Knowledge
What do delivery platforms really cost?
Anyone who sells through a delivery platform pays for it — that much is known. What is often less clear is what those costs are made up of and which levers a business can actually pull itself. We deliberately do not name specific percentages here: they differ too much by platform, contract, region and negotiating position to be stated as a general rule.
The short answer: delivery platform costs typically consist of a commission per order, sometimes additional fees for payment processing or marketing placements, and the indirect cost factor of visibility — those who do not invest in advertising are found less often. Specific percentages depend on the individual contract and should be requested directly from the respective platform.
The commission is only part of the bill
The commission per order is the best-known cost item, but rarely the only one. Depending on the platform and contract model, fees for payment processing, for delivery by the platform itself (if no own driving staff is used) or for preferred placement in the app can be added. Some models distinguish between a lower commission for pickup and a higher one for delivery through the platform.
How high the individual items actually turn out to be differs greatly between platforms, countries and negotiating positions. Reliable figures come exclusively from your own contract — blanket percentages circulating in forums or older articles should be treated with caution and are often outdated.
Visibility costs something even when it costs nothing
Besides the direct commission there is an indirect cost factor: visibility in the app. Those who do not invest in advertising placements or discount campaigns slide further down in search results and are ordered from less often — which ultimately also shows up in revenue, just not as a line item on the invoice. For a business this means: the actual cost burden cannot be read off the commission alone, but must include the question of how much advertising budget is needed to be found at all.
How businesses reduce their dependence
Using a single platform as the only sales channel makes a business dependent on that platform's terms and algorithm. There are several ways to reduce this dependence.
Being present on several platforms
Anyone listed on several delivery platforms at the same time spreads the risk and can steer orders to wherever the terms happen to be more favourable. The extra effort for maintenance and operation rises accordingly.
Building a second brand
Two brands from one kitchen open up additional categories and thus additional demand, without needing to build a completely new sales channel for each brand. More orders from the same kitchen spread the fixed costs over a larger volume.
Building your own regular customer base
Orders that reach the business directly — by phone, an own ordering page or a loyalty card — pay no platform commission. This cannot be built up overnight, but works most strongly against dependence on a single platform in the long run.
Actively negotiating terms
Commissions and contract terms are not set in stone at most platforms. Anyone who can show revenue figures and order volume often has more negotiating room than the standard contract suggests.
This page deliberately does not name specific commission percentages — they vary too much by platform, contract and country to be seriously generalised. Reliable figures come exclusively from your own contract.
Where somaFood comes in
A virtual second brand such as somaFood's is a way to use the second and third strategy at the same time: tapping additional demand from the same kitchen without increasing fixed costs for space or staff. At somaFood there are no entry costs to get started; the share is based on the revenue of the brand. Which concepts are currently available in which territory can be requested without obligation.
How a second brand would affect your cost structure is something we clarify in a personal conversation.
- No obligation — your message commits you to nothing.
- A personal reply from our team.
- We check right away whether your area is still available.
How high is the commission on delivery platforms?
That cannot be answered as a general rule. Commissions differ considerably by platform, contract model, region and negotiating position. Reliable figures come exclusively from the individual contract with the respective platform.
Can I negotiate my delivery platform's commission?
With many platforms, yes, especially with demonstrable order volume. A conversation with the platform's account manager is worthwhile in any case.
What does visibility in the app cost on top of the commission?
That depends on the advertising format and budget chosen. Without investment in visibility, though, the position in search results often drops, which indirectly affects order numbers.
Does a second brand help against high platform costs?
The commission itself does not fall directly. But a second brand opens up additional orders from the same kitchen, spreading the business's fixed costs over more revenue.
Is it worth having your own ordering page alongside delivery platforms?
It can be worthwhile for orders from regular guests, since no platform commission applies. New customers are rarely reached through it though — delivery platforms remain important for their reach.