# Direct Ordering for Catering, Meal-Prep & Bakeries | BusinessCart.ai

> Code-gated regulars portal, pickup and scheduled delivery, free Starter tier, no DoorDash 30% commission. Built for food businesses DoorDash serves poorly.

Canonical URL: <https://businesscart.ai/solutions/restaurants>

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Solutions · Restaurants & Food

# Direct Ordering for Food Businesses DoorDash Ignores.

Catering, meal-prep, bakeries, food trucks, and corporate lunch. Code-gated regulars portal, pickup and scheduled delivery, $0 monthly fee, no 30% commission.

Built for the slice DoorDash serves poorly · You own your customers · Cash, card, or PO accepted

[Start Free](/contact-us)[See a Live Store](https://www.usetgo.com)

## Your Best Customers Shouldn't Pay 30% to Order From You

### Delivery apps take 15-30% per order

On a $40 order, that's $6-12 going to DoorDash or UberEats. On 200 orders/month, you lose $1,200-$2,400. It's a tax on your existing customers, the ones who already know you.

### You don't own your customer relationship

DoorDash keeps the customer email, phone, and order history. They use it to upsell your competitors. You can't email a regular about a daily special. DoorDash will, on behalf of your competition.

### Generic platforms don't fit your business

DoorDash is built for impulse pizza orders. If you do catering, meal-prep, scheduled delivery, regulars-only ordering, or corporate accounts, the major delivery apps actively work against you.

## How We Compare

<table class="min-w-full bg-white rounded-lg shadow-sm"><thead><tr class="border-b border-gray-200"><th class="text-left px-4 py-4 text-sm font-semibold text-gray-900"></th><th class="text-left px-4 py-4 text-sm font-semibold text-gray-500">DoorDash / UberEats</th><th class="text-left px-4 py-4 text-sm font-semibold text-gray-500">ChowNow / Sauce</th><th class="text-left px-4 py-4 text-sm font-semibold text-teal-700">BusinessCart.ai</th></tr></thead><tbody class="divide-y divide-gray-100"><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Cost</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">15-30% per order</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">$49-499/mo</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-900 font-semibold">$0-1,999/mo (3 tiers)</td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">You own customer data</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">No</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Sometimes</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-900 font-semibold">Yes, fully</td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Code-gated regulars-only menu</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">No</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Limited (paid tiers)</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-900 font-semibold">Yes, built-in</td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Catering quote workflow</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">No</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Limited</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-900 font-semibold">Built-in</td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Cash on pickup / delivery</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">No</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Limited</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-900 font-semibold">Yes</td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Per-customer corporate pricing</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">No</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">No</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-900 font-semibold">Yes</td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Custom domain</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">No</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Sometimes</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-900 font-semibold">Yes</td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">AI-readable menu (LLM discovery)</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">No</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">No</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-900 font-semibold">Yes</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Everything You Need to Take Direct Orders. $0 Here.

All features below are LIVE today.

LIVE

### $0/month, 6% per order

No subscription. No setup fees. Pay only when an order comes in.

LIVE

### Code-gated regulars portal

Your menu lives behind a private code you share with regulars and corporate accounts. No competitors next to you.

LIVE

### Cash on pickup + cash on delivery

Accept Stripe, Amazon Pay, Authorize.net, or cash. You decide which method per customer.

LIVE

### Multiple locations

Manage multiple kitchens, food trucks, or pickup points, each with hours, capacity, and contact details.

LIVE

### Catering quote workflow

Customer requests a catering order. You quote, comment, counter. They approve. Full negotiation history preserved.

LIVE

### Per-customer pricing

Corporate accounts get their negotiated discount automatically. Repeat customers pay their preferred rate. No promo codes needed.

LIVE

### Sub-1-second menu pages

Static HTML on a global CDN. Your menu loads instantly on any device, any connection.

LIVE

### Time-based deals

Schedule daily specials, happy hour pricing, or weekend promotions with start and end dates. Built in.

LIVE

### PWA installable customer app

Customers install your menu as a mobile app from any browser. No App Store fees.

LIVE

### You own customer data

Every customer's email, phone, and order history is yours, not sold to a delivery app, not used to upsell competitors.

LIVE

### Custom domain

Your menu lives on yourrestaurant.com, not a DoorDash subpage.

LIVE

### Image CDN included

High-quality menu photos delivered globally with year-long cache. No third-party CDN bill.

Premium Add-on

LIVE

## One AI Add-on. Replaces 10,000 Apps.

Connect your POS, accounting, or kitchen-display system without writing code. The AI add-on runs heavy operations decoupled from your menu pages. Your storefront stays fast while the AI handles the back-office.

### AI-Driven Integration

POS, accounting, inventory, any system. No custom code. The AI handles the data plumbing.

### AI-Driven Observability

AI surfaces popular items, slow movers, peak hours, and customer trends automatically.

### AI-Driven Communication

Order confirmations, status updates, catering follow-ups, all handled by AI so your team focuses on cooking.

Available as an optional add-on on any tier. Starts at $99/mo. [Talk to us about pricing →](/contact-us)

## Honest Beta Status

Built with known gaps. We tell you upfront so you can plan accordingly.

BETA

### Delivery zone (radius geofencing)

Set a delivery radius per location today. Automatic order rejection outside the zone is in active development.

BETA

### Operating-hours enforcement

Operating hours stored per location today. Automatic blocking of orders placed outside hours is in active development.

## Where We're Going

Specific dates so you know exactly what to plan around.

<table class="min-w-full bg-white"><thead><tr class="border-b-2 border-gray-200"><th class="text-left px-4 py-3 text-sm font-semibold text-gray-900">Feature</th><th class="text-left px-4 py-3 text-sm font-semibold text-gray-900">Why it matters</th><th class="text-left px-4 py-3 text-sm font-semibold text-gray-900">When</th></tr></thead><tbody class="divide-y divide-gray-100"><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Tipping flow</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Add tips at checkout, distribute to staff</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm"><span class="inline-flex items-center px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-semibold ring-1 ring-inset bg-blue-100 text-blue-800 ring-blue-200">Q3 2026</span></td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Real-time order status</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Customers see "received → preparing → ready" updates</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm"><span class="inline-flex items-center px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-semibold ring-1 ring-inset bg-blue-100 text-blue-800 ring-blue-200">Q3 2026</span></td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Recurring catering orders</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Standing weekly orders for offices, schools, regular events</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm"><span class="inline-flex items-center px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-semibold ring-1 ring-inset bg-blue-100 text-blue-800 ring-blue-200">Q3 2026</span></td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Menu modifiers (no onions, allergens)</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Custom item configuration at checkout</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm"><span class="inline-flex items-center px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-semibold ring-1 ring-inset bg-blue-100 text-blue-800 ring-blue-200">Q4 2026</span></td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Time-based menus (breakfast vs lunch)</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Show the right menu items at the right time of day</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm"><span class="inline-flex items-center px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-semibold ring-1 ring-inset bg-blue-100 text-blue-800 ring-blue-200">Q4 2026</span></td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">POS integration (Toast first, others to follow)</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Sync orders to your existing POS. Toast prioritized as the largest restaurant POS</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm"><span class="inline-flex items-center px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-semibold ring-1 ring-inset bg-blue-100 text-blue-800 ring-blue-200">Q4 2026</span></td></tr><tr><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Driver dispatch + tracking</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm text-gray-600">Major undertaking, likely via integration with established dispatch service rather than building from scratch</td><td class="px-4 py-4 text-sm"><span class="inline-flex items-center px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-semibold ring-1 ring-inset bg-slate-100 text-slate-700 ring-slate-200">2027+</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

## See a Live Storefront

**uSetGo INC**, a live storefront built on BusinessCart.ai. Custom domain, sub-second menu pages, full catalog.

[Visit www.usetgo.com](https://www.usetgo.com)

## Live in Under an Hour

1

### Add your menu

Upload menu items with photos, prices, and categories. Set your hours and locations.

2

### Configure ordering

Pick payment methods (cash, card, PO), delivery options (pickup, dropoff), and per-customer rules for corporate accounts.

3

### Share your code or domain

Send your customer code to regulars and corporate clients. Or share your custom domain publicly. Orders start flowing.

## Pricing That Scales With You. Every Feature, Every Tier.

Your tier auto-applies based on monthly order volume — **no manual upgrades, no feature locks, and tier changes only at month boundaries so you always see them coming.** Your customers pay you directly through your own payment accounts. BusinessCart invoices you separately at month end — we never hold or deduct from your revenue.

### Included in every tier — Starter through Enterprise

Branded storefront on your custom domain (sub-second loads, AI-readable)

Private B2B portal — gate access with customer codes

Per-customer pricing, credit limits, spend caps & quote negotiation

Customer groups & custom catalogs for B2B segments

All payment options: Stripe, Amazon Pay, Authorize.net, PO, offline

Shopping-channel feeds: Google, Meta, Bing, Pinterest, TikTok and more

AI discovery built-in: schema.org, llms.txt, markdown product pages

Multiple pickup and warehouse locations

Time-based deals and automated email notifications

Real-time dashboard with built-in analytics and visitor tracking — revenue, orders, low-stock, CSV export, no Google Analytics or third-party tags needed

Full REST API for custom integrations, apps, and ERP sync

End-to-end support: technical, migration, integration, and onboarding

### Starter

Up to 100 orders / month

$0 / mo

Max $5 per order

6% on orders under $83 · capped at $5 above that

Invoiced monthly — never deducted from your sales

→Moves to Growth when you cross 100 orders/mo — always at month boundaries, never mid-month

30-day money-back

### Growth

101 – 1,000 orders / month

$499 / mo

\+ 1% per order

Invoiced monthly — never deducted from your sales

Dedicated success manager

SLA-backed uptime

White-glove onboarding

30-day money-back guarantee

→Moves to Enterprise when you cross 1,000 orders/mo — always at month boundaries, never mid-month

### Enterprise

1,001+ orders / month

$1,999 / mo

\+ 0.25% per order

Invoiced monthly — never deducted from your sales

Dedicated success manager

SLA-backed uptime

White-glove onboarding

30-day money-back guarantee

→Moves here when you cross 1,000 orders/mo — always at month boundaries, never mid-month

**A $10,000 wholesale order costs $5 in platform fees.** The cap is designed for B2B — high-value orders, low platform cost.

Optional AI integration add-on: starts at $99/mo, available on any tier. · 30-day money-back on Growth and Enterprise · No setup costs · No long-term contracts · **No fee on purchase orders or offline payments. Ever.**

[Start Free](/contact-us)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is this a DoorDash alternative?

No, and that is a feature. DoorDash is built for impulse delivery from full-service restaurants with kitchens and drivers. We are built for the food businesses DoorDash serves poorly: catering, meal-prep, bakeries, food trucks, corporate lunch, and businesses with regulars. Different model, different math, different customer.

### Who is this best for?

Catering services, meal-prep companies, bakeries, food trucks, coffee shops with regulars, private chefs, specialty food shops, corporate lunch programs, and any food business where customers know you and want to order pickup or scheduled delivery without paying a 30% middleman tax.

### How do customers find my menu?

You share your custom domain (yourshop.com) or your customer code with regulars, corporate accounts, and email lists. Your menu is private (code-gated), so it stays focused on the customers you want, not random delivery-app shoppers.

### Can I take cash on pickup or cash on delivery?

Yes. Cash payment methods are built in alongside Stripe, Amazon Pay, and Authorize.net. You configure which methods are available per customer or per location.

### Do you do delivery?

Pickup, scheduled delivery, and shipping: yes, all today. Real-time driver dispatch and live tracking is on the Q4 2026 roadmap. If you need same-day driver dispatch today (like DoorDash), we are not the right fit yet.

### What about POS integration (Toast, Square, Clover)?

Native POS connectors are on the Q3 2026 roadmap. Today, our AI Add-on can connect to any POS without code as a premium add-on. The REST API is also available for direct integration.

## Stop Paying the Delivery-App Tax.

$0/month · 6% per order · You own your customers · Cash, card, or PO accepted

[Start Free](/contact-us)[Talk to Founder](/contact-us)