Commission-Free Ordering for UK Cafés
Cafés live on small orders and big volumes. A percentage taken from every flat white and every sandwich adds up quickly, which is why commission hurts cafés more than most. Taking orders directly is simpler than it sounds.
Three ways to take orders directly
At the counter. A takeaway code by the till lets the queue order while it waits. Orders arrive on the board, kept apart from table orders.
At the table. Each table has its own code, so guests who sit down order and pay from their phone, and order again without queuing.
Ahead of time. Regulars choose the branch, verify their mobile number and order for collection, so their coffee is ready when they walk in.
Keep the regulars
Direct ordering only pays off if regulars use it. Give them a reason:
- Points on every order, with a reward they actually want
- A streak for visiting every month, and a monthly challenge
- One-tap reorders of their usual order
The maths
Put in your own figures: the monthly value of orders that go through an app, multiplied by its commission rate. Compare that with a flat plan. WowMenu takes no commission and starts at £59 a month, after a 30-day free trial. The commission calculator does the sum for you.
Getting started
- Build the menu with sizes, milks and extras as options.
- Print a takeaway code for the counter and codes for each table.
- Switch on order ahead and loyalty.
- Tell regulars, with a small welcome reward.
For menu structure, see the café QR menu template, and for UK cafés, QR menus for UK cafés.
