Why Restaurants Should Use Their Own Online Ordering System

Third-party delivery services like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash have become the go-to for consumers—but for restaurants, they can be a serious profit drain. With commission fees as high as 30%, every order that goes through these platforms takes a significant bite out of your earnings. Fortunately, there’s a smarter option: setting up your own online ordering system. This allows customers to order directly from your site or app, bypassing third-party platforms and helping you retain more profit.

With tools like Clover POS and compatible online ordering apps, such as Clover’s Smart Online Order system, restaurant owners can offer customers the same convenience—without sacrificing revenue. Here’s why it’s worth considering and how you can get started.

The Financial Advantage

When you use a third-party delivery service, you’re paying steep commissions on every order. For example:

• Grubhub: Charges 5–15% commission for non-sponsored listings, plus up to 10% for delivery fees.

• Uber Eats: Typically takes 30% of the order total.

• DoorDash: Uses a variable commission model that may include extra fees for marketing and promotions.

These fees add up quickly, cutting deeply into already thin restaurant margins. With your own system, you keep more of every sale—especially important as food costs and labor expenses rise. Saving even 10–15% on every order can amount to thousands of dollars each month, which you can reinvest into staff, ingredients, equipment, or marketing. In addition, many third-party platforms charge recurring monthly fees, while your own online ordering system can often be set up with little to no monthly fees, providing even greater cost savings and pricing transparency.

Restaurants that run their own online ordering platforms also benefit from owning their customer data. When you use third-party apps, you don’t get access to your customers’ contact information or ordering behavior. That’s valuable information you could use for targeted promotions or loyalty programs.

Control the Entire Ordering Experience

By managing online orders in-house, you eliminate the middleman. That means:

• Direct communication with your customers

• Improved accuracy of orders

• Consistent brand experience

• Full control of delivery and pickup operations

• Support for dine-in orders

You maintain control over the menu, prices, estimated wait times, and customer interactions. You can enable features like dine-in, pickup, or delivery to suit your restaurant’s needs, or add self-service Clover Kiosk POS ordering to speed up lines and reduce labor pressure. This level of control improves the customer experience and helps you build long-term loyalty.

Customers order directly through your digital channels, such as your website or QR codes, streamlining the process and improving the overall experience. Orders go straight to your kitchen printer or a Clover Kitchen Display System (KDS) through your Clover POS. No delays. No missed tickets. No errors from third-party integration issues. Additionally, your staff doesn’t have to juggle multiple tablets and platforms, which means fewer mistakes and a smoother operation overall.

You can also decide whether to hire dedicated delivery staff or assign deliveries to existing employees based on your volume and location. Many restaurants find that using their own drivers—especially during peak hours—can be more cost-effective and provide better service. A reliable online ordering system helps you deliver orders efficiently and meet customer expectations. Better yet, you can incorporate the delivery fee directly into your menu pricing—protecting your margins and making pricing more transparent.

Tools That Make it Easy

Setting up your own online ordering system is easier than most restaurant owners realize. With the right Clover-compatible app, you can start taking orders through your:

• Dedicated online ordering site (including platforms like Wix, GoDaddy, WordPress, Weebly, and more)

• Facebook page

• Custom branded mobile app (available on iOS and Android)

• QR code ordering (customers can scan a QR code at their table or location to easily place orders, enabling seamless, contactless transactions)

These solutions are designed to be user-friendly, even for business owners with limited technical experience. Most systems offer drag-and-drop menu builders, allowing you to create and update digital menus with images and descriptions, customizable layouts, and integration with your Clover inventory and payment processing.

Many apps also integrate QR code functionality to streamline the ordering process, making it easy for customers to access your menus and place orders directly from their devices.

Integration and setup are straightforward, with the ability to manage multiple stores or locations from one system. These platforms provide scalable solutions for restaurants of all sizes, supporting multi-store management and operational efficiency, especially when paired with the best Clover POS restaurant apps.

Recommended Clover POS apps for online ordering include, and they work best when running on an all‑in‑one Clover POS system that can replace multiple separate devices:

Smart Online Order

If you’re still deciding how to structure your Clover setup and subscription, resources on picking the best Clover POS plan can help you match online ordering features with your budget and growth goals.

This app integrates seamlessly with Clover and pulls your menu automatically. It supports both pickup and delivery orders and can be embedded on your website or social media page. It also enables customers to tip online, which can help support your staff. For more details about Smart Online Order’s features and integration options, click here.

OrderEm

Offers advanced customization for branding, order types, and app design. Allows you to create your own branded mobile app and gives you full control over the customer interface. With OrderEm, customers can browse your full menu, pay, tip, and select delivery or pickup without leaving your branded environment. The platform is also equipped to handle large catering orders for events and corporate functions, making it suitable for businesses that require scalability.

MunchEm

All online orders are synced directly to your Clover POS and kitchen printer. MunchEm also gives you visibility on its own ordering platform as a bonus marketing boost. With full menu syncing and order routing, MunchEm is ideal for restaurants wanting exposure on multiple fronts.

Additionally, these platforms often support analytics and reporting. You can view order volume, top-selling items, repeat customer data, and more—all of which help you make informed decisions about your operations and marketing strategies.

Key Benefits of Your Own Online Ordering System

Using your own system allows you to keep 100% of your revenue, minus standard processing fees. Orders sync directly to your Clover POS and kitchen printer—no double entry required. You’ll also gain full control over your branding, whether you’re using a website or custom app, and the setup is fast and straightforward. With one system, you can manage all aspects of your restaurant’s online presence and operations, from menus and orders to customer data, streamlining everything in a single platform. Plus, you can tailor your payment and delivery options to fit your business model, whether that includes pickup, curbside, or local delivery.

You also get to build a direct relationship with your customers. You can offer coupon codes, reward points, and seasonal promotions without relying on a third-party app’s limited marketing tools. These tools help you attract and reward repeat customers, encouraging ongoing business and loyalty, whether you run a full‑service restaurant or a pizzeria using a pizza‑specific Clover POS system to manage complex orders. If your customer has a great experience and shares it on social media, they’re tagging your business—not a delivery app.

This type of control helps you refine the customer experience. For instance, you can adjust the order flow to match your kitchen’s capabilities, highlight high-margin menu items, and test different pricing or bundling strategies.

In the long run, a well-run online ordering system helps reduce labor costs, speed up service, and increase ticket sizes—especially if you offer upsells, combo deals, or suggest add-ons like drinks and desserts during checkout, supported by fast, customer-facing hardware like the Clover Duo dual-screen POS system.

Security and Payment: Building Trust Online

A secure online ordering system is the foundation of trust between your restaurant and your customers. When guests place online food orders, they want to know their payment and personal information is protected. By choosing reputable online ordering software that integrates with trusted payment providers like PayPal, Stripe, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, you can offer a fast, secure, and seamless checkout experience.

Commission-free online ordering platforms such as ChowNow not only help you keep more profits but also ensure that every transaction is encrypted and protected against fraud. For restaurants, food trucks, and small businesses with multiple locations, using a unified platform for online ordering and payment processing means you can manage all your sales, customer data, and payments in one secure system—reducing the risk of errors and data breaches.

Modern restaurant ordering systems often include advanced security features like two-factor authentication, regular software updates, and end-to-end encryption. These measures protect both your business and your customers, giving everyone peace of mind when placing orders online. Plus, with options for customers to pay by cash, card, or digital wallets, you provide flexibility and convenience that encourages more orders and repeat business, similar to what a feature‑rich Clover POS for coffee shops delivers for high‑volume beverage orders.

Integrating your online ordering system with your POS—such as with Square Online Ordering—streamlines payment processing and adds another layer of security. This integration also makes it easier to offer custom pricing, special offers, and loyalty programs, helping you attract new customers and drive repeat orders without relying on third party apps.

By prioritizing secure payment processing and customer data protection, your restaurant can build lasting customer relationships, increase customer retention, and boost online sales. With a reliable, commission-free online ordering system, you maintain full control over your operations, launch quickly, and start taking orders directly from your website—leading to more revenue, more profits, and a stronger brand reputation.

Summary: Take Control, Boost Profits

You don’t need to sacrifice 30% of your earnings to offer modern ordering convenience. By using Clover POS and tools like Smart Online Order or OrderEm, you can launch a fully integrated online ordering system that fits your brand, your kitchen, and your bottom line. A dedicated restaurant online ordering platform lets your customers place pickup or delivery orders directly from your website, seamlessly integrating with your POS and reducing reliance on costly third-party apps.

If your menu travels well and your restaurant is prepared to offer delivery or pickup, taking orders directly is a smart, cost-effective move.

Restaurant owners who embrace direct online ordering often see better margins, higher customer retention, and less reliance on third-party platforms. Plus, your team will thank you—no more juggling multiple tablets or waiting for a delivery driver who’s stuck in traffic.

Taking ownership of your digital ordering process can be a turning point for your business. You control the data, the customer relationship, and the brand experience. And with Clover’s support and integration-ready tools, the setup is fast and straightforward.

Ready to set it up? Our Clover Specialists are here to help. Call us today at 888-902-6227 x208 to get started. Let’s build a more profitable, efficient, and customer-focused future for your restaurant.