Adding delivery to your restaurant is one of the smartest moves you can make in 2026. The food delivery market continues to grow, and customers increasingly expect the option to order from home. Whether you set up your own delivery service or partner with platforms like DoorDash and UberEats, the right setup starts with the right POS system and payment processing.
Step 1: Get a Restaurant POS That Supports Delivery
Your point of sale system is the foundation of delivery operations. You need a POS that handles in-house orders, online orders, and delivery tracking in one place.
What to look for:
- Online ordering integration (built-in or through DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub)
- Kitchen display system (KDS) to manage order flow
- Separate order queues for dine-in vs delivery
- Real-time reporting on delivery orders vs in-house
- Mobile payment acceptance for drivers
AGMS recommendation: Quantic POS handles all of this — online ordering, kitchen displays, delivery management, and table service — all with AGMS processing for lower rates than Toast or Square. Get started →
Step 2: Choose Your Delivery Model
Option A: Third-Party Delivery (DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub)
Pros: Instant access to a large customer base, no driver management, fast setup.
Cons: High commission fees (15-30% per order), less control over customer experience, delayed payments.
Option B: In-House Delivery
Pros: No commission fees, full control over quality and timing, direct customer relationship, keep 100% of the order value.
Cons: Need to hire and manage drivers, insurance costs, delivery logistics.
Option C: Hybrid Approach (Recommended)
Most successful restaurants use both. Third-party apps bring discovery and new customers. Your own delivery service handles repeat customers at higher margins. Use your POS to manage both channels from one dashboard.
Step 3: Set Up Payment Processing for Delivery
Delivery payments need to be seamless — for both online orders and at-the-door payments.
- Online payments: Your POS or website should accept credit cards through a secure gateway. AGMS provides NMI and Authorize.net gateway integration for online checkout.
- At-the-door payments: Equip drivers with a mobile card reader. SwipeSimple ($10/month) is perfect — compact Bluetooth reader, accepts chip, tap, and swipe payments from any phone.
- Contactless payments: Customers expect tap-to-pay. Make sure your setup supports Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Step 4: Optimize Your Menu for Delivery
Not every menu item travels well. Create a delivery-specific menu that focuses on:
- Items that hold temperature and presentation during transport
- Dishes that are easy to package without spilling
- Popular items with good margins
- Combo meals and bundles (higher average order value)
Upload your delivery menu through your POS for easy management and online ordering integration.
Step 5: Invest in Proper Packaging
Your packaging is the first impression for delivery customers. Invest in:
- Temperature-controlled containers (insulated bags, heat-sealed packaging)
- Branded packaging with your logo and contact info
- Tamper-evident seals for customer confidence
- Eco-friendly materials (customers notice and appreciate this)
Step 6: Train Your Team
Delivery adds complexity to kitchen operations. Make sure your staff is trained on:
- Managing separate order queues (dine-in vs delivery)
- Using the kitchen display system for delivery orders
- Packaging standards and quality checks
- Using mobile payment devices (if doing in-house delivery)
- Handling customer complaints and refunds
What You Need to Get Started
- Restaurant POS: Quantic POS through AGMS (online ordering + KDS + delivery management)
- Payment processing: AGMS merchant account with competitive rates
- Mobile payments for drivers: SwipeSimple ($10/month)
- Online payment gateway: NMI or Authorize.net through AGMS
- Delivery packaging: Branded, temperature-controlled containers
Contact AGMS to set up your delivery payment system →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to add delivery to a restaurant?
With AGMS, you can start with a Quantic POS (custom pricing) and SwipeSimple for drivers ($10/month). Third-party platforms like DoorDash charge 15-30% commission per order. In-house delivery costs more upfront but is cheaper long-term.
What is the best POS system for restaurant delivery?
Quantic POS through AGMS offers online ordering, kitchen displays, and delivery management — similar to Toast but without the $69-165/month fees or 2-year contracts.
Can delivery drivers accept credit cards?
Yes. Equip drivers with a SwipeSimple Bluetooth reader. It connects to any iPhone or Android and accepts chip, tap, and swipe payments for just $10/month.
Should I use DoorDash or my own delivery service?
Both. Use DoorDash/UberEats for discovery and new customers (expect 15-30% commission). Build your own delivery for repeat customers to keep 100% of the order value.