Deliveroo & Uber Eats Are Eating Your Profits – Here’s How to Fight Back

If you’re a restaurant or takeaway owner, you already know the feeling. The orders come in, the customers are happy, but when you look at the numbers at the end of the week, a huge chunk of your revenue has vanished into platform commissions.

Deliveroo and Uber Eats can take 25% to 35% per order. That’s not a small fee — it’s a serious profit killer. But what if you could keep most of that money while still getting new customers?

The solution is simpler than most people think: take back control by building your own branded app and website.

The Real Cost of Convenience

Let’s do the maths on £10,000 worth of sales:

Deliveroo / Uber Eats fees: £2,500+
Your own app (using Stripe): Just £250

That’s a £2,250 difference every week — or over £117,000 a year.

Even when you factor in your own delivery costs, you still come out massively ahead. Many businesses are quietly making this switch and protecting their margins.

Why You’re Losing So Much

Big delivery platforms spend millions on marketing, driver networks, and technology. You’re essentially paying for their growth with your profits. Worse still, they own the customer relationship. You get the sale today, but the customer data, loyalty, and future orders stay with them.

Every time someone orders through Deliveroo or Uber Eats, you’re paying a premium for access to your own customers.

The Better Way: Your Own App & Website

Imagine having a sleek, professional app in the Apple App Store and Google Play that belongs to you. Your customers can:

Order directly from your menu
Get instant push notifications for offers and promotions
Track their order in real time
Earn loyalty points that reward them for choosing you
Save their details for faster reordering

You also get a high-converting website that works perfectly on phones and desktops, fully linked to your current POS system.

Local Delivery Without the Huge Commissions

Many owners worry about handling delivery themselves. The truth is, you don’t need to copy the big platforms’ nationwide model.

Focus on a 5-mile radius around your business. Charge a small £1 delivery fee to cover costs. Use your own drivers or riders with branded bikes. Not only is this cheaper, it’s often faster and more reliable for your customers.

You can also offer Click & Collect, which brings people into your store with zero delivery cost.

The Smart Hybrid Approach

You don’t have to go cold turkey on Deliveroo and Uber Eats. The best strategy is a hybrid model:

Use the big apps to attract new customers.
Convert them to your own app with better prices and loyalty rewards.
Gradually shift the majority of orders to your own system.

Many businesses successfully move 60–90% of their orders to their own channels over time while still benefiting from the platforms’ discovery power.

How to Get Started – Step by Step

Step 1: Build a modern, mobile-friendly website with your full menu and online ordering.

Step 2: Launch your native app on the Apple and Google app stores with push notifications and order tracking.

Step 3: Promote your app everywhere — flyers, receipts, social media, and in-store.

Step 4: Add Click & Collect and start local delivery with your own team.

Step 5: Bring on branded riders and grow your local delivery fleet.

Step 6: Use targeted marketing (social ads, email, SEO) to drive more app downloads.

Real Benefits You’ll See

Significantly higher profit margins
Direct access to your customer data
Stronger customer loyalty
The ability to run your own promotions without paying huge commissions
More control over your business future

It’s Easier and More Affordable Than Ever

Thanks to modern development tools and experienced teams, creating a professional app and website is now within reach for small and medium-sized businesses. Flexible payment options and project-managed services make the process smooth and low-risk.