Software Development

Food Delivery App Guide for Restaurant Owners in 2025

6 March, 2025 Last Updated
14 minutes Read
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building a food delivery app in 2025

Food delivery apps have transformed how people order meals, offering convenience and accessibility with just a few taps. With millions using platforms like Uber Eats and Zomato, launching your app presents a lucrative opportunity. Even a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with essential features—user registration, restaurant listings, and order tracking—can attract users and generate revenue.

This blog will explore the key features of a food delivery app, how to build an MVP, monetization strategies, challenges, and future trends. With the right approach, a well-executed app can scale quickly and deliver high returns in this booming market.

What is a Food Delivery App?

A food delivery app lets users order meals from restaurants and have them delivered. Instead of dining out or cooking, they can browse restaurants, select meals, and order through the app. A delivery person then brings the food to their doorstep.

Using the app is easy, users download it, explore menus, read reviews, and add items to their cart. Payments can be made through a card, digital wallet, or cash. Real-time tracking shows order progress and delivery status. These apps are ideal for busy individuals or those who prefer eating at home, offering a convenient way to enjoy meals or groceries hassle-free.

The Problem with Third-Party Delivery Apps

To attract more customers, a lot of food chains use third-party delivery apps. These apps take care of ordering, payment processing, and delivery, saving eateries the trouble. But while they seem helpful, they also create big problems that hurt restaurants in the long run. Here’s why relying on them isn’t always a good idea:

1. High Fees Reduce Profits

Third-party apps typically keep 15–30% of each order. Assume a restaurant charges $10 for a pizza. Only $7.50 is received by the restaurant if the app takes 25% off. Not much remains after paying for staff salaries, rent, and ingredients.

2. No Direct Connection with Customers

When a customer places an order using a third-party app, the restaurant does not receive their contact information. This means:

  • They can’t offer discounts or deals to bring customers back.
  • They can’t build customer loyalty.
  • The delivery app keeps all the customer information, so people don’t even know they’re supporting the restaurant.

3. No Control Over Branding & Experience

Each restaurant appears as a name on a list on a third-party app. There is no way to showcase the restaurant’s distinct personality or style.

For example, if a restaurant is known for friendly service and a cozy vibe, none of that comes across in a delivery app. Customers just see menu items and prices, making it hard to stand out.

4. Bad Delivery Hurts the Restaurant’s Reputation

The restaurant has no control over how the food is served once it leaves the kitchen. Customers blame the restaurant, not the app, if the food is dirty, cold, or arrives late. Even if the restaurant did everything correctly, this results in negative ratings and fewer orders.

Why You Should Build Your Own Food Delivery App?

Food delivery apps are booming! Rather than depending on third-party companies such as Swiggy or Zomato, why not create your own? Here’s why it’s progressive:

Benefits of having a food delivery app of your own

1. More Profits, No High Commissions

Third-party apps charge 25-40% per order in commissions. That’s a huge cut! With your app, you keep more revenue and reinvest it into your business.

Example: A restaurant selling a $20 meal through a third-party app might only get $12–$15 after commissions. With their own food delivery app, they keep the full $20!

2. Direct Customer Relationship

When you use third-party apps, you don’t own the customer data—they do. With your own food delivery app:

  • Build loyalty programs
  • Offer personalized discounts
  • Send direct promotions via push notifications

Example: A pizza place with its own food delivery app can reward frequent buyers with free sides instead of losing them to competitors on big delivery platforms.

3. Brand Control & Customer Experience

On third-party apps, your brand is just another listing. With your app, you control:

  • The design (Show off your branding!)
  • The packaging & delivery experience
  • The reviews (No unfair ratings!)

Example: Imagine a high-end sushi restaurant with a custom app showcasing beautiful food images, chef stories, and exclusive VIP deals—a unique experience that third-party apps can’t offer.

4. Lower Delivery Costs & Better Logistics

Third-party services set their delivery fees—sometimes too high, making customers hesitate to order. With your app:

  • Offer cheaper or even free delivery
  • Use your drivers or partner with local services
  • Optimize routes for faster delivery

Example: A small burger joint saves money by hiring two local drivers instead of paying high commission fees to a big platform.

5. Scalability & Business Growth

With your food delivery app, you’re not just another restaurant—you can expand into a full-fledged food business.

  • Add multiple locations
  • Partner with other restaurants & create a local food hub
  • Launch subscription meal plans

Example: A small café starts with its own app and later expands into catering, meal prep, and even grocery delivery.

Building your food delivery app isn’t just about convenience, it’s about owning your success. Would you rather pay high commissions forever or invest in your platform and grow? Let’s talk!

The Rapid Increase in Food Delivery Apps

Ordering food with just a few taps has made the food delivery industry grow rapidly. In the United States, online food delivery made US$429.95 billion in 2025.

US online delivery market statistics

The US online food delivery market is booming and set to grow at a 9.9% CAGR from 2023 to 2032, reaching $66.54 billion. Driven by smartphone adoption, seamless apps, and consumer demand for convenience, the industry thrives on tech innovations and restaurant partnerships.

Customizations for Your Unique Food Delivery App

Building food delivery software requires more than the bare minimum! By adding these fantastic features, you can upgrade your software and make it more effective, profitable, and user-friendly.

Customizations you can do for your own food delivery app

1. Product Management System

What it does: It provides real-time help to restaurants manage their menus, prices, and availability.

  • Make changes to prices, add new dishes, or mark products as “sold out”
  • Sort food according to popularity, diet (vegan, keto, gluten-free), or cuisine.
  • High-quality pictures and information to improve the user experience.

Why does it matter?
makes it easier for eateries to manage their menu and satisfy customers.

2. Delivery Partners’ Route Optimization

What it does: Find the fastest and most efficient delivery routes.

  • AI-driven navigation with real-time traffic information
  • Auto-assigns nearby delivery partners for quicker drop-offs
  • Reduces fuel costs and delivery delays

Why does it matter?
Faster deliveries = happier customers & more earnings for delivery partners!

3. Live Order Tracking

What it does: Lets customers track their orders from the restaurant to their doorstep.

  • Real-time tracking on a map
  • Estimated time of arrival (ETA) updates
  • Notifications at every step: Order received, being prepared, out for delivery

Why does it matter?
Customers love transparency, and they’ll have peace of mind that their food is on the way.

4. Inventory Management for Restaurants

What it does: It helps restaurants keep track of stock and avoid running out of ingredients.

  • Real-time stock updates
  • Auto-alerts when ingredients are low
  • Integration with suppliers for quick restocking

Why does it matter?
Prevents order cancellations due to missing ingredients & reduces food waste.

5. Offer & Discount Management

What it does: It helps restaurants and the app owner create and manage promotions.

  • Custom discounts for first-time users, festivals, or high-value orders
  • Loyalty programs (earn points for every order)
  • Personalized offers based on customer behavior

Why does it matter?
Increases revenue and retains clients!

6. Dedicated Delivery Partner App

What it does: A separate app for drivers to manage deliveries.

  • Accept/reject delivery requests
  • Optimized routes & navigation
  • Earnings summary & payout tracking

Why does it matter?
A smoother experience for delivery partners means faster deliveries for customers!

Hybrid vs. Native: Which One’s Right for Your Food Delivery App?

Developing an app to deliver food? Choosing between hybrid and native is one of the first major choices you will have to make. To determine which choice best meets your needs speed, expenses, and outstanding customer experience. Let’s break it down!

The Power of Hybrid

Hybrid is an obvious choice if you want to develop quickly and affordably while still reaching iOS and Android customers! Here’s why:

1. Faster Development

  • One codebase for both platforms = Speedy development
  • Updates happen instantly across iOS & Android!

2. Lower Cost

  • Only one codebase to build, no need for separate teams for iOS and Android. More savings in your pocket!

3. Single Codebase for Both Platforms

  • Build for iOS and Android simultaneously. More reach, less hassle.
  • Consistent user experience across both platforms.

Go Native When Advanced Features Matter Most

Native apps are for next-level performance and advanced features. If your food delivery app needs real-time tracking, live updates, or high-speed GPS, Native might be the way to go. Here’s why:

1. Real-Time Tracking & GPS

Native apps handle real-time tracking like a pro. Smooth, fast, and precise—just what you need for those “Where’s my food?” moments!

2. Best Performance & Speed

Want super-fast load times, seamless animations, and the smoothest experience for users? Native apps have got you covered!

3. Platform-Specific Characteristics

You have complete control over device-specific features with native apps; consider background services, push notifications, and more. Ideal for personalizing the experience!

Which Should You Choose?

Go Hybrid if:

  • You want a quick, cost-effective launch.
  • You need your app on both iOS & Android with minimal hassle.
  • Your app doesn’t rely on super advanced, real-time features like tracking

Go Native if:

  • You need advanced features (e.g., live tracking, high-performance GPS).
  • Your app is all about performance, with lightning-fast speed and seamless animations.
  • You want complete access to platform-specific features.

How to Build Your Own Food Delivery App: A Simple Guide

Do you want to make your own app for food delivery? Everything you need to know to develop and promptly release your app with only the most important features will be covered. Let’s begin!

Guide to building your own food delivery app

Step 1: Do Your Research

Spend some time researching your market before you get in:

  • Identify Your Audience: Who is going to make your app? Are you trying to reach college students, working professionals, or families?
  • Evaluate the Competition: Determine what is and is not working by looking at apps like Swiggy and Zomato.

Step 2: Define Your MVP Features

You don’t need everything at once! Start with the basics:

For Users:

  • Sign Up: Easy sign-in with email or social media.
  • Search & Browse: Users can search for restaurants and dishes.
  • Order Food: Simple order placement with options to customize meals.
  • Track Your Order: Real-time delivery updates.
  • Payment Options: Secure payments with credit cards or PayPal.
  • Ratings & Reviews: Let users rate restaurants and delivery.

For Restaurants:

  • Dashboard: Restaurants manage their menu, orders, and availability.
  • Order Management: Restaurants can accept or reject orders.

For Delivery Drivers:

  • Driver Profiles: Create profiles with location and availability.
  • Order Tracking: Drivers can accept and track deliveries.

Step 3: Choose Your Tech Stack

Pick the right tools to build your app:

  • Frontend: Go native with Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android), or use React Native (iOS & Android).
  • Backend: Django, Ruby on Rails, or Node.js are your options.
  • Database: To store data, use PostgreSQL or MongoDB.
  • Payments: Include PayPal or Stripe.
  • Hosting: Use DigitalOcean, AWS, or Google Cloud to house the app itself.

Step 4: Design Your App

Make the app easy to use and visually appealing.

  • Wireframing: Sketch out how your app will look using tools like Figma or Sketch.
  • User Experience: Keep it simple and intuitive—users should be able to order food in just a few taps!

Step 5: Build Your App

Now it’s time to put everything together:

  • Develop the Frontend: Build the user interface (UI) for a smooth experience.
  • Develop the Backend: Set up the server, database, and APIs.
  • Integrate Key Features: Add payment options, order tracking, and notifications.
  • Test the App: Make sure everything works well and fix any bugs (TestFlight for iOS or Firebase for Android).

Step 6: Launch Your MVP

Ready to go live? Keep it simple and gather user feedback.

  • Launch: Introduce the MVP to your target audience.
  • Collect Feedback: Use customer insights to refine features and fix issues.
  • Monitor Performance: Track app performance, order volume, and user behavior.

Step 7: Post-Launch: Keep Improving

The work doesn’t stop after launch—keep growing your app!

  • Fix Bugs & Update: Continuously improve the app based on feedback.
  • Customer Support: Offer easy ways for users to reach you if they need help.
  • Marketing: Use social media and online ads to get the word out.

Although these steps maybe tricky if you are a beginner, you will find hurdles, you can book a free consultation with us and get expert advice.

Proven Strategies to Retain Customers & Increase Revenue

In today’s busy food delivery market, having your own food delivery app can make a big difference. It lets you control your brand and earn more by avoiding high third-party fees. However, retaining customers is key to maximizing revenue and long-term success. Let’s look into them one by one:

1. Personalized Offers & Discounts

Use data analytics to offer personalized discounts based on customers’ previous orders. For example, if a customer frequently orders a specific dish, send them a discount on their favorite meal.

2. Loyalty Programs & Rewards

Encourage repeat orders by offering a structured rewards program. Example:

  • Earn points for every purchase.
  • Redeem points for discounts or free items.
  • Exclusive VIP deals for frequent customers.

3. Seamless User Experience & Fast Delivery

A smooth, easy-to-use app encourages repeat usage. Ensure:

  • Quick & intuitive navigation.
  • One-click reordering of favorite meals.
  • Real-time order tracking.
  • Fast and reliable delivery service.

4. Push Notifications & SMS Marketing

Get regular updates to stay on top of your thoughts. For example:

  • Notify customers about special deals or limited-time offers.
  • Send friendly reminders for abandoned carts.
  • Offer exclusive discounts during slow business hours.

5. Subscription-Based Models

Consider launching a subscription program where customers pay a small fee for benefits like:

  • Free delivery.
  • Exclusive menu items.
  • Priority service.

6. Engage Customers Through Social Media & Reviews

Encourage customers to share their experiences on social media. Repost user-generated content and offer incentives for online reviews. Restaurants that engage with their audience see up to 30% more customer retention.

7. Exclusive In-App Deals

Offer deals available only through your app to incentivize downloads and repeat orders.

Example: Burger King’s ‘Only in the App’ promotions drive app downloads and customer retention by offering special in-app deals.

Wrapping Up

Developing your own food delivery app may change how you work by providing total control over revenue, branding, and customer experience. With the growing demand for online food delivery, having a custom app can set you apart from the competition and drive long-term success.

At YeasiTech, we specialize in developing powerful, user-friendly food delivery apps customized to your business needs. Whether you’re a restaurant, a cloud kitchen, or an entrepreneur looking to enter the food delivery market, our expert team is here to bring your vision to life.

Ready to launch your food delivery app? Contact YeasiTech today and let’s turn your idea into reality!

Want a cost estimation on Food Delivery App? Check our blog on :

FAQ

1. Why should I develop my own food delivery app instead of using a third-party platform?

Developing your food delivery app helps you avoid high commission fees, gain full control over branding, and build direct customer relationships, increasing long-term profitability.

2. What are the key benefits of having a custom food delivery app?

A custom food delivery app enhances brand identity, boosts customer loyalty, provides valuable user data insights, reduces dependency on third-party apps, and increases profit margins.

3. How can a food delivery app improve business revenue?

A self-owned app helps increase orders, improve customer retention, and improve overall revenue by eliminating third-party commissions, enabling direct promotions, and offering personalized deals.

4. What features should a food delivery app include for maximum benefits?

Essential features include real-time order tracking, multiple payment options, push notifications, loyalty programs, AI-driven recommendations, and an easy-to-use interface for better customer engagement.

5. How much does it cost to develop a food delivery app?

A food delivery app’s development costs are determined by several variables. Typically, a basic app costs $500 to $1000. More complex apps can run you anywhere between $2,000 to $5,000. If the app is highly customized and has many advanced features, it can cost $10,000 or more.

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