How to Pay Less Commission to Uber Eats and Just Eat

UKHospitality is forecasting more than 2,000 venue closures in 2026, around six a day, and surveys suggest a third of hospitality businesses are trading at a loss. Against that backdrop, the 14% to 35% that delivery apps take off the top of every order is the single most controllable cost on most takeaway P&Ls. Here is how to shrink it, starting today, in order of effort.

First, know what you are actually paying

Headline commission is only part of the bill. Before you can cut the cost you need the true number: commission, plus per-order charges, plus whatever you spend on in-app visibility.

Quick wins inside the platforms (this week)

1. Switch to self-delivery rates where you have drivers. Just Eat drops to 14% when you deliver yourself, against 25%+ with platform couriers.
2. Turn off paid placement and sponsored listings for a month and measure the difference. Many shops see orders dip far less than the ad spend they save.
3. Check you are on the right plan tier. Deliveroo and Uber Eats both have plan variants; operators who joined years ago are often on legacy terms nobody reviewed since.
4. Price platform menus 10% to 15% higher than your direct menu. It is standard practice, the platforms allow it in the UK, and it claws back part of the commission from customers who insist on ordering there.
5. Ask. Multi-year operators with good volume do negotiate a few points off, especially when they can credibly mention moving volume elsewhere.

The structural fix: move your regulars off the apps

Every trick above trims the bill. Only one thing removes it: taking orders through a channel you own. The maths is blunt. A shop doing 400 delivery orders a month at a £22 average pays roughly £2,200 to £2,600 a month at 25% to 30% commission. The same orders through your own app or website cost a flat subscription, card fees, and delivery, with no percentage cut. See exactly what is included on our pricing page.

You do not need to leave the marketplaces. The play that works is using them for what they are good at, being found by new customers, while systematically moving repeat customers to your own channel:

• Put a card in every marketplace bag: order direct next time, get 10% off or double loyalty points.
• Run a [loyalty programme](/loyalty) that only earns on direct orders. Points and stamp cards give regulars a reason to download your app.
• Push notifications beat paid ads: a flash offer straight to phones costs nothing per send.
• Keep your Google Business Profile pointing at your own ordering link, not a marketplace page.

The first month we moved our regulars across, our commission bill fell by more than our entire app subscription for the year.

What this looks like after 90 days

Owners who run the direct-channel play typically see a third to a half of repeat orders shift within three months, because regulars order where the incentives are. Marketplace commission keeps being paid on new-customer discovery, which is what it is actually worth paying for.