Guide

Start Your Own Delivery Service

From concept to first delivery — everything you need to know about launching your own restaurant delivery service.

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Why Start Your Own Delivery Service?

Platform commissions of 15-30% eat into your margins. With your own delivery service, you keep 100% of your revenue, own your customer data, and control the entire experience.

Sources: IHK — Starting a Gastronomy Business, DEHOGA — Delivery Service Guide

7 Steps to Your Own Delivery Service

The complete roadmap:

  1. Define your business model

    Do you deliver yourself or use external drivers? Delivery only or also pickup? Just your restaurant or multiple brands (ghost kitchen)? These decisions shape everything that follows.

  2. Business registration & permits

    Restaurant license (§ 2 GastG), business registration, health certificate (§ 43 IfSG), briefing by the health department. Requirements vary by city.

  3. Set up kitchen & hygiene

    HACCP concept, hygiene plan, separate work areas, temperature monitoring. The health department inspects before opening.

  4. Set up ordering system

    Your own ordering app with GastroSystem: customers order under your branding, you pay 0 % commission. Menu, delivery zones, payment methods — all in one system.

  5. Plan delivery zones & logistics

    Set your radius, define minimum order values per zone, calculate delivery times. GastroSystem shows you on the map which areas are profitable.

  6. Organize vehicles & drivers

    E-bikes, scooters or cars — depending on radius. Drivers as mini-jobbers, part-time or full-time. The FahrerSystem by GastroSystem tracks routes and ETAs.

  7. Marketing & visibility

    Google My Business, social media, flyers in the delivery area, QR codes on packaging. The first month determines your base of regulars.

  8. Go live & first orders

    Internal test orders, then soft launch in the closest delivery zone. Collect feedback, optimize processes, then expand the radius.

What Does a Delivery Service Cost?

Realistic cost overview for getting started — no hidden items.

0–500 €

Permits

Business registration (€20–60), restaurant license (approx. €200), health certificate (approx. €25). Varies by city.

299 €/mo

Ordering system

GastroSystem with your own app, POS, dashboard, receipt printer integration. No commission, no setup fee.

500–2,000 €

Vehicles

E-bikes from €500, scooters from €1,500, cars from €5,000 (used). 1–2 vehicles are enough to start.

200–500 €/mo

Drivers

1–2 mini-jobbers to start (max. €556/month). As volume grows, you scale to part-time or full-time staff.

The 4 Most Common Delivery Launch Mistakes

We see these mistakes in 80 % of new launches — and here's how to avoid them.

Mistake

Delivery area too large

Trying to cover the entire city right away. Result: long delivery times, cold food, bad reviews.

Better

Start small, then grow

Start with a 3–5 km radius. Delivery times under 30 minutes. Only expand once the zone is at capacity.

Mistake

Relying only on Lieferando

30 % commission on every order. At €5,000 monthly revenue that's €1,500 to Lieferando — every month.

Better

Build your own ordering system

With GastroSystem you pay €299/month instead of 30 % commission. You save from just €1,000 monthly revenue.

Mistake

No delivery zone logic

Same minimum order everywhere, no tiered delivery fees. Result: unprofitable deliveries to the outskirts.

Better

Zones with their own rules

GastroSystem lets you draw polygons on the map. Each zone has its own minimum order values and delivery fees.

Mistake

Drivers without a system

Drivers organize via WhatsApp group. No route optimization, no ETAs, no overview.

Better

Use FahrerSystem

FahrerSystem shows each driver their route, the next stop and the ETA. You see all drivers live on the map.

GastroSystem + FahrerSystem

Everything you need in one system:

Ordering System

Your own app and web ordering — branded, commission-free.

Driver App

GPS tracking, route optimization, and delivery status updates.

Delivery Zones

Define zones with polygon maps, set fees per zone.

POS Integration

Orders flow directly to your POS and receipt printer.

Try for free

FAQ — Starting a Delivery Service

How quickly can I be online?

On average 5–7 business days. We import your menu, set up delivery zones and train your team. You focus on the kitchen.

What does the onboarding process cost?

Nothing. Setup, menu import, training — all included. You pay €299/month from go-live, no setup fee.

How soon after opening can I accept online orders?

If you start onboarding 2 weeks before opening, your ordering system goes live on opening day. Many restaurants receive their first online order within a few hours.

What if I plan multiple locations?

GastroSystem supports multiple locations under one account. Same price, same dashboard — each location with its own menu and delivery zones.

How quickly can I be online?

On average 5–7 business days. We import your menu, set up delivery zones and train your team. You focus on the kitchen.

What does the onboarding process cost?

Nothing. Setup, menu import, training — all included. You pay €299/month from go-live, no setup fee.

How soon after opening can I accept online orders?

If you start onboarding 2 weeks before opening, your ordering system goes live on opening day. Many restaurants receive their first online order within a few hours.

What if I plan multiple locations?

GastroSystem supports multiple locations under one account. Same price, same dashboard — each location with its own menu and delivery zones.

Launch Your Delivery Service

With GastroSystem and FahrerSystem — your orders, your drivers, your customers.