Swiggy & Zomato Commission & Savings Calculator

How Food Aggregator Commissions Work in India

Online food ordering in India through platforms like Swiggy and Zomato has expanded discovery for restaurants, but the cost of sales has skyrocketed. Many first-time cloud kitchen founders calculate profit assuming only a 20% commission, but forget that aggregator deductions stack up:

The 4 Layers of Aggregator Deductions

1. Base Commission (18% to 28%): Calculated on the subtotal value before customer discounts.
2. 18% GST on Commission: Aggregators are legally required to charge 18% Goods and Services Tax on the commission fee they earn from your kitchen.
3. Payment Gateway Charges (1.5% to 2%): Online payments made through cards, net banking, or wallets incur processing fees.
4. Mandatory Discount Participation: Aggregators often demand 30% to 50% discount offers (e.g. "FLAT ₹125 OFF") that are funded partially or completely out of the restaurant's pocket.

The Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) WhatsApp Strategy

Successful Indian cloud kitchens like Behrouz and thousands of independent home chefs do not leave aggregators completely — instead, they run a two-step funnel:

• Step 1 (Acquire): Let new customers find you on Swiggy/Zomato.
• Step 2 (Retain Direct): Place a stylish flyer or QR card inside the delivery box offering 10% off their next order when ordering directly through your restope.in/yourname WhatsApp link.

Because you avoid paying 25% aggregator commission on all subsequent orders, offering a 10% direct discount still leaves you with 15% higher profit on every plate!

Frequently Asked Questions