It’s the end of the month. You look at your gross sales report and smile—it was a busy month. Then, you look at the payout report from Uber Eats, DoorDash, or GrubHub.

Suddenly, that smile fades.

Between the "marketing fees," the "delivery commission," and the "processing fees," nearly 30% of your top-line revenue has evaporated. With Uber Eats delivery fees and commissions shifting constantly in 2025, the math simply no longer makes sense for independent owners.

This post explores the mathematics of delivery apps and introduces the only sustainable alternative: commission-free online ordering.

The Mathematics of a $50 Order

Let’s break down a typical Friday night dinner order worth $50.

Scenario A: The Third-Party App

• Customer pays: $50 + fees

• App Commission (30%): -$15.00

• You Keep: $35.00

• Result: You barely cover food cost and labor. The profit is gone.

Scenario B: Commission-Free Direct Ordering (Town.club)

• Customer pays: $50

• Flat Monthly Software Fee (Amortized): ~$0.10

• Credit Card Processing (Standard): ~$1.50

• You Keep: $48.40

Multiply that difference ($13.40) by just 100 orders a month. That is $1,340 in pure profit lost every single month, or over $16,000 a year.

The Hidden Loss: Customer Data

The money is painful, but the data loss is fatal. When a customer orders through a third-party app, they are Uber'scustomer, not yours. You don't get their email. You don't get their phone number. You can't market to them to come back next week. With a direct commission-free online ordering system, you build a database. You can send an email blast on a slow Tuesday offering a discount, driving traffic on demand.

The "Direct Order" Movement

Customers are becoming aware of this too. They know that apps hurt local businesses. But they prioritize convenience. You need to make direct ordering as easy as the apps.

1. Mobile Optimized: Your menu must work perfectly on a phone.

2. QR Codes: Put a QR code in every takeout bag that says, "Order Direct Next Time and Save $5."

3. The "Instagram Link": Ensure the link in your social bio goes straight to your direct ordering page, not a Linktree maze.

Conclusion

Third-party apps are fine for discovery (finding new customers), but they are terrible for retention (loyal customers). Stop paying a 30% tax on your regulars. In 2025, the most profitable restaurants will be the ones that own their ordering channels.