In This Article
Third-party delivery platforms changed the game for online food ordering in Australia. They built the audience, the infrastructure, and the logistics — and venues got access to customers they wouldn't have reached otherwise. But the terms of that deal have become harder to justify as margins tighten.
Paying 25–30% commission on every order means a $40 meal earns your venue around $28 after the platform takes its cut. The food cost, packaging, and kitchen labour still come out of that. For many venues, delivery orders through third-party apps are close to break-even — or worse.
The shift is accelerating. More Australian venues are building their own direct ordering channel — capturing online orders at a fraction of the commission, on their own brand, with their own customer data.
The Commission Problem
The three major delivery platforms operating in Australia — Uber Eats, DoorDash, and the recently shuttered Menulog (which redirected users to Uber Eats in late 2025) — charge commission rates typically ranging from 15% to 35% depending on the contract tier and whether you're using their delivery logistics.
That's before the customer pays a delivery fee directly to the platform. The venue still pays the commission. The customer still pays the fee. The platform takes both.
"You built the kitchen, the team, the recipes. The platform takes the relationship — and 30% of the sale. Direct ordering gives that back."
— Ai-Menu, July 2026What 30% Commission Actually Costs
At $150,000 per month in online orders through a platform charging 30% commission, you're paying $45,000 per month — or $540,000 per year — to a third-party platform. Shifting even 50% of those orders to a direct channel at 3% reduces that to under $7,000 per year. The difference is $38,000 back in your operation.
Even at more modest volumes — $20,000/month in delivery orders — the commission difference between 30% and 3% is $54,000 per year.
How Direct Online Ordering Works
Ai-Takeaway gives your venue a fully branded online ordering page — on your domain, with your logo, your photos, and your menu — without any complex development or third-party integration.
Real Results: Salvitos
"Online web conversions increased from 8% to 30%. Average order value up 25%. Online revenue as a share of total revenue tripled."
— SalvitosThe conversion rate jump — from 8% to 30% — reflects what happens when customers land on a clean, fast, branded ordering page instead of being lost in a third-party platform with competitor ads and distractions. The average order value increase reflects what happens when add-on prompts are configured for your specific menu rather than a generic platform interface.
How to Make the Switch
Keep more of every online order.
Talk to our team about setting up your direct ordering channel — and what the commission difference means for your venue specifically.
FAQ: Direct Online Ordering Australia
Common questions from Australian restaurant operators
