offer for customers who haven't ordered in a while. Always identify the restaurant, keep the tone friendly and include a simple way to stop receiving messages.

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