Delivery apps charge 25–35% commission per order. WhatsApp charges zero. If you run a restaurant, taqueria, cafe, or dark kitchen, WhatsApp can be your most profitable ordering channel — and setting it up takes less than an hour. Here’s the full system, from the QR code on the table to the link in your Instagram bio.
Why WhatsApp works so well for restaurants
- Zero commissions: the full order margin is yours.
- Customers already have it: no app download, no account to create.
- You own the contact: unlike delivery apps, you can reach out with promotions directly (with their permission).
- Conversation, not a form: “no onions on the burger?” gets sorted out in seconds.
Step 1: create your ordering link
Generate a WhatsApp link with a pre-filled message that does the work for the customer, like: “Hi, I’d like to place an order 🍔”. With the free walinks generator you’ll have it in a minute, complete with a short wha.mx link and QR code.
Tip: create a separate link for each channel — one for the table QR codes, another for Instagram, another for the delivery flyer. When the pre-filled message says “saw your menu on Instagram,” you instantly know which channel is driving sales.
Step 2: QR codes on tables, the counter, and packaging
Print the WhatsApp QR code wherever your customers are already looking: the table stand (“Scan to order without waiting for your server”), the delivery bag (“Everything good with your order? Message us”), and the counter (“Order here for pickup”).
Step 3: one destination for all your social channels
Instagram and TikTok bios only fit one link. If you have multiple locations, or want to separate orders from reservations, a Multilink page solves it: a single URL with buttons for “Downtown Orders,” “North Branch Orders,” “Reservations,” and “Billing,” each one opening the right WhatsApp number.
Step 4: make sure no message goes unanswered
During peak hours, a single phone answering orders becomes a bottleneck. With a team link, the same link routes incoming chats across several numbers — cashier, manager, second shift — automatically and in rotation.
Message templates that save time
Set up quick replies in WhatsApp Business for 90% of cases:
- Menu: “Hi there! 👋 Here’s today’s menu: [link or PDF]. What can we get started for you?”
- Confirmation: “Confirmed ✅ Your order will be ready in 25 min. Total: $___. Cash or card?”
- After hours: “Thanks for reaching out 🌙 We open tomorrow at 1 pm. Leave your order and it’ll be first out the door.”
Measure which channel actually feeds you
If every channel has its own link, walinks analytics shows you how many clicks come from the table QR codes vs. Instagram vs. the flyer. Stop guessing where to advertise — let the numbers tell you.