Delivery orders can grow top-line sales while quietly shrinking contribution margin. Most operators look at order count first, then discover margin drift in month-end reporting.
This guide is a practical 2026 US framework:
- map fee structure by platform,
- calculate true net per order,
- set channel-specific pricing and targets.
Uber Eats deep links for faster decision-making:
- Current merchant commission table: Uber Eats Merchant Fees (US, 2026)
- Pros/cons + dashboard review: Uber Eats for Merchants Review (2026)
Quick Summary (as of 2026-02-11)
- Uber Eats US marketplace plans currently show 20% / 25% / 30% tiers, with 7% pickup on validated in-store pricing.
- DoorDash marketplace plans show 15% / 25% / 30% delivery tiers.
- Grubhub publicly describes marketing commissions as low as 5% and FAQ ranges of 5% to 20%, with a separate delivery fee when using Grubhub delivery.
- The number that matters operationally is effective take rate, not a single advertised commission.
Why monthly recalculation matters in 2026
BLS reported US CPI at +2.7% year-over-year in December 2025, while food away from home was +4.1%. When menu prices stay flat and your costs move faster than headline inflation, contribution margin compresses without obvious warning.
Monthly margin recalculation is not finance theater. It is a survival routine.
1) Platform fee structure: what is public vs. what is contractual
Uber Eats (US)
Public merchant pricing page (US) currently shows:
- Lite: 20%
- Plus: 25%
- Premium: 30%
- Pickup fee: 7% (with validated in-store pricing)
- Self-delivery option shown separately
DoorDash (US)
Public merchant products page currently shows:
- Basic: 15%
- Plus: 25%
- Premier: 30%
DoorDash also offers pickup and online ordering products, but your exact economics depend on your plan mix and contract setup.
Grubhub (US)
Grubhub pricing pages and FAQ currently state:
- marketing commission can start at 5% and vary by package
- FAQ range commonly described as 5%-20% marketing commission
- if you use Grubhub delivery, a separate delivery fee applies
- order processing fee also applies
For Grubhub in particular, compare signed terms, not generic marketing pages.
2) The only formula that matters per order
Use this per-order model:
Net collected per order = Menu price
- platform commissions/fees
- payment or processing deductions
- promo/discount funding
- refunds/adjustmentsThen:
Contribution per order = Net collected
- food cost
- packaging
- channel-variable laborFinally:
Effective take rate = total platform deductions ÷ menu priceTrack this weekly by platform.
3) Worked example (US fast-casual bowl)
Assumptions:
- Menu price on app: $30.00
- Food cost: $9.30 (31%)
- Packaging: $1.00
- Channel-variable labor: $1.20
Scenario A: 15% effective take rate
Net collected = 30.00 × (1 - 0.15) = $25.50
Contribution = 25.50 - 9.30 - 1.00 - 1.20 = $14.00
Contribution margin = 46.7%Scenario B: 25% effective take rate
Net collected = 30.00 × (1 - 0.25) = $22.50
Contribution = 22.50 - 9.30 - 1.00 - 1.20 = $11.00
Contribution margin = 36.7%Scenario C: 35% effective take rate
Net collected = 30.00 × (1 - 0.35) = $19.50
Contribution = 19.50 - 9.30 - 1.00 - 1.20 = $8.00
Contribution margin = 26.7%A 10-point take-rate swing can erase one-third to one-half of per-order contribution. That is why you need channel-specific pricing, not one-price-fits-all menus.
4) Delivery pricing rule for US operators
If you set a minimum target contribution margin, back-solve menu price:
Required app price =
(food + packaging + channel labor)
÷ (1 - effective take rate - target contribution margin)Example:
- food + packaging + labor = $11.50
- effective take rate = 25%
- target contribution margin = 35%
Required app price = 11.50 ÷ (1 - 0.25 - 0.35)
= 11.50 ÷ 0.40
= $28.75If your current app price is below that, you are buying revenue with margin.
5) This week: operational checklist
- Pull 30 days of payout statements by platform
- Calculate effective take rate by platform and by top-20 SKUs
- Reprice the bottom-5 SKUs with worst delivery contribution
- Split P&L views: in-store vs. third-party delivery vs. direct online
- Recalculate break-even using delivery channel mix assumptions
Related Guides
- Restaurant Break-Even Sales Calculator
- Food Cost Ratio Guide
- Prime Cost Guide
- Menu Engineering Guide
If you want to run this without spreadsheet sprawl, KitchenCost helps you track recipe costs and margin by channel.