How to Take Online Orders for Your Restaurant (2026 Guide)

TLDR: There are 5 ways to take online orders for your restaurant: (1) third-party marketplace apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub (15-30% commission per order), (2) your own branded website with direct ordering ($0-499/month flat fee, zero commission), (3) social media and messaging channels (Instagram, WhatsApp, SMS), (4) AI phone ordering that takes orders 24/7, and (5) Google Business Profile and AI search platforms. The best strategy uses all five channels together: marketplaces for discovery, direct ordering for profitability, and social/voice/AI for reach. A restaurant doing 500 orders/month saves $49,000+/year by shifting the majority of orders from marketplace apps to a direct ordering platform.

Why Online Ordering Matters More Than Ever

Online ordering now accounts for roughly 40% of total restaurant sales in the United States, up from 12% in 2019. The US online food delivery market reached $34.9 billion in 2025 and is growing at 8.9% annually. 60% of US consumers order delivery or takeout at least once a week.

The shift is not slowing down. By 2026, over 2.6 billion users globally are expected to use online food ordering platforms. For restaurants, the question is no longer whether to offer online ordering - it is how to do it without giving away your margins.

Here is the problem: the most popular online ordering method - third-party apps - charges restaurants 15-30% commission on every order. On a $35 average order at 25% commission, $8.75 goes to the platform. On 500 orders per month, that is $4,375 in commission alone - $52,500 per year.

There is a better way. This guide covers all 5 methods of taking online orders, what each one costs, and how to combine them into a system that maximizes revenue.

The 5 Ways to Take Online Orders (Compared)

Each method serves a different purpose. The restaurants doing best in 2026 use all five in combination.

Method 1: Third-Party Marketplace Apps

What it is: Listing your restaurant on DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub so their users can find and order from you.

What it costs in 2026:

The real cost is higher than the commission rate. Once you factor in processing fees, promotions, and refunds, the effective cost often reaches 30-40% of the order total.

When to use marketplaces: For discovery. 51% of consumers use third-party apps to find new restaurants. Marketplaces are where new customers discover you - but they should not be where repeat customers keep ordering from.

When not to rely on marketplaces: For profitability. On the average restaurant's 3-6% net margin (NRA, 2025), a 25% commission makes delivery orders unprofitable. You need a direct channel for repeat business.

Method 2: Direct Ordering (Your Own Branded Website)

What it is: A website you own where customers order directly from you. No middleman, no per-order commission.

What it costs:

Why direct ordering wins long-term:

70% of consumers prefer to order from restaurant apps rather than third-party alternatives, citing fewer fees and a more direct relationship. 67% say they prefer ordering directly because they want to support the restaurant.

The economics are straightforward. Use our commission calculator to see the difference:

• 500 orders/month at $35 average on DoorDash (25%): $4,375/month in commission ($52,500/year)
• 500 orders/month at $35 average on DirectOrders ($249/month): $249/month ($2,988/year)
• Annual savings: $49,512

Beyond the savings, you own the customer data. Every order builds your marketing list. At 500 orders/month, you build a 2,000-3,000 person email/SMS list in year one - an asset that generates $3,000-5,000/month in repeat revenue through automated campaigns.

For a full comparison of platforms, see our best online ordering systems for restaurants guide.

Method 3: Social Media and Messaging Channels

What it is: Taking orders through Instagram DM, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, SMS, and other messaging platforms your customers already use.

Why it matters in 2026:

66% of consumers prefer messaging businesses over email or phone. For Gen Z and Millennials, DM is the default communication channel.

How it works:

Platforms like DirectOrders connect your menu to 15+ channels so a customer can:

• See your Instagram story and order via DM
• Text your restaurant number and order via SMS
• Message your WhatsApp business number
• Order through Facebook Messenger

Every order from every channel lands in one dashboard and flows to your kitchen like any other online order.

Cost: Free if you handle messages manually (but slow and error-prone). Automated ordering through a platform like DirectOrders is included in the $249/month subscription.

For more on how multi-channel ordering works, see our 15+ ordering channels feature page.

Method 4: Voice AI Phone Ordering

What it is: An AI system that answers your restaurant phone, takes orders in natural language, handles modifications and upsells, and sends the order to your kitchen - 24/7, in 76+ languages.

Why it matters:

35% of restaurant orders still come by phone. But phone ordering has problems: staff are busy during rush, lines go unanswered after hours, and non-English speakers struggle to order. The result: missed revenue.

Voice AI solves all three. According to Restaurant Dive, 26% of restaurant operators already use AI tools, and voice AI adoption reached 34% across restaurants in 2025 with 99% accuracy rates.

The business impact:

Leading voice AI platforms report a 26% increase in phone order revenue after adoption. That is not surprising - you cannot increase revenue from calls you never answer.

Cost: Voice AI phone ordering ranges from $99 to $349/month depending on the platform. DirectOrders includes 500 AI phone minutes in its Pro + Voice plan at $349/month, with additional minutes at $0.15 each. Typical restaurants use 200-400 minutes monthly.

For a deeper look at how AI phone ordering works, see our Voice AI feature page.

Method 5: Google Business Profile and AI Search

What it is: Making your restaurant discoverable and orderable through Google Search, Google Maps, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI search platforms.

Why it matters:

46% of all Google searches have local intent. When someone searches "thai food near me," they want to order right there. If your Google Business Profile has a direct ordering link, you capture that order at zero commission.

AI search is the next frontier. 30% of Gen Z now use AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity to find restaurants. Restaurants optimized for AI search see 25% more discovery than those relying on traditional SEO alone.

How to set it up:

1. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile

2. Add a direct ordering link (not a DoorDash link)

3. Add structured data (schema markup) to your website

4. Keep your menu, hours, and photos current

5. Collect Google reviews consistently

Cost: Free. Google Business Profile costs nothing. The only investment is keeping your information accurate and responding to reviews.

For a step-by-step guide to AI search optimization, read our post on how restaurants get recommended by ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Step-by-Step: Setting Up Online Ordering for Your Restaurant

Here is the fastest path from zero to taking online orders:

Step 1: Choose your primary ordering platform

If you want instant orders today, sign up for DoorDash or Uber Eats. You will be live within 24-48 hours. But plan for a direct ordering channel in parallel.

If you want long-term profitability, choose a direct ordering platform. Most can have you live in 2-24 hours with a branded website.

Step 2: Upload your menu

Include photos (orders with photos get 30% more conversions), clear descriptions, prices, and modifiers (extra cheese, no onions, gluten-free options). AI-powered platforms like DirectOrders add calorie counts, allergen tags, and dietary labels automatically.

Step 3: Set hours, delivery zones, and fees

Define when you accept orders, how far you deliver, and whether you charge a delivery fee. Most platforms let you set minimum order amounts too.

Step 4: Connect your POS system

If you use Toast, Square, Clover, or another POS, connect it so online orders flow directly to your kitchen without manual re-entry. Check our POS integrations page to see if your system is supported.

Step 5: Add your ordering link everywhere

• Google Business Profile (replace the DoorDash link)
• Instagram bio and story link
• Facebook page button
• Physical menus and receipts (QR codes)
• Voicemail greeting

Step 6: Promote and shift repeat customers to direct

Include a card in every marketplace delivery bag: "Order direct next time and save. No app fees, same food, faster delivery." This alone shifts 15-30% of marketplace customers to direct within 90 days.

The Hybrid Strategy: How to Use All 5 Methods Together

The restaurants winning in 2026 do not choose one method - they use all five strategically:

The shift happens gradually. Start with marketplaces for volume. Add direct ordering for profitability. Layer on social, voice, and AI search for reach. Within 90 days, most restaurants shift 40-60% of orders to direct without losing total order volume.

The result: higher margins on every order, a growing customer database, and a business that does not depend on any single platform.

What Online Ordering Costs Your Restaurant (Real Scenarios)

Here is what a restaurant doing 500 orders per month at a $35 average ticket pays across different setups:

The hybrid approach saves $24,756/year compared to DoorDash-only, while maintaining marketplace visibility for new customer acquisition.

Use our commission calculator to run your own numbers, or try the DoorDash fee calculator to see the true cost of your current setup including hidden fees.

Choosing the Right Platform: What to Look For

When evaluating online ordering platforms, ask these questions:

1. Commission structure - Flat fee or percentage? Even 5% adds up fast on $30,000/month in online revenue.

2. Customer data ownership - Do you get email addresses, phone numbers, and order history? Or does the platform keep it?

3. Ordering channels - Website only? Or Instagram, WhatsApp, Voice AI, Google, and more?

4. POS integration - Does it connect to your existing system?

5. Delivery options - Can you use your own drivers, third-party networks like Uber Direct, or both?

6. Customer fees - Does the platform add service fees that inflate your prices and hurt conversion?

7. Payout speed - Next week, or same day?

For a detailed comparison of the top platforms on all of these criteria, see our best online ordering systems for restaurants.

Sources

• IMARC Group - US Online Food Delivery Market Report, 2025
• XtendedView - Online Food Ordering Statistics 2026
• Restolabs - Online Ordering Stats 2026
• Rezku - Third-Party Delivery Fees 2026
• DoorDash - 2025 Consumer Trends Report
• National Restaurant Association - State of the Industry 2026
• Restaurant Dive - AI Adoption Survey
• Hostie.ai - Voice AI Adoption Statistics 2025
• Biteberry - AI Voice Ordering Guide 2026
• Meta Business - Conversational Commerce Research
• Google - Local Search Statistics