{"id":38128,"date":"2026-11-06T07:07:42","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T20:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nowbookit.com\/uncategorized-en-au\/how-to-cut-commission-fees-a-restaurants-guide-to-owning-direct-bookings\/"},"modified":"2026-11-06T07:07:44","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T20:07:44","slug":"how-to-cut-commission-fees-a-restaurants-guide-to-owning-direct-bookings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nowbookit.com\/en-us\/hospitality\/how-to-cut-commission-fees-a-restaurants-guide-to-owning-direct-bookings\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Cut Commission Fees: A Restaurant’s Guide To Owning Direct Bookings"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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If you\u2019ve ever sat down and actually added up your restaurant\u2019s booking commissions, you\u2019ll know how quickly they can add up. A booking might seem \u201cfree\u201d at first, but then you look closer and realise you\u2019re giving away a percentage of the bill, a fee per cover, or a charge on every booking. Across a busy Friday or Saturday night, that can become a pretty big number.<\/span><\/p>

That\u2019s the trade-off with marketplace-style platforms. They bring diners through the door, but they also take a cut from every booking, even when that guest comes back.<\/span><\/p>

In this guide, we\u2019ll break down what those commissions can cost over a year, why direct bookings can be more sustainable, and how Australian venues are moving away from marketplace platforms without losing bookings.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why restaurant commission fees add up faster than owners expect\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Commission-based booking platforms are built on a simple mechanic: they charge a fee per cover, per booking, or per transaction, and that fee applies whether the diner is a first-time visitor or someone who’s eaten at your venue every month for three years.<\/span><\/p>

That\u2019s the core problem. A loyal regular should cost you less to serve over time, not the same fee, forever. And repeat customers matter: Australians spend <\/span>73%<\/span><\/a> of their monthly dining budget at neighbourhood venues, showing just how valuable local, repeat business can be. <\/span><\/p>

Commission-based platforms don\u2019t differentiate between a brand-new lead and your best customer and you pay the toll every time.<\/span><\/p>

Run the numbers on a mid-sized venue doing 150 covers a week through a commission platform, and the annual fee total is often equivalent to a full-time staff member’s wage for a service that, once the guest is in your system, you no longer need.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The hidden cost: it's not just the fee\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Commission isn’t the only cost. Marketplace-style platforms also tend to:<\/span><\/p>