SkipTheDishes is Canada’s largest homegrown delivery platform, operating across every province and serving thousands of restaurant partners. Owned by Just Eat Takeaway, Skip has built a dominant position in the Canadian market, particularly in mid-sized cities where competitors like Uber Eats and DoorDash have less coverage. For restaurant operators, understanding the complete SkipTheDishes fee structure is essential because the effective cost per order is typically higher than the headline commission rate suggests.
Like other delivery platforms, SkipTheDishes charges restaurants a combination of base commissions, payment processing fees, marketing premiums, and refund adjustments. Each charge appears as a separate deduction before your payout is issued. This guide breaks down every fee category and shows you how to calculate the true cost of operating on SkipTheDishes.
What SkipTheDishes Charges Restaurants
SkipTheDishes applies multiple fee categories to restaurant orders. The following table shows every charge that can appear on your SkipTheDishes payout statement:
| Fee Type | Typical Range | Applied To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Commission | 20% – 30% | Order subtotal | Standard delivery order commission |
| Pickup Commission | 10% – 15% | Order subtotal | Lower rate for customer pickup orders |
| Payment Processing | 2.5% – 3.0% | Total transaction | Credit/debit card processing fee |
| Marketing Fees | Variable | Per campaign | Promoted placement, sponsored listings |
| Refund Deductions | Variable | Per refunded order | Customer refunds charged back to restaurant |
| Skip Network Fee | Variable | Per delivery order | Covers Skip’s courier logistics network |
| Error Adjustments | Variable | Retroactive | Corrections to prior payout periods |
| Tablet Fee | $5 – $8/week | Flat rate | If using Skip-provided order tablet |
SkipTheDishes Commission Structure
SkipTheDishes uses a commission model that varies based on the services the restaurant uses. The primary factor is whether the restaurant uses Skip’s delivery network or handles deliveries independently:
| Service Level | Commission Rate | Delivery By | Marketplace Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Service | 25% – 30% | Skip couriers | Full marketplace placement |
| Self-Delivery | 20% – 25% | Restaurant drivers | Full marketplace placement |
| Pickup Only | 10% – 15% | Customer pickup | Listed with pickup badge |
Full Service (25–30%): The most common arrangement. SkipTheDishes handles all delivery logistics through its courier network. The higher commission covers marketplace listing, order processing, customer support, and delivery fulfillment. Most independent restaurants use this model because building a delivery operation is expensive and complex.
Self-Delivery (20–25%): Restaurants that maintain their own delivery fleet can list on SkipTheDishes at a lower commission. Skip handles the marketplace listing and customer payments, but the restaurant manages delivery logistics. This option is primarily used by restaurants with existing delivery infrastructure, such as pizza chains.
Pickup Only (10–15%): The lowest commission tier because Skip provides no delivery service. The restaurant is listed in the marketplace for customer pickup orders only. This is economical but limits order volume since many customers specifically search for delivery.
Key takeaway: SkipTheDishes’ commission varies significantly based on delivery model. Self-delivery can save 5–10 percentage points per order compared to full service, but only if your existing delivery operation can handle the volume. Always compare total cost including your own driver expenses before assuming self-delivery is cheaper.
SkipTheDishes Marketing and Promotional Fees
SkipTheDishes offers restaurant partners several marketing programs that increase visibility on the platform. Unlike the base commission, marketing fees are optional but can significantly impact your effective cost per order:
Promoted placement. Restaurants can pay for higher positioning in SkipTheDishes search results and category listings. Promoted restaurants appear above organic results, increasing click-through rates and order volume. These placements are typically charged as a percentage of order value generated through the promotion.
Featured collections. SkipTheDishes curates collections like “Top Rated Near You” and “New on Skip.” Participation in premium collections may involve additional fees or higher commission rates during the featured period.
Discount campaigns. When SkipTheDishes runs platform-wide promotions, participating restaurants share the discount cost. These campaigns can drive significant volume but the promotional subsidy appears as an additional deduction on your payout statement. Understanding how these charges appear on your statement is important — see our guide to hidden delivery fees most restaurants miss.
Canadian Provincial Commission Caps
A unique factor for SkipTheDishes is the regulatory environment in Canada. Several provinces have enacted or considered legislation capping delivery platform commissions. These caps, where enforced, override the standard commission rates in your agreement. British Columbia and Ontario have both enacted temporary commission caps during periods of economic stress, with some becoming permanent regulations.
Restaurants operating in provinces with active caps should verify that their SkipTheDishes statements reflect the regulated rate, not the standard contractual rate. Discrepancies between capped rates and actual deductions represent recoverable revenue. For a systematic approach, see our guide on how to audit delivery platform fees.
Wondering how much SkipTheDishes fees may be costing your restaurant beyond the contracted commission?
Estimate Your Revenue DiscrepanciesExample: Total SkipTheDishes Cost Per Order
A restaurant using SkipTheDishes’ full delivery service (25% commission) receives an order with a $42 CAD subtotal.
Commission (25%): $42 × 0.25 = $10.50
Payment processing (2.5%): $42 × 0.025 = $1.05
Marketing fee (promoted listing): $1.25
Total deductions: $12.80
Restaurant receives: $29.20 out of $42.00
Effective rate: 30.5% — not 25%.
A restaurant processing 400 delivery orders per month at an average order value of $38 CAD on full service:
Monthly gross delivery revenue: 400 × $38 = $15,200
Commission (25%): $3,800
Payment processing (2.5%): $380
Marketing fees: ~$200/month
Refund adjustments: ~$150/month (estimated 1.5% refund rate)
Total deductions: $4,530
Effective rate: 29.8%
The restaurant is paying 4.8 percentage points above its contracted rate — approximately $730 CAD per month in fees beyond the 25% commission.
Common SkipTheDishes Fee Misunderstandings
Provincial commission caps apply automatically. Even in provinces with commission caps, restaurants should verify their statement deductions match the regulated rate. Platforms do not always update billing systems immediately when regulations change. Monitor your statements during and after cap implementation periods.
The Just Eat merger changed fee structures. The Just Eat Takeaway acquisition of SkipTheDishes did not eliminate legacy commission agreements. However, the platform has introduced new marketing programs and fee categories since the merger. Restaurants with older agreements should review whether new fees have been added that were not in their original contract.
Self-delivery saves money for every restaurant. While self-delivery reduces the SkipTheDishes commission by 5–10 percentage points, the restaurant absorbs all delivery costs: driver wages, vehicle expenses, insurance, and customer service for delivery issues. For restaurants processing fewer than 15 delivery orders per day, the total cost of self-delivery often exceeds the savings from the lower commission rate.
Refund deductions are always correct. SkipTheDishes deducts refund amounts from restaurant payouts when customers report issues. Not every refund deduction is justified, and some refund patterns indicate customer abuse rather than legitimate complaints. Track your refund deduction rate and dispute claims that lack evidence of restaurant error.
SkipTheDishes vs. Other Delivery Platforms
| Feature | SkipTheDishes | Uber Eats | DoorDash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery Commission Range | 20% – 30% | 15% – 30% | 15% – 30% |
| Pickup Commission | 10% – 15% | 6% – 15% | 6% – 15% |
| Primary Market | Canada | Global | United States |
| Commission Caps | Provincial regulations | Varies by jurisdiction | Varies by jurisdiction |
| Subscriber Program | Skip Express | Uber One | DashPass |
| Payout Schedule | Weekly | Weekly | Weekly |
SkipTheDishes’ commission rates are broadly comparable to Uber Eats and DoorDash, though Skip’s Canadian market focus means it faces unique regulatory considerations. For restaurants operating on multiple platforms, comparing effective rates across all providers is essential. See our detailed analysis of how delivery platform commissions work.
Estimate how much delivery fee discrepancies may be costing your restaurant.
Try the Delivery Reconciliation CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
SkipTheDishes charges between 20% and 30% commission on delivery orders depending on your partnership agreement and delivery model. Full-service delivery carries the highest rate (25–30%), self-delivery is lower (20–25%), and pickup orders are charged 10–15%. Payment processing, marketing fees, and refund adjustments add 3–6% to the effective rate.
Several Canadian provinces have enacted or considered commission caps on delivery platforms including SkipTheDishes. These regulations limit the maximum commission rate platforms can charge restaurants. Check your province’s current regulations and verify your statements reflect the capped rate when applicable.
SkipTheDishes is owned by Just Eat Takeaway but operates as a separate brand in Canada with its own platform, merchant portal, and fee structure. The Just Eat brand is used in other countries. For Canadian restaurants, the SkipTheDishes fee structure and merchant agreement are distinct from Just Eat’s international operations.
Yes. Restaurants with their own delivery drivers can use SkipTheDishes as a marketplace listing while handling deliveries themselves. Self-delivery carries a lower commission rate (typically 20–25%) compared to full-service delivery (25–30%). The restaurant remains responsible for all delivery logistics, driver costs, and delivery-related customer service.
SkipTheDishes pays restaurants weekly via direct bank deposit. The payout reflects net revenue after all commissions, payment processing fees, refund adjustments, and marketing charges have been deducted. Because payouts batch multiple days of orders, comparing them directly to daily POS totals can show apparent discrepancies.