What the delivery apps really cost you
And why your own driver + WhatsApp beats them on every line that matters.
Act 1 — renting your own customers
On a R181 average order, the apps take ±R50 in commission — every order, forever. At 150 orders a month that’s R7,500; over R90,000 a year. And the customer isn’t yours: no number, no name, no next order. The app decides who sees you, lists you next to your competitors, and charges you again for visibility. You’re not building a delivery business — you’re renting one.
Act 2 — the own-driver maths
| Per R181 delivery order | Via the apps | Your driver + WhatsApp |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | ±R49.78 (27.5% estimated) | R0 |
| Delivery fee | Customer pays the app | Customer pays YOU (R20–R25 — it funds the driver) |
| Driver cost | Inside their cut | ±10% commission ≈ R18, largely covered by the delivery fee |
| Tips | The app keeps the relationship | 100% to your driver — better service at the door |
| Net cost to the store | ±R50 | ±R0–R5 |
| Who owns the customer | The app | YOU — name, number, history, opt-in |
At 150 orders a month the difference is ±R7,000+ in the till — roughly a junior staff salary, kept, every month.
Act 3 — “but managing drivers is a headache”
- The system does the managing: kitchen taps Ready → the driver’s phone gets address, pin, tip and buttons. No calls, no shouting across the pass.
- No “where’s my food?” calls: “On my way” and “Delivered” notify the customer automatically.
- No Sunday spreadsheet: the nightly recon calculates driver commission and tips to the cent.
- Flexible: one driver on a quiet night, two on Fridays — change one cell in your settings sheet.
- Your brand at the door: the last 30 seconds of every order ends in a Google review request — not an app rating.
What you own after 12 months
A database of hundreds of opted-in customers you can reach for ±R1.50 each · a Google review profile the apps can’t touch · a loyalty club bringing them back · and a delivery channel nobody can deplatform, reprice, or algorithm you out of. Keep the apps for discovery if you like — move your regulars where the margin lives.