Should your takeaway use third-party delivery apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash? The short answer is no. The long answer is a resounding NOOOOOO, but with one important asterisk.

The Case For Using Third-party Delivery Apps (Because It Exists)

Third-party platforms aren’t entirely without merit. Their biggest genuine advantage is exposure. Millions of people open these apps and scroll through restaurants they’ve never heard of. If you’re a new spot trying to get your name out, or if your neighbourhood welcomes a lot of tourists and travellers, being listed means customers can discover you without spending a penny on marketing. That’s real value.

There’s also the logistics question. If you’re based in a busy city, hiring your own delivery drivers is expensive and complicated. Platforms handle that for you, which is one less operational headache.

Now, the Problems of Third-Party Delivery Apps

The fees are brutal. What you gain in new customers, you’ll often lose in commission charges. Unlike a flat monthly cost you can budget around, these fees are per-order, eating into your margins on every single transaction.

The payment timing makes it worse. Those fees don’t get processed until the following day. So you can run a full day of orders, feel like business is booming, and then wake up the next morning to find yourself starting at a negative balance. It’s a cash flow trap that catches a lot of operators off guard.

Then there’s the control issue, or rather, the lack of it. You don’t get customer data. You can’t build a loyalty programme. And some platforms will force you into promotions you never agreed to, discounting your food on their terms, forcing you to sell at a loss. With third-party delivery apps, you’re essentially renting your customers.

Why Going Direct Is Worth the Effort

A direct ordering system gives you back what matters most: control. You set your own prices. You set your own delivery fees. You own your customer relationships and can reward the regulars who keep you in business. A well-designed direct app, one that’s genuinely easy to use for both your team and your customers, can be a competitive advantage.

The caveat? It only works if you’re willing to put in the effort. Restaurants that thrive on direct ordering actively push people toward it. They post on social media, offer first-order discounts, and make it part of how they talk to customers. You only get back what you put into it, and the businesses that set it up and do nothing see little to no return. You have to support it.

The Smartest Move: Use Both, Strategically

No one says you have to go all in on either a third-party delivery app or running your own delivery system. There’s a happy medium.

Keep your presence on the big platforms, as they’re useful for reaching people who don’t know you yet. But actively convert as many customers as you can to your direct app. The economics are far better per order.

To do this, start by stuffing every Uber Eats bag with a printed menu that has a QR code linking to your direct ordering page. Let the platforms do your marketing, then bring those customers home.

Similarly, make sure you have plenty of signage notifying walk-ins about your ordering app, including offering them a discount on their first order.

That’s how you win without letting the third-party delivery apps take control.

Want to learn more about leveraging your own third-party delivery app to grow your business? Everything EPOS has you covered. Contact our specialists today to discuss how to add your own delivery app, easily and affordably.