How Does DoorDash Work for Restaurants? Complete 2026 Guide

If you're a restaurant owner considering DoorDash, you probably have questions: How do I sign up? How much does it cost? How do I get paid? This complete guide explains exactly how DoorDash works from a restaurant's perspective.

TL;DR

DoorDash connects your restaurant to customers through their app. You receive orders via a tablet, prepare the food, and DoorDash drivers pick it up for delivery. DoorDash charges 15-30% commission per order. You get paid weekly. While DoorDash can bring new customers, the high fees mean many restaurants lose money—which is why smart owners use platforms like RestauNax to build commission-free direct ordering instead.

How DoorDash Works: The Basics

The DoorDash Ecosystem

DoorDash operates as a three-sided marketplace:

DoorDash makes money by taking a cut from both sides—charging restaurants commission while also charging customers delivery and service fees.

The Order Flow

Here's what happens when someone orders from your restaurant on DoorDash:

Step 1: Customer Orders

• Customer opens DoorDash app
• Browses your menu
• Places order and pays through the app

Step 2: You Receive the Order

• Order appears on your DoorDash tablet
• You have 3-5 minutes to accept
• If you don't respond, it auto-accepts (or auto-rejects, depending on settings)

Step 3: You Prepare the Food

• Kitchen prepares the order
• You mark it "ready for pickup" when done
• A Dasher is dispatched to your location

Step 4: Dasher Picks Up

• Driver arrives at your restaurant
• You verify order and hand it over
• Driver delivers to customer

Step 5: You Get Paid

• DoorDash tracks all orders
• Commission is deducted automatically
• You receive weekly payouts

How to Sign Up for DoorDash

Requirements

To join DoorDash as a restaurant partner, you need:

• Valid business license
• Food service permit/health department certification
• Tax ID (EIN or SSN for sole proprietors)
• Bank account for payments
• Tablet or compatible POS system

The Sign-Up Process

Step 1: Apply Online Visit the DoorDash Merchant Portal and fill out the application. You'll need:

• Business name and address
• Contact information
• Business type and cuisine
• Estimated prep times

Step 2: Submit Documentation Upload required documents:

• Business license
• W-9 form
• Menu (PDF or photos)
• Bank account details

Step 3: Menu Setup DoorDash will either:

• Use your existing online menu
• Have you manually enter items
• Send a photographer (for select partners)

Step 4: Receive Equipment DoorDash sends you:

• Tablet (free on loan)
• Tablet stand
• Setup instructions

Step 5: Go Live

• Test the tablet and order flow
• Set your hours and menu availability
• Start receiving orders

Timeline

DoorDash Commission Structure

The Three Pricing Tiers

DoorDash offers three commission plans:

What Does Each Tier Include?

Basic (15%)

• Your restaurant appears on DoorDash
• Standard search placement
• Delivery orders only
• Basic analytics

Plus (25%)

• Everything in Basic
• Pickup orders included
• Enhanced search placement
• Access to promotions
• More detailed analytics

Premier (30%)

• Everything in Plus
• Priority placement for DashPass members
• Featured in "Best Overall" sections
• Access to sponsored listings
• Dedicated support

Hidden Fees to Watch For

Beyond the base commission, DoorDash charges additional fees:

The Real Cost Example

Let's look at what a $30 order actually costs you:

Note: This doesn't include food cost (typically 28-32%), labor, or overhead. Many restaurants actually lose money on DoorDash orders.

How DoorDash Payments Work

Payment Schedule

DoorDash pays restaurants weekly, typically on Wednesdays.

What Gets Deducted

Before you receive your payout, DoorDash deducts:

• Commission (15-30%)
• Marketing fees (if applicable)
• Error charges
• Refunds
• Any adjustments

Reading Your Statement

Your weekly statement shows:

• Total orders and gross sales
• Commission charged
• Other deductions
• Net payout amount
• Order-by-order breakdown

Managing Orders on DoorDash

The DoorDash Tablet

DoorDash provides a free tablet that:

• Shows incoming orders
• Plays audio alerts
• Lets you accept/decline orders
• Allows you to pause service
• Shows order details and special instructions

Accepting Orders

When an order comes in:

1. Audio alert plays
2. Order details display on screen
3. You have 3-5 minutes to respond
4. Options:
   • Accept - confirm the order
   • Decline - with reason
   • Adjust time - if you need more prep time

Pausing Orders

You can temporarily pause DoorDash when:

• Kitchen is overwhelmed
• Short-staffed
• Equipment issues
• About to close

How to pause:

1. Open tablet settings
2. Select "Pause New Orders"
3. Choose duration (30 min, 1 hour, etc.)
4. Resume when ready

Menu Management

Through the Merchant Portal, you can:

• Add/remove menu items
• Update prices
• Mark items as unavailable
• Add modifiers and options
• Upload photos
• Set prep times

DoorDash Promotions and Marketing

Available Promotion Types

The Cost of Promotions

Important: Most promotions come out of YOUR pocket, not DoorDash's.

Example: "20% off $30+ orders"

• Customer orders $35
• They pay $28
• You still owe commission on $35
• You absorb the $7 discount
• Your effective commission: 45%+

Sponsored Listings

DoorDash offers paid advertising to boost visibility:

DoorDash vs. Direct Ordering: The Real Comparison

Why Smart Restaurants Are Moving Away from DoorDash

Here's what DoorDash doesn't want you to know:

The Math That Changes Everything

DoorDash:

• $10,000/month in orders
• 25% commission = $2,500 gone
• Annual loss: $30,000

RestauNax Direct Ordering:

• $10,000/month in orders
• 0% commission = $0 gone
• Plus AI phone ordering captures more orders
• Annual savings: $30,000+

What RestauNax Offers That DoorDash Can't

1. AI Phone Ordering Customers call, AI takes the order—24/7, no hold times, no mistakes. DoorDash doesn't even handle phone orders.

2. Customer Data Ownership Every order builds YOUR database. Email. Phone. Order history. Use it for marketing, loyalty, retention.

3. 26+ Free Business Tools

• Food cost calculator
• Menu pricing optimizer
• Profit margin calculator
• Restaurant name generator
• And more

4. Your Brand, Your Rules No competing with every restaurant in town. Customers order from YOU.

Should You Use DoorDash?

When DoorDash Might Make Sense

• Brand new restaurant needing visibility fast
• Testing delivery demand before investing in infrastructure
• Excess kitchen capacity during slow periods
• Customer acquisition (then convert to direct)

When DoorDash Doesn't Make Sense

• Your margins are under 35%
• You already have loyal customers
• You have your own delivery infrastructure
• You're trying to build a brand (not commodity)
• You want to own customer relationships

The Hybrid Strategy

Many successful restaurants use both—strategically:

1. Keep DoorDash for discovery (new customers finding you)
2. Build direct ordering with RestauNax (0% commission)
3. Convert customers with "Save 15% when you order direct" inserts
4. Track metrics to see which channel is actually profitable
5. Reduce DoorDash dependency as direct orders grow

Common DoorDash Problems (and Solutions)

Problem: Missing Items Complaints

What Happens: Customer says item was missing. DoorDash refunds them—from your payout.

Solution:

• Photograph every order before handoff
• Use tamper-evident packaging
• Include itemized receipt in bag
• Contest unfair chargebacks in Merchant Portal

Problem: Low Visibility

What Happens: Your restaurant doesn't appear in search results.

Causes:

• Low ratings
• Long prep times
• High decline rate
• Not on Premier plan

Solution:

• Improve ratings through quality
• Adjust prep times accurately
• Accept more orders (or reduce menu complexity)
• Consider upgrading plan—or invest that money in direct ordering instead

Problem: Order Errors

What Happens: Wrong items, special requests missed, food quality issues.

Solution:

• Simplify menu for delivery
• Train staff on tablet workflow
• Create dedicated order prep area
• Double-check orders before handoff

Problem: Negative ROI

What Happens: You're losing money on every order.

Solution:

• Calculate true costs (not just commission)
• Raise delivery menu prices 15-20%
• Remove low-margin items from DoorDash
• Build direct ordering to capture more margin

Conclusion: How DoorDash Really Works

DoorDash works by positioning itself between you and your customers—and taking 15-30% of every transaction for that privilege. Here's the honest summary:

The Good:

• Easy setup
• Large customer base
• No delivery infrastructure needed
• Can drive discovery

The Bad:

• High commissions (15-30%)
• You don't own customer relationships
• Algorithm controls your visibility
• Promotions cost YOU money
• Many restaurants lose money per order

The Reality: DoorDash built a $50+ billion company by taking a cut from restaurants. They have 37 million customers—but those are DoorDash's customers, not yours.

The Smarter Approach

Instead of debating which DoorDash plan to choose, consider this:

1. Use DoorDash for discovery only - Let new customers find you
2. Build commission-free ordering with RestauNax - Keep 97%+ of every dollar
3. Convert DoorDash customers to direct - With incentives and better service
4. Leverage AI phone ordering - Capture orders DoorDash can't
5. Own your customer data - Build real relationships

DoorDash takes 25-30% of every order. RestauNax takes 0%. The math is simple.

---

Ready to stop paying 30% on every order? See how RestauNax gives you commission-free ordering, AI phone service, and 26+ free tools—everything you need to break free from delivery app dependency.