I’ve been wrestling with the steep fees that come with platforms like DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats. Sure, their reach is valuable and they help bring in new customers, but the costs often wipe out what little margin we have left.
With plans to open my place next year, I’m rethinking how to handle delivery from the ground up. I’ve been thinking about an in-house delivery system or partnering with local couriers to cut costs and maintain control of the customer experience. Another idea: encouraging customers to order directly through our site or app, maybe with loyalty rewards or small discounts as an incentive.
Is anyone using any creative workarounds? Have you transitioned away from third-party platforms or discovered a hybrid model that works for you?