Delivery Platform Profit Calculator
Delivery platform profit calculator. See true contribution per order after commission, promo funding, packaging and refunds - plus break-even and target pricing.
Contribution by channel
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Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat can hide 25–35% commission plus payment, packaging and refund costs. This calculator strips it all out to show your true contribution per order - and the price you'd need to charge to hit your target margin.
It also compares in-venue, collection and delivery contribution side by side, so you can see the real gap between channels.
What this calculator does
Shows what an order on Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat is actually worth once commission, packaging, promotional funding and refunds come out - and what you would need to charge to match your dine-in contribution.
Who it is for
- Operators deciding whether a delivery channel is worth running.
- Sites setting delivery-specific menu prices.
- Anyone whose delivery sales are growing while profit is not.
How to use it
- Enter the average order value as the customer pays it, then the food cost for that order.
- Enter the platform commission percentage from your contract and any promotional funding you contribute.
- Add packaging cost per order and an allowance for refunds and missing item claims.
- Compare the contribution per order against the same basket sold in-house.
The formula
- Net order value = Gross order value / 1.2 (for standard-rated hot food)
- Commission = Gross order value x Commission%
- Contribution = Net order value - Food cost - Packaging - Commission - Promo funding - Refund allowance
- Contribution% = (Contribution / Net order value) x 100
Worked example
A £24.00 order including VAT, £6.00 of food cost, £0.80 of packaging and 30% platform commission.
- Net order value = £24.00 / 1.2 = £20.00
- Commission = £24.00 x 30% = £7.20
- Contribution = £20.00 - £6.00 - £0.80 - £7.20 = £6.00
- Contribution% = £6.00 / £20.00 = 30%
£6.00 contribution per order. The identical basket eaten in would contribute £14.00 before service labour, so delivery is earning 43% as much per order.
How to read your result
- Commission is normally charged on the gross order value, so it is a bigger bite of your net revenue than the headline rate suggests.
- Delivery still contributes if it uses kitchen capacity you have already paid for. It stops making sense when it displaces higher-contribution dine-in trade.
- Promotional funding is real money. A 25%-off campaign you part-fund can turn a positive order into a negative one.
What to do next
- Set a delivery-specific price list that recovers commission rather than absorbing it.
- Remove low-value, high-cost items from the delivery menu - they carry the same commission on a smaller basket.
- Model each promotion before agreeing to it and set a floor contribution per order you will not cross.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying commission to the net figure instead of the gross the customer pays.
- Forgetting packaging, bags, labels and the staff time to pack.
- Judging the channel on revenue growth rather than contribution per order.
Assumptions and limitations
- VAT treatment depends on what you sell; hot takeaway food is standard-rated while much cold food is zero-rated.
- Excludes kitchen and packing labour unless you enter it as a cost.
- Commission rates vary by contract and by whether you use platform delivery or your own riders.
Dumb Bambi provides general business information, not accounting, tax or legal advice. Read our calculation methodology or tell us about a mistake.
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- VAT Calculator - Add or remove UK VAT from any amount.
Frequently asked questions
What commission do platforms charge in the UK?+
Typically 25–35% for delivery, 10–14% for platform-listed collection.
Should delivery prices match my dine-in menu?+
Rarely. Most operators mark up delivery prices 15–25% to absorb commission without killing margin.
Who pays for promotions?+
It depends on the deal. Use the 'Discount funded by' selector to reflect reality.