Food Delivery Commission Comparison Canada 2026: UberEats vs DoorDash vs Skip vs Direct

Commission Rates by Platform: What UberEats, DoorDash, and Skip Actually Charge

Every major food delivery platform in Canada operates on a tiered commission model. The advertised rate is never the full story — the tier you choose determines your visibility in the app, your delivery radius, and ultimately how many orders you receive. Here is what each platform charges Canadian restaurants in 2026.

UberEats Canada Commission Rates

UberEats operates three commission tiers for Canadian restaurants. The Lite plan charges 15% commission but significantly reduces your restaurant's visibility in the app — you will not appear in promoted sections, your listing is deprioritized in search results, and your delivery radius is limited. Most restaurants on the Lite plan report receiving 60-70% fewer orders compared to higher tiers. The Plus plan at 25% commission provides standard marketplace listing, inclusion in category searches, and a normal delivery radius. The Premium plan at 30% commission gives you priority placement in search results, inclusion in UberEats promotions and curated collections, expanded delivery radius, and access to marketing tools like promoted listings and offers.

In practice, most Canadian restaurants end up on the 25% or 30% tier because the 15% plan generates so few orders that it is not worth the listing. UberEats effectively uses the lower tier as a loss leader to get restaurants on the platform, then pushes them toward higher-commission plans to receive meaningful order volume.

DoorDash Canada Commission Rates

DoorDash offers a similar three-tier structure for Canadian restaurants. The Basic plan charges 15% commission but excludes your restaurant from DashPass (DoorDash's subscription program with over 2 million Canadian subscribers), limits your delivery radius, and provides minimal marketing exposure. The Plus plan at 25% commission includes DashPass visibility, a larger delivery radius, and standard placement in search. The Premier plan at 30% commission provides maximum exposure, priority placement, inclusion in all DashPass categories, expanded delivery radius up to 8 km, and access to promotional tools.

DoorDash has been particularly aggressive in the Canadian market since 2023, offering temporary commission reductions (typically 10% off for the first 30 days) to onboard new restaurants. However, once the promotional period ends, restaurants are locked into standard rates. DoorDash also charges a per-order payment processing fee of 2.5% on all credit card transactions, which is separate from the commission rate.

Skip The Dishes Canada Commission Rates

Skip The Dishes, owned by Just Eat Takeaway, operates with a somewhat simpler commission structure than its competitors. The standard commission rate is 25% for most Canadian restaurants, with high-volume restaurants (those processing 200+ orders per week) sometimes negotiating down to 20%. Skip does not publicly advertise a tiered system in the same way as UberEats and DoorDash, but premium placement and marketing features come at additional cost.

Skip The Dishes holds a particularly strong position in Western Canada. In cities like Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton, and Calgary, Skip often has higher market share than either UberEats or DoorDash. For restaurants in the Prairie provinces, Skip is not optional — it is the primary delivery channel. This market dominance gives Skip significant leverage in commission negotiations, and most Prairie restaurants report being unable to negotiate below 22-23% regardless of volume.

Side-by-Side Commission Comparison

Feature	UberEats	DoorDash	Skip The Dishes	DineOpen Direct
Lowest Tier Commission	15% (Lite)	15% (Basic)	20% (negotiated)	0%
Standard Commission	25% (Plus)	25% (Plus)	25% (Standard)	0%
Premium Commission	30% (Premium)	30% (Premier)	25% + marketing fees	0%
Payment Processing Fee	Included	2.5% additional	Included	Standard CC rates only
DashPass / Subscription Inclusion	UberOne (25%+ tier)	DashPass (25%+ tier)	Skip Plus (varies)	N/A — direct to customer
Delivery Radius (Standard)	5 km	5 km	5 km	Unlimited (pickup/own delivery)
Delivery Radius (Premium)	8 km	8 km	7 km	N/A
Customer Data Ownership	Platform owns	Platform owns	Platform owns	Restaurant owns 100%
Monthly Fee	CAD 0	CAD 0	CAD 0	CAD 39 (DineOpen)

Hidden Fees Breakdown: What They Don’t Tell You During Signup

Commission rates are just the beginning. Every major delivery platform charges a range of additional fees that can increase your effective commission rate by 5-15% above the headline number. Here is every hidden fee Canadian restaurants encounter on each platform.

Activation and Onboarding Fees

UberEats charges a one-time activation fee of CAD 350 for new restaurant partners. This covers account setup, menu configuration, and tablet provisioning. DoorDash charges CAD 499 for activation, which includes a dedicated onboarding specialist and menu photography session. Skip The Dishes charges CAD 200-500 depending on location and menu complexity. These fees are often waived during promotional periods, but if you sign up outside a promotion window, they are non-negotiable.

Tablet Rental Fees

All three platforms provide proprietary tablets for receiving orders. UberEats charges CAD 6/week (CAD 312/year) for tablet rental. DoorDash charges CAD 6-9/week (CAD 312-468/year) depending on the model. Skip The Dishes includes the tablet in their standard partnership but charges CAD 5/week for replacement devices. These tablets are locked to the platform — you cannot use them for anything else, and you must return them if you leave the platform or face a CAD 300-500 replacement charge.

Marketing and Promotion Fees

• Promoted Listings (UberEats): CAD 0.50-2.00 per order for boosted placement in search results. On a restaurant receiving 50 orders/day through promotions, this adds CAD 25-100/day or CAD 750-3,000/month.
• DoorDash Sponsored Listings: Bid-based system where you pay per click or per order. Average cost is CAD 1.00-3.00 per incremental order. Monthly spend for competitive positioning typically runs CAD 500-2,000.
• Skip The Dishes Featured Placement: Weekly fee of CAD 50-200 for premium placement in your market area. Higher fees in competitive markets like Toronto and Vancouver.
• Platform-Initiated Discounts: All three platforms periodically run customer promotions (e.g., “20% off your next order”) and split the cost with restaurants. You may see deductions of CAD 2-5 per order during these promotions, which are sometimes opt-out rather than opt-in.

Photo and Menu Services

Professional food photography is offered by all platforms at CAD 150-400 per session. While technically optional, restaurants with professional photos receive 30-40% more orders than those with amateur photos or no photos. Menu updates are typically free for text changes, but adding new categories or restructuring your menu may incur CAD 50-100 fees on some platforms.

Chargebacks and Error Adjustments

When a customer complains about a missing item, incorrect order, or quality issue, the platform typically refunds the customer and deducts the amount from the restaurant’s payout — often without investigation. Canadian restaurants report losing CAD 200-800/month to chargebacks, with limited ability to dispute them. DoorDash has been particularly aggressive with automatic refunds, where a customer complaint results in an immediate credit with the cost passed to the restaurant.

Real Profit Calculation: What You Actually Keep on a CAD 30 Order

Let’s follow a single CAD 30 order through each delivery channel and calculate the actual profit a Canadian restaurant earns. We will use standard industry assumptions: 32% food cost (CAD 9.60 on a CAD 30 order), 5% packaging cost for delivery orders (CAD 1.50), and standard operating overhead allocated per order.

UberEats Order (30% Commission)

Your customer places a CAD 30.00 order through UberEats. The platform takes its 30% commission: CAD 9.00. You receive CAD 21.00 in revenue. From that CAD 21.00, subtract your food cost of CAD 9.60 (32% of the original order value — your ingredients cost the same regardless of the commission). Subtract CAD 1.50 for delivery packaging (containers, bags, utensils, napkins). Subtract approximately CAD 3.00 for allocated labour cost (kitchen prep, packaging time, order management). Subtract CAD 1.50 for allocated overhead (rent, utilities, insurance proportioned per order). Your actual profit on this CAD 30 UberEats order: CAD 5.40. That is an 18% profit margin on the original order value.

DoorDash Order (25% Commission + 2.5% Processing)

On DoorDash at the Plus tier (25%), the commission on a CAD 30 order is CAD 7.50, plus a 2.5% payment processing fee of CAD 0.75, totalling CAD 8.25 in platform fees. You receive CAD 21.75. After deducting the same costs — CAD 9.60 food, CAD 1.50 packaging, CAD 3.00 labour, CAD 1.50 overhead — your actual profit is CAD 6.15. That is a 20.5% profit margin.

Skip The Dishes Order (25% Commission)

On Skip at the standard 25% rate, the commission on a CAD 30 order is CAD 7.50. You receive CAD 22.50. After deducting CAD 9.60 food, CAD 1.50 packaging, CAD 3.00 labour, and CAD 1.50 overhead, your actual profit is CAD 6.90. That is a 23% profit margin.

DineOpen Direct Order (0% Commission)

A customer scans your QR code or visits your branded ordering page and places the same CAD 30 order directly. Commission: CAD 0.00. Payment processing through your standard processor: approximately CAD 0.75 (2.5% average). You receive CAD 29.25. After deducting CAD 9.60 food, CAD 1.50 packaging (if takeout/delivery), CAD 3.00 labour, and CAD 1.50 overhead, your actual profit is CAD 13.65. That is a 45.5% profit margin — more than double the profit of any delivery platform.

Line Item	UberEats (30%)	DoorDash (25%+2.5%)	Skip (25%)	DineOpen Direct (0%)
Order Value	CAD 30.00	CAD 30.00	CAD 30.00	CAD 30.00
Platform Commission	-CAD 9.00	-CAD 7.50	-CAD 7.50	CAD 0.00
Payment Processing	Included	-CAD 0.75	Included	-CAD 0.75
Revenue Received	CAD 21.00	CAD 21.75	CAD 22.50	CAD 29.25
Food Cost (32%)	-CAD 9.60	-CAD 9.60	-CAD 9.60	-CAD 9.60
Packaging	-CAD 1.50	-CAD 1.50	-CAD 1.50	-CAD 1.50
Labour (allocated)	-CAD 3.00	-CAD 3.00	-CAD 3.00	-CAD 3.00
Overhead (allocated)	-CAD 1.50	-CAD 1.50	-CAD 1.50	-CAD 1.50
Net Profit per Order	CAD 5.40	CAD 6.15	CAD 6.90	CAD 13.65
Profit Margin	18.0%	20.5%	23.0%	45.5%

Marketing Value of Delivery Platforms: The Customer Acquisition Perspective

Before you cancel all your delivery platform accounts, consider this: delivery platforms are not just order channels — they are also marketing channels. The commission you pay is partially a customer acquisition cost (CAC). Understanding this perspective changes how you should think about platform fees.

How Many New Customers Do Platforms Actually Bring?

Industry data from Restaurants Canada shows that approximately 30-40% of orders from delivery platforms come from customers who have never ordered from your restaurant before. The remaining 60-70% are repeat customers who already know your restaurant and would likely order directly if given the option. This means that on 100 platform orders per day, approximately 30-40 are genuine new customer acquisitions, while 60-70 are existing customers for whom you are paying commission unnecessarily.

Customer Acquisition Cost Calculation

If you are paying an average of CAD 8.00 in commission per order and 35% of orders are from new customers, your effective customer acquisition cost is CAD 8.00 divided by 0.35, which equals approximately CAD 22.86 per new customer. For comparison, the average cost to acquire a restaurant customer through Google Ads in Canada is CAD 8-15, through Instagram ads CAD 5-12, and through local flyer drops CAD 3-8. Delivery platform commission is among the most expensive customer acquisition channels available.

The Retention Problem

Here is the critical issue: delivery platforms own the customer relationship. When someone orders through UberEats, DoorDash, or Skip, the platform collects the customer’s name, email, phone number, order history, and preferences. You get none of this data. You cannot email these customers directly, you cannot send them push notifications, and you cannot target them with promotions. The customer’s loyalty is to the platform, not to your restaurant. If a competitor opens nearby and runs a promotion on UberEats, your “regular” customers can switch with a single tap — and you will never know why orders dropped.

When Platform Marketing Makes Sense

Despite the high cost, delivery platforms make sense as a marketing channel in specific situations:

• New restaurant launch: When you have zero brand awareness in your area, platforms provide immediate visibility to thousands of potential customers within your delivery radius.
• Entering a new market: If you are opening a second location in a new neighbourhood, platforms accelerate customer discovery.
• Seasonal promotions: Short-term platform campaigns can drive trial during slow periods.
• Cuisine niche establishment: If you serve a unique cuisine (Ethiopian, Peruvian, etc.), platform exposure helps the right customers find you.

Direct Ordering Alternative: QR Code Menus and Your Own Website

The most profitable delivery and takeout channel for any Canadian restaurant is direct ordering — where customers order from you without a third-party platform taking a cut. In 2026, technology has made direct ordering accessible and affordable for restaurants of every size, from a single-location pho shop in Vancouver to a multi-location pizza chain in the GTA.

QR Code Ordering: The New Standard

QR code ordering exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic and has become a permanent fixture in Canadian restaurants. The technology is simple: customers scan a QR code with their phone camera, view your digital menu, place their order, and pay — all without downloading an app. For dine-in, this reduces staff workload and increases average order value by 15-25% (customers browse the full menu rather than rushing through a verbal order). For takeout and delivery, QR codes on flyers, business cards, delivery bags, and social media posts create a direct ordering channel that bypasses platform commissions entirely.

How QR Code Direct Ordering Works

1. Customer scans QR code — placed on table tents, receipts, takeout bags, flyers, social media, or your storefront window.
2. Digital menu loads — no app download required, works on any smartphone browser. Menu shows photos, descriptions, modifiers, and real-time availability.
3. Customer places order — selects items, customizes with modifiers, adds special instructions, and reviews their order.
4. Payment processed — customer pays via credit card, debit, Apple Pay, or Google Pay directly. Standard payment processing fees apply (2.0-2.5%), but zero platform commission.
5. Order goes to kitchen — order appears on your kitchen display system or prints to your kitchen printer immediately, just like a platform order.
6. Customer picks up or receives delivery — for pickup, order is ready when customer arrives. For delivery, you manage your own delivery or use a third-party courier service at a flat per-delivery fee (typically CAD 5-7).

Own Website Ordering

In addition to QR codes, a branded online ordering page on your own website creates a permanent direct ordering channel. When customers search for your restaurant on Google, your website appears with a direct “Order Now” button. This is particularly valuable because Google search intent for specific restaurant names indicates high purchase intent — these customers already know they want to order from you, and a direct ordering link eliminates the platform commission on what would be a zero-CAC order.

Cost Comparison: Platform vs. Direct

Cost Category	Delivery Platforms	DineOpen Direct Ordering
Commission per Order (CAD 30)	CAD 7.50 – 9.00	CAD 0.00
Monthly Platform Fee	CAD 0 (commission model)	CAD 39.00
Payment Processing	Included in commission	~2.5% (standard CC rates)
Tablet Rental	CAD 6-9/week	CAD 0 (use any device)
Marketing Fees	CAD 500-3,000/month	CAD 0 (organic QR/web)
Customer Data	Platform owns	You own 100%
Cost on 3,000 orders/month	CAD 22,500 – 27,000	CAD 2,289 (CAD 39 + CC fees)

The Hybrid Strategy: Platforms for Discovery, Direct for Repeat Customers

The most successful Canadian restaurants in 2026 are not choosing between delivery platforms and direct ordering — they are using both strategically. The hybrid strategy uses delivery platforms as a paid customer acquisition channel while systematically converting platform customers into direct ordering customers. Here is how it works in practice.

Step 1: Stay on Platforms, But Optimize Your Tier

Do not quit UberEats, DoorDash, or Skip. Instead, evaluate which tier gives you the best ROI for customer acquisition. In many cases, the middle tier (25% commission) provides the best balance of visibility and cost. Track how many genuinely new customers each platform brings monthly. If a platform is delivering mostly repeat customers, consider moving to a lower tier or reducing your marketing spend on that platform.

Step 2: Insert Direct Ordering Materials in Every Delivery Bag

This is the most important tactical step. Every delivery order that leaves your kitchen should include:

• A branded card with your QR code — “Next time, order direct and save! Scan this QR code for 10% off your next order.”
• A small flyer with your direct ordering URL — “Skip the app fees. Order directly at [your website] and get free delivery.”
• A loyalty punch card — “Collect 5 stamps on direct orders, get a free meal. Scan QR to start.”
• A fridge magnet with your QR code (for high-value regular customers) — this keeps your ordering channel visible in the customer’s home.

Step 3: Offer a Direct Ordering Incentive

Give customers a reason to switch. Since you save CAD 7.50-9.00 per order in platform commissions, you can afford to offer a meaningful incentive: 10-15% discount on direct orders (you still profit more than platform orders at full price), free delivery on direct orders over CAD 30, a free item (drink, appetizer) on the first direct order, or a loyalty program that only works on direct orders. A Toronto restaurant owner told us that offering 10% off for direct QR orders converted 40% of their UberEats regulars to direct ordering within three months — saving them over CAD 4,000/month in commissions.

Step 4: Build Your Customer Database

Every direct order gives you the customer’s contact information. Use this data to build an email list, send SMS notifications about specials, create a loyalty program, and run targeted promotions to inactive customers. This is data that delivery platforms never share with you. After 6-12 months of hybrid strategy, most restaurants have a database of 1,000-5,000 direct customers who can be reached without any platform intermediary.

Step 5: Gradually Reduce Platform Dependence

As your direct ordering volume grows, you can strategically reduce your platform presence. Move from Premium to Plus or Plus to Basic tier on platforms where direct ordering is replacing volume. Reduce or eliminate marketing spend on platforms. Consider dropping one platform entirely if it delivers primarily repeat (not new) customers. A Montreal restaurant we spoke with went from 80% platform orders to 55% direct orders in 8 months using this strategy, increasing their overall profit margin by 12 percentage points.

How DineOpen QR Ordering Helps Restaurants Keep 100% of Direct Orders

DineOpen provides Canadian restaurants with a complete direct ordering system that replaces the need for delivery platform dependence. At CAD 39/month with zero commission, DineOpen gives you everything you need to accept direct orders from customers — and keep all the revenue.

QR Code Ordering System

DineOpen generates custom QR codes for your restaurant that customers scan with any smartphone. No app download required. The QR code loads your branded digital menu with photos, descriptions, modifiers, and real-time availability. Customers browse, customize their order, and pay — all from their phone. The order flows directly to your kitchen display system or printer. For dine-in, place QR codes on every table. For takeout and delivery, print QR codes on bags, receipts, business cards, flyers, and social media posts.

Branded Online Ordering Page

In addition to QR codes, DineOpen creates a branded ordering page for your restaurant that can be linked from your website, Google Business Profile, Instagram bio, and Facebook page. When customers search for your restaurant and land on your website, a “Order Now” button takes them directly to your DineOpen ordering page — no platform commission, no third-party intermediary. The page is mobile-optimized, loads in under 2 seconds, and supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, and all major credit cards.

Consolidated Kitchen Management

DineOpen does not force you to choose between platforms and direct ordering. The system integrates with UberEats, DoorDash, and Skip The Dishes, consolidating all orders — platform and direct — into a single kitchen display. Your kitchen staff sees one unified order queue regardless of source. No more multiple tablets, no more missed orders, no more confusion during rush hours. Each order is tagged with its source so you can track profitability by channel.

Customer Data and Marketing Tools

Every direct order through DineOpen captures customer contact information (with their consent). DineOpen provides built-in tools to manage this data:

• Customer database: Names, emails, phone numbers, order history, preferences, and lifetime value — all data you own.
• Order analytics: See which customers order most frequently, their average order value, favourite items, and ordering patterns.
• Channel comparison: Compare profitability between UberEats, DoorDash, Skip, and direct orders in a single dashboard.
• Repeat customer tracking: Identify which platform customers have converted to direct ordering and measure your hybrid strategy ROI.

Works on Any Device

Unlike delivery platform tablets that are locked to a single service, DineOpen runs on any device you already own — iPad, Android tablet, Windows PC, Mac, Chromebook, or smartphone. There is no proprietary hardware to rent or purchase. A new restaurant can be accepting direct orders within 15 minutes of signing up, using a device they already have.

Provincial Regulation on Delivery Commission Caps in Canada

The question of whether governments should regulate delivery app commissions has been hotly debated across Canada since 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several provinces and municipalities introduced temporary commission caps to protect restaurants. As of 2026, the regulatory landscape remains uneven, with no permanent federal legislation in place.

British Columbia

British Columbia was one of the first provinces to act, introducing a temporary 15% commission cap on food delivery apps during the COVID-19 emergency. The cap applied to all third-party delivery platforms and was intended to protect restaurants facing reduced dine-in capacity. The temporary measure expired in mid-2022, and the province has not introduced permanent legislation. However, the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) continues to lobby for a permanent 15% cap, and the provincial NDP government has indicated willingness to consider permanent regulation.

Ontario

Ontario considered delivery commission caps multiple times but has not passed legislation. During the pandemic, several Toronto city councillors proposed municipal bylaws capping commissions at 15%, but the proposals did not advance. The Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) has been actively lobbying Queen’s Park for provincial regulation. As of early 2026, no formal legislation has been introduced, but the issue remains on the political agenda, particularly in Toronto where the concentration of restaurants and delivery activity is highest.

Quebec

Quebec has taken a different approach, focusing on transparency rather than caps. The province requires delivery platforms to clearly disclose all fees to restaurant partners before contract signing and to provide detailed monthly statements showing commission breakdowns, marketing deductions, and chargeback amounts. While this does not reduce commissions, it has given Quebec restaurants better visibility into their true delivery costs, enabling more informed negotiations. The Quebec Restaurant Association (ARQ) supports both transparency measures and commission caps.

Alberta

Alberta, generally business-friendly in its regulatory approach, has not introduced or considered delivery commission caps. The Alberta government’s position is that market forces should determine pricing between businesses. The Alberta Restaurant Association has focused its advocacy on federal-level lobbying through Restaurants Canada rather than pursuing provincial legislation.

Prairie Provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan)

Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where Skip The Dishes has dominant market share, have not introduced commission cap legislation. The issue is complicated by the fact that Skip The Dishes (now owned by Just Eat Takeaway) is headquartered in Winnipeg and is a significant local employer. Provincial governments have been reluctant to regulate a major local employer’s business model. Restaurant advocacy in these provinces has focused on encouraging competition among platforms rather than government regulation.

Federal Level: Restaurants Canada Lobbying

Restaurants Canada, the national association representing over 98,000 food service businesses, has been lobbying the federal government for national commission cap legislation. Their proposed framework includes:

• A 15% cap on base delivery commissions for all third-party platforms operating in Canada
• A 5% cap on additional marketing and placement fees (total fees not to exceed 20%)
• Mandatory transparency requirements for all platform fees, chargebacks, and deductions
• Data sharing requirements obligating platforms to share basic customer information (with consent) with restaurant partners
• Contract fairness rules preventing unilateral changes to commission rates mid-contract

As of April 2026, the federal government has acknowledged the issue but has not introduced legislation. Industry observers expect that some form of regulation — whether provincial or federal — will emerge by 2027-2028, particularly if delivery platforms continue to increase fees.

Annual Savings: What Canadian Restaurants Save by Going Direct

The financial case for direct ordering is overwhelming when you project the numbers over a full year. Here is what Canadian restaurants at different order volumes save by shifting delivery orders from platforms to DineOpen’s direct ordering system.

Daily Delivery Orders	Avg Order Value	Annual Platform Commission (25%)	Annual DineOpen Cost	Annual Savings
25 orders/day	CAD 30	CAD 68,438	CAD 468	CAD 67,970
50 orders/day	CAD 30	CAD 136,875	CAD 468	CAD 136,407
75 orders/day	CAD 35	CAD 239,531	CAD 468	CAD 239,063
100 orders/day	CAD 35	CAD 319,375	CAD 468	CAD 318,907
150 orders/day	CAD 40	CAD 547,500	CAD 468	CAD 547,032

Even the smallest operation in this table — 25 delivery orders per day — saves nearly CAD 68,000 per year by shifting to direct ordering. For a mid-size restaurant doing 100 orders per day, the annual savings exceed CAD 318,000. These are not theoretical numbers — this is real money that currently flows from your restaurant to delivery platform shareholders.

Platform-Specific Tips for Canadian Restaurants

If you are going to stay on delivery platforms (and you should, as part of the hybrid strategy), here are specific tips for maximizing your ROI on each platform while minimizing costs.

UberEats Canada Tips

• Negotiate your tier annually. UberEats account managers have discretion to offer promotional rates, especially if you can demonstrate high order volume or threaten to reduce your menu.
• Optimize your menu for high-margin items. Since UberEats takes the highest commission, prioritize promoting items with the lowest food cost percentage. A drink add-on at CAD 4 with CAD 0.50 cost is more profitable than a main at CAD 20 with CAD 8 cost.
• Use UberEats promotions strategically. Run promotions only during slow periods when your kitchen has excess capacity. Never run promotions during peak hours when you are already at capacity.
• Monitor chargebacks aggressively. UberEats allows you to dispute chargebacks within 7 days. Photograph orders before sealing bags as evidence. Restaurants that dispute chargebacks recover 30-50% of deducted amounts.

DoorDash Canada Tips

• Opt out of platform-initiated promotions. DoorDash regularly runs “20% off” or “free delivery” promotions and splits the cost with restaurants. Check your DoorDash Merchant Portal weekly and opt out of promotions that reduce your margins below acceptable levels.
• Use DashPass strategically. Being visible to DashPass subscribers (who order 3-4x more frequently than non-subscribers) justifies the Plus tier commission for most restaurants. But track whether DashPass orders come from new or repeat customers.
• Reject the tablet upgrade. DoorDash will periodically offer tablet upgrades at higher weekly rental fees. The basic tablet handles orders perfectly well — there is no need to pay CAD 9/week for a slightly larger screen.

Skip The Dishes Canada Tips

• Negotiate based on volume. Skip is more willing to negotiate commission rates than UberEats or DoorDash. If you process 150+ orders/week through Skip, request a rate review. Restaurants report negotiating reductions of 2-5 percentage points.
• Leverage your geographic monopoly. In smaller Canadian cities and towns where Skip dominates, your restaurant may be one of few options in your cuisine category. Use this leverage in commission negotiations.
• Update your menu photos. Skip’s algorithm favours restaurants with recent, high-quality photos. Update your menu photos quarterly to maintain visibility without paying for promoted placement.

Tax Implications of Delivery Commissions in Canada

Delivery platform commissions have specific tax implications for Canadian restaurants that many owners overlook. Understanding these can reduce your tax burden and improve your financial reporting.

GST/HST on Commission Fees

Delivery platform commissions are subject to GST/HST. When UberEats charges you CAD 9.00 in commission on a CAD 30 order, that commission amount includes GST/HST. You can claim the GST/HST portion as an Input Tax Credit (ITC) on your GST/HST return. For a restaurant in Ontario (13% HST), the ITC on CAD 9.00 commission is approximately CAD 1.04. Over thousands of orders, this adds up to a meaningful tax recovery. Ensure your bookkeeper is properly recording platform commission invoices and claiming the ITC.

Commission as a Deductible Business Expense

All delivery platform commissions, including base commission, marketing fees, promotional contributions, and tablet rental fees, are deductible business expenses for CRA purposes. Keep detailed records of all platform charges. DineOpen’s analytics dashboard provides downloadable reports comparing your platform costs by month, which simplifies tax filing and makes CRA audit preparation straightforward.

Revenue Recognition

When a customer pays CAD 30 on UberEats and you receive CAD 21 after commission, your gross revenue for tax purposes is CAD 30 (the full order amount), not CAD 21. The CAD 9 commission is recorded as an expense. This distinction matters because your GST/HST liability is calculated on the CAD 30 gross amount (CAD 30 including applicable taxes), while the commission is a separate deductible expense. Incorrectly recording only the net amount received understates both your revenue and your expenses, which can trigger CRA inquiries.