The verdict in three sentences
A restaurant selling only through aggregator apps hands over 20-30% commission on every order. A direct-order site with menu, cart and mobile-money checkout keeps that margin and builds a direct customer relationship. 2026 budget: 500,000-1,000,000 FCFA, live in 10-20 days.
Aggregator vs direct site: what commission costs you
Aggregators bring visibility, but their commission eats an already thin restaurant margin. A direct site pays off on every repeat order.
| Element | Aggregator only | Direct-order site |
|---|---|---|
| Setup price | 0 | 500,000 - 1,000,000 FCFA |
| Commission per order | 20 - 30% | 0% (mobile-money fee ~1.5%) |
| Menu and cart | Standardized | Custom |
| Delivery zones and fees | Imposed | You configure them |
| Mobile-money payment | Indirect | Paystack/MoMo direct |
| Customer data | Not accessible | Yours |
| WhatsApp confirmation | No | Yes, built-in |
| Site delivery time | — | 10 - 20 days |
The commission savings in numbers
At steady volume, avoided commission funds the site in weeks. 2026 order of magnitude for a Lagos restaurant with 600 orders/month at 9,000 FCFA.
| Indicator | Aggregator (25%) | Direct site |
|---|---|---|
| Orders/month | 600 | 600 |
| Average basket | 9,000 FCFA | 9,000 FCFA |
| Revenue | 5,400,000 FCFA | 5,400,000 FCFA |
| Commission/fees taken | 1,350,000 FCFA | ~81,000 FCFA |
| Extra margin kept | — | ~1,269,000 FCFA/month |
| Payback on an 800k site | — | < 1 month |
Mini case study
Mr. Okafor runs an eatery in Lagos and did 40% of his orders through a 25%-commission app. On 240 monthly aggregator orders at 9,000 FCFA, he gave up 540,000 FCFA/month. With an 800,000 FCFA site featuring menu, cart and MoMo/Paystack payment, he shifted half of those customers to direct ordering and recovers about 270,000 FCFA/month in margin from month one, while keeping his loyal customers' contact details.
FAQ
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How much does a restaurant site with online ordering cost in 2026?
Between 500,000 and 1,000,000 FCFA depending on menu size and delivery options. The cart module and mobile-money payment are the core of the project.
What commission do I pay on a direct site?
No aggregator commission: only mobile-money fees, around 1.5% in 2026, versus 20-30% on delivery apps.
Can I configure my delivery zones and fees?
Yes. You set your zones, fees and hours, where aggregators impose their rules and commissions.
How does the customer confirm the order?
After mobile-money payment, an automatic confirmation goes out by WhatsApp, reassuring the customer and reducing order errors.
How fast is the site ready?
From 10 to 20 days, depending on menu size and the availability of dish photos.
Let's talk about your project. We build a direct-order site that gives back the margin you hand to aggregators. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
