How do I accept pre-orders for my restaurant?
By the Menuthere editorial team · Updated
Switch on scheduled ordering so customers can place an order for a later date and time slot instead of 'now'. Every slot you offer falls inside your open hours, and customers can pre-order even while the shop is shut — they just pick a slot, up to 30 days ahead. With Menuthere, pre-orders and dine-in table slot booking are part of the Lite plan, at 0% commission.
- Scheduling lets a customer choose a future date and time slot for delivery, takeaway or dine-in, so you prepare ahead instead of scrambling.
- Every slot offered sits inside your working hours; nobody can book a slot when the kitchen is dark.
- Customers can pre-order while you are closed, for example ordering tomorrow's lunch late at night.
- On Menuthere, scheduled orders, pre-orders and dine-in table slot booking are part of the Lite plan.
- It suits cakes, catering, festival and holiday orders, and set collection times for busy periods.
Take orders for later, not just for now
Menuthere lets customers schedule an order for a future slot or book a dine-in table slot, with every slot kept inside your open hours. You see pre-orders in your dashboard ahead of time and prepare on your own schedule, at 0% commission.
How do I set up pre-orders?
- 1
Turn on scheduling
In the Prebooking settings, switch scheduled ordering on for the order types you want: delivery, takeaway or dine-in.
- 2
Set your slots
Pre-order slots are offered inside your open hours, so a customer can only book a time you can actually prepare for.
- 3
Share your link
Customers order from your ordering link or QR code, choose a future slot and (if you take online payment) pay.
- 4
Prepare ahead
Pre-orders show in your dashboard before the slot, so you buy and cook on your own schedule.
Can customers pre-order while I am closed?
Yes. With scheduling on, a customer browsing late at night can still place an order for a slot during your next open hours. The checkout makes them pick a slot, and every slot it offers is inside the hours you are open, so nobody can order 'now' from a kitchen that is shut. Your manual 'not taking orders' switch always overrides this.
Does this also cover table booking?
Yes. Dine-in table slot booking is part of the same scheduling feature on Menuthere's Lite plan: a customer books a table slot and can pre-order from your menu for it. A table QR order, by contrast, is always for now, at the table, so the two serve different moments.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Order types | Delivery, takeaway, dine-in |
| How far ahead | Up to 30 days |
| Slots offered | Inside your open hours only |
| Plan | Lite |
| Commission | 0% |
Who this is a good fit for
- Bakeries and cake makers taking orders for a specific pickup day.
- Caterers and kitchens handling festival, holiday or event orders that need lead time.
- Busy restaurants that want customers to pick a collection slot instead of all arriving at once.
Who this is not for
- Places that only ever serve walk-ins with no advance orders.
- Anyone who needs same-minute fulfilment only; scheduling is for later slots, not instant orders.
Common follow-up questions
How far ahead can a customer pre-order?
Up to 30 days ahead. Beyond that there is no bookable slot, so the checkout will not take the order.
Can I take payment up front on a pre-order?
Yes, if you connect online payments (on the Lite plan and up). The money goes to your own account; Menuthere takes 0% commission on the order.
Does a table QR order let diners book ahead?
No. A table QR order is for now, at the table. Booking a table for later is the scheduling feature; see how QR table ordering works for the in-the-moment side.
Read next
Sources (1)
- Menuthere pre-orders and table booking, Menuthere, read 25 October 2026