Restaurant Website Design: How to Build Online Ordering & Stop Paying 30% to DoorDash (2025)
Every order through DoorDash costs you 15-30% in fees. Here's how Orange County restaurants are taking back control with their own online ordering websites.
💸 The DoorDash Problem
A restaurant doing $20,000/month in delivery orders through third-party apps pays $3,000-$6,000 in commission fees. That's $36,000-$72,000 per year going to DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub—not your pocket.
The True Cost of Third-Party Delivery Apps
Let's break down what these apps actually charge:
📊 Delivery App Commission Rates
| Platform | Commission | Your Cut on $50 Order |
|---|---|---|
| DoorDash | 15-30% | $35-$42.50 |
| UberEats | 15-30% | $35-$42.50 |
| Grubhub | 15-25% | $37.50-$42.50 |
| Your Own Website | 2.9% + $0.30 (payment processing) | $48.25 |
The difference: On a $50 order, you keep $48.25 with your own site vs. $35 with DoorDash. That's $13.25 more per order.
What a Restaurant Website Needs in 2025
1. Integrated Online Ordering
The ordering system should be:
- On your website — Not a redirect to a third-party site
- Mobile-optimized — 75%+ of orders come from phones
- Fast checkout — Guest checkout option (no forced account creation)
- POS integrated — Orders go directly to your kitchen printer
- Real-time availability — 86'd items automatically hidden
2. Mouthwatering Food Photography
Your menu needs professional photos. Studies show:
- Menu items with photos sell 30% more
- High-quality images increase average order value by 25%
- Customers spend 40% longer browsing menus with photos
Pro Tip: Invest $500-$1,500 in professional food photography. It pays for itself in the first month through increased orders.
3. Google Business Profile Integration
Your website should connect to your Google Business Profile for:
- Direct "Order Online" button in Google Search
- Menu displayed in Google Maps
- Reservation system integration
- Real-time hours and wait times
4. QR Code Menu
Post-COVID, digital menus are expected. Your website should generate QR codes that link to:
- Full interactive menu
- Online ordering (for dine-in pickup)
- Special offers and promotions
5. Reviews & Social Proof
Display your best reviews prominently:
- Google review widget
- Yelp highlights
- Instagram feed integration
- Press mentions and awards
Best Online Ordering Systems for Restaurants
Square Online
Best for: Small restaurants, food trucks
- Free to start
- 2.9% + $0.30 per order
- Integrates with Square POS
- Easy setup
Toast
Best for: Full-service restaurants
- $0/month (with Toast POS)
- Commission-free ordering
- Kitchen display integration
- Built-in marketing tools
ChowNow
Best for: High-volume takeout
- $99-$199/month
- Zero commission
- White-label app option
- Customer data ownership
BentoBox
Best for: Upscale restaurants
- $99-$399/month
- Beautiful design templates
- Event & catering management
- Gift card integration
Restaurant Website Cost Breakdown
💰 What Should You Pay?
| Website Type | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (Menu + Contact) | $1,000-$2,500 | $20-$50 |
| With Online Ordering | $2,500-$5,000 | $50-$150 |
| Full Featured (Order + Reserve + Events) | $5,000-$10,000 | $100-$300 |
| Multi-Location/Franchise | $10,000-$25,000 | $200-$500 |
SEO Keywords for Orange County Restaurants
Target these high-intent local searches:
- "restaurants near me"
- "best food [city name]"
- "[cuisine] restaurant Orange County"
- "food delivery near me"
- "best sushi Irvine"
- "Mexican food Newport Beach"
- "Italian restaurant Costa Mesa"
- "pho near me"
- "[restaurant name] menu"
- "order [cuisine] online"
- "[restaurant] delivery"
- "catering Orange County"
The Math: Website vs. Third-Party Apps
💰 12-Month ROI Calculation
Scenario: Restaurant doing $15,000/month in delivery orders
Third-Party Apps (25% commission):
$15,000 × 25% = $3,750/month in fees = $45,000/year lost
Your Own Website:
Website: $4,000 one-time
Ordering system: $150/month = $1,800/year
Payment processing (2.9%): $5,220/year
Total: $11,020/year
Annual Savings: $33,980 🎉
Common Restaurant Website Mistakes
❌ Mistakes Costing You Orders
- PDF menu — Unusable on mobile, can't be indexed by Google
- No online ordering — Customers go to DoorDash instead
- Outdated hours — Customers show up to closed doors
- No food photos — Text menus don't sell
- Slow loading — Hungry customers won't wait
- Flash/outdated tech — Doesn't work on modern phones
- Hidden address — Customers can't find you
- No reviews — No social proof, no trust
Ready to Take Back Your Profits?
Get Your Free Restaurant Website Consultation
Let us show you how much you're losing to third-party apps and how to build your own ordering system.
🍽️ Get FREE ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a restaurant website with online ordering cost?
Restaurant websites with ordering typically cost $2,500-$8,000 upfront plus $50-$300/month for the ordering system. Much cheaper than paying 15-30% on every DoorDash order.
What's the best online ordering system for restaurants?
Top systems include Square Online (free to start), Toast (integrated POS), ChowNow (no commission), and BentoBox (upscale). Best choice depends on your POS and volume.
How do I stop paying DoorDash fees?
Build your own online ordering website. Pay a flat monthly fee instead of 15-30% commission. A restaurant doing $20K/month in delivery saves $3,000-$6,000 monthly.
Do restaurants need SEO?
Yes. 90% of guests research restaurants online before visiting. Searches like "sushi near me" drive direct customers. Without SEO, you're invisible to hungry locals.