Commission-free restaurant ordering: compare the total cost

Commission-free restaurant ordering means the ordering software does not take a percentage of each order. It does not mean every part of running the system is free. A useful comparison puts software subscriptions, order commissions, payment processing, hardware and staff time into the same budget, then checks whether the services being compared actually do the same job.

Start with the same ordering channel

A dine-in QR order travels from a guest already at your table to your kitchen. A delivery marketplace may also provide customer discovery, a courier and delivery support. Comparing their headline fees without those differences is misleading. First decide whether you need table ordering, takeaway, delivery logistics or a mixture. Compare costs for the same volume and scope of work.

A hypothetical flat-fee comparison

Suppose the same dine-in ordering service is offered either for a flat $30 a month or for 2% of the orders sent through it. These are illustrative figures, not GiveMyMenu plan prices or an industry average. At $5,000 in monthly orders, the percentage fee would be $100. At $20,000, it would be $400. The flat software fee would remain $30 if the plan and included usage stayed the same.

The simple comparison is monthly order value multiplied by the commission rate, versus the subscription and any usage charges. In this example, $30 divided by 0.02 is $1,500: the two software fees are equal at that order value. This calculation says nothing about which product has better service or includes more work. Check those differences before treating the arithmetic as a buying decision.

Costs that can remain outside the subscription

• Payment-provider fees, when you use a separate service to collect money.
• Printer, paper, network and device costs.
• Setup, menu migration, staff training or support charges.
• Extra locations, users or features that require a different plan.
• Taxes or other charges shown at checkout.

What GiveMyMenu currently charges for

GiveMyMenu uses plan pricing rather than an order commission. Its Free plan includes QR menus, ordering and a kitchen display for one location. Paid plans add capabilities such as table PINs, print views, branding and inventory. Read the current catalog for the exact features, billing period and any per-location pricing. A new account’s trial access is separate from the lasting Free-plan feature set.

Ask for a complete monthly example

Use your own expected order volume and number of locations. Write down the software fee and every separately charged service, then compare a quiet month and a busy month. Check cancellation and renewal terms as well as price. A fixed software fee can make budgeting simpler, but it only helps if the plan covers the workflow your team needs.