“0% commission” is one of the most used phrases in restaurant technology and one of the least explained. It can be completely true and still need a footnote, because a direct order has costs that are not commission. Here is where the money goes, so you can compare offers fairly.

What are the four costs behind an online order?

  1. Platform commission. A percentage of the order value taken by the ordering platform. On marketplace apps it is the headline cost. On a commission-free platform it is zero.
  2. Card payments. Every card payment has a processing cost, on every channel. It is separate from software and from commission.
  3. Delivery. On marketplace apps it is inside the commission or charged to the customer. On direct orders it is whatever you pay your own drivers, or nothing if you offer collection only.
  4. Software. A fixed monthly price for the platform. This is how commission-free platforms are paid.

“Commission-free” means cost 1 is zero. It says nothing about costs 2 to 4, and an honest provider will tell you so.

How does the maths work on a £30 order?

  • Through a marketplace app: £30, minus a commission that varies by provider and contract and is often a large share of the order. The customer’s details stay with the app.
  • Direct and commission-free: £30, minus the card payment cost. The software is a fixed monthly cost shared across every order. The customer is yours.

The more direct orders you take, the smaller the software cost per order. That is the whole argument, and it favours restaurants with regulars.

What questions expose the small print?

  • Is commission zero on every direct order, or only on some plans or above a minimum?
  • What are the card rates, and does the platform add a margin on top?
  • Are there per-order charges under another name, such as a “service fee” or “customer fee”?
  • Is delivery included, optional or not offered?
  • What do extra channels, such as AI orders by message or phone, cost, and are the prices published before you switch them on?

How does TableSyncAI answer those questions?

  • No commission on your orders. Card payments carry standard processing fees, confirmed at setup.
  • Fixed monthly plans. Core is £59, Pro £119 and Complete £199 a month per location, with prices in nine currencies.
  • Starter starts with a £10 activation and runs free during launch. After launch it is 10p per completed order, capped at £39 a month, with advance notice first.
  • Card payments. TableSync Payments is in early access. Card rates are confirmed at setup.
  • AI channels. WhatsApp and phone ordering have published allowances. Beyond them, WhatsApp orders are 20p per completed order and phone ordering is 30p per minute.
  • Delivery is your decision: collection only, or delivery to the postcodes you choose with your own drivers.

Prices exclude VAT. Everything is on the pricing page, and you can see what the ordering page includes on TableSync Direct.

When does a marketplace app still make sense?

Commission pays for discovery and couriers. If you have no regulars yet, or no way to deliver, paying commission for new customers can make sense, as long as you give them a direct way to order the second time. Direct ordering vs marketplaces explains how to run both.