Own Ordering System vs. Lieferando: The Complete Comparison
Own ordering system or Lieferando? Compare costs, customer data control, branding, and real numbers — EUR 32,412 annual savings for mid-sized restaurants.
TL;DR: At EUR 10,000 monthly delivery revenue, Lieferando’s 30% commission costs EUR 36,000 per year. GastroSystem’s flat rate costs EUR 3,588. That’s a EUR 32,412 annual difference — before counting brand control, customer data ownership, or independence from algorithmic ranking. For any restaurant doing more than EUR 1,000 in monthly delivery revenue, the math favors your own system.
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 after the order
- No email marketing to existing customers
- No ability to target loyal customers specifically
- Lieferando can redirect customers to competing restaurants
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. A customer who orders directly from you once is yours to re-engage at zero marginal cost.
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 throughout the order flow
- Own domain: order.my-restaurant.com instead of lieferando.de/…
- Own app: A personalized app in the App Store and Play Store
- Direct customer contact: Push notifications, newsletters, loyalty programs
Platform Dependency vs. Independence
Restaurants that rely exclusively on Lieferando enter a precarious dependency. At any point, Lieferando can:
- Raise commission rates
- Change ranking algorithms (directly affecting your restaurant’s visibility)
- Introduce new fees
- Worsen contract terms
With your own ordering system, you control pricing, promotions, opening hours, and delivery conditions. No algorithm decides whether customers see you at all.
Building Your Own Reach
The most common objection to running your own system: “Lieferando brings customers automatically.” That’s partially true — Lieferando invests heavily in marketing. But:
- Those customers belong to Lieferando, not to you
- Your visibility depends on their algorithm and paid advertising
- You pay commission on every single order, indefinitely
The sustainable approach is building your own reach — through Google reviews, social media, QR codes in the restaurant, and word of mouth. A customer who orders directly once will return directly, at 0% commission.
SEO and Online Visibility
With your own ordering system, your restaurant’s order page can rank in Google for local searches like “pizza order [neighborhood].” With Lieferando, all search traffic lands on Lieferando’s domain — not yours. Over time, your own page accumulates organic authority you actually own.
Technical Comparison
| Feature | Lieferando | Own System (GastroSystem) |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | 13–30% | 0% |
| Monthly cost | No fixed fee | EUR 299/month |
| Customer data | Lieferando’s | Restaurant’s |
| Own branding | No | Yes |
| Own app | No | Yes |
| POS integration | Limited | Fully integrated |
| Delivery zones | Lieferando decides | Restaurant decides |
| Loyalty program | No | Yes |
| Push notifications | No | Yes |
| Direct customer contact | No | Yes |
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)
- Delivery is a minor add-on to a walk-in-first operation
Your own ordering system pays off when:
- Monthly delivery revenue exceeds EUR 1,000
- The restaurant has or wants to build a loyal customer base
- Control over customer data and brand identity matters
- Commission costs are visibly eroding profit margins
The Transition Is Simpler Than You Expect
Many restaurant owners hesitate because they anticipate a complicated changeover. In practice, setting up a system like GastroSystem takes a few hours. The key steps:
- Import or build your menu
- Configure delivery zones and hours
- Set up payment methods
- Distribute QR codes and links in the restaurant
- Inform customers about the new ordering channel
A step-by-step walkthrough is available in Set Up Your Own Ordering System in 5 Steps.
Conclusion: Your Own System Wins on Economics
For most restaurants with delivery revenue above EUR 1,000 per month, an own ordering system is the better economic decision. The commission savings alone justify the switch — plus you gain customer data ownership, branding control, and independence from platform rules.
The commission calculator shows in seconds how much your restaurant can specifically save. The ROI calculator shows when the switch pays for itself.
The real question is not whether your own ordering system is worth it — it’s how much you’re losing every month without one.
