These platforms charge Pakistani restaurants between 20% and 35% of every order. For many restaurants, this is the difference between profit and loss. But what are your alternatives?
In this article, we break down the real cost of delivery platform commissions, compare them with direct ordering, and show you how restaurants in Pakistan are keeping more of what they earn.
How Much Do Delivery Apps Charge in Pakistan?#
Foodpanda, Pakistan's largest food delivery platform, typically charges restaurants 25-35% commission per order. Cheetay charges 20-28%. Eat Mubarak and Yummy charge similar rates. The exact percentage depends on your location, order volume, and negotiation.
But that's not the only cost. Many platforms also charge:
- Listing fees — to appear in search results
- Marketing fees — to be featured in promotions
- Late cancellation fees — for orders you can't fulfill
- Monthly minimums — penalties if order volume drops below a threshold
These additional charges can increase the effective commission rate by 5-10%.
The Real Cost: A Worked Example#
Let's look at a real example. Restaurant A in Lahore does 100 orders per day through Foodpanda. The average order value is PKR 500.
Monthly calculations:
- Orders per month: 100 × 30 = 3,000
- Monthly revenue: 3,000 × PKR 500 = PKR 1,500,000
- Commission at 25%: PKR 375,000 per month
- Annual commission: PKR 4,500,000
That's 45 lakh rupees per year — paid in commissions. For a small restaurant, this could be the entire annual profit.
Now let's look at direct ordering through Digital QR Menue:
- Monthly subscription: PKR 1,500 (Starter) or PKR 2,500 (Growth)
- Annual subscription cost: PKR 18,000 to 30,000
- Commission: ZERO
- Total annual savings: PKR 4,470,000 to 4,482,000
Yes, that's over 44 lakh rupees saved every year by switching to direct ordering.
But What About the Customers?#
The common concern is: "If I leave Foodpanda, I'll lose customers." This is a valid concern, but the solution is not to leave — it's to diversify.
Food delivery platforms are valuable for one thing: customer discovery. New customers find your restaurant through these platforms. But once they've tried your food, they don't need the platform anymore. They can order directly.
The Hybrid Strategy#
The smartest approach used by successful Pakistani restaurants:
- Stay on Foodpanda/Cheetay for customer discovery
- Print your QR code on every delivery package
- Include a note: "Order directly next time and save on delivery fees"
- Offer a small discount (5-10%) for first direct orders
- Build a list of regular customers who order via WhatsApp
Over 6-12 months, you can gradually shift 30-50% of your orders to direct, cutting your commission bill in half.
