Card Payment and EPOS Costs for Takeaways
Separate counter payments, direct online orders and delivery-platform costs to compare a takeaway’s complete payment and ordering budget.
The short answer
A takeaway needs separate cost lines for counter payments, its own online orders and third-party delivery channels. Platform commission is not automatically a payment-processing fee. Compare a complete ordering and fulfilment setup before estimating savings.
In this guide
Separate how the order arrives from how it is paid
List counter orders, telephone orders, your own website and delivery marketplaces. Record who collects the customer’s payment and which costs are deducted before money reaches you. The same order should not appear in two payment-volume totals.
For a marketplace, identify whether payment processing is included in commission. For direct orders, price the ordering software, processing and delivery separately. Square’s online-ordering material illustrates that ordering plans and card-processing charges are separate parts of a service.
An ordering-cost example
Fictional monthly trading. Counter sales are £12,000 at 1.5%. Direct online sales are £8,000 across 400 orders at 1.4% plus 25p, with a £40 ordering subscription. Marketplace sales are £10,000 with an assumed 20% commission that includes payment handling.
| Channel | Listed monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Counter processing | £180 |
| Direct online processing | £212 |
| Direct ordering subscription | £40 |
| Marketplace commission | £2,000 |
| Combined listed costs | £2,432 |
The £2,000 commission should not be labelled entirely as card fees or entered alongside duplicated marketplace payment processing. It may pay for services a direct ordering channel must replace.
What would moving orders actually save?
Before forecasting savings from direct orders, estimate the cost of attracting customers, handling delivery, maintaining the ordering site and supporting refunds. Keep uncertain future order volumes outside the main savings calculation.
For a limited test, compare actual completed orders over the same period. Record the total charge and contribution after fulfilment. A lower processing fee is useful, but it cannot establish the profitability of a different sales channel on its own.
If the marketplace continues to supply customers you would not otherwise reach, do not count all its commission as avoidable spending.
Check the operational specification
- Can counter and online orders reach the right printer or kitchen screen?
- How are modifiers, sold-out items and order cancellations handled?
- Does each required integration have a separate subscription?
- Who handles delivery status, customer queries and payment refunds?
- What is the fallback if an online ordering connection stops working?
Ask for the required workflow in a demonstration. Confirm whether the quoted package includes the kitchen equipment, menus, setup and staff training.
Use the calculator for the payment comparison
Enter your directly processed in-person and online volumes separately, using the relevant rates and transaction counts. Keep marketplace commission and fulfilment economics in a separate channel budget so the result remains understandable.
Add terminal, EPOS and ordering subscriptions once, then include setup and exit costs. Our restaurant cost guide covers wider system requirements, while the Square guide explains the impact of fixed online transaction charges.
Common questions
Is delivery-platform commission the same as a card-processing fee?
No. It can cover several services. Check what the agreement includes and avoid counting included processing twice.
Can I compare only the online percentage rate?
No. Include the per-order charge, ordering subscription, required integrations and the cost of fulfilling those orders.
Put your own figures to work.
Use the free calculator to organise your costs and keep a report. If something is unclear, you can ask for a free initial review.
No registration required. Calculator entries stay in your open browser page unless you choose to share a report in a review request.
Sources and how to use this guide
Primary references checked on 15 October 2026:
Worked examples are original fictional scenarios, not customer results, market averages or provider quotations. Unless stated otherwise, they use a consistent VAT basis and include only the costs listed. Provider prices, eligibility and terms can change. Check your written agreement before deciding.
Our guides explain costs and comparison methods. They do not rank the whole market or claim hands-on product testing. Source links are references, not a claim of partnership. Read the calculation method and limitations, or about the service.
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