The No-Nonsense Guide to Grubhub for Restaurants

Running a restaurant means juggling countless responsibilities, from staffing and service to marketing and logistics. That’s where Grubhub for restaurants comes in. As one of the leading online ordering systems in food delivery, Grubhub connects local restaurants with hungry customers across the country.

The Grubhub app and website make it easy for diners to browse menus, place online orders, and discover both brick and mortar restaurants and virtual restaurants. By joining the Grubhub marketplace, restaurant owners like yourself can tap into an enormous pool of customers and grow your digital presence quickly. Whether you manage one outlet or several restaurants nationwide, joining Grubhub gives you access to various services designed to boost visibility and increase sales.

4 Benefits of Partnering with Grubhub

When you partner with Grubhub, you gain more than just another delivery service. You gain tools, data, and reach that help your restaurant staff focus on making delicious dishes. Here are four benefits of partnering with Grubhub:

1. Reach More Diners: Listing your business on Grubhub expands your reach to new diners who might not have heard of your restaurant otherwise. Your presence in customer searches helps you stay visible and competitive.
2. Flexible Delivery Options: You can choose to use the platform’s drivers if you don’t have your own or go with self-delivery if you prefer to keep fulfillment in-house.
3. Marketing Support: Grubhub’s kit includes marketing materials like table tents and stickers, helping you promote your listing and attract new customers. You can also create sponsored listings to increase your restaurant's visibility in the Grubhub marketplace.
4. Proven Growth Tools: Grubhub offers analytics, marketing tools, and operational support to help businesses like yours refine their strategies and improve sales performance.

Getting Started With Grubhub

Starting with Grubhub is straightforward. You begin by filling out a short form on their website to create your account and list your restaurant.

You’ll provide key details like your menu, location, and contact information. Once approved, your team can start preparing for more online food orders.

As part of onboarding, Grubhub offers a free photoshoot to help you showcase your best menu items and make your online menu more appealing. Their support team guides you through setup and provides tools to manage incoming Grubhub orders. As your restaurant staff adjusts to the workflow, you can use their dashboard feature to monitor sales, track performance, and fine-tune daily operations.

Managing Orders with the Grubhub App

The Grubhub app acts as your command center. It lets you view Grubhub orders, update your online menu, and respond directly to guest inquiries. You can track every sale from confirmation to delivery, reducing errors and improving speed.

Grubhub also provides insights that help you understand your business lifecycle, including order volume, repeat customers, and performance by menu item. With this data, you can adapt your service, adjust pricing, or promote bestsellers. Ultimately, the app gives you all the data you need to serve great food while improving your operations.

3 Food Delivery Options on Grubhub

Grubhub gives you flexibility to choose how you want to handle delivery. Whether you run virtual restaurants or traditional dining spaces, there’s an option that fits your needs and costs. Here are three food delivery options that Grubhub allows you to use:

1. Grubhub Delivery: Have Grubhub's drivers deliver meals straight to your customers. This saves time and removes the need to hire in-house drivers.
2. Self-Delivery: If you prefer to manage deliveries yourself, you can keep your own team and still appear on the Grubhub marketplace. This hybrid model lets you maintain brand control while expanding your reach.
3. Delivery-Only Menu: Some restaurants may choose to create a delivery only menu that travels well and can be prepared quickly. This approach can make your delivery services more cost effective and appeal to a wider audience.

Marketing and Promotion on Grubhub

Marketing is one of Grubhub’s greatest strengths. Through the platform you gain access to tools that help you reach new customers and build loyalty. You can feature your restaurant in sponsored listings, post special offers, and use ready-made materials like flyer and social media templates to promote your business.

You’ll also get marketing guidance from Grubhub’s team, who can help you plan promotions that attract more orders, whether that means filling slow periods, launching new menu items, or keeping regulars engaged.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grubhub

If you’re considering joining Grubhub for restaurants, you probably have a few questions about how it works, what it costs, and how often you get paid. Here are some clear, practical answers to help you decide if Grubhub is the right fit for your business.

How do I list my restaurant on Grubhub?

To appear in new Grubhub listings, you need to sign up for an account on the Grubhub for Restaurants portal. Once your menu and location details are verified, your listing goes live, and you can start accepting online orders from hungry customers. You’ll receive a kit that includes marketing materials like flyers and digital banners to promote your launch. 

How much do restaurants pay for Grubhub?

Restaurants typically pay a marketing commission of 15-30% plus ¢30 per order, a 10% delivery fee when using a Grubhub driver, and a processing fee of around 3% per order. The exact costs depend on the visibility level and features you choose, such as delivery services or premium marketing tools.

Grubhub’s pricing model gives you flexibility: you only pay for what supports your growth goals. Many restaurant owners find the exposure and increased sales make Grubhub a cost effective way to reach new diners and boost revenue.

How often does Grubhub pay merchants?

Grubhub deposits payments directly to your business account, typically every few days, depending on your chosen service schedule. You can view your earnings in real time using the Grubhub app, making it easy to track each sale and plan your operations accordingly.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Grubhub?

Grubhub’s biggest strength is its reach. It connects restaurants to a massive base of hungry customers across the country, helping both local eateries and delivery-only brands grow their visibility and sales. The platform also provides useful tools for marketing, data insights, and order management. 

On the downside, some restaurant owners mention that delivery fees and marketplace competition can impact margins. Still, for many, the trade-off is worth it for the exposure and steady stream of new customers Grubhub can deliver.

Grubhub for Virtual Restaurants and Ghost Kitchens

Grubhub supports virtual restaurants and ghost kitchens by helping them reach new customers without the overhead of a physical dining space. Beyond exposure, Grubhub also helps operators run efficiently.

Ghost kitchens can use the Grubhub app to manage orders, control costs, and maintain steady sales. Grubhub also offers various services that simplify operations and strengthen your digital presence, helping you stay visible and competitive in the crowded food delivery space.

If you’re ready to take that success further, the next step is connecting your ordering, loyalty, and marketing efforts into a single, intelligent system. That’s where Paytronix comes in, helping you build loyalty programs, unify data, and deliver seamless customer experiences across every channel. 

Want to learn more? Schedule a free demo to see how Paytronix can help you turn your digital touchpoints into lasting guest relationships.