Do Restaurants Need Mobile Apps? 5 Reasons Why
Eric Downing
Founder & Lead Developer
You've got a website. You're on DoorDash. Do you really need a mobile app too? The short answer: yes, if you want to own your customer relationships and stop paying 30% commissions. Here's why restaurants are investing in their own apps.
1. Stop Paying 30% to Delivery Apps
DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub charge 15-30% commission per order. On a $50 order, that's $15 gone. With your own app, you keep 100% of direct orders (minus 2-3% payment processing), set your own delivery fees, and own the customer data instead of renting access through third parties.
A $5,000 app pays for itself after just 30-50 direct orders that would have gone through third-party apps.
2. Build a Loyalty Program That Actually Works
Punch cards get lost. Third-party apps own your customer data. Your own app lets you track purchases automatically, reward repeat customers, and send targeted push notifications like "Free appetizer on your 10th visit!" You'll finally see who your best customers are and can reward them accordingly.
3. Push Notifications Beat Email Every Time
Email open rates hover around 20%. Push notification open rates? 90%. When you have a Tuesday special or last-minute reservations available, you can instantly notify your app users. Fill empty tables during slow hours, promote daily specials in real-time, and announce new menu items the moment they launch.
4. Your Menu, Your Rules
Third-party apps control how your menu looks, often with outdated info and wrong prices. Your app means instant price updates, high-quality food photos you choose, and complete control over descriptions and presentation. Highlight your specials and popular items exactly how you want.
5. Customers Expect It Now
Coffee shops have apps. Fast food has apps. If your competitor has an app with a loyalty program, they're capturing repeat business you're missing. Modern customers expect easy mobile ordering, digital loyalty rewards, quick reservation booking, and 24/7 access to your menu.
What Does a Restaurant App Cost?
Basic menu/info apps start at $5,000. Apps with online ordering and loyalty programs run $7,000-$10,000. Compare that to paying 25% commission forever—the ROI is clear.
Real Example: Breaking Even
Let's say you build a $7,000 app. If you redirect just 10 orders per week from DoorDash ($50 avg order, 25% commission = $12.50 saved per order), you break even in 11 months. Everything after is pure savings.
Start Small, Scale Up
You don't need to build everything at once. Start with:
- Digital menu with photos
- Location and hours
- Click-to-call for reservations
- Push notifications for specials
Add online ordering and loyalty later as you grow. The important part is owning the relationship with your customers.