- “After years of losing revenue to third-party commissions, Orders.co finally gave us a way to take it back.”
- The Challenge: Sales Were Coming In, But Too Much Profit Was Leaving
- The Solution: A Direct Ordering Channel That Finally Worked
- Building a Healthier Ordering Mix
- Direct Website Ordering Became a Six-Figure Revenue Channel
- Estimated Commission Savings: $146,566.34 in Avoided Marketplace Fees
- Why Orders.co Worked Where the Previous Setup Couldn’t
- The Bigger Lesson: Direct Ordering Works When Customers Have a Clear Path
- The Results
- From Food Truck Hustle to a More Profitable Digital Operation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Helpful Reads
“After years of losing revenue to third-party commissions, Orders.co finally gave us a way to take it back.”
Two Maine Guys Augusta did not start with a full-service restaurant, a large team, or a polished tech stack.
It started in 2016 as a food truck — built on a dream, long days, and a whole lot of hustle. Over time, that food truck grew into a full-service restaurant with a team of 30 people. The business evolved, the customer base expanded, and the operation became more complex.
But as the restaurant grew, one problem became harder to ignore: too much revenue was being lost to third-party delivery commissions.
DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub helped bring in orders, but every marketplace order came with a cost. For a growing restaurant with staff, food costs, rent, and daily operations to manage, those fees added up quickly.
Two Maine Guys Augusta wanted a better way. They wanted to offer customers their own delivery and ordering alternative, protect more revenue, and take back control of their digital sales. But their previous system, Square, could not integrate with the providers and workflows they needed.
They were stuck paying commissions on order after order, with no clear solution in sight.
“The commissions were eating into everything. We knew there had to be a better way, and when we found Orders.co it was exactly what we had been looking for.”
The Challenge: Sales Were Coming In, But Too Much Profit Was Leaving
Like many independent restaurants, Two Maine Guys Augusta was not trying to eliminate third-party delivery platforms completely.
Marketplaces still matter. Many customers open DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub first when they are deciding what to eat. For restaurants, those platforms can increase visibility and attract new diners.
The problem starts when the restaurant becomes too dependent on them.
If most online orders come through commission-based apps, sales may look strong on paper while margins quietly shrink. A restaurant can be busy, the kitchen can be moving, the team can be working hard — and still lose a large share of each order to platform fees.
For Two Maine Guys Augusta, the issue came down to three major problems.
1. Third-party commissions were cutting into revenue
The restaurant was paying marketplace fees on orders that could have gone directly through its own channels. Over time, those commissions exceeded the normal cost of doing business. They became a margin problem.
2. Square could not support the direct ordering setup they needed
Square worked for basic POS functions, but it did not give the restaurant the flexibility to integrate with the providers and ordering workflows needed to build a stronger direct ordering channel.
That meant the team had no easy way to shift loyal customers away from marketplace apps and toward the restaurant’s own website and app.
3. The restaurant needed reliability, not more complexity
With 30 people depending on smooth operations, Two Maine Guys Augusta could not afford another disconnected system. They needed technology that worked consistently, connected the right channels, and came with real support when something needed attention.
The Solution: A Direct Ordering Channel That Finally Worked
Orders.co gave Two Maine Guys Augusta the missing piece: a reliable way to enable customers to order directly through the restaurant’s website and app while keeping operations organized behind the scenes.
Instead of relying only on third-party platforms, the restaurant could now give customers a clear path to place orders directly.
That mattered for two reasons.
First, direct website ordering helped the restaurant retain more revenue per sale. When customers ordered through the restaurant’s own website, the business could reduce its exposure to third-party marketplace commissions.
Second, direct ordering helped the restaurant build a stronger relationship with its customers. Instead of the app owning the customer interaction, Two Maine Guys Augusta could bring customers back into its own brand experience.
From the moment the team started using Orders.co, the difference was clear.
“From the moment we got started with Orders.co, the difference was clear. The system works seamlessly with no flaws, and the customer support is always available whenever we need them.”
Support became a major part of the value. Restaurant technology has to work during real service conditions — not just in a demo. When an issue came up, the Orders.co team was available and responsive.
“Any issue that comes up gets resolved quickly and professionally. That kind of reliability is everything when you are running a busy restaurant with 30 people depending on things working the way they should.”
Building a Healthier Ordering Mix
One of the biggest wins was not that Two Maine Guys Augusta stopped using third-party apps.
The win was that the restaurant built a healthier ordering mix.
From October 11, 2023, to June 22, 2026, Two Maine Guys Augusta processed 35,950 tracked orders across the website and third-party ordering channels.
Here is how those orders broke down:
| Channel | Orders | Total Sales |
| Website | 10,455 | $488,554.48 |
| DoorDash | 24,090 | $978,681.67 |
| Uber Eats | 1,152 | $50,614.28 |
| Grubhub | 253 | $11,227.46 |
Website ordering accounted for 10,455 orders, or 29.08% of all tracked orders.
That made the website the restaurant’s second-largest digital order channel by total sales, behind DoorDash.
DoorDash remained the largest channel, with 24,090 orders and $978,681.67 in total sales. But the website became a major direct revenue engine, outperforming Uber Eats and Grubhub by a wide margin.
Uber Eats generated 1,152 orders and $50,614.28 in total sales. Grubhub generated 253 orders and $11,227.46 in total sales.
The takeaway is simple: customers were willing to order directly when the restaurant provided a reliable way to do so.
Instead of sending every online customer through a commission-based marketplace, Two Maine Guys Augusta built a direct channel to help keep more revenue within the business.
Direct Website Ordering Became a Six-Figure Revenue Channel
The impact became even clearer when looking at website ordering revenue over time.
In 2024, Two Maine Guys Augusta generated $163,025 in website ordering revenue.
In 2025, that number grew to $209,784.
That represents 33% year-over-year growth from 2024 to 2025.
For 2026, the projected website ordering run rate is $216,817.
| Year | Website Ordering Revenue |
| 2024 actual | $163,025 |
| 2025 actual | $209,784 |
| 2026 projected run rate | $216,817 |
This matters because direct ordering is not just a technical feature. It is a revenue channel.
For Two Maine Guys Augusta, the website and app became more than a convenience. They became a way to move loyal customers into the restaurant’s own ecosystem.
The restaurant still benefits from marketplace visibility, especially through DoorDash, but now it also has a strong direct channel working alongside those platforms.
That balance is important.
Marketplaces can help bring in new customers. Direct ordering can help keep repeat customers closer to the restaurant. Together, the right mix can support growth without leaving the restaurant fully dependent on commission-based platforms.
Estimated Commission Savings: $146,566.34 in Avoided Marketplace Fees
The clearest financial impact came from direct website ordering.
From October 2023 to June 2026, Two Maine Guys Augusta generated $488,554.48 in website sales through Orders.co.
If those same orders had instead gone through a third-party marketplace at a 30% commission rate, the restaurant could have paid an estimated:
$488,554.48 × 30% = $146,566.34
That means Orders.co helped create an estimated $146,566.34 in avoided third-party commission exposure through direct website ordering.
This should be framed as an estimate, not a guaranteed dollar-for-dollar savings claim, because it assumes those direct website orders would otherwise have been placed through commission-based third-party apps. Actual commission rates vary by provider, plan, market, and merchant agreement.
But even with that caveat, the story is powerful.
Direct ordering gave Two Maine Guys Augusta a way to protect revenue that may otherwise have been exposed to marketplace fees.
That money matters. It can support payroll. It can offset rising food costs. It can fund marketing. It can help a restaurant owner breathe a little easier.
For a business that started as a food truck and grew into a full-service restaurant with 30 employees, keeping more revenue inside the business is not just about margins. It is about protecting everything the team has built.
Why Orders.co Worked Where the Previous Setup Couldn’t
Two Maine Guys Augusta did not need another disconnected tool.
They needed a system that solved the real problem: helping customers order directly while making operations easier to manage.
Orders.co helped by giving the restaurant:
A branded direct ordering channel
Customers could order through the restaurant’s own website and app rather than relying solely on DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub.
Better control over revenue
By shifting a meaningful share of orders to the website, the restaurant reduced its dependence on commission-based ordering.
A smoother ordering workflow
Orders.co provided the team with a reliable system that reduced friction in the ordering process.
Support team that could be counted on
When issues came up, Orders.co support was available 24/7 — a major advantage for a busy restaurant where delays and downtime can quickly affect service.
A foundation for continued growth
As Two Maine Guys Augusta continued to scale beyond its food-truck roots, Orders.co provided the restaurant with a digital ordering foundation to support future growth.
The Bigger Lesson: Direct Ordering Works When Customers Have a Clear Path
Many restaurants know they should get more direct orders.
The challenge is making that shift happen.
Customers are used to opening third-party apps. Breaking that habit takes time. But it becomes much easier when a restaurant has a clean website ordering experience, a branded app, and a clear reason for customers to order directly.
Two Maine Guys Augusta proves that direct ordering does not have to replace marketplace ordering overnight.
The better strategy is to use both channels intentionally.
Third-party apps can still help with visibility and customer acquisition. Direct ordering can help improve margins, build loyalty, and keep repeat customers closer to the restaurant.
Orders.co gave Two Maine Guys Augusta a way to keep using third-party platforms without being fully controlled by them.
The Results
Since using Orders.co, Two Maine Guys Augusta has built a stronger direct ordering channel and reduced its dependence on third-party marketplaces.
Key results include:
- 10,455 website orders
- $488,554.48 in website sales
- 29.08% of total tracked orders coming through the website
- $163,025 in website ordering revenue in 2024
- $209,784 in website ordering revenue in 2025
- 33% year-over-year website ordering growth from 2024 to 2025
- $216,817 projected 2026 website ordering run rate
- $146,566.34 in estimated avoided third-party commission exposure
- A smoother, more reliable direct ordering experience
- Responsive support when the team needs help
From Food Truck Hustle to a More Profitable Digital Operation
Two Maine Guys Augusta started as a food truck with a dream.
Today, it is a full-service restaurant with 30 people working behind the counter.
That growth did not happen by accident. It took years of effort, loyal customers, and constant adaptation.
But as the restaurant grew, the tools had to grow with it.
Orders.co gave the team a way to stop treating third-party commissions as an unavoidable cost of doing business. It gave them a direct ordering channel customers could actually use, a support team they could count on, and a clearer path to keeping more revenue in-house.
“After years of losing revenue to third-party commissions, Orders.co finally gave us a way to take it back.”
For Two Maine Guys Augusta, that is the real win.
Not just more orders.
More control, gain, and confidence in the future of the business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Orders.co gave Two Maine Guys Augusta a reliable direct ordering channel through its own website and app. Instead of sending every online customer through third-party delivery marketplaces, the restaurant could give loyal customers a clear way to order directly. From October 2023 to June 2026, the restaurant generated 10,455 website orders and $488,554.48 in website sales.
Based on $488,554.48 in website sales, Two Maine Guys Augusta estimated $146,566.34 in avoided third-party commission exposure, assuming a 30% marketplace commission. This should be treated as an estimate, not a guaranteed savings figure, because it assumes those website orders would otherwise have gone through third-party apps and because actual commission rates can vary.
No. The goal was not to remove third-party apps completely. Two Maine Guys Augusta still used marketplaces for visibility and customer acquisition. The bigger win was building a healthier ordering mix, in which the restaurant could continue using third-party platforms while also growing its own direct ordering channel.
Direct ordering helped the restaurant keep more control over revenue, customer relationships, and its online ordering experience. When customers order through a restaurant’s own website or app, the restaurant has a better opportunity to protect margins, encourage repeat orders, and keep customers connected to the restaurant’s brand, rather than relying solely on marketplace apps.
Before Orders.co, Two Maine Guys Augusta used Square, but the system could not support the integrations and direct ordering workflows the restaurant needed. Orders.co gave the team a smoother way to manage direct website ordering, support delivery options, and rely on responsive customer support when issues came up. For a full-service restaurant with 30 team members, that reliability mattered.
