Consolidating delivery channels can make orders easier to manage, but it does not automatically replace your marketplace contracts, remove their fees or settle who fixes a failed order. Before signing a restaurant delivery integration contract, map the full order path and price the software separately from the costs of selling and delivering food.
Ask each provider for a written quote and a demonstration using your actual locations, channels and POS. Then compare what staff can do in the connected system, what still requires a marketplace account, and what happens when a connection fails.
Separate every charge by location and channel
Start with a list of the locations you want connected. For each one, record its POS, delivery channels, existing tablets and the people who manage those accounts. A chain with three locations may have three different account setups, even when the menu looks identical.
Ask for a quote that separates these items rather than grouping them into one monthly number:
- Subscription: the base software charge and what it includes.
- Location charges: the amount for each restaurant, including any minimum location count.
- Onboarding: setup, menu mapping, training and any charges for changes after launch.
- Integration: charges for connecting a POS, a delivery channel or an additional account.
- Other recurring costs: equipment, support tiers or optional services shown separately.
Also ask when billing starts, whether the quote is introductory, and what happens to the price when you add or close a location. A low base subscription can look attractive until setup and connection charges are added.
Keep marketplace commissions, payment processing and delivery or dispatch charges in their own rows. They are not automatically included in an aggregator quote, and consolidation alone does not make them disappear. Ask which company bills each charge and whether the contract changes any existing marketplace agreement. Sales are revenue, not a software fee; deposits are amounts held or collected under particular terms, not payment-processing fees. Do not combine them in a single cost line.
For context when comparing a Fleksa quote, its plans page, checked in November 2026, states that the integration pass is included in Fix. Ask for a written quote for your locations and connections, including any setup or other charges.
Pin down the connections and the exit terms
A channel name on an integration list is a starting point, not a complete scope of work. Ask the provider to identify the exact marketplace account, restaurant location and POS combination in your quote. Review restaurant integrations with that list in hand, and distinguish a live connection from one offered on request.
For each combination, ask what happens to a new order, modifiers, totals, acceptance, printing and the kitchen ticket. Which actions can staff take in the aggregator or POS, and which still require the marketplace tablet or portal? Ask separately about menu updates, item availability, cancellations and refunds. Do not treat a demonstration of one action as proof that every action is connected.
For example, if you use Uber Eats, bring your location and POS details when discussing an Uber Eats integration. Ask the provider to show the order path for that setup and identify any steps your team must perform manually. If a connection is on request, ask for a delivery date and any conditions in writing before relying on it.
Contract timing deserves the same attention. Ask for the initial term, renewal date, notice deadline and the method required to cancel. Find out whether removing one channel or closing one location changes the fee or creates an early termination charge. If a marketplace or POS connection becomes unavailable, ask what options you have and whether the subscription continues unchanged.
Put those dates and obligations on an internal calendar. If a provision is unclear, request a written answer; ask a qualified adviser to review contract treatment when needed. A salesperson's verbal description is not a substitute for knowing what the agreement requires.
Agree on ownership, support and a safe acceptance check
Confirm who controls each marketplace login and who can add or remove users. Ask whether the restaurant keeps its existing accounts when the aggregation agreement ends, and what the provider needs access to during setup. Keep an owner-controlled administrator and a record of access permissions rather than relying on a single employee's login.
Next, ask what you can export during the contract and after cancellation. Request a sample export showing available order fields, the file format, any fee and the deadline for obtaining it. Also ask whether menus, configuration records and order history can be retrieved separately. Do not assume that access to a dashboard means you can take every record with you.
Support boundaries matter most during a busy shift. Ask which team is responsible when an order appears in the marketplace but not in the POS, when a modifier is missing, or when a ticket does not print. Get the support hours, contact method, escalation path and expected response commitments in writing. Decide who on your staff will check the marketplace directly and how the kitchen will receive the order while a problem is investigated.
Use a simulated or sandbox check before live service. Agree with the provider on a safe environment that cannot trigger a real card payment, guest message or courier dispatch. Assign a unique test identifier, then match one source order to its POS and kitchen result. Check the items, modifiers and totals, and try exception handling the provider says it supports. Record the expected and observed results without private customer data.
A simulation is not a live service pilot. If you later arrange a pilot, agree separately on its scope, controls and staff responsibilities. A scenario the provider explicitly does not support is a documented limitation, not a failed promise. Decide whether the remaining manual work is acceptable before signing.
Compare two quotes with an ownership worksheet
Hypothetical example: A restaurant operator wants to connect two locations, each using the same POS and two delivery channels. The operator receives two invented quotes for a 12-month term. Both quotes cover the same stated connection scope; neither includes marketplace, payment-processing, delivery or dispatch charges. The figures below illustrate quote comparison, not Fleksa pricing.
Quote A charges $120 a month for the subscription, $30 a month per location, and $240 once for onboarding and integrations. Its first-year software total is $2,400: 12 × ($120 + $60) + $240. Quote B charges $90 a month for the subscription, $50 a month per location, and $120 once for onboarding and integrations. Its first-year software total is $2,400: 12 × ($90 + $100) + $120.
The equal totals do not make the offers equivalent. The worksheet gives the operator a way to compare scope and assign the open questions before choosing. Owners shown are restaurant roles; the vendor must provide the answers.
| Decision item | Quote A | Quote B | Owner and next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-year quoted software | $2,400 | $2,400 | Owner: confirm written charges and billing dates. |
| Channel and POS scope | Two locations and two channels stated | Same stated scope | Operations lead: verify each exact connection and manual step. |
| Marketplace and other transaction costs | Excluded | Excluded | Bookkeeper: list separate bills; do not count sales as fees. |
| Cancellation and exports | Terms to confirm | Terms to confirm | Owner: obtain notice dates, export format and any exit charges. |
| Failed-order response | Support boundary to confirm | Support boundary to confirm | Shift lead: agree on escalation and a manual fallback. |
The first-year total includes only the subscription, location charges and one-time onboarding and integration charges stated in the example. It excludes marketplace commissions, payment processing, delivery or dispatch, equipment and any other charges not specified. The operator should add applicable quoted costs before comparing a broader operating total. If those amounts differ between offers, equal software totals may lead to different overall costs.
Close the worksheet with a decision rule. For example: select an offer only after both locations' required connections are demonstrated or otherwise confirmed in writing, the fallback is workable, and the owner has accepted the renewal and exit terms. If an answer remains open, assign a deadline and decide whether to delay signing. For a broader view of consolidation choices, see the related buying guide.
Bring your channel list and test cases to a Fleksa demo. Discuss how they would connect with your restaurant POS system, and confirm availability for each restaurant location before making a decision.
Frequently asked questions
Does an aggregator replace marketplace contracts?
Do not assume it does. Ask which marketplace agreements remain in place, who controls the accounts and which company bills each fee.
What should a delivery integration quote include?
It should identify locations, channels and POS connections, plus recurring subscription and location charges, one-time setup costs, and any excluded services or fees.
How can I check an order flow without affecting guests?
Agree on a simulated or sandbox check that cannot trigger a real payment, guest message or courier dispatch. Match a uniquely identified source order to the POS and kitchen result, including modifiers and totals.
