GoSwiftWhat delivery apps really cost New York restaurants.
Most New York restaurants pay the delivery apps about 30% of every order, and extra fees can push it higher. Here is what that adds up to, and what changes when you deliver your own orders for a flat fee.
The commission adds up faster than it looks
A delivery app charges a percentage of the order, not a fee for the trip. At about 30%, a $40 order costs the restaurant $12. A $100 catering order costs $30, even though the courier drives the same distance.
On top of the commission, many plans add payment processing, marketing and promotion fees. That is how some restaurants end up giving away 40% or more of an order.
| Order | App commission at 30% | Your cost with GoSwift | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $7.50 | about $7.00 | $0.50 more |
| $40 | $12.00 | about $7.00 | $5.00 more |
| $60 | $18.00 | about $7.00 | $11.00 more |
| $100 | $30.00 | about $7.00 | $23.00 more |
GoSwift column: a business account delivery within 3 miles ($14.99), with the restaurant charging its customer a $7.99 delivery fee. Each extra mile is $2.
Where the break-even sits
With a $7.99 delivery fee, the restaurant’s own share of a GoSwift delivery is about $7.00. A 30% commission costs more than that on any order above $23.34, and from there every extra dollar of food saves you another 30 cents.
Charge $8.99 for delivery and your cost drops to about $6.00, so GoSwift wins on any order over $20. Charge $9.99 and it’s about $5.00, cheaper on any order over $16.67.
The bigger cost: the customer belongs to the app
When a regular customer orders through an app, the app keeps their name, number and order history, and can show them a competitor next time. You pay the commission again on a customer who already knows you.
Orders on your own ordering site stay yours. Toast, Square and Clover all include online ordering, and GoSwift connects to them so every delivery order reaches a courier automatically.
How to switch without losing orders
- Keep the apps for new customers who find you there.
- Turn on online ordering in your own system and set Google’s “Order online” button to it.
- Put an “order direct next time” card in every app order, so your regular customers move over. Make free cards here.
- Connect GoSwift so direct delivery orders go to a courier on their own.
Run your own numbers with the savings calculator, or read the full no-commission delivery guide.
Quick answers
What commission do delivery apps charge restaurants in NYC?
Most restaurants pay about 30% of each order, depending on the plan, and payment, marketing and promotion fees can push the total higher.
When is flat-fee delivery cheaper than app commission?
With GoSwift and a $7.99 delivery fee charged to the customer, the restaurant pays about $7 per delivery, which is cheaper than a 30% commission on any order over $23.34.
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How NYC bakeries deliver cakes, cupcakes and gift boxes the same day: car-only couriers, scheduled pickups, booking a whole week at once, and what it costs.
Restaurants & caterersA backup courier for your catering orders, 24/7.
When your usual delivery provider can’t cover a catering order, GoSwift can: early-morning pickups, car delivery for trays and multi-bag orders, pay as you go across NYC.
Every businessSame-day courier service for NYC small businesses: what it costs.
Clear prices for same-day courier delivery in New York City: $14.99 for the first 3 miles with a free business account, $2 per extra mile, no commission or contract.
Ready when you are.
Every path takes about two minutes, with no sales call. Questions? info@goswifthq.com · (646) 455-7947.