Takeout orders at Empanada Mama

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.

Frequently Asked Questions About ChowNow for Restaurants: The Basics

How does ChowNow work?

ChowNow provides small and mid-size restaurants with the tools and guidance they need to profitably grow and manage their online ordering business. 

At ChowNow we believe your brand should be front and center. Restaurants can take commission-free orders directly through your own website and branded app (we’ll build both of these for you), and encourage customers to dine again with branded automated marketing. Plus, we help simplify your takeout operations with order aggregation and centralized menu management—goodbye headaches and overcrowded countertops!

All of this is supported by our award-winning customer support team, available 24/7 for you and your diners.

How long has ChowNow been in business?

ChowNow has been in business since 2011, and we’re proud to partner with more than 22,000 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 we work with gets paired with a Restaurant Success Manager, who is their single point of contact for all of their needs. They act as an online ordering coach, helping you continually improve your online ordering business. They assist with optimizations like:

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

Does ChowNow give restaurants customer data?

We help restaurants build a valuable database of customer information and insights, which you can use to increase ticket sizes and repeat orders. With your ChowNow database, you can:

  • Identify your most valuable customers and keep them coming back
  • Pinpoint your most popular ordering channels and invest more where it makes sense
  • Use email marketing to communicate with your customers and increase orders
  • Optimize your menu to easily upsell customers, prioritize high-margin menu items, and boost check sizes

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

Frequently Asked Questions About ChowNow for Restaurants: Pricing and Payments

What does ChowNow charge restaurants?

Our pricing is predictable and commission-free. Plans start at $199 per month, plus a standard processing fee of 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction. Flex Delivery orders are charged a flat rate of $3.99 per order. Full pricing options can be found here.

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

We offer full credit card fraud and chargeback protection, without any limits. If your restaurant is subject to fraud, we cover the costs and work with the credit card company. Similarly, if you get a chargeback, we cover it—no questions asked—and communicate with the card company.

How often does ChowNow pay restaurants out?

Our restaurant partners get next-day deposits every business day, Monday through Friday. Excludes 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, we give diners the option to tip both the driver and your restaurant staff.

Frequently Asked Questions About ChowNow for Restaurants: Ordering and Delivery

Learn how Yolk partnered with ChowNow to boost online revenue by 358%

Where can my customers order?

With ChowNow, your customers can order from:

  • Your website
  • Your expert-built branded mobile apps for iPhone and Android
  • The ChowNow app for iPhone and Android
  • Your listings and profiles across popular sites including:
    • Google
    • Apple Maps
    • TripAdvisor
    • Yelp
    • Yahoo!
    • Yellow Pages
    • Nextdoor
    • SinglePlatform
    • Snap

You can also easily put your ordering link on your Facebook page, your Instagram profile, in emails, and anywhere else you’d like.

Does ChowNow offer delivery?

Yes! Our delivery is smart, profitable, and reliable. With Flex Delivery, restaurants can deliver up to 8 miles for one flat rate of $3.99 per order. We partner with DoorDash and Uber to power our vast driver pool, and automatically dispatch a driver to give you the best available coverage and quickest response times. Plus, you can use Flex Delivery to expand the range of your in-house delivery. Learn more here.

Frequently Asked Questions About ChowNow for Restaurants: Marketing and Add-Ons

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. Our templates are built by Squarespace, and come with built-in SEO features that help maximize your visibility on search engines. Learn more here. 

Does ChowNow have a loyalty program?

Through ChowNow’s restaurant membership program, diners can join via a prepaid membership—100% of which goes directly to you—and in return get a discount on orders for the coming year when they order from your website, branded app, or the ChowNow app. Our templated program comes with three tiers of customizable discounts (Bronze, Silver, & Gold) to give your diners the best range of options that suit them.

Have more questions? If you manage or own a restaurant and you want to learn more about using ChowNow, schedule a demo with one of our online ordering specialists. If you’re a current restaurant partner, please reach out to your Restaurant Success Manager.