How Healthy Balance Meals Saves $13K Annually in Commission Fees and Launched a Branded App

Healthy Balance Meals has been serving nutritious, made-from-scratch dishes in downtown Sevierville, Tennessee, for over 13 years. Known for their health-conscious menu and convenient prepared meal options, the restaurant has built a loyal following of locals looking for food that fits into their busy lives. From frozen meals you can heat up at home to quick lunch options that don’t compromise on nutrition or quality, Healthy Balance Meals fills a unique need in the community.

As owner-operator, Luke Michaluk, puts it, “People are busy, you want to be better—that’s where we come in.”

By partnering with ChowNow, Healthy Balance Meals saves over $13,000 annually in commission fees while gaining full control over their online ordering experience. With a branded mobile app, direct customer relationships, and flexible menu updates, they’ve streamlined operations, strengthened their brand and grown their business.

The Challenge of Managing Online Orders with Third-Party Platforms

Before switching to ChowNow, Healthy Balance Meals relied on third-party delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats to offer online ordering. But instead of helping the business grow, they often made things more difficult.

“They kind of set the rules,” Luke explained. “You felt like you were the one working for them.”

Pricing and menu control were constant issues. Sometimes, third-party services would upload the restaurant’s menu without permission, list outdated prices, or make it difficult to make even simple changes. Updating a menu or adding a daily special was usually more of a hassle than it was worth, and the high commission fees cut into already tight margins.

Finding a sustainable, long-term solution became a priority—one that wouldn’t take a chunk of their revenue with every order, and would make it easy to manage their online presence while feeling supported, not controlled.

The Decision to Partner with ChowNow

What They Were Looking For

After years of feeling boxed in by third-party platforms and only being able to take direct orders over the phone, Healthy Balance Meals was ready for a change. They needed to find a commission-free online ordering solution that gave them full control over their menu and a direct relationship with their customers.

Why They Chose ChowNow

For Luke and his team, the solution was clear. ChowNow’s flat-fee pricing structure made it easy to plan financially, no surprises, no percentages taken from every sale. Luke explained, “We really liked the idea of it not being commission-based, but just a straight fee.” A consistent monthly rate that kept their costs predictable and their margins intact.

But what really stood out was the genuine sense of partnership. “ChowNow feels like a true partner,” Luke said. “That’s a big difference from third-party apps.”

ChowNow also gave Healthy Balance Meals the tools they needed to scale their business. The ability to maintain brand consistency across their digital presence helped them look more polished and professional and the easy menu updates ensured that staff stayed in control. As Luke put it, “ChowNow makes our business look a bit bigger and more professional.”

Bringing Their Brand to Life with a ChowNow Branded App

Having their own Branded App, built by ChowNow, gave Healthy Balanced Meals the tools to stand out and meet modern diners digital-centric expectations without needing enterprise-level resources. With their own branded app, they could give customers the same seamless, professional experience they expect from national chains, while still keeping things easy to manage behind the scenes.

Customers no longer had to call in or rely on third-party apps; they could place orders directly through an experience that looked and felt like any major restaurant app. “I had my sister test out the branded mobile app,” Luke said, “and she said, ‘Yeah, it’s just like ordering from any other big restaurant app, like ordering from Chipotle’s app.’”

The app didn’t require a separate system or extra upkeep. It mirrored their existing menu automatically, so updates only had to be made once. “When the app came on, I thought I’d need to build a separate menu,” Luke said, “but no, it just mirrors what we already have.”

It also gave the team new ways to connect with customers through features like push notifications. Whether sharing a discount or promotion, the messages encouraged people to order. “We see a lot of people take advantage when we send those out,” Luke said. “It keeps us top-of-mind.”

What used to feel out of reach now feels like a natural part of the Healthy Balance Meals brand.

Operational Ease and Flexibility

ChowNow made it easy for Healthy Balance Meals to stay nimble with their menu and make quick changes on the fly. Before, updating or adding specials through third-party platforms was a slow, frustrating process. Now, it’s fast and intuitive. Luke explained, “It’s very easy to alter the menu. We can add specials or make changes instantly.”

With that kind of flexibility, Luke and his team no longer contend with customer misunderstandings as a result of the menu online not matching what’s happening in the restaurant.

Expanding Their Reach and Encouraging Repeat Orders

Beyond streamlining operations and improving customer experience, Healthy Balance Meals also takes advantage of ChowNow’s Flex Delivery and Rewards Program to deepen customer loyalty and reach more diners.

With Flex Delivery, they can offer delivery without relying solely on third-party marketplaces. This allows them to serve busy customers who prefer delivery, while still keeping orders under their control.

To keep customers coming back, Healthy Balance Meals uses ChowNow’s Rewards Program to incentivize direct, commission-free orders. This allows their diners to unlock a $10 discount after placing 10 direct online orders. It’s a strategic way to build lasting relationships and turn first-time customers into regulars, all while keeping revenue in-house.

Simplifying Day-to-Day for Staff and Management

After partnering with ChowNow, the team at Healthy Balance Meals is finally experiencing what it’s like to operate with a smooth, streamlined online ordering system, and they’re loving the reduced friction it brings to their day-to-day.