What a delivery order really pays you
The menu price isn't what lands in your bank. Here's how to read a payout, and what to check each week.
By Saicharan Sudini · November 4, 2026 · 1 min read
A $40 order on a delivery app rarely pays $40. Between the order and the deposit, the app takes its commission, and often more besides. To know whether delivery is earning its keep, you have to look at what's left.
What comes off
- Commission. A share of the order, set by your plan. Plans that promise more visibility usually charge a higher share.
- Promotions you funded. "Buy one, get one" and discounts are often paid by you, not the app.
- Adjustments and refunds. A missing item or a late order can be taken back from your payout, sometimes days later.
- Payment fees and tax handling. These vary by app and by province or state.
Worked example on a $40 ticket
Say a customer orders two mains totaling $40 before tax. On a 25% commission plan, $10 comes off immediately. Add a $3 merchant-funded promo and $1.20 in processing fees, and the net payout before food cost is $25.80. If the ingredients cost $12.80, you are left with $13.00 to cover kitchen labor, packaging, and rent.
A simple weekly check
Each week, take one app's statement and write down three numbers: what customers ordered, what the app says it will pay you, and what actually arrived in your bank. If the second is far below the first, look at which line took it. If the third doesn't match the second, ask the app about it.
Then compare delivery with your own takeout. If a dish earns half as much through an app as it does at your counter, it may be worth a different price on the app, or a smaller delivery menu.