Written by If you’re running a restaurant or takeaway, every pound counts. So when you see £2,250 disappearing from £10,000 in weekly sales, it hurts. That’s exactly what many businesses are losing by relying heavily on Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
The solution? Launching your own delivery app. The numbers are so compelling that more restaurant owners are making the switch every month.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Here’s the comparison on £10,000 in sales:
- Deliveroo / Uber Eats: 25% commission = £2,500 in fees
- Your own app using Stripe: 2.5% = £250 in fees
That’s £2,250 extra profit every single week.
Over a year, this adds up to more than £117,000 — money that could be reinvested in better ingredients, staff bonuses, restaurant upgrades, or simply taken as profit.
Even after paying for your own local delivery, you still keep the vast majority of that extra money.
Why This Difference Matters So Much
Most restaurants operate on tight margins. Losing 25% on every order makes it extremely difficult to grow or even stay profitable long-term. When you cut your fees to just 2.5%, everything changes:
- You can afford higher quality ingredients
- You can pay your team better
- You can market more aggressively
- You can finally build real financial stability
How Your Own App Works
Your own branded app gives customers a fast, professional way to order directly from you. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, it includes:
- Full menu with high-quality photos
- Push notifications for special deals
- Real-time order tracking
- Saved payment details for quick reordering
- Loyalty points system
All of this runs at a fraction of the cost of the big delivery platforms.
Local Delivery Made Simple (and Profitable)
You don’t need hundreds of drivers to make this work. Focus on a 5-mile radius around your location. Charge customers a small £1 delivery fee to cover costs and use your own riders on branded bikes. This approach is not only cheaper — it’s often faster and more reliable.
You can also offer Click & Collect, giving customers a convenient zero-delivery-cost option that brings them to your door.
The Smart Hybrid Strategy
You don’t have to completely ditch Deliveroo and Uber Eats. Use them to bring in new customers, then convert those customers to your own app with better pricing and loyalty rewards.
This hybrid approach allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds:
- New customer acquisition from the big platforms
- Much higher margins on your own app orders
Many restaurants manage to move 60–90% of their orders to their own system over time.
6 Simple Steps to Launch Your Own App
Step 1: Create a modern website with online ordering connected to your POS. Step 2: Build and launch your native app on Apple & Google stores. Step 3: Promote your app aggressively everywhere (flyers, social media, receipts). Step 4: Add Click & Collect and order tracking. Step 5: Hire your first local delivery riders with branded bikes. Step 6: Use marketing (ads, email, SEO) to drive more direct orders.
Beyond the Money – Other Big Benefits
- You own your customer data and relationships
- You control pricing and promotions
- You can build genuine customer loyalty
- You reduce your reliance on third-party platforms
- You future-proof your business
It’s Easier Than You Think
Modern development solutions have made it much more affordable and faster for small businesses to launch their own professional app and website. With flexible payment plans and experienced support, you can get up and running without a massive upfront cost.
The Bottom Line
£2,250 extra profit per £10,000 in sales is not a small improvement — it’s a game changer.
If you’re serious about protecting your restaurant’s future and improving your margins, building your own delivery app is one of the highest-ROI moves you can make right now.
Ready to stop losing thousands every month?
Let’s talk about creating your own branded app and taking back control of your profits.