How to Get More Takeaway Orders
Whether you sell through apps or your own site, here's how to grow takeaway orders — and keep more of every sale.
Takeaway and delivery are now a core revenue stream for most food venues — but growing orders profitably means being easy to find, easy to order from, and worth ordering again, while keeping as much margin as you can. This guide covers all of it.
The three things that grow takeaway
More takeaway orders come down to: discovery (people finding you), conversion (an effortless order), and retention (them ordering again). Most venues lean entirely on the delivery apps for all three — and pay 20–30% commission for the privilege. The smarter approach builds your own channel alongside the apps.
Step 1: Be easy to find
- A complete Google Business Profile with an order link — for "[your food] takeaway near me," this is what people see first.
- Local SEO so you rank for the searches that matter in your area.
- Active social media showing your most order-worthy dishes.
- Presence on the delivery apps for discovery (more on using them wisely below).
Step 2: Be easy to order from
- Direct online ordering on a fast, mobile-first site — most orders happen on a phone.
- A clear, photographed menu that sells.
- Smooth checkout — every extra tap loses orders.
- Saved details and easy reordering so repeat orders take seconds.
Step 3: Be worth ordering again
- Consistent quality and packaging that travels well (cold, soggy food kills repeat orders).
- A thank-you or offer in the bag to win the next direct order.
- A loyalty scheme for repeat customers.
Step 4: Use the apps strategically
The delivery platforms bring discovery and quiet-night demand, but take a big cut and own the customer. Use them for what they're good at — getting found — then convert customers to your direct channel with bag inserts and offers ("order direct next time and save 15%"). Price for the commission so app orders stay profitable.
Step 5: Promote your direct ordering everywhere
The easiest place to order should always be you. Push your order link through social, email, SMS, your Google profile and in-venue signage. Every direct order keeps the margin and the customer relationship.
Common mistakes
- Relying entirely on the apps and their commission.
- A clunky or hard-to-find direct ordering option.
- Packaging that doesn't travel, killing repeat orders.
- Not pricing for app commission, so orders run at a loss.
- Never converting app customers to direct.
Your takeaway action plan
- Add an order link to your Google profile; win local SEO.
- Set up fast, mobile-first direct ordering with a photographed menu.
- Sort packaging so food arrives great.
- Put a "switch and save" insert in every app bag.
- Promote direct ordering everywhere; build a loyalty scheme.
- Keep the apps for discovery — but price for the commission.
How long until you see results?
Discovery and conversion improvements can lift orders within a few weeks; shifting a meaningful share to direct (and protecting your margin) builds over 2–4 months.
Want a direct-ordering setup that grows your takeaway? See our service.
