How to Avoid DoorDash Commission Fees

If you're a restaurant owner, you've probably felt the sting of DoorDash commission fees eating into your profits. With commissions ranging from 15% to 30% per order, many restaurants are finding their delivery operations barely break even—or worse, lose money on every order.

The harsh reality:

• A $30 order with 25% commission = $7.50 going to DoorDash
• Food cost at 30% = $9.00
• That leaves just $13.50 to cover labor, rent, utilities, and profit
• On thin restaurant margins, the commission often eliminates all profit

But here's the good news: you don't have to accept this. Thousands of restaurants are successfully avoiding DoorDash commissions while maintaining—or even growing—their delivery revenue.

This guide will show you exactly how to break free from the commission trap.

Before we discuss solutions, it's important to understand why restaurants feel stuck on DoorDash. Recognizing these reasons will help you overcome them.

Common reasons restaurants stay:

1. Customer Discovery DoorDash has millions of active users. Many restaurants fear losing visibility if they leave.

2. "Easy" Setup DoorDash handles the technology, drivers, and payment processing. It seems simpler than building your own system.

3. Customer Expectations Many customers are used to ordering through DoorDash. Restaurants worry about losing convenience-focused customers.

4. Fear of Change Transitioning customers to a new ordering method feels risky. "What if they don't follow?"

5. No Alternative Awareness Many restaurant owners don't realize affordable commission-free alternatives exist.

The truth is:

• DoorDash users will order from YOUR website if given a reason to
• Commission-free platforms are just as easy to set up
• The customers you keep through direct ordering are more loyal
• The savings can fund better marketing to attract even more customers

The most effective way to avoid DoorDash fees is to offer your own online ordering system. Modern platforms make this surprisingly easy and affordable.

What you need:

1. A commission-free online ordering platform
2. A mobile-friendly website with ordering capability
3. (Optional) Your own restaurant mobile app
4. A delivery solution (in-house drivers or delivery partners)

Commission-free ordering platforms:

RestauNax (Recommended)

• Custom website with built-in ordering
• Your own branded mobile app
• Commission-free on all orders
• Loyalty program included
• Marketing tools built in
• Starting at $99/month

Other Options:

• ChowNow: $150-300/month, ordering only
• BentoBox: $99-199/month, website + ordering
• Square Online: Free tier available, 2.9% payment processing

Why RestauNax is the best choice: Unlike ordering-only platforms, RestauNax provides a complete digital presence: custom website, mobile app, loyalty program, email marketing, and SMS marketing—all for one flat monthly fee with zero commission on orders.

You don't need to abandon DoorDash overnight. The smart strategy is to gradually transition customers to your direct ordering channel.

The transition funnel:

1. Customer orders on DoorDash (you acquire them)
2. You incentivize them to order direct next time
3. They become a direct-ordering repeat customer
4. You keep 100% of future orders

Tactics to transition customers:

1. In-Bag Inserts (Most Effective) Include a card in every DoorDash order:

• "Order direct & save 10%"
• "Free dessert when you order from our website"
• QR code linking to your ordering page
• Your phone number for direct orders

2. Receipt Messaging Add a message to DoorDash receipts:

• "Next time, order at [yourwebsite.com] for exclusive rewards!"

3. Social Media Push Post regularly about your direct ordering option:

• Share the customer benefits (faster, cheaper, earn rewards)
• Highlight exclusive menu items only on direct orders

4. Loyalty Incentives Offer loyalty points ONLY for direct orders:

• "Earn $10 for every 10 orders—only when ordering direct!"

5. Exclusive Deals Reserve your best promotions for direct customers:

• Free delivery on direct orders
• Percentage off first direct order
• Family meal deals only available on your site

You don't have to completely leave DoorDash. Many successful restaurants use a hybrid approach: DoorDash for new customer acquisition, direct ordering for retention.

The Hybrid Model:

DoorDash = Customer Acquisition Channel

• Stay on DoorDash (possibly at the lower commission tier)
• Accept that you'll break even or lose small amounts on DoorDash orders
• View it as a "marketing cost" to acquire new customers
• Focus on converting every DoorDash customer to direct

Direct Ordering = Profit Channel

• All repeat orders should go through your direct channel
• Offer better service/speed for direct orders
• Reserve loyalty rewards for direct orders
• Build email list from direct orders for marketing

The Math Works:

• Cost to acquire a customer on DoorDash: ~$10-15 (commission on first order)
• Cost to acquire via Facebook ads: ~$10-25
• Lifetime value of a repeat customer: $500-2,000

If DoorDash brings you a customer who becomes a loyal direct orderer, that initial commission was worth it.

Optimization Tips:

1. Switch to DoorDash Basic (15% commission) to reduce acquisition cost
2. Opt out of expensive marketing programs
3. Consider pausing during your busiest hours (when you don't need the help)
4. Set longer prep times to manage kitchen flow

One reason restaurants stay on DoorDash is the driver network. If you go direct, how do you get orders delivered?

Option 1: In-House Delivery Drivers (Best for High Volume)

Pros:

• Complete control over customer experience
• Drivers represent your brand
• Lower per-delivery cost at scale
• Can upsell and build relationships

Cons:

• Requires managing employees/contractors
• Fixed costs even during slow times
• Need vehicles/insurance

Best for:

• 30+ delivery orders per day
• Dense delivery zone
• Higher-ticket orders

Option 2: Third-Party Logistics (DoorDash Drive, Uber Direct)

Pros:

• No employee management
• Pay per delivery (~$6-10)
• Scalable up and down

Cons:

• Less control over experience
• Still supporting DoorDash indirectly
• Can be expensive for high volume

Best for:

• Variable order volume
• Testing delivery before hiring
• Supplementing in-house during peaks

Option 3: Pickup Focus

Pros:

• Zero delivery costs
• Faster service
• No driver issues

Cons:

• Limits customer convenience
• May lose some delivery-only customers

Best for:

• Urban locations with foot traffic
• Quick-service/fast-casual
• Lunch crowd

Calculating Your Best Option: If you're doing 40 deliveries/day at $7 average through DoorDash Drive:

• Monthly delivery cost: $8,400
• Full-time driver cost: ~$3,500-4,500/month
• Savings with in-house: $3,900-4,900/month

The math often favors in-house drivers once you hit consistent volume.

Here are real examples of restaurants that successfully reduced or eliminated DoorDash commissions:

Case Study 1: Pizza Shop in Austin, TX

• Before: 60% of orders through DoorDash, paying $4,500/month in commissions
• After: Launched RestauNax with mobile app, 85% of orders now direct
• Result: Commission costs dropped to under $700/month, saving $3,800/month
• How: Bag inserts, 15% off first direct order, loyalty program for app users

Case Study 2: Thai Restaurant in Chicago, IL

• Before: Relied entirely on third-party apps, 30% commission average
• After: Built direct ordering, kept DoorDash for discovery only
• Result: Profit margin improved from 3% to 11%
• How: VIP program for direct customers, exclusive items only on website

Case Study 3: Multi-Location Fast Casual in Florida

• Before: 5 locations paying combined $25,000/month to delivery apps
• After: Custom app with RestauNax, aggressive customer migration
• Result: Reduced third-party dependency to 20% of orders
• How: App-only deals, employee incentives for mentioning app, social media push

Common Success Factors:

1. Compelling incentive for first direct order (10%+ off or free item)
2. Loyalty program that rewards repeat direct orders
3. Consistent staff training to promote direct ordering
4. Multi-channel communication (bag inserts, social, email)
5. Patience—transition takes 3-6 months for full effect

Ready to stop paying 30% to DoorDash? Here's your step-by-step action plan:

Week 1: Set Up Your Foundation

• [ ] Sign up for a commission-free ordering platform (RestauNax recommended)
• [ ] Upload your complete menu with photos
• [ ] Configure delivery zones and pickup settings
• [ ] Test the ordering flow yourself

Week 2: Prepare Your Transition Materials

• [ ] Design bag insert cards with direct ordering incentive
• [ ] Create social media posts announcing your website/app
• [ ] Draft an email to existing customers
• [ ] Train staff on how to mention direct ordering

Week 3: Soft Launch

• [ ] Print bag inserts and include in ALL delivery orders
• [ ] Launch social media campaign
• [ ] Send email announcement to customer list
• [ ] Offer a launch special (10% off or free item)

Week 4: Full Launch & Optimization

• [ ] Start loyalty program
• [ ] Track direct vs. third-party order ratio
• [ ] Collect customer feedback
• [ ] Adjust incentives based on results

Months 2-3: Scale and Optimize

• [ ] Increase direct ordering incentives if needed
• [ ] Consider reducing DoorDash tier (to Basic/lower)
• [ ] Evaluate in-house delivery economics
• [ ] Continue customer education

Measure Your Success: Track these metrics monthly:

• Percentage of orders direct vs. third-party
• Total commission costs
• Direct ordering revenue
• Customer acquisition cost
• Customer retention rate

Target benchmarks:

• Month 1: 15-20% direct orders
• Month 3: 40-50% direct orders
• Month 6: 60-70% direct orders
• Year 1: 75%+ direct orders