You can be busy on delivery and still lose money order by order.
That usually happens on low-ticket checks. The basket looks fine in POS count, but once fees, packaging, and labor are allocated, the order contributes almost nothing.
This guide shows a simple calculator to set a profitable minimum order amount in 2026.
For Uber Eats assumptions used in this calculator, confirm rates here:
Quick Summary
- DoorDash U.S. Marketplace pages currently show 15% / 25% / 30% delivery plan tiers, with 6% pickup tied to terms including in-store price parity
- Uber Eats U.S. pricing pages currently show plan tiers up to 30% delivery and pickup at 7% with validated in-store pricing, otherwise 10%
- Community discussions keep repeating the same pain: low-ticket delivery orders are margin killers
- A clear minimum-order formula solves this faster than blanket menu price hikes
Why small tickets hurt more than you think
On a small order, fixed dollars eat the check:
- packaging
- bagging time
- remake/refund risk
- payment/adjustment leakage
Then percentage-based fees stack on top. That is why a $12 ticket can feel “active” but still be negative contribution.
In owner discussions, this is a recurring complaint: customers see app totals 20-30% higher, while operators say commission and fee pressure makes profitability hard.
The calculator formula
Use this for each channel separately (delivery, pickup, first-party):
Minimum order subtotal =
(Fixed per-order costs + Target contribution dollars)
/ (1 - Variable cost rate)Where:
- Fixed per-order costs = packaging + order handling labor + expected adjustment buffer
- Variable cost rate = food cost % + platform % + payment % + variable promo %
If your result is $15.41, do not set $15.41. Set an operational threshold like $15.99 or $16.99.
Worked example (delivery vs pickup)
Assumptions:
- Food cost rate: 31%
- Fixed per-order costs: $2.60
- Target contribution dollars: $4.00
A) Delivery order on 25% marketplace tier
Variable cost rate:
31% + 25% = 56%Minimum subtotal:
($2.60 + $4.00) / (1 - 0.56) = $6.60 / 0.44 = $15.00Operational minimum: $15.99-$16.99
B) Pickup order at 6%
Variable cost rate:
31% + 6% = 37%Minimum subtotal:
($2.60 + $4.00) / (1 - 0.37) = $6.60 / 0.63 = $10.48Operational minimum: $10.99-$11.99
Same kitchen. Very different floor. That is why one minimum across all channels usually backfires.
Channel setup that usually works
Use a three-floor model:
- In-store: lowest floor
- Pickup: medium floor
- Delivery marketplace: highest floor
Then support it with menu design:
- bundle “reach-the-minimum” combos
- add-on prompts near threshold
- delivery-only high-margin sides/drinks
What to monitor for 14 days
- Orders below target floor
- Average check by channel
- Contribution dollars per order by channel
- Refund/remake rate by channel
- Delivery vs pickup mix
If orders below floor remain high, raise minimum or redesign low-ticket menu architecture.
Common mistakes
- Using one minimum for all channels
- Ignoring fixed per-order handling cost
- Copying competitor minimums without your own cost model
- Updating minimums only once per year
Quick checklist
- Recalculate variable cost rates by channel
- Update fixed per-order costs using current packaging and labor
- Set minimum subtotal for each channel
- Build 2-3 bundles that land just above threshold
- Review results after 14 days and adjust
Related Guides
- US Delivery App Pricing Guide
- DoorDash Fees Breakdown (2025-2026)
- Uber Eats Merchant Fees & Commission Rates (2026)
- US Menu Price Increase Playbook (2026)
Sources (checked on 2026-02-14)
- DoorDash Merchant Pricing (US)
- DoorDash Marketplace product page
- Uber Eats Merchant Pricing (US)
- DoorDash Developer Docs - Dual Pricing
- Reddit - r/restaurantowners: End of the month!
- Reddit - r/restaurantowners: What would make third-party delivery platforms suck less?
- Reddit - r/restaurantowners: Is delivery service platform worth it?