Your Own Ordering System vs. Lieferando: The Ultimate Comparison for Restaurant Owners

The question of whether restaurants should use their own ordering system or stay with Lieferando occupies thousands of restaurant owners in Germany. On one hand, the convenience of an established platform; on the other, high commissions that eat directly into profits. In this detailed comparison, we analyze both models — with real numbers, pros and cons, and a clear recommendation.

Lieferando’s Commission Model

Lieferando operates on a commission-based model. Depending on the chosen plan, restaurants pay a percentage of their revenue to the platform:

• Platform delivery (Lieferando drivers): up to 30% of order value
• Self-delivery (own drivers): approx. 13% of order value
• Pickup: approx. 13% of order value

With an average order value of EUR 25 and 400 orders per month at platform delivery:

• Monthly revenue: EUR 10,000
• Commission (30%): EUR 3,000 per month
• Annually: EUR 36,000

That’s EUR 36,000 coming directly off the top — before cost of goods, staff, and rent are paid.

GastroSystem’s Flat-Rate Model

GastroSystem takes a completely different approach: a fixed monthly fee of EUR 299 net — regardless of order count or revenue. No commissions apply.

Using the same example (EUR 10,000 monthly revenue):

• Monthly costs: EUR 299
• Annually: EUR 3,588
• Savings vs. Lieferando: EUR 32,412 per year

Calculate your individual savings with the commission calculator.

Control Over Customer Data

A crucial difference: with Lieferando, customer data belongs to the platform, not the restaurant. This means:

• No direct communication with customers
• No email marketing to existing customers
• No ability to target loyal customers
• Lieferando can redirect customers to competitors

With your own ordering system, restaurants retain full control over customer data. Every order provides name, email address, and order history — the foundation for effective marketing and customer retention.

Brand Building and Customer Loyalty

On Lieferando, restaurants compete directly side by side. Customers search by cuisine or dish, not by a specific restaurant. Brand identity gets lost in the crowd.

Your own ordering system enables:

• Own branding: Restaurant’s logo, colors, and design
• Own domain: order.my-restaurant.com
• Own app: A personalized app in the App Store and Play Store
• Direct customer contact: Push notifications, newsletters, loyalty programs

Cost Comparison by Revenue Class

Monthly Revenue	Lieferando (30%)	GastroSystem	Annual Savings
EUR 5,000	EUR 1,500/month	EUR 299/month	EUR 14,412
EUR 10,000	EUR 3,000/month	EUR 299/month	EUR 32,412
EUR 20,000	EUR 6,000/month	EUR 299/month	EUR 68,412
EUR 50,000	EUR 15,000/month	EUR 299/month	EUR 176,412

When Does Each Model Make Sense?

Lieferando can make sense when:

• The restaurant just opened and has no regular customers yet
• Online order volume is very low (under EUR 1,000/month)
• The restaurant mainly serves walk-in customers

Your own ordering system pays off when:

• Monthly delivery revenue exceeds EUR 1,000
• The restaurant has or wants to build regular customers
• Control over customer data and branding is important
• Commission costs are eating into profits

The Switch Is Easier Than You Think

Many restaurant owners hesitate because they fear a complicated transition. In practice, setting up a system like GastroSystem takes just a few hours. A detailed guide is available in our article Set Up Your Own Ordering System in 5 Steps.

Conclusion

For most restaurants with delivery revenue above EUR 1,000 per month, an own ordering system is the better economic decision. The savings on commissions alone justify the switch — plus the benefits of customer retention, branding, and independence.

The commission calculator shows in seconds how much your restaurant can specifically save. And the ROI calculator shows when the switch pays for itself.