How to switch from DoorDash to your own direct ordering

You don't have to fire DoorDash on day one. The smart move is to slowly shift your regulars to a direct ordering page you own — where you pay zero commission — while DoorDash keeps doing what it's actually good at: bringing in new faces. Here's the plan, step by step.

First, the why. DoorDash charges restaurants on a tiered plan: roughly 15% on the Basic plan, 25% on Plus, and up to 30% on Premier. On a busy month, that's thousands of dollars walking out the door — money taken from orders placed by people who, very often, already love your food. The goal isn't to burn the marketplace down. It's to stop paying a 30% tax on your own loyal customers.

Step 1: Set up your own ordering page first

Don't cancel anything yet. Before you move a single customer, you need somewhere for them to go. Set up a branded direct ordering page — your name, your colors, your menu, your prices. With Orme, that means pickup, delivery, and curbside, all running through a page that belongs to you, with no commission on any order.

Get the basics right before you promote it: every menu item, accurate prices, photos, hours, and a payment setup that works on a phone. Place a few test orders yourself so you know the flow is smooth.

Step 2: Put the direct link everywhere

Your direct ordering page only works if people can find it. Make the link impossible to miss:

• Instagram and Facebook bio — this is your most-clicked, least-used piece of real estate.
• Google Business Profile — add your ordering link as the "Order online" button so it shows up right in search and Maps.
• Your website — a big "Order Direct" button at the top of every page.
• A QR code on the counter, the window, and every receipt.

Step 3: Give people a reason to switch

Customers won't change habits for no reason. Give them one. A small perk that costs you far less than 30% commission will move people fast:

• "Order direct and get 10% off your first order."
• A free side or drink on direct orders over a set amount.
• A simple loyalty punch card — buy nine, get the tenth free — that only works on direct orders.

Do the math: a 10% first-order discount is a one-time cost. A 30% marketplace commission is forever. The discount wins every time.

Step 4: Slip the message into the bag

Here's a quiet trick that works. When a DoorDash order goes out, include a small printed card in the bag: "Loved your meal? Order direct next time and save — scan here." It's not against the rules to thank your own customers, and it reaches exactly the people already buying from you.

Step 5: Keep DoorDash for discovery, not dependence

Once your direct orders are climbing, you don't have to quit DoorDash entirely. Many owners drop down to the cheapest plan and treat the marketplace as a billboard — a way for brand-new customers to find them. The first order might come through DoorDash. Every order after that should come direct.

Watch your numbers for a couple of months. As the share of direct orders grows, you'll feel the difference in your bank account, and you'll own something you never had before: a list of customers you can actually reach.

Keep reading: how Uber Eats commission really works or the best online ordering systems for restaurants.