Third-party delivery: what it means for a restaurant and what it costs
Updated October 20, 2026
Third-party delivery means an outside company handles your delivery orders: it takes the order on its app, sends one of its drivers, or both. In the US that mostly means DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub, which charge the restaurant a commission on each order. The alternative, first-party delivery, is when orders come through your own website or app and your own staff deliver them.
In short
- Marketplace: the app finds the customer and delivers. The highest commission, typically 15–30% in the US.
- Self-delivery on a marketplace: the app finds the customer; your drivers deliver. A lower commission.
- White-label (on-demand) delivery: your customer orders from you; the app's drivers deliver for a flat fee per trip. See white-label delivery.
- On Menuthere orders come from your own page at 0% commission, and you deliver with your own drivers or book Uber Direct (outside India).
The four delivery models
| Model | Who brings the customer | Who drives | How you pay | Who owns the customer data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace | The app | The app's drivers | % commission per order | The app |
| Marketplace, self-delivery | The app | Your drivers | Lower % commission | The app |
| White-label / on-demand | You (your site or app) | The app's drivers | Flat fee per delivery | You |
| First-party (in-house) | You | Your drivers | Your drivers' pay and costs | You |
Who owns the customer matters for repeat business: on a marketplace, the app holds the customer's details and can show them other restaurants. See first-party data.
What US delivery apps charge restaurants
| App | Delivery plans (commission per order) | Pickup |
|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | Basic 15%, Plus 25%, Premier 30% | 6% |
| Uber Eats | Lite 20% (15% in some cities, such as Seattle and Los Angeles), Plus 25%, Premium 30%; self-delivery 15% | 7% with validated in-store pricing, 10% without |
| Grubhub | Marketing commission 5%, 15% or 20%, plus Grubhub delivery from 10% | — |
Rates as published by each app (see Sources); card processing and promotions can add more. Full detail and other countries: the US delivery app commission page.
One $25 order, four ways
| Model | What it costs the restaurant | You keep (before food and card costs) |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace at 25% | $6.25 | $18.75 |
| Marketplace self-delivery at 15% | $3.75, plus your driver's time | $21.25, less driver costs |
| White-label delivery at a flat fee | e.g. $7.99 per trip, often passed to the customer as the delivery charge | $25.00 if the customer pays the delivery charge |
| Own ordering page, own driver | No commission; your driver's time and a card fee | $25.00, less driver and card costs |
(Illustrative $25 order. The $7.99 is Uber Direct's published "as low as" US price.) Your own figures: the delivery app loss calculator and the in-house delivery guide.
Should a restaurant use third-party delivery?
Marketplaces are good at finding new customers. They are expensive for repeat customers, who would order from you directly if you gave them an easy way. A common approach: stay on one or two apps for discovery, mark up app prices to cover commission (see price parity), and move regulars to your own ordering page with a flyer or QR code in the bag. See moving delivery-app customers to direct ordering.
How Menuthere fits
- Not a marketplace. Menuthere gives you your own ordering page, table QR codes and a link to share. Orders come to you, and Menuthere takes 0% commission on every plan.
- Your own drivers (Pro). Add drivers, assign each delivery in one tap, and customers follow the driver on a live map. See delivery dispatch.
- Uber Direct (outside India). Connect your own Uber Direct account and Uber couriers deliver your own orders; Uber bills your account, not Menuthere, and checkout shows Uber's live fee.
- No marketplace integrations. Menuthere doesn't pull in DoorDash, Uber Eats or Grubhub orders or sync your menu to them.
Give regulars a commission-free way to order from you directly.
Related terms
- White-label delivery: app drivers for your own orders.
- Price parity: pricing the same dish on every channel.
- First-party data: the customer details you keep on your own channel.
- Delivery dispatch: assigning your own driver.
FAQs
What is third-party delivery?
Third-party delivery is food delivery handled by a company other than the restaurant, such as DoorDash, Uber Eats or Grubhub. The company takes the order on its app, delivers it, or both, and charges the restaurant a commission or a fee per delivery.
What is the difference between first-party and third-party delivery?
In first-party delivery the restaurant takes the order on its own website or app and delivers it with its own staff. In third-party delivery an outside company takes the order, delivers it, or both, usually for a commission.
How much do third-party delivery apps charge restaurants?
In the US, DoorDash's Marketplace plans charge 15%, 25% or 30% per delivery order, and Uber Eats charges 20%, 25% or 30%, with lower rates for pickup and self-delivery. Grubhub charges a 5% to 20% marketing commission plus delivery from 10%.
Can I use third-party drivers for orders from my own website?
Yes. White-label or on-demand delivery services, such as Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive, send their drivers to deliver orders you take yourself, for a fee per delivery instead of a commission. Menuthere connects to Uber Direct for stores outside India.
Is Menuthere a third-party delivery app?
No. Menuthere is an ordering system: customers order from your own page, and you deliver with your own drivers or book Uber Direct on your own account. Menuthere takes no commission and doesn't list your restaurant in a marketplace.
Sources (6)
- Uber Eats, Merchant pricing (US) (Lite 20%, 15% in select cities such as Seattle and Los Angeles; Plus 25%; Premium 30%; 7% pickup with validated in-store pricing, 10% without; self-delivery 15%): https://merchants.ubereats.com/us/en/pricing/ (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- DoorDash, Marketplace pricing (US): Basic 15%, Plus 25%, Premier 30%, pickup 6%: https://merchants.doordash.com/en-us/pricing (Wave 1 settled rate, 20 Oct 2026; DoorDash blocks automated reads, see Facts)
- Grubhub, Pricing and fees (marketing commission 5% / 15% / 20%; Grubhub Delivery starting at 10%; plan prices exclude payment processing): https://get.grubhub.com/grubhub-pricing-and-fees/ (dateModified 7 Apr 2026; read 20 Oct 2026 in Wave 1)
- Uber, Uber Direct (US) ("Pricing as low as US$7.99/CA$9.99 per delivery"; no commissions or monthly minimums; white-label): https://merchants.ubereats.com/us/en/services/uber-direct/ (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- Menuthere help: Uber Direct, updated 19 Oct 2026 (own Uber Direct account; Uber bills your account; live fee at checkout; stores outside India): https://menuthere.com/docs/delivery/uber-direct (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- Menuthere help: Menuthere takes 0% commission: https://menuthere.com/docs/checkout-payments/menuthere-takes-0-commission (accessed 20 Oct 2026)