Paying steep delivery fees and juggling multiple tablets isn’t sustainable. If you’re tired of giving away a portion of your sales to third-party platforms, now’s the time to look into an online ordering app for restaurants that gives you full control.
The right system can help you reduce costs, simplify operations, and build loyalty with your customers without the tech headaches. This guide breaks down exactly what to look for, how it helps you compete, and how to choose the best online ordering app for your business.
Third-party delivery apps offer reach, but they cut deep into your revenue and remove your ability to control the customer experience. You lose visibility into who’s ordering, what they like, and how often they come back. That makes it harder to build loyalty or offer deals that actually drive repeat visits.
When your customers order through a third-party app:
Running your own online ordering app solves those problems.
You keep more of your revenue and offer a consistent experience from menu to checkout. You set your pricing, feature your promotions, and reward loyal customers directly. You get to collect and use customer data to grow smarter, not rely on platforms that keep that information for themselves.
If you're managing multiple locations, a centralized system helps you sync branding and offers across stores. If you're working within a franchise, you can extend your digital tools while still aligning with corporate standards.
Using your own system also cuts down on operational friction. You won’t need to juggle multiple tablets, manually reconcile orders, or deal with customer support that doesn’t understand your business.
You run the brand. You should run the tech behind it, too.
Not every online food ordering app is built for running a restaurant. Some are overloaded with features you’ll never use. Others were made for consumers, not for helping your team take and manage orders efficiently.
Look for a platform that simplifies your work, not adds to it. Focus on tools that support your operations and help you grow. Here’s what to prioritize:
You shouldn’t need to be a tech expert to launch your app. Choose a platform that handles the heavy lifting—branding, testing, submission—so you can focus on your business.
Orders, menus, and pricing should sync automatically with your POS. This keeps everything consistent and eliminates double entry.
Your menu should load fast, look clean, and work smoothly on any phone. Customers should be able to browse and order in just a few taps.
The app should reflect your logo, colors, and name, not a third-party brand. Customers should stay connected to your business from start to finish.
Look for features like points, member discounts, or cashback. Rewarding regulars helps drive more repeat visits and keeps them engaged.
Use banners or splash screens to highlight promos, announce new items, or push seasonal offers right inside the app.
Customers should be able to find the nearest store, see its hours, and place an order without confusion. A single app should support all locations.
Let people explore your menu without signing in. Asking them to register only at checkout keeps the process simple and reduces drop-off.
If your audience includes multiple language groups, your app should reflect that. This improves accessibility and overall experience.
Keep customers informed from the moment they place an order to when it’s ready. It builds trust and reduces calls to the store.
When you run into issues, you need help fast. Choose a provider that knows how restaurants operate and can troubleshoot accordingly.
Skip platforms that feel generic or overly complicated. You’ll get more value from a solution that’s focused, practical, and built to support how you run your business.
Using a restaurant online ordering app puts you in control of the experience from start to finish. You set the tone, manage promotions, and keep your customers engaged all without giving up part of your revenue to outside platforms. Here’s how the right setup helps you stay competitive:
Skip high commissions and redirect those savings into better service, loyalty perks, or marketing. A restaurant online ordering app lets you offer direct ordering without paying extra for every sale.
Make it easy for people to browse, order, and reorder without creating confusion. A clean, familiar layout means fewer drop-offs and more completed orders.
Customers should see one brand, one app, and one seamless experience, whether you run two stores or ten. A shared system with smart location suggestions helps direct traffic to the nearest spot and keeps everything connected.
Use points, member-only pricing, and cashback offers to reward return visits. Your app becomes the hub for every interaction—ordering, tracking, and saving.
If you're working with set systems from a franchisor, an external branded app can offer added flexibility. Use it to promote local offers, run store-specific rewards, or close gaps in your digital tools.
A restaurant online ordering app gives you direct access to your customers, more control over the ordering experience, and long-term cost savings. Instead of relying on third parties, you manage the process and keep the relationship where it belongs—with your business.
The best online ordering app for restaurants should fit how you run your business today and where you want to take it next. Features alone don’t tell the full story. Focus on how well the system supports your daily operations, future plans, and available resources.
Here’s a quick breakdown to help compare options:
Use this as a starting point to focus your search. Once you’ve narrowed down a few options, check for these essentials:
An online ordering app should feel like an upgrade, not an extra burden. If a platform checks the boxes above and aligns with how your business operates, you're likely looking at a good fit.
Running your own online ordering app gives you more than just a better way to take orders. It helps you control the experience, lower your costs, and stay connected with your customers without depending on third-party platforms that take a cut and limit what you can do. Whether you’re focused on managing a single location or streamlining multiple stores, the right setup can support how you work now and where you're planning to grow.
Chowbus provides a complete restaurant POS system designed to simplify ordering, boost efficiency, and support branded customer experiences across one or many locations. If you’re exploring an online ordering app for restaurants, our team can walk you through how it works, no pressure.
Book a Free Demo with Chowbus POS today.
Choosing the right online ordering app for restaurants comes with a few common questions. Here's what you need to know:
Pricing depends on the provider. Some charge monthly fees, others take a percentage of each sale. Chowbus offers a flat-rate model with no commissions, so you keep more of your revenue.
No. You provide your logo, menu, and color scheme—we build and launch the app for you. Everything from testing to App Store submission is handled for you.
Yes. Built-in loyalty tools let you offer points, cashback, member-only pricing, and first-time order discounts. This helps you increase repeat visits without extra work.
Yes. Your app can support multiple locations under one brand. Customers see the nearest store based on location and get consistent perks and menus wherever they go.
Yes. Use banners, splash ads, and promo codes to highlight specials or events. You control what’s shown, when it’s shown, and who sees it.
Check out our blog section for more insights on online ordering apps, POS tools, and strategies to grow your restaurant.
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