How to Reduce Zomato & Swiggy Commissions With Your Own Ordering Website

Suppose you had a very busy restaurant. Orders have been pouring in from Zomato and Swiggy, kitchen is fully charged and customers are pleased. However, when you look at your monthly income, you notice that the amount that remains for you after the platform charges, discount, packaging and other costs is less than you had thought.

This is a common problem for restaurant owners that are heavily reliant on food delivery apps.

With the assistance ofZomato and Swiggy restaurants can touch the customers who may not have come to know about the restaurants otherwise. But depending solely on these platforms can be challenging to manage ordering expenses and grow direct customer relationships.

A viable solution is to have your own online ordering system. It enables customers to view your menu, order and pay straight from your restaurant's online platform.

Let's get to know how it works, and how your restaurant can benefit from it in terms of solving the battle over the third-party ordering platforms.

What Is the Reason for Restaurants to Pay Commissions to Zomato and Swiggy?

Food delivery platforms link restaurants and customers, and offer ordering systems and may include delivery, promotion and much more. The restaurants pay fees based upon individual agreements.

The amount of the charge may be different depending on what terms are outlined in the restaurant's contract, where the restaurant is located, the services provided, etc. Some fees (e.g. payment fees), restaurant-sponsored discounts, advertising and some service fees.

These costs can impact a restaurant that gets hundreds of orders a month.

If you have a restaurant and someone orders a particular amount of ₹500 via a delivery service, for instance. In the above case, where you agree on a platform service fee of 20% and all other applicable charges, taxes or adjustments are calculated accordingly, you will have to pay ₹100 for the platform service fee.

Now think about 100 similar orders in a month. The amount of the service fee would be ₹10000.

This is an example and is not a reflection of the commission rates of either platform.

It doesn't necessarily mean that the goal is to stop using Zomato or Swiggy. Rather, it's about establishing a different order path that enables your restaurant to have more control over your expenses and customer interactions.

Also Read: AI Automation in 2026

What Is a Restaurant Ordering Website?

A restaurant ordering website is your own personal website that customers can access to view your menu, choose the food items, add them to a cart and make an order.

It can vary in functionality, such as online payments, takeaway, delivery options, notifications and customer support, depending on needs.

For instance, one of your customers finds your restaurant on Instagram or Google. They will not need to place all future orders through a third-party app but will be able to visit your website, see your menu and order from there.

The order reaches your restaurant via the ordering system that you've implemented, depending on the payment, delivery and technology services you've selected.

An ordering website is designed to enable customers to complete their online purchases.

How Your Own Ordering Website Can Reduce Platform Costs

1. Accept Direct Orders from Customers

One of the greatest benefits is having the ability to obtain orders without having to pass these orders through a third-party marketplace.

An ordering website can be shared on your Google Business Profile, social media pages, email campaigns, printed menus and allowed promotional materials.

With direct orders, you are not paying marketplace commissions on those orders. However, there are still payment processing, web hosting, software, delivery and marketing costs.

2. Improve Your Website's Visibility

Zomato and Swiggy can continue to serve as tools to attract new users. Your website is an additional avenue for customers who are already aware of your restaurant.

For instance, if a user discovers your restaurant through a delivery app, they may later visit your website to place direct orders.

It's possible to establish a better mix of marketplace orders and direct orders without relying on one to make up the bulk of your sales.

When promoting your direct-ordering channel, be sure to adhere to the terms and conditions of the platforms you're using.

3. Create Your Own Customer Relationships

If your customer orders directly, your ordering system can assist you in keeping up-to-date records of transactions and customer preferences, subject to consent, privacy requirements and applicable laws.

This can help you provide relevant updates, inform customers about new food items or share occasional offers with those who have opted to receive them.

A restaurant may, for instance, let a customer who has opted in know about a new lunch menu or an offer for a weekend family meal.

A more direct relationship can lead to repeat purchases without having to put all your faith in marketplace promotions.

4. Easily Manage Menu and Offers

Having your own site means that you can have more control over how your menu is displayed.

Food descriptions can be edited, photos can be added, popular dishes can be highlighted and meal combinations can be introduced. You can also make offers that are centred on your expenses and business objectives.

For example, a restaurant may run a family dinner deal or a weekday lunch deal to boost the average order value.

The main thing to do is to first work out the food, packaging, payment and delivery charges so that a discount can be provided.

5. Select a Suitable Delivery System

An ordering site doesn't guarantee delivery. You must determine what needs to be done to get orders to customers.

Depending on the service and the capacity you have, this may be done by your own delivery personnel, by hiring delivery partners in the area or by providing takeaway and pickup services.

Work out the cost of each option, including staff, fuel, distance, packaging and failed deliveries.

While direct ordering can reduce marketplace fees, the savings achieved will depend on how efficiently you manage fulfilment.

Also Read: AI Automation in 2026

6. Boost Your Restaurant's Visibility

Your restaurant website can provide valuable information to prospective customers regarding your menu, location, hours of operation, contact information and ordering options.

A site that's well optimised for local search, has valuable information and a properly maintained Google Business Profile could be found more easily by people looking for food in your area.

In the case of a restaurant in Chandigarh, it can develop beneficial pages about its food, service area and takeaway offerings.

It takes time, and there's no guarantee, to get found. However, a website can help develop a long-term source of potential direct customers.

7. Cut Expenses by Analysing Your Sales and Ordering Costs

A good ordering system will be helpful in discovering which dishes are good sellers, when people order and how often they return.

Utilise this information to refine your menu, tweak promotions and plan kitchen operations.

When assessing how much an order costs, consider both marketplace orders and direct orders rather than just the commission. This helps you gain a better understanding of which channel is more profitable.

How Much Can Your Restaurant Save With a Direct Ordering Site?

The amount depends on your order volume, the platform agreement you have and your channel's running expenses.

Let's use this illustrative example:

Assume that your restaurant receives 200 orders per month, and that the average order value is ₹500. Suppose you successfully move 50 orders to your own website.

The value of those direct orders would be ₹25,000.

If the service fee applicable to comparable marketplace orders is 20%, then the service fees you avoid would be ₹5,000.

This isn't the final saving, though. The additional expenses required to process payments and maintain and operate the website, as well as delivery costs, promotions and customer acquisition expenses, all have to be deducted. The calculation assumes such orders would otherwise have been made through the marketplace.

This will vary from business to business, as actual savings can be more or less.

The formula is:

Net savings = Avoided marketplace fees − Additional direct-ordering costs

This will help you assess if your direct ordering strategy is helping to cut costs and increase profit.

Which Features Should Your Restaurant Ordering Website Have?

Ordering should be easy on your site, particularly for mobile users.

Consider including:

• Mobile menu: Accessible food photos, descriptions, prices and availability.

• Shopping cart and checkout: An easy-to-use ordering process that doesn't involve extra steps.

• Safe payment methods: Online payment options and clear payment confirmation.

• Order notifications: Keep customers and restaurant staff up to date about orders.

• Delivery and collection options: Indicate service areas, charges, estimated times and collection instructions.

• Restaurant information: Customer service, address, hours of operation and contact information.

• Analytics: Basic reporting to measure orders, revenue and customer behaviour.

Select features to suit your restaurant's needs and budget. Ordering functionality can be implemented first and then expanded with more sophisticated features as your business grows.

How to Motivate Customers to Place Direct Orders

Creating a website is just the first step. Customers need to be aware of its existence and find it easy to use.

Add the ordering link to your website, social media and permitted business listings. Use local SEO to make it easier for customers to find you, and send helpful menu updates to customers who have subscribed to your newsletters.

Another option is to offer packaged meals for repeat purchases that make economic sense, as well as loyalty rewards or exclusive offers on your website for repeat customers.

Ensure the reliability of the direct-ordering experience. If your site is slow, checkout or delivery details are unclear, or the process is complicated, you may lose customers before they even reach the checkout page.

The most critical thing is to measure results. Identify the number of customers who visit your site, complete an order and return for more.

Is It Better to Have Your Own Ordering Website Than Zomato and Swiggy?

There is no need to replace one option with the other.

Zomato and Swiggy can enable restaurants to target new customer segments and access services through their apps. Over time, you can gradually establish your own sales channel, build customer relationships and minimise your reliance on marketplaces by utilising your own ordering website.

Third-party platforms can be important for a new restaurant as a way to gain initial visibility. A direct ordering channel can be an effective way for a well-established restaurant with repeat customers to improve its margins.

The most effective approach is to analyse the costs, benefits and customer acquisition potential of each channel.

Create a Direct Ordering Channel for Your Restaurant

Reducing food delivery commissions is not simply about avoiding fees. It is about developing a sustainable approach to attracting customers, taking orders and keeping more value from each sale.

When designed around your menu, customers, delivery operations and budget, a restaurant ordering website can support that goal.

Cartel Planet offers website design and development services that can be customised to meet the needs of businesses. A restaurant-specific ordering website can be designed around your team's requirements and prepared to expand as direct orders increase.

Check out our website design and development services to discuss what online ordering system may be right for your restaurant.