Guides for selling food online
Practical, no-fluff answers for cook-to-demand food sellers — pre-orders, drops, pricing, tools, and getting started.
Getting started
How to sell food from home
Decide what to sell, check local rules, price it, and take paid pre-orders.
Read →How to start a meal prep business
Weekly menu, a cutoff, recurring pre-orders, and cook-to-count batching.
Read →Online ordering for food trucks
Pre-sell for events, cap the batch, and hand off fast at the window.
Read →How to sell plates online
Open a capped drop, take payment up front, cook to the sheet.
Read →Do I need a license to sell food?
A region-aware overview — then confirm the specifics locally.
Read →How much can you make selling food from home?
Honest ranges, the three levers, and a worked weekly example.
Read →How to run a food pop-up
Fixed menu, capped covers, paid pre-orders, and cook-to-count prep.
Read →Pre-orders
How do I know how much food to make?
The core method: take pre-orders to a cutoff, cook the exact count.
Read →How to sell food before you cook it
Get paid up front, cook to the count, run a real business.
Read →How to stop over-preparing and wasting food
Cook-to-demand: make only what's sold, from a production sheet.
Read →How to take pre-orders for food
Open a window, take paid orders, close at a cutoff, cook to count.
Read →What is a food 'drop' and how does it work?
A limited-time pre-order menu with a cutoff and a batch cap.
Read →How to cap orders and sell a limited batch
Set a capacity, show 'X left', and auto-close when sold out.
Read →How to set an order cutoff or deadline
Pick open, cutoff, and fulfilment times so you cook to a firm count.
Read →Taking orders
How to accept online payments for food orders
Get paid up front — cards via Stripe, local rails like CXPay.
Read →How to avoid DoorDash and marketplace commission
Your own commission-free storefront keeps 100% of the order.
Read →How to stop taking orders in Instagram/WhatsApp DMs
Swap buried DMs for one link that collects paid, counted orders.
Read →Take food orders online without a website
A branded ordering link in minutes — no site build required.
Read →How to offer local delivery for a food business
Delivery zones and fees you control — no marketplace cut.
Read →How to set up pickup ordering and time slots
Scheduled windows, slot caps, and quick QR check-in.
Read →How to take orders for a specific day or date
Date-based drops for weekends, holidays, and events.
Read →Kitchen ops
How to print order tickets in the kitchen
Turn online orders into printed kitchen tickets — no full POS.
Read →Order screen for a small restaurant or takeout
A lightweight tap-through order queue — not a full POS.
Read →How to handle an order rush at cutoff
A batch cap and live sold-out tame a cutoff surge.
Read →How to label and organise food orders for pickup
Per-order labels with name, items, slot, and QR.
Read →GloriaFood
GloriaFood alternative: the best replacement before it shuts down
GloriaFood shuts down April 30, 2027 — here's where to move.
Read →Can I export my data from GloriaFood?
No export exists — rebuild your menu on a new platform.
Read →Free GloriaFood alternative
Free Starter plan, commission-free — keep GloriaFood's best trait.
Read →GloriaFood alternative for restaurants & takeout
Keep commission-free ordering, add a kitchen order screen + tickets.
Read →How to migrate from GloriaFood
A 3-step move: hand over the menu, rebuild, connect payments.
Read →Is GloriaFood shutting down? When?
Yes — Oracle retires GloriaFood on April 30, 2027, with no export.
Read →Pricing
Commission-free online ordering, explained
0% per-order cut — keep the full value of every order.
Read →How much does online ordering cost for a small restaurant?
Three cost models compared — commission-free usually wins.
Read →Cheapest way to take food orders online
Free + commission-free = cheapest at small-seller volume.
Read →Comparisons
PlateTicket vs GloriaFood
GloriaFood is shutting down — upgrade, don't just replace.
Read →PlateTicket vs ChowNow
Flat-fee standing menus vs free pre-order drops.
Read →PlateTicket vs DoorDash
0% commission and you own the customer vs a 15–30% cut.
Read →PlateTicket vs Square Online
Great free site vs cook-to-demand drops + production.
Read →PlateTicket vs Homegrown
Simple solo tool vs pre-order depth for growing sellers.
Read →PlateTicket vs Owner.com
All-in-one restaurant site vs pre-order production planning.
Read →PlateTicket vs Toast
Lightweight order terminal + pre-order vs a full restaurant POS.
Read →PlateTicket vs Castiron
Artisan storefront vs on-demand + production + kitchen terminal.
Read →Best of
Best commission-free online ordering systems (2026)
Keep 100% of the order — the top commission-free tools compared.
Read →Best GloriaFood alternatives (2026)
Ranked GloriaFood replacements for every seller model.
Read →Best online ordering for Caribbean food businesses (2026)
Local card rails, WhatsApp links, pickup/delivery — 0% commission.
Read →Best online ordering for food trucks (2026)
Pre-sell, cap the batch, hand off fast — commission-free.
Read →Best pre-order app for meal prep sellers (2026)
Recurring drops, exact portion counts, and packing labels.
Read →Product
How does PlateTicket work?
Drops, an automatic production sheet, pickup/delivery, and on-demand.
Read →Do I keep my customers and data?
Yes — your storefront, your customers, no marketplace in between.
Read →How long does it take to set up?
Same-day: add a menu, take orders, add a drop — no hardware.
Read →What payment methods are supported?
Cards via Stripe (US/global), CXPay (Caribbean), and cash at pickup.
Read →What devices and printers work?
Any browser, optional Android terminal + receipt/label printer.
Read →Caribbean
Online food ordering in Sint Maarten
CXPay cards, WhatsApp-friendly link, pickup or delivery in SXM.
Read →Online ordering for Caribbean food businesses
Local card rails, WhatsApp links, pickup/delivery — commission-free.
Read →How Caribbean food sellers can take card payments
CXPay locally, Stripe for international sellers, cash at pickup.
Read →Selling food in Sint Maarten: getting started
Region-aware getting-started — check local rules, then sell.
Read →Local
Online ordering for Bakeries in Aruba
Commission-free online ordering for bakeries in Aruba.
Read →Online ordering for Bakeries in Curaçao
Commission-free online ordering for bakeries in Curaçao.
Read →Online ordering for Bakeries in Sint Maarten
Commission-free online ordering for bakeries in Sint Maarten.
Read →Online ordering for Bakeries in the Caribbean
Commission-free online ordering for bakeries in the Caribbean.
Read →Online ordering for Caterers in Aruba
Commission-free online ordering for caterers in Aruba.
Read →Online ordering for Caterers in Curaçao
Commission-free online ordering for caterers in Curaçao.
Read →Online ordering for Caterers in Sint Maarten
Commission-free online ordering for caterers in Sint Maarten.
Read →Online ordering for Caterers in the Caribbean
Commission-free online ordering for caterers in the Caribbean.
Read →Online ordering for Cloud kitchens in Aruba
Commission-free online ordering for cloud kitchens in Aruba.
Read →Online ordering for Cloud kitchens in Curaçao
Commission-free online ordering for cloud kitchens in Curaçao.
Read →Online ordering for Cloud kitchens in Sint Maarten
Commission-free online ordering for cloud kitchens in Sint Maarten.
Read →Online ordering for Cloud kitchens in the Caribbean
Commission-free online ordering for cloud kitchens in the Caribbean.
Read →Online ordering for Food trucks in Aruba
Commission-free online ordering for food trucks in Aruba.
Read →Online ordering for Food trucks in Curaçao
Commission-free online ordering for food trucks in Curaçao.
Read →Online ordering for Food trucks in Sint Maarten
Commission-free online ordering for food trucks in Sint Maarten.
Read →Online ordering for Food trucks in the Caribbean
Commission-free online ordering for food trucks in the Caribbean.
Read →Online ordering for Home cooks in Aruba
Commission-free online ordering for home cooks in Aruba.
Read →Online ordering for Home cooks in Curaçao
Commission-free online ordering for home cooks in Curaçao.
Read →Online ordering for Home cooks in Sint Maarten
Commission-free online ordering for home cooks in Sint Maarten.
Read →Online ordering for Home cooks in the Caribbean
Commission-free online ordering for home cooks in the Caribbean.
Read →Online ordering for Meal-prep businesses in Aruba
Commission-free online ordering for meal-prep businesses in Aruba.
Read →Online ordering for Meal-prep businesses in Curaçao
Commission-free online ordering for meal-prep businesses in Curaçao.
Read →Online ordering for Meal-prep businesses in Sint Maarten
Commission-free online ordering for meal-prep businesses in Sint Maarten.
Read →Online ordering for Meal-prep businesses in the Caribbean
Commission-free online ordering for meal-prep businesses in the Caribbean.
Read →Online ordering for Plate-sale sellers in Aruba
Commission-free online ordering for plate-sale sellers in Aruba.
Read →Online ordering for Plate-sale sellers in Curaçao
Commission-free online ordering for plate-sale sellers in Curaçao.
Read →Online ordering for Plate-sale sellers in Sint Maarten
Commission-free online ordering for plate-sale sellers in Sint Maarten.
Read →Online ordering for Plate-sale sellers in the Caribbean
Commission-free online ordering for plate-sale sellers in the Caribbean.
Read →Online ordering for Pop-ups in Aruba
Commission-free online ordering for pop-ups in Aruba.
Read →Online ordering for Pop-ups in Curaçao
Commission-free online ordering for pop-ups in Curaçao.
Read →Online ordering for Pop-ups in Sint Maarten
Commission-free online ordering for pop-ups in Sint Maarten.
Read →Online ordering for Pop-ups in the Caribbean
Commission-free online ordering for pop-ups in the Caribbean.
Read →Use cases
Pre-order system for Bakeries
Open a window, take paid orders, cook to count — for bakeries.
Read →Pre-order system for Caterers
Open a window, take paid orders, cook to count — for caterers.
Read →Pre-order system for Cloud kitchens
Open a window, take paid orders, cook to count — for cloud kitchens.
Read →Pre-order system for Food trucks
Open a window, take paid orders, cook to count — for food trucks.
Read →Pre-order system for Home cooks
Open a window, take paid orders, cook to count — for home cooks.
Read →Pre-order system for Meal-prep businesses
Open a window, take paid orders, cook to count — for meal-prep businesses.
Read →Pre-order system for Plate-sale sellers
Open a window, take paid orders, cook to count — for plate-sale sellers.
Read →Pre-order system for Pop-ups
Open a window, take paid orders, cook to count — for pop-ups.
Read →