One $11 order can keep your kitchen busy and still lose money.
Most operators do not notice this leak because daily sales look fine. The damage shows up later in weekly cash.
Quick Take
- U.S. marketplace plans still commonly sit in a 15% to 30% commission range, depending on platform tier and setup.
- Card processing remains a percent-plus-fixed model in most systems, which punishes low-ticket orders.
- A minimum order is not a customer-unfriendly tactic. It is a unit-economics guardrail.
- Set minimums by channel, not one number for everything.
Why Low Tickets Break Delivery Economics
Small tickets absorb three pressure points at once:
- percent-based fees (platform, promos, processing)
- fixed per-order costs (packaging, cutlery, fixed payment cents)
- remakes/refunds that hit low-margin orders harder
This is why a $9 to $12 basket can feel “busy but broke.”
Owner discussions in r/restaurantowners show the same complaint: high commission channels can feel impossible on smaller checks unless pricing and order floors are rebuilt.
Build the Floor With One Formula
Use this:
Minimum profitable subtotal =
(Fixed per-order costs + Target contribution dollars)
/ (1 - Variable cost rate)Where:
Variable cost rate= food + channel labor + platform/processing/promo percentagesFixed per-order costs= fixed packaging + fixed payment cents + other flat costs
Worked example
Assumptions for marketplace delivery:
- Variable cost rate: 74% food 33% + channel labor 8% + platform/promo/processing 33%
- Fixed per-order costs: $0.60
- Target contribution dollars: $2.50
Minimum subtotal = (0.60 + 2.50) / (1 - 0.74)
= 3.10 / 0.26
= $11.92Practical floor: $12 minimum.
If your average delivery ticket is below that, the channel needs a new floor, bundle design, or item mix change.
Set Different Minimums by Channel
Use separate policies for:
- marketplace delivery
- marketplace pickup
- direct online pickup/delivery
Why:
- commission structures differ
- pickup fees are often lower than full delivery
- direct channels may have lower percentage fees but still carry fixed order costs
One global minimum usually overcharges one channel and undercharges another.
2026 Implementation Sequence (Fast)
- Pull last 30 days of payout statements by channel.
- Rebuild real variable cost rates from actual deductions.
- Calculate floor per channel using the formula.
- Convert floors into menu bundles guests can understand.
- Test for 14 days, then compare contribution dollars per order.
How to Apply Without Guest Backlash
- Keep one visible “entry bundle” above the floor.
- Explain minimums as service and quality protection, not punishment.
- Use pickup-friendly offers for lower-ticket guests.
The goal is not blocking orders. The goal is blocking unprofitable orders.
10-Minute Weekly Check
- Average ticket by channel
- Orders below current minimum
- Net contribution dollars per order
- Refund/remake rate on low-ticket orders
- Bundle attach rate (sides, drinks, dessert)
If low-ticket share rises while contribution falls, raise the floor or redesign bundles immediately.
Related Guides
- US Delivery App Pricing Guide
- US In-House Delivery Fee Pricing Guide
- US Credit Card Processing Fee Pricing Guide
- Uber Eats vs DoorDash vs Grubhub Fees (2026)
KitchenCost helps you test per-item delivery economics and channel-specific price floors before pushing menu changes live.