Learn practical strategies to help customers add more to their orders and grow your revenue. Key takeaways • Increasing average check size is one of the fastest ways to grow revenue without additional marketing spend.• Menu design, personalization and incentives guide customers to choose more complete orders.• Online ordering creates natural moments to recommend upgrades and add ons. Why average check size matters If every order in your restaurant were just a few dollars higher, you could significantly grow revenue without attracting a single new customer. That is the core benefit of increasing your average check size. Restaurants usually focus on getting more traffic, but acquiring new customers is expensive and unpredictable. Increasing the value of each order is more reliable, and it improves the experience for customers who already love your food. Online ordering gives you an advantage that in person service cannot match. Guests have time to read, browse and compare. They move through predictable steps, which allows you to showcase sides, upgrades and bundles at the perfect moment. These micro decisions drive meaningful revenue. Below you will find ten strategies used by top performing restaurants to raise their online average check size consistently. How to calculate your average check size Average Check Size = Total Sales divided by Total Orders If you made 16,000 dollars last month from 800 online orders, your average check size is 20 dollars. This simple number helps you monitor trends, justify menu changes and track the impact of new promotions. The principles behind higher check sizes Before diving into tactics, keep these two ideas in mind. 1. Aim to increase your most common order sizeA few very large orders can lift your average temporarily, but they do not create predictable revenue. You want hundreds of slightly larger tickets, not a handful of giant ones. 2. Customers appreciate curated choicesSuggesting upgrades and pairings is not pushy when it helps them get a better meal. People feel more satisfied when they receive clear and relevant options. 1. Build a strong online ordering experience Everything starts with a smooth ordering journey. If your online experience is slow or confusing, customers rush through it and skip add ons. A clean layout, fast load time and simple customization options naturally encourage customers to explore. Optimized online ordering increases the opportunity for recommendations, bundles and upgrades that raise the final ticket. Pro tip: Place your highest margin categories near the top of each section. 2. Use recommendations for add ons Suggestions at the right moments can increase the total by 10 to 25 percent. Drinks, sauces, toppings and desserts work especially well because customers see them as convenient additions. The best results come from recommendations tied to the item selected. If someone adds a spicy burger, show a cooling drink or premium fries. These contextual prompts feel natural and increase acceptance rates. Pro tip: Two options perform better than long lists. Keep it simple. 3. Promote your highest margin items Not all add ons deliver the same profit. Many restaurants promote items that sell well but add very little margin. Instead, highlight items that cost little to produce and still feel valuable to customers. Examples include seasoned fries, dips, extra proteins, premium toppings, small desserts or special drinks. Pro tip: Add short descriptive text that highlights flavor or ingredients. Sensory descriptions can boost selection. 4. Let customers personalize their meals Customization is one of the strongest drivers of average check size. When customers build their perfect version of a dish, they are more likely to add premium ingredients or extra toppings. This works extremely well for pizzas, bowls, burritos, sandwiches, noodles and salads. Pro tip: Show upgrades clearly with small price tags so customers instantly know their options. 5. Optimize your menu design for conversions Your online menu is a sales tool. The layout, categories, photos and descriptions guide customers through your offerings and influence what they choose. Effective menu design techniques include: • Highlighting best selling and high profit items• Using large, appetizing photos for items that lift check size• Positioning premium or signature dishes in the first positions of each category• Keeping each category short and clear• Adding groups like Add something extra or Make it a combo Pro tip: Use short, vivid descriptions to emphasize ingredients, textures or preparation styles. 6. Create bundles that offer clear value Bundles and combos increase order size by offering a complete experience at a better perceived price. Customers enjoy convenience and feel they are maximizing value. Popular bundle formats include: • One main item plus two sides• Dinner for two• Family packs• Premium bundles with specialty items Bundles work especially well online because customers can see the savings compared to ordering items individually. Pro tip: Always include at least one high margin item in each bundle. 7. Add premium versions of popular items Offering a premium upgrade is a subtle way to increase average check size. Many guests gravitate toward the best possible version of something they already want. Examples include: • Double protein• Special sauces• Premium toppings• Upgraded sides• Add a dessert at a reduced price Pro tip: Position premium items directly under the standard version. 8. Use loyalty rewards to encourage larger orders Loyalty programs are powerful because they influence behavior over time. Members tend to spend more, return more frequently and try new items to earn points. Effective reward structures include: • Extra points for adding a side or dessert• A bonus for hitting a minimum order value• Double points on bundles• A welcome reward that encourages a larger first purchase Pro tip: Use high margin items as rewards to protect your profitability. 9. Offer promotions with minimum order thresholds Setting a minimum amount for perks nudges customers to increase their order slightly. These promotions work because the goal feels reachable and the reward feels meaningful. Common examples: • Free delivery above 35 dollars• Five percent off above 40 dollars• A free appetizer above 45 dollars Small order increases like adding one drink or one

Delivery fees have become one of the most sensitive factors in online ordering. Charge too much and customers abandon the order. Charge too little and your margins disappear.The good news: today we have clear data showing the sweet spot that maximizes direct sales while keeping customers happy. Academic studies and real restaurant data show that the most effective delivery fee is around 4 dollars, because it increases conversions without hurting customer perception. In this post, we explain why, how to apply it, and how to use order minimums to protect your margins. Key Takeaways Why the delivery fee matters so much Restaurant owners everywhere want to reduce how much they pay delivery apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash, Rappi, or Glovo.The real way to do that is not only by having your own ordering system, but by making direct ordering clearly more appealing. The delivery fee is one of the biggest factors customers consider when deciding where to order. When customers compare options, they look at three things: If your fee is equal to or lower than the apps, customers are likely to order directly.If it is higher, even slightly, they go back to the apps. What studies say about delivery fees A Cornell University study analyzed how delivery fees influence customer experience. Researchers found that customers respond best when fees are 4 dollars or less. Once the fee rises to 7 dollars, the perception becomes negative and conversion rates drop significantly. This matches the data from hundreds of restaurants in Latin America that optimized their direct ordering channels. Why 4 dollars is the sweet spot Setting a 4 dollar delivery fee does not mean your restaurant pays only that much.The real cost of delivery often ranges between 6 and 8 dollars per order.This means the restaurant absorbs part of the cost, but it pays off for three reasons: 1. Higher direct ordering volume A reasonable fee encourages customers to order via your website, WhatsApp, or direct app.Every direct order avoids the 15 to 30 percent commission from third party apps. 2. Lower prices for the customer Restaurants often increase menu prices on third party apps to compensate for commissions.In your direct channel, prices stay fair without hurting your margins. 3. Customer data and loyalty growth Each direct order gives you: This feeds your loyalty program and future marketing. What happens when restaurants lower their delivery fee A study with one hundred restaurants that charged 7 dollars originally found something clear:after lowering the customer fee to 4 dollars, all of them saw an immediate increase in conversion rates. This confirms how sensitive customers are to delivery pricing and how small changes create big results. How to protect margins with order minimums Restaurant owners often worry about this scenario:“What if someone orders only one small item? I do not want to subsidize 3 dollars on a tiny order.” The solution is simple: use a minimum order amount to unlock the reduced fee. The most effective threshold is 30 dollars. It works like this: This protects your margins while encouraging higher ticket sizes. How to communicate your delivery fee clearly Delivery shock is one of the biggest reasons customers abandon their carts.To reduce this: Customers should feel that ordering direct is the logical choice. The right delivery fee improves sales and experience We have all felt this: you are ready to order food, and right before the checkout you see a huge delivery fee. You hesitate. You close the tab. You order something else.Your customers do the same. A competitive delivery fee is one of the strongest levers to: Charging a maximum of 4 dollars is a strategy backed by research and real restaurant data.