--- title: "Launch a Direct Online Ordering Channel" description: "Build the direct channel around complete costs, menu and order operations, fulfillment, customer consent, and support—not a commission label alone." canonical: https://www.ordering.co/blog/how-to-launch-commission-free-online-ordering-for-your-restaurant/ --- # How to launch a direct online ordering channel for a restaurant Build the direct channel around complete costs, menu and order operations, fulfillment, customer consent, and support—not a commission label alone. 3 min read· Ordering.co· Guides ## Quick answer Direct ordering can avoid a marketplace commission, but it still has payment, software, implementation, acquisition, fulfillment, and support costs. Model the complete channel and verify current provider terms. Build the direct channel around complete costs, menu and order operations, fulfillment, customer consent, and support—not a commission label alone. ## Evaluation criteria - all-in channel economics - menu, hours, taxes, fees, and availability - website or app ordering experience - POS and kitchen routing - pickup and delivery responsibility - customer consent, marketing, analytics, refunds, and support ## A responsible sequence 1. Model current and proposed channel economics. 2. Choose the direct-ordering approach. 3. Configure menu, payments, locations, and fulfillment. 4. Connect order operations and support. 5. Test full orders and failure paths. 6. Launch and measure repeat direct use. ## Compare the available approaches | Approach | What it is useful for | What must be verified | | -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Third-party marketplace | Demand discovery and outsourced marketplace reach | Current fee schedule, fulfillment option, customer-data access, ranking rules, refunds, and local terms | | POS-native ordering | A direct channel closely tied to one POS ecosystem | Supported POS version, menu and order sync, payments, delivery, brand control, data access, and support | | Independent direct channel | A branded website or app operated by the business | Implementation, integrations, acquisition, payments, fulfillment, support, and all-in operating cost | | Hybrid model | Keeping marketplace reach while growing a direct channel | Channel roles, menu parity, order routing, customer consent, attribution, and operational ownership | ## Questions to settle before selection ### What does commission-free ordering mean? There is no single figure that applies to every business. Request like-for-like written estimates that cover all-in channel economics, menu, hours, taxes, fees, and availability, website or app ordering experience, POS and kitchen routing, plus hosting, payment processing, maintenance, support, and exit costs. Verify current provider documentation, plan, territory, fees, exclusions, implementation responsibilities, and contract terms before relying on the result. ### Which costs still remain? There is no single figure that applies to every business. Request like-for-like written estimates that cover all-in channel economics, menu, hours, taxes, fees, and availability, website or app ordering experience, POS and kitchen routing, plus hosting, payment processing, maintenance, support, and exit costs. Verify current provider documentation, plan, territory, fees, exclusions, implementation responsibilities, and contract terms before relying on the result. ### How do I add direct ordering to my website? Turn the requirement into an acceptance test using the actual catalog, locations, users, payment setup, and fulfillment model; record the demonstrated result and owner in the implementation scope. Verify current provider documentation, plan, territory, fees, exclusions, implementation responsibilities, and contract terms before relying on the result. ### Do I need a branded app? Turn the requirement into an acceptance test using the actual catalog, locations, users, payment setup, and fulfillment model; record the demonstrated result and owner in the implementation scope. Verify current provider documentation, plan, territory, fees, exclusions, implementation responsibilities, and contract terms before relying on the result. ### How should delivery be handled? Turn the requirement into an acceptance test using the actual catalog, locations, users, payment setup, and fulfillment model; record the demonstrated result and owner in the implementation scope. Verify current provider documentation, plan, territory, fees, exclusions, implementation responsibilities, and contract terms before relying on the result. ### How do I move repeat customers to direct ordering responsibly? Turn the requirement into an acceptance test using the actual catalog, locations, users, payment setup, and fulfillment model; record the demonstrated result and owner in the implementation scope. Verify current provider documentation, plan, territory, fees, exclusions, implementation responsibilities, and contract terms before relying on the result. [Discuss the operating model](https://www.ordering.co/contact/) Use the current demo page to evaluate these requirements against a specific operating model; submitting elsewhere is not implied. ## Keep reading. - ## [How to choose online food ordering software and launch it](https://www.ordering.co/blog/how-to-choose-online-food-ordering-software/) Evaluate ordering channels, menus, payments, merchant operations, delivery, costs, and implementation with a practical pilot and launch checklist. - ## [How to launch a virtual restaurant on delivery platforms and your own channel](https://www.ordering.co/blog/how-to-launch-a-virtual-restaurant-delivery/) Start a virtual restaurant with merchant onboarding, menu checks, channel costs and a first-order pilot across aggregators and your own ordering site. - ## [Marketplace or direct ordering: a merchant’s channel plan](https://www.ordering.co/blog/marketplace-vs-direct-ordering-for-merchants/) Compare marketplace enrollment and direct orders for restaurants, ghost kitchens, and convenience stores, with channel costs and a practical launch plan. ## See it running on your own menu. The shortest way to understand any of this is to watch an order go from a storefront to a store to a driver, on your locations. [Book a demo](https://www.ordering.co/contact/?meeting=demo#book)[See a live demo](https://www.ordering.co/demo/)