Restaurant Owners: How to Become a DoorDash Partner Merchant
As a restaurant owner, you’re always on the lookout for ways to reach new customers. Listing your restaurant on food delivery service apps like DoorDash can help you expand to new areas.
But it also allows you to improve the customer experience by offering convenient ways for people in the area to get your food delivered right to their door.
While just being listed on the app comes with its own benefits, there are also added perks involved with becoming an official DoorDash partner. The best part is that becoming a DoorDash partner is easy!
In just a few simple steps, you can be on your way to being listed on DoorDash.
Below, we’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know about becoming a DoorDash partner.
Benefits of Becoming a DoorDash Partner for Restaurant Owners
There are many perks that come along with being a DoorDash partner. Here are just a few ways restaurant owners can benefit from this partnership:
- Bring in more customers. The DoorDash app and site puts your brand and menu in front of everyone in the area, allowing you to attract new customers.
- Provide a better customer experience. Offering a delivery option makes it more convenient for your customers to order from you.
- Work with what you have. DoorDash allows you to send orders through fax, computer, or tablet – whatever you have in place.
- Spend more time on core tasks. DoorDash takes care of all the logistics and before, during, and after customer delivery so you are free to focus on what matters.
- Get insights into your customers. With the DoorDash merchant portal, you gain access to vital data about your customers, which you can use to adjust your marketing strategy.
Becoming a DoorDash Partner: What Restaurant Owners Need to Know
While partnering with a food delivery service does come with a cost to restaurant owners, it can also be an important marketing tool to help you grow your business.
To decide if this partnership is right for you, consider the costs involved and decide whether or not these outweigh the benefits for your business.
There are also some ways to offset these costs and get more out of your DoorDash partnership.
By taking advantage of all the benefits and adjusting your pricing, your restaurant can achieve a positive return on investment from partnering with DoorDash for food delivery services.
How It Works
Once you sign up with DoorDash as a partner, you will be given access to the DoorDash Merchant Portal, which you can use to manage orders and track customer data. Once you are set up here, you can start taking orders through DoorDash.
Customers will place orders through the app, which you will then receive in whatever format works best for you (email, fax, or the order manager app).
Customers pay for the order through DoorDash, which will disperse payment to the restaurant on a weekly basis after deducting fees. All of the orders are prepaid through the app, which means that the Doordash delivery drivers (or Dashers) picking up the orders and delivering to the customer will not be paying in-person.
Customers have the option to choose between two types of orders – ASAP and Scheduled.
Every order will have a designated pickup time when you can expect the Dasher to arrive at your restaurant to pick up the order.
ASAP orders are usually scheduled for pickup within 20 minutes after the order is placed, while scheduled orders can be a few hours or a few days in advance.
What It Costs
There are some fees associated with becoming a DoorDash partner. Here are the expenses you may incur as a partner restaurant:
- Commission: The commission rate is negotiable and may fluctuate between restaurants. However, DoorDash typically charges a 20 percent commission fee for its services.
- Sales Tax: Sales tax will vary by state.
- Tablet Fee: This is an optional fee you may incur if you sign up for the DoorDash tablet subscription. The $15 per week gives you access to the Order Manager tablet app, which helps you streamline operations for managing DoorDash orders.
- Error Charges: These charges may vary and occur whenever there is an issue with a customer order, such as the wrong item or a missing item.
In addition to these fees, also consider that restaurants experience a gap between when the sales are made and when they receive the cash. DoorDash collects sales revenue from its customers immediately.
Then, they pay partner restaurants on a weekly basis through direct deposits after they have deducted all expenses.
How to Make the Most Out of DoorDash
With the DoorDash process and fees in mind, here are some ways you can make the most out of your DoorDash partnership:
1. Change pricing for DoorDash orders.
To offset some of the fees of being a DoorDash partner, most restaurants change their pricing for DoorDash orders.
This allows the customer to absorb some of the costs of this delivery service. Many customers are willing to pay extra for the convenience of getting quality meals delivered right to their door. By adjusting your pricing for DoorDash orders, your restaurant can offset many of the costs that come with signing up to be a Doordash partner
2. Consider using a tablet to manage orders.
Though using a tablet does come with some additional fees, it is well worth it for restaurants to consider this option from an operational perspective.
Using a tablet and the Order Manager App is a simple and effective way to receive and confirm DoorDash orders while also successfully managing inventory and updating menu items.
A tablet helps make the process more streamlined, which allows your business the opportunity to benefit from an increased return on investment. Not to mention, the more streamlined you make the process, the less likely you will be to make mistakes. This helps you minimize errors while keeping your customers happy.
3. Make sure your staff is aware of the DoorDash process.
If you want to get the most out of DoorDash, make sure that the staff handling these orders are trained on the entire process.
You can set up and modify roles for employees in the Doordash Merchant Portal. That way, employees at all levels can carry out actions that match their roles.
Whether you use the Order Manager app to manage DoorDash orders or you are receiving your orders through email, your staff needs to be kept up-to-date on the right way to manage and prepare DoorDash orders as well as how to update inventory and menu items in the app.
4. Optimize your menu for DoorDash.
If you want to increase your average order on DoorDash, keep your menu optimized on the app. Start by using quality photos that show each menu item accurately. You can also add menu modifiers that allow customers to increase their order when selecting an entrée. For instance, you can give customers the option of adding a dessert or side to their entrée with an upcharge.
You can also add categories to your menu to make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for. In addition, you can include a catering menu or bundled package menu options for larger orders such as “Family Meal” or “Dinner for Two.” This makes it easier for customers to order more.
How to Become a DoorDash Partner
Now that you know why being a DoorDash partner can benefit your restaurant’s bottom line, let’s talk about how to become a DoorDash partner. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:
1. Apply online.
To apply to be a DoorDash partner, visit the DoorDash merchant application to submit a quick form. The form will ask for your store name, address, full name, mobile phone number, and email address.
2. DoorDash will reach out.
Once the sales team receives the application, they will quickly review it and reach out to you. Your representative will then ask for additional information that they might need to list your site on the DoorDash app.
3. Start getting orders.
Once you are listed on DoorDash, you can start receiving orders from the app’s customers. This can happen within the week, so the sooner you sign up, the sooner you can get started.
And it’s as simple as that! Once you are an official DoorDash restaurant partner, you can start receiving orders and reap the full benefits of reaching new diners and offering more convenient options for your customers.