Most restaurant owners believe their own delivery app will automatically save money by avoiding platform commissions. However, the hidden costs of app development, marketing, and customer acquisition often exceed those platform fees. The real question isn't about avoiding commissions—it's about total cost versus revenue potential.
The real costs of platforms
Platforms like Thuisbezorgd or Uber Eats charge commission on your order value. This typically ranges between 15% and 30%, depending on your contract and services.
💡 Example platform costs:
Annual revenue via Thuisbezorgd: €120,000
- Commission 25%: €30,000 per year
- Marketing fee 3%: €3,600 per year
- Payment costs 2.5%: €3,000 per year
Total platform costs: €36,600 per year
Costs of your own app
Your own delivery app brings various costs that many entrepreneurs underestimate:
- Development: €15,000 - €50,000 one-time
- App store fees: €100 per year (Apple) + €25 one-time (Google)
- Hosting and maintenance: €200 - €500 per month
- Payment system: 1.5% - 2.9% per transaction
- Marketing: €500 - €2,000 per month to attract customers
- Updates and bugfixes: €3,000 - €10,000 per year
💡 Example own app costs:
For the same €120,000 annual revenue:
- Development (depreciated over 3 years): €10,000
- Hosting and maintenance: €4,200
- Marketing: €12,000
- Payment costs: €3,000
- Updates: €6,000
Total own app costs: €35,200 per year
Calculate your break-even point
To determine when your own app becomes more cost-effective, calculate the break-even point. This represents the revenue threshold where both options cost the same.
Formula: Break-even revenue = Fixed costs own app / (Platform commission % - Own app variable costs %)
💡 Break-even calculation:
Fixed costs own app per year: €32,200
Platform commission: 30.5% (including all costs)
Own app variable costs: 2.5% (payment)
Break-even: €32,200 / (30.5% - 2.5%) = €115,000 annual revenue
Hidden disadvantages of your own app
Beyond direct costs, there are hidden disadvantages that carry financial impact. This represents one of the most common blind spots in kitchen management—underestimating the true cost of customer acquisition and retention.
- Reduced reach: Customers discover you less easily than on established platforms
- Missing reviews: Platforms provide social proof that you must build from scratch
- Technical failures: If your app crashes, you lose all orders during downtime
- Time investment: You'll handle customer service and marketing yourself
⚠️ Note:
Many restaurants see their online revenue drop by 40-60% in the first months after leaving platforms. Factor this revenue loss into your calculation.
Hybrid approach: combining both channels
Many successful delivery restaurants choose a hybrid strategy: maintain platform presence for reach while developing their own app for loyal customers.
💡 Hybrid distribution:
Total delivery revenue: €180,000 per year
- Via platforms (70%): €126,000 - costs €38,430
- Via own app (30%): €54,000 - costs €16,850
Total costs: €55,280 vs €54,900 platform only
Tracking delivery profitability
Food cost calculators help you track the real profitability of different delivery channels. You can see per platform and per dish what you keep net after all costs.
These tools also help you calculate appropriate delivery prices. By including packaging costs and platform commissions in your food cost analysis, you immediately identify which dishes remain profitable for delivery.
How do you calculate the financial benefit? (step by step)
Gather all platform costs
Add up all costs you pay to delivery platforms: commission, marketing fees, payment costs and any extra services. Calculate this as a percentage of your delivery revenue.
Calculate own app costs
Make an overview of all costs for your own app: development (depreciated over 3 years), hosting, maintenance, marketing, payment costs and updates. Divide fixed costs by your expected annual revenue.
Determine your break-even point
Use the formula: Fixed costs own app / (Platform commission % - Own app variable costs %). This gives you the revenue point where both options cost the same.
Factor in revenue loss
Estimate how much revenue you lose from less reach. Many restaurants lose 40-60% of their online revenue in the first months. Include this in your total costs.
Consider a hybrid approach
Calculate whether a combination of platforms (for reach) and own app (for loyal customers) is more cost-effective than switching completely. This often provides the best balance between costs and reach.
✨ Pro tip
Track your direct website orders for 3 months before investing in app development. If less than 15% of customers choose direct ordering over platforms, your own app likely won't generate enough volume to justify the costs.
Calculate this yourself?
In the KitchenNmbrs app you can do this in just a few clicks. 7 days free, no credit card.
Was this article helpful?
Frequently asked questions
From what revenue does your own delivery app become profitable?
This depends on your platform costs and app development expenses, but the break-even point typically falls around €100,000-150,000 annual delivery revenue. Below that threshold, fixed costs remain too high relative to savings.
Can I negotiate lower commission rates with platforms?
Yes, at higher revenues (usually from €50,000+ per year) you can often negotiate reduced commissions. This can significantly shift the break-even point for your own app upward.
How do I attract customers to my own delivery app?
Use targeted discounts, loyalty programs and promote your app prominently in your restaurant. Budget €500-2000 per month for marketing to generate sufficient downloads and regular orders.
What happens if my own app experiences technical problems?
Technical failures can prove costly because you miss all orders during downtime. Ensure you have reliable hosting, regular backups and a maintenance contract with your developer to minimize risks.
📚 Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- Warenwetbesluit Bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen (2024) — Official source
- WHO — Foodborne diseases estimates (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
Food cost control for delivery and dark kitchens
With delivery, margins are thinner than ever. KitchenNmbrs calculates your actual food cost including packaging so you know if every order is profitable. Test it free for 14 days.
Start free trial →