The verdict in three sentences
Delivery aggregators (Glovo, Yango and others) bring visibility but take 20 to 35 % commission on every order, eroding your margin on every plate sold. An in-house ordering app is a one-time investment of 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA, plus about 1 % in payment fees, and it's yours forever. Over 12 months and from ~400 orders/month, the in-house app costs less than cumulative commissions — and its loyalty program lifts visit frequency by about 25 %.
In-house app vs aggregator: the 12-month math
The aggregator trap is that it looks free to set up. But the commission bites every order, forever. The in-house app amortizes, then costs almost nothing.
| 2026 line item | Aggregator (Glovo/Yango) | In-house app |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | 0 FCFA | 1,500,000 – 3,000,000 FCFA |
| Commission / order | 20 – 35 % | ~1 % (Wave) |
| Average restaurant ticket | 3,500 – 8,000 FCFA | 3,500 – 8,000 FCFA |
| Customer data | Not shared | Owned |
| Loyalty program | No | Yes (+25 % frequency) |
| 12-month cost (500 orders/mo) | ~9,000,000 FCFA | ~2,200,000 FCFA |
| Ownership of the tool | Rented | Permanent |
On an average ticket of 5,000 FCFA and 500 orders/month, a 30 % commission costs 750,000 FCFA/month, i.e. 9,000,000 FCFA/year. The in-house app pays once, then only takes the 1 % Wave fee — the gap easily funds acquiring your own customers.
The loyalty program that pays for the app
The in-house app doesn't just save commission: it turns occasional customers into regulars through built-in loyalty. Here's the quantified effect.
| Loyalty lever | Effect on frequency | Effect on ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Points card (1 free meal / 10) | +20 – 25 % | Neutral |
| Birthday offer | +5 – 8 % | +10 % |
| Targeted push notifications | +12 – 18 % | +5 % |
| Pre-order + pickup slot | +8 – 12 % | +7 % |
| One-tap Wave/MoMo payment | Reduces abandonment | +6 % |
A customer who visited twice a month and moves to 2.5 times thanks to loyalty, on a 5,000 FCFA ticket, generates 2,500 FCFA more per month. Multiplied by a few hundred customers, the program pays for the app on its own.
Mini case study
Kofi runs an eatery in Accra, average ticket 5,000 FCFA, 450 online orders/month. Via a 30 % aggregator he gives up 1,500 FCFA per order, i.e. 675,000 FCFA/month in commissions — 8,100,000 FCFA/year. He invests 2,400,000 FCFA in an in-house app with loyalty and Wave payment. From month one he pays only ~1 % (67,500 FCFA). Break-even reached in under 4 months of saved commissions. Bonus: the points card lifts frequency by 25 %, adding ~110 orders/month — about ~550,000 FCFA of extra monthly revenue, this time commission-free.
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FAQ
At what order volume does the in-house app become profitable?
From around 400 orders/month at a 5,000 FCFA ticket, an aggregator's annual commissions exceed the app's cost. Below that, an aggregator can still make sense to get started.
How much does a restaurant ordering app cost in 2026?
Expect 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 FCFA depending on features: dynamic menu, Wave/mobile money payment, loyalty, push notifications, pre-order and pickup slots.
Does the loyalty program really work?
Yes: a well-designed points card lifts visit frequency by 20 to 25 %. The real gain is the customer data, which lets you re-engage without an intermediary or commission.
Should I abandon aggregators entirely?
Not necessarily. Many restaurateurs keep the aggregator to capture new customers, then migrate them to the in-house app with an offer — exactly like the hybrid marketplace strategy.
Is mobile money payment essential?
Yes. One-tap Wave and mobile money reduce order abandonment and speed up collection. In Accra and Lomé mobile payment has become the standard customers expect.
Let's talk about your project. We build your ordering app with loyalty and Wave/mobile money payment so you stop paying 30 % commission. 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.
