How to Partner Your Restaurant with a Food Delivery App (Complete Guide)

If you run a restaurant and are not yet on a food delivery platform, you are leaving significant revenue on the table. Delivery orders now account for 20–35% of total revenue for the average restaurant on a delivery app. For some — particularly those in dense urban areas — it can be over half. This guide covers everything you need to know about joining a delivery platform: what the fees really mean, how to evaluate the profitability math, and how to get started with GeraEats.

Why Join a Delivery Platform?

The case for joining a delivery platform goes beyond extra orders. Here is what a delivery partnership actually gives you:

• New customers: People browsing a delivery app discover restaurants they would never walk past. Your listing reaches potential new customers in your area every week.
• Higher average order value: Delivery orders tend to be larger than dine-in orders. Groups ordering at home add more items, sides, and drinks because they are not constrained by table service pace.
• No fixed delivery cost: On platforms that manage their own rider network, you do not hire, insure, or manage delivery staff. The platform handles logistics.
• Off-peak revenue: Delivery orders often come during times when the dining room is quiet — mid-afternoon, late evenings — filling otherwise dead time in the kitchen.
• Data and analytics: Good platforms provide sales data, popular items, and peak hours — insights that help you optimize your menu and staffing.

Understanding Commission Fees

Commission is the fee a delivery platform charges on each order it brings you. It is typically a percentage of the food subtotal (excluding delivery fee), charged to the restaurant. Industry-standard commission rates in 2026 range from 15% to 30%.

GeraEats charges a 20% commission on food orders. This is at the fair end of market rates. Here is what that 20% covers:

• Rider network management and dispatch
• Customer-facing app and website — your storefront
• Payment processing (card, mobile money, cash reconciliation)
• Customer support for order issues
• Marketing exposure within the app

Think of it not as a cost but as a customer acquisition fee. If a new customer found you through the app and spends £25, the £5 commission is your cost of acquiring that customer — cheaper than paid advertising and with no up-front risk.

The Profitability Maths

Let's run through a realistic scenario for a mid-range restaurant:

Compare this to a dine-in cover at the same average spend, which carries floor staff wages, table linen, utilities, and higher labour costs. For many kitchens, delivery orders at 20% commission are more profitable per pound of revenue than dine-in covers, because the kitchen margin is cleaner.

At 30 delivery orders per day, that is £291 additional net revenue daily — over £100,000 per year from delivery alone.

What Restaurants Need to Get Started

Joining a delivery platform requires minimal setup. You will need:

• Menu with photos: Good food photos increase order conversion significantly. Even simple, well-lit smartphone photos work well. The platform onboarding team can advise.
• Pricing: Many restaurants price delivery menus 5–10% higher than dine-in to offset commission. This is standard practice and accepted by customers.
• Packaging: Appropriate containers that keep food at temperature and prevent spillage. Tamper-evident seals are becoming standard for customer trust.
• Tablet or device: To receive and manage incoming orders. Most platforms provide an order management dashboard on any device with a browser.
• Designated packing area: A space where delivery orders are staged for pickup — separate from dine-in plating — speeds up handoffs to riders.

How GeraEats Restaurant Onboarding Works

Getting started with GeraEats takes less time than most restaurant owners expect. The process:

1. Submit your restaurant details through the restaurant partner page.
2. Our onboarding team reviews your application — typically within 48 hours.
3. Upload your menu (we provide a template) or our team can digitise it for you.
4. Set your delivery radius and operating hours.
5. Go live and start receiving orders.

There is no upfront fee to join. Commission is only charged on orders you actually receive.

Tips for Maximising Delivery Revenue

• Streamline your delivery menu — 15–25 items performs better than 80+ items on delivery apps.
• Offer delivery-only bundles (meal deals, family packs) at attractive price points.
• Respond to customer reviews — restaurants that reply to reviews see measurably higher repeat order rates.
• Keep your availability accurate — "restaurant closed" notifications frustrate customers and hurt your ranking in search results.
• Run promotions during slow periods (Monday–Wednesday lunch) rather than peak times when you are already at capacity.