Ideas for independent food businesses.
Practical guides and product news on running direct ordering without the commission.
Who should have access to your café's portal
As soon as you have a manager or a part-time helper, you will want them to help without handing over everything. Here is how to share access safely.
Update your whole menu at once with a spreadsheet
Typing in forty items one at a time is slow. A spreadsheet upload lets you add or change a whole menu in a few minutes.
How to move your regulars from delivery apps to your own site
You do not have to leave the apps to build direct orders. You just have to make your own site easy to find, and worth the switch.
What a kitchen display changes during the lunch rush
Paper tickets get lost, smudged and misread. A screen that shows every order in one place keeps the rush calmer. Here is what to expect.
How to photograph your menu with just a phone
Good food photos sell. You do not need a studio or a photographer, just window light, a clean plate and about ten minutes.
How to show allergens on your online menu
Customers with allergies check before they order, so a clear label is part of good service. Here is how to set it up and keep it accurate.
Why ordering direct beats delivery-app fees
Delivery apps bring customers, but they also keep a share of every order. Here is how to keep more of what you sell without losing the apps.
Set up online ordering for your café in an afternoon
A step-by-step plan for going from no website to taking your first online order, without hiring anyone.
Five small menu tweaks that make online ordering easier
You do not need a new menu to get more online orders. These five changes make the one you have easier to choose from.
Direct-order discounts without training customers to wait for deals
A discount on your own website can win customers from the apps. Used carelessly, it teaches everyone to wait for the next code. Here is a calmer way.
A simple loyalty stamp card that brings people back
You do not need an app or a complicated points system. A clear stamp card, set up once, gives regulars a reason to order again.
Pickup and delivery times that actually work in your kitchen
Online orders go wrong when the promised time does not match what your team can do. Here is how to set your hours and prep times so they do.
How to get your café found on Google
Most people look a café up on their phone before they walk in. These are the basics that help yours show up, and look trustworthy once it does.