This guide is built for restaurant operators comparing online ordering tools and looking for a clearer path to growing direct, repeat orders.

When you’re researching online ordering providers like ChowNow for your restaurant, you’re bound to have questions. There’s a whole lot of information out there and you definitely don’t have the time to parse through it all. That’s why we’ve put together answers to the questions we hear the most.

Quick Recap
  • ChowNow helps restaurants take commission-free orders through their own branded ordering channels
  • You keep your brand front and center and build your own customer relationships
  • Tools like order aggregation and centralized menu management reduce takeout chaos
  • Take catering orders directly through your website or app
  • Support is available 24/7 for restaurants and diners

What Is ChowNow? Commission-Free Online Ordering for Independent Restaurants

This section covers what ChowNow is and what setup and support you get as a restaurant owner or operator.

How does ChowNow work?

ChowNow makes it easy for restaurant owners and operators to boost takeout sales, increase profits, and build diner loyalty. All while keeping your restaurant’s brand front and center

Restaurants can offer commission-free online ordering through their own branded channels, like their website and branded mobile app. They can also encourage repeat business through Email & SMS Marketing and rewards tools, and simplify takeout operations with order aggregation and centralized menu management.

  • Commission-free ordering means restaurants do not pay per order commissions to a marketplace provider.
  • Order aggregation means managing orders from multiple channels in one place to reduce missed orders and tablet clutter.
  • First party ordering means diners order directly from your restaurant’s owned channels instead of through a marketplace.
  • Catering means diners submit high-value catering orders through a dedicated page on your website or app with no phone intake, no marketplace middleman.

All of this is supported by customer support available 24/7 for restaurants and diners.

ChowNow at a glance

Feature Feature description What it helps with
Commission free ordering Online ordering that keeps your restaurant’s brand front and center and helps you avoid per order marketplace commission fees Keeping more profit per order
Order aggregation One tablet to manage orders from multiple channels so your team is not juggling separate tablets or tickets Reducing tablet clutter and missed tickets
Branded website and apps A branded ordering experience on your website and mobile app so guests order directly from you Owning the guest experience
Automated marketing Built in tools like email and loyalty that help you stay in touch with guests and drive repeat orders Driving repeat orders
QR Code Ordering Diners scan a code at the table to order and pay from their phone. Orders go straight to your kitchen Turning dine-in into a direct ordering channel
Catering A dedicated ordering page on your website or app for high-value catering orders, managed in the same dashboard as takeout Capturing more revenue per order

How long has ChowNow been in business?

ChowNow has been in business since 2011 and we’re proud to partner with thousands of restaurants nationwide. Check out our story here.
“The level of service and attention—that you have a personal rep going above and beyond—I really feel like I have someone as a part of my team.”

Does ChowNow have account managers?

Yes. Every restaurant gets paired with a Restaurant Success Manager as a single point of contact. They act as an online ordering coach and help with optimizations like:

  • Strategy to promote online ordering with print and digital tools
  • Analysis of customer ordering trends
  • Recommendations to increase orders
  • Menu strategy to grow ticket sizes

Setup and support (at a glance):
  • Guided onboarding to get ordering, payouts, and key settings ready
  • Help setting up and organizing menus so orders flow cleanly
  • Training for your team so service stays smooth during rushes
  • 24/7 support for restaurants and diners
  • Ongoing recommendations as you learn what drives repeat orders

Do I own my customer data with ChowNow?

With ChowNow, you build a valuable database of customer information and ordering insights that you can use to increase repeat orders and ticket sizes. 

With your customer database, you can:

  • Identify your most valuable customers and keep them coming back
  • See which ordering channels perform best and double down where it makes sense
  • Use email and SMS marketing to communicate with customers and drive repeat business
  • Optimize your menu to support upsells and prioritize higher margin items

We comply with data processing laws, do not sell data to third parties, and keep information secure. View our privacy policy here.

Want more repeat orders from the diners you already have? Download our guide on increasing customer loyalty for practical ways to build loyalty without discounting yourself into a corner.

ChowNow Pricing: How Restaurants Reduce Third-Party Commission Fees

This section explains what you pay, how you get paid, and how fees work.

ChowNow Tablet displaying a restaurant analytics dashboard with sales metrics and charts.

What does ChowNow charge restaurants?

Our pricing is predictable and commission free. Plans start at $229 per month, plus a standard processing fee of 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction. Flex Delivery orders are charged a flat rate per order. Full pricing options can be found here.

What results do restaurants typically see?

Results vary by concept, location, and how much you promote direct ordering, but restaurants typically use ChowNow to:

  • Keep more profit per order by shifting repeat customers to direct channels
  • Build a customer list they can actually market to
  • Reduce operational friction with centralized tools

Want a real example? See how a restaurant grew direct orders here.

What’s ChowNow’s credit card fraud and chargeback policy for restaurants?

We offer credit card fraud and chargeback protection without limits. If your restaurant is subject to fraud, we cover the costs and work with the credit card company. If you get a chargeback, we cover it and communicate with the card company.

How often does ChowNow pay restaurants out?

Restaurant partners get next business day deposits every business day, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).

Should customers tip on ChowNow? Who gets the tip?

We certainly encourage it. On pickup orders, all tips go straight to the restaurant. For delivery, diners can tip both the driver and your restaurant staff.

Restaurant Pickup, Delivery, and Tableside Ordering: How ChowNow Handles Fulfillment

This section covers where diners can order and how delivery is handled. 

Mobile and desktop views of a ChowNow branded ordering page for Hudson's Pizza, showing pickup, curbside, and delivery options, a rewards banner, and an active order summary.

Where can my customers order?

With ChowNow, customers can order from:

  • Your website
  • Your branded mobile apps for iPhone and Android
  • The ChowNow app for iPhone and Android
  • At the table, via QR code on your own branded ordering page
  • A dedicated catering ordering page on your website or branded app
  • Your listings and profiles across popular sites including Google, Apple Maps, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Yahoo, Yellow Pages, Nextdoor, SinglePlatform, and Snap

You can also put your ordering link on your Facebook page, Instagram profile, emails, and anywhere else you want.

How fast can I launch online ordering?

Launch timing depends on your menu complexity, setup needs, and whether you want extras like a branded app or delivery. The good news is you are not left guessing. Your Restaurant Success Manager guides setup step by step so you can get live quickly and confidently.

Does ChowNow offer delivery?

Yes. With Flex Delivery, restaurants can offer delivery within a set radius for a flat rate per order. ChowNow partners with third party driver networks to support delivery coverage and dispatching, and you can also use Flex Delivery to expand the range of in house delivery.

Does ChowNow offer tableside ordering?

Yes. QR Code Ordering lets diners scan a code at the table and order directly from your menu on their phone. Orders go straight to your kitchen with no server relay and no third-party app in the middle. It’s the same direct channel as your website ordering, which means you keep the customer data and the margin.

Email Marketing, SMS, and Loyalty Programs for Independent Restaurants

This section covers websites, loyalty, and ways to drive repeat orders.

A diner holding a slice of pizza next to a ChowNow branded SMS and email notification both showing a 10% off loyalty reward.

What if my restaurant doesn’t have a website?

For restaurants without a website, or those looking to improve their current site, our experts will build, optimize, and launch a branded website for you. Templates come with built-in SEO features that help maximize visibility on search engines.

Does ChowNow offer email and text marketing?

Yes. Email & Text Marketing from ChowNow sends branded emails and SMS messages to your diner list with zero extra work from you. Every message drives diners back to your direct ordering page or app, not a third-party platform. Restaurants using it drive an average of $34K more revenue and 60% more orders. 

Does ChowNow have a loyalty program?

Yes. ChowNow offers a Rewards program designed to encourage direct repeat orders while protecting your margins. You can customize how diners earn rewards and what they unlock, and you can pair it with Email & Text Marketing to keep regulars coming back

Can ChowNow replace third party delivery apps?

ChowNow is built to help you grow direct ordering, but it does not have to be all or nothing. Many restaurants keep third party apps for discovery while pushing repeat customers to direct channels where they keep more profit and own the guest relationship. If you want to reduce tablet chaos while you do that, order aggregation can help you manage multiple channels in one place.

Restaurant Catering Orders: How to Take and Manage High-Value Catering Online

Restaurant staff member beside a catering order interface on a phone screen, showing online catering ordering and pickup scheduling

Taking catering orders by phone or through third-party marketplaces is one of the fastest ways to lose margin on your highest-value orders. This section covers how ChowNow handles catering.

Does ChowNow support catering orders?

Yes. ChowNow’s catering tool gives you a dedicated ordering page on your website or branded app so diners can submit catering orders online. No more fielding calls, chasing down emails, or routing orders through a marketplace. Diners select from your catering menu, specify portion sizes and dietary preferences, and submit the order directly to you.

How does catering ordering work with ChowNow?

Catering orders come into the same ChowNow dashboard as your takeout, so your team has one place to manage everything. You control the lead times, order minimums and maximums, and pick-up or delivery windows so your kitchen knows what’s coming well before it arrives. Flex Delivery supports advance scheduling up to 30 days out for catering orders that need it.

What does ChowNow charge for catering orders?

ChowNow charges a 5% fee per catering order placed through your direct channel. For comparison, EzCater charges 7% for direct orders and up to 15% through their marketplace. With an average catering order value around $360, that difference adds up quickly across a busy catering season.

Can I manage catering and takeout orders in the same place?

Yes. Catering orders and takeout orders both come into your ChowNow dashboard, so you’re not running two separate systems. That consolidation makes it easier to staff, prep, and track revenue across both channels, especially useful when a large catering order and a dinner rush land on the same day.

If you are comparing providers and want to see how ChowNow would look for your restaurant, book a demo and we will walk through ordering, payouts, and the setup with you.