Online Ordering for Restaurants Without Commission
Delivery platforms bring guests, but they keep a large share of every order. Online ordering for restaurants on your own page does not replace Glovo and Wolt, it complements them: guests who already know you order directly and you pay no commission. Here is the maths, the comparison and a plan to get there.
In short
- Platforms give you discovery, couriers and marketing. The price is a percentage of every order: published guides for Glovo and Wolt point to about 25–30 % for delivery by their couriers. Exact terms are set by contract and not public.
- Your own ordering system has a fixed monthly price, not a percentage. The more regulars order through it, the more you keep.
- The sensible strategy for most venues is a hybrid: stay on platforms for new guests, lead regulars to your own channel (QR in the bag, flyer, Google profile, website).
- Start with pickup (no courier), add delivery zones once the basics work.
Who delivers food in Bulgaria in 2026
The market has moved fast. According to Mediapool, Takeaway.com stops deliveries in Bulgaria from 15 September 2026, and Economic.bg names Glovo, Wolt and Bolt Food as the big platforms that remain. Wolt launched in June 2025 and now operates in seven cities: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Pleven, Blagoevgrad, Burgas and Stara Zagora.
Foodpanda no longer has a separate story here: Glovo acquired Delivery Hero's Bulgarian business (foodpanda) in June 2021. If someone offers you "one more platform", first check that it actually operates in your city.
GlovoPlatform
Longest on the market, also inherited the foodpanda customer base.
WoltPlatform
Since June 2025, already in seven Bulgarian cities.
Bolt FoodPlatform
The third big player after Takeaway's exit.
What platforms really give you
To be fair, platforms solve three real problems. That is why leaving them on an all-or-nothing basis is rarely a good idea.
Discovery
People looking for "something for dinner" who have never heard of you see you in the app.
Couriers
You do not hire or coordinate drivers. That is the heaviest operational burden of delivery.
Marketing and payment
Promotions, an app guests already have and card payment ready to go.
In return, the guest belongs to the platform: you do not get their contact, and they see your venue next to dozens of competitors. That is the cost the percentage does not show.
What the commission costs and how it is charged
Platforms work on a percentage model. This is what the public guides we opened show:
| - | Model | Reference | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glovo, delivery by Glovo couriers | 30 % of the dish value | Deliverect, updated January 2026 | |
| Glovo, own delivery or pickup | 15 % | Deliverect, updated January 2026 | |
| Wolt, orders via the platform | 25–30 % | Deliverect, quoting a third party | |
| Wolt, pickup | lower than delivery | Wolt Merchant (Austrian portal) |
Two caveats matter. First, these are guides to the international model, and the commercial terms in Bulgaria may differ: Deliverect states that commissions vary by market. Second, Wolt itself says the exact commissions and fees are set out in the agreement with each partner. So treat the figures as a negotiating reference, not a tariff.
Beyond the percentage, Wolt describes a platform fee on top of the commission and penalties for delayed orders or missing items. Payouts to Wolt partners are every 5 days, twice a month or monthly, depending on the agreement.
Calculator: what the commission really costs
Simplified: card fees, in-app advertising and courier costs are not included.
The calculator values are an example: 300 orders a month, an average bill of €18, 30 % commission, an own system at €60 a month. Replace them with your own. Real Menuto prices are on the pricing page.
Platform or own ordering system: comparison
| - | Platform | Own system | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission | A percentage of every order, set by contract | No percentage from Menuto; you pay a monthly subscription plus payment provider fees | |
| Guest data | Stays with the platform | You see the orders and the guest contact | |
| Brand | Among competitors, in someone else's design | Your site, your colours | |
| Pricing control | Limited, depends on the contract | Full | |
| Couriers | Yes | You organise them (or pickup only) | |
| New guests | Yes | Only those you bring yourself | |
| Payout timing | On the platform's schedule (e.g. every 5 days or monthly) | Depends on payment method: cash at once, card per the payment provider's rules |
How to work out the real cost of a platform
The percentage is only the start. To know what a channel costs you, add up everything that leaves the bill and divide it by the turnover from that channel.
What to include in the sum
- the commission on the value of the dishes;
- extra fees in the contract, such as a platform fee or an advertising fee;
- penalties for delayed orders or missing items;
- the discounts you give in the app yourself to appear higher;
- staff time for the tablet, packing and disputed orders.
Total5 items
Once you have the real figure, compare it with the cost of a direct order: a subscription, card payment fees and possibly a courier. That way the decision rests on your data, not on other people's benchmarks.
Example: what stays in the till
We use the same example: 300 orders a month at an average of €18, a turnover of €5,400. All numbers are illustrative.
The difference is clear: every order you move off the platform costs only a fraction of its old price. But not every guest will move, so the goal is not zero, it is more regulars through your own channel.
Example: 30 % commission on platform orders; the own system is counted as €60 a month, without card fees, advertising and couriers. Your real numbers will differ.
Hybrid strategy: platform for discovery, you for regulars
The idea is simple: the platform brings new guests, and you turn the first order into a habit of ordering from you. You do not need to take anything away from guests, only show them a more convenient path.
- QR code in the bag: a small sticker with the code and an offer for a first order placed directly with you. Check the platform's rules on promotions before you start.
- Flyer or receipt: one clear address that is easy to type.
- Google profile: add an ordering link so guests do not have to open the platform. See also how a QR menu supports ordering.
- Website and social media: one "Order" button in every post.
What to tell the guest
One clear argument works better than three: "order directly, get a faster confirmation and a small bonus". Do not promise anything you cannot deliver and do not criticise the platform. The guest chooses convenience, not a side.
Measure the result every week: how many new guests arrive through platforms and how many of them order a second time from you. If the second order happens, the channel works and is worth developing.
How to launch your own online ordering
Do not start with delivery. It needs zones, couriers and timing. Pickup is the quickest way to find out whether guests will order directly. All options are on the Menuto features page.
- #01
Upload the current menu
Prices, photos and allergens. The ordering menu must match the menu in the dining room.
- #02
Launch pickup
Set opening hours and a preparation time. The guest pays in cash on the spot or online.
- #03
Put the address everywhere
Google profile, Instagram, a QR on the door and in the platform bags.
- #04
Add delivery zones
Draw the zones on the map and set a fee for each.
- #05
Set a minimum order and a free-delivery threshold
Small orders in a far zone do not pay off. A free-delivery threshold encourages a bigger bill.
- #06
Track the result
How many orders arrive directly and how many are regulars. That tells you when to push delivery further.
Pickup or delivery: where the profit is
Pickup is the cheapest channel: no courier, no time on the road, no bag handover. Platforms also treat it differently. For example, according to the Deliverect guide, Glovo charges 15 % for pickup instead of 30 %.
Pickup has one more plus: the guest comes to you and may add a drink or a dessert. That small extra sale is often lost with delivery.
Delivery brings a bigger bill and more guests, but adds costs: a courier's pay or fee, fuel, time, lateness risk. So in your own system, treat delivery as the second step.
A practical tip: launch delivery first in a small radius around the venue and widen the zones step by step. That shows you how long an order really takes before you promise a time to guests in a farther district. The minimum order for outer zones can be higher, and free delivery can start from a larger bill.
When your own delivery pays off
- You have a dense customer base within 3–5 km.
- The average bill is high enough to cover the courier.
- The kitchen is not overloaded at peak hours.
- You have a person or a regular partner for deliveries.
When it does not
- Orders are few and scattered across the day.
- Small bill in a far zone: the fee does not cover it.
- The kitchen already struggles with the dining room.
- Nobody can drive at peak times. In that case the platform with its couriers is the saner choice.
Frequently asked questions
How much commission do Glovo and Wolt charge in Bulgaria?
There are no public Bulgarian tariffs. International guides point to about 30 % for Glovo delivery by its own couriers and 25–30 % for Wolt, with lower rates for pickup. Real terms are set by contract: ask directly and negotiate.
Do Takeaway and foodpanda still operate in Bulgaria?
Takeaway.com announced it stops in Bulgaria from 15 September 2026. Foodpanda was acquired by Glovo in 2021. The big remaining platforms are Glovo, Wolt and Bolt Food.
Can I use a platform and my own system together?
Yes, and it is the recommended approach. The platform brings new guests, your own channel serves the regulars. Read your platform contract for any restrictions.
Do I need my own courier?
No. Start with pickup. Add delivery later, with zones, a minimum order and a fee.
How do I get guests to order directly?
With a small offer for the first direct order and a clear path: a QR in the bag, an address on a flyer, a link in your Google profile and website.
How long does it take to launch online ordering?
With a ready menu, a first pickup page can be up in one working day. Delivery zones come afterwards.
Can I accept card payments?
Yes. Menuto processes card payments through Stripe; the payment provider's fees are separate from the subscription. You can also accept cash.
Sources
- Deliverect: Glovo 101, the essential guide for restaurants (updated January 2026)
- Deliverect: Wolt 101, the essential guide for restaurants (updated January 2026)
- Wolt Merchant: Understanding Wolt merchant commissions and fees (Austrian merchant portal)
- Mediapool.bg: Takeaway спира доставките в България от 15 септември
- Economic.bg: Сбогом, Takeaway: Битката за доставките в България навлиза в нов етап
- Gugushev & Partners: Glovo acquires Delivery Hero Bulgaria (foodpanda), June 2021