Contents · 6 sections
"We joined Wolt, orders are coming in, everything is great!" Is it great? Let's talk numbers.
You received a 30₼ order from Wolt. The commission is 30%. Wolt took 9₼. You're left with 21₼. From that 21₼, the food cost is 10₼ (food cost 33%). You're left with 11₼. Packaging material is 1.50₼. You're left with 9.50₼. Labor cost (prep time) ~3₼. You're left with 6.50₼ — before rent, utilities, and taxes. After those? 2-3₼. Maybe 0₼. Maybe negative.
If the same order had been placed at the restaurant: the full 30₼ is yours. No commission. No packaging. You'd be left with 12-15₼.
Delivery platforms aren't bad — but if you join without knowing the math, you can lose money on every order. In this article, I break down that math.
The commission structure of the platforms
The main delivery platforms active in Baku and their approximate commission rates:
| Platform | Commission (approximate) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wolt | According to contract | Check the percentage in your own contract |
| Bolt Food | According to contract | Check the percentage in your own contract |
| Yango Deli | According to contract | Terms may change during campaign periods |
These figures may vary depending on the contract, the type of order, and promotions. Be sure to read your own contract — especially the parts written in fine print.
⚠️ Warning: In promotional campaigns, some platforms charge a portion of the discount to your account. That is, the platform runs a "20% discount" campaign, but you cover half of the discount. This is written in the contract — read it.
A real calculation — 100₼ in delivery vs restaurant sales
| Item | Restaurant (dine-in) | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Sales | 100₼ | 100₼ |
| Platform commission (30%) | 0₼ | -30₼ |
| Net revenue | 100₼ | 70₼ |
| Food cost (33%) | -33₼ | -33₼ |
| Packaging | 0₼ | -5₼ |
| Labor cost | -25₼ | -28₼ |
| Other operating expenses | -25₼ | -15₼ |
| Net result | +17₼ | -11₼ |
This calculation is shocking — but it's real. If your food cost is high and you haven't adjusted your prices, delivery can make you lose money on every order.
So why is everyone doing delivery?
Good question. Because delivery has value beyond direct profit:
- Your customer base expands — you reach people who don't come to your restaurant
- Brand visibility — being on the platform creates a free advertising effect
- Extra income during quiet hours — between 14:00-17:00 the restaurant is empty, delivery fills the gap
- Winning new customers — someone who likes you through delivery may later come to the restaurant
- Kitchen utilization — the kitchen doesn't sit idle, staff are always busy
But these benefits only work if you set up the math correctly. Otherwise, as volume grows, the loss grows.
7 ways to make delivery profitable
1. Create a separate delivery menu
Don't add the entire menu to delivery. Choose only dishes with low food cost, suitable for packaging, and that don't lose quality in transit.
Suitable for delivery: Burger, wrap, pizza, plov, qutab, pasta, cold sandwich NOT suitable for delivery: Ice cream (melts), fried fish (gets soggy), steak (cools down, quality drops), soup (spills)
The delivery menu should be 40-60% of the restaurant menu — only the profitable and transportable portion.
2. Increase delivery prices
Many restaurants list prices 10-20% higher on the delivery menu. Customers accept this — because they're paying for convenience. Platforms allow it.
Example:
- Chicken Sac at the restaurant: 18₼
- Chicken Sac on delivery: 21₼ (+17%)
This 3₼ difference compensates for part of the commission. A small change, a big impact.
3. Sell combos (set menus)
Sell a combo instead of a single dish: dish + drink + dessert. A combo's total margin is higher than a single dish. Plus, it increases the average order value (AOV).
Example combo:
- Single burger: 12₼ (food cost 4₼, CM: 8₼)
- Burger combo (burger + fries + drink): 18₼ (food cost 5.50₼, CM: 12.50₼)
- Margin increase: 56%
On platforms, combo orders usually increase the average order value.
4. Optimize packaging costs
- Buy in bulk — containers bought in large batches are significantly cheaper per unit
- Standardize sizes — 3-4 sizes of containers should cover the entire menu, not 10 different sizes
- If you want eco-friendly packaging — include it in the price, don't absorb the cost separately
- Branded packaging — even a small sticker creates brand recognition, and the cost is minimal
5. Build your own delivery system — but don't rush
The power of platforms is bringing in customers. But if you have a loyal customer base — take orders through your own website or WhatsApp/Telegram, and deliver with your own courier. Commission: zero.
But calculate:
- Courier's salary
- Motorcycle/car costs: fuel, repairs, insurance
- Order management system
- Without at least 20-30 orders per day, your own delivery system is unprofitable
Strategy: Start on platforms → gain loyal customers → direct them to your own channel → gradually reduce dependence on the platform.
6. Use platform promotions strategically
Platforms regularly run "free delivery" and "discount" campaigns. Pay attention:
| Promotion type | Who covers it? | Your strategy |
|---|---|---|
| The platform's own campaign | The platform | ✅ Join — free advertising |
| Shared discount | 50/50 | ⚠️ Calculate — is it profitable? |
| Discount on your account | You | ❌ Be very careful |
7. Track your delivery data every month
| Metric | This month | Last month | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of orders | |||
| Average order value (AOV) | |||
| Total delivery revenue | |||
| Commission payment | |||
| Packaging cost | |||
| Delivery food cost % | |||
| Delivery net profit |
Fill in this table every month. Delivery should be managed as a separate business — do not mix it into restaurant profit.
Points to watch when signing contracts with platforms
Before signing a contract, ask these questions:
- What is the commission rate? Is it fixed, or does it vary by order type?
- What is the payment period? Weekly, monthly? Are there delays?
- What are the terms of promotional campaigns? Who covers the discount?
- What is the contract term? What are the exit conditions? Are there penalties?
- Can I change prices? Can I set different prices on the delivery menu?
- How does the rating system work? How does a low rating affect us?
- How much do additional services (advertising, highlighting) cost? Is there an extra payment to "move up" on the platform?
⚠️ Warning: BEFORE signing the contract, show it to your accountant or legal advisor. There may be terms hidden in the fine print — especially promotional cost sharing and exit penalties.
DELIVERY CHECKLIST
| # | Step | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Find out the commission rate of each platform | ☐ |
| 2 | Create a separate menu for delivery (only suitable dishes) | ☐ |
| 3 | Increase prices on the delivery menu by 10-20% | ☐ |
| 4 | Prepare combo/set menus | ☐ |
| 5 | Buy packaging material in bulk, calculate its cost | ☐ |
| 6 | Calculate delivery P&L separately each month | ☐ |
| 7 | Read the terms of platform promotions — at whose expense? | ☐ |
| 8 | Track average order value (AOV), try to increase it | ☐ |
| 9 | Show the contract terms to the accountant | ☐ |
| 10 | Prepare your own delivery channel (WhatsApp/website) for loyal customers | ☐ |
💡 DK Agency: Do you want to optimize your delivery channel? DK Agency's free Delivery commission calculator calculates what remains from one order after commission for Wolt, Bolt Food, Yango and your own courier. We offer consulting services for delivery menu strategy, pricing, and packaging optimization.
📧 info@dkagency.com.tr | 🔧 Delivery calculator | 🌐 Marketing Ocağı
How DK Agency helps
If what this post describes is happening in your restaurant, café or hotel, write to us: we will look at it together and show you the first step. The first diagnostic is free.
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