As food delivery continues to boom across India and globally, even single‑restaurant businesses are shifting toward own branded delivery apps. Instead of relying solely on aggregators like Zomato and Swiggy, restaurant owners are launching apps to reduce commissions, control customer data, offer loyalty rewards, and build a direct digital relationship with their customers.
If you’re a restaurant owner considering this step, the first question is obvious:
How much does it cost to develop a food delivery app for a single restaurant?
This guide breaks down the complete cost, features, timelines, tech stack, and everything else you need to know.
1. Why Build Your Own Food Delivery App?
- Zero dependency on third‑party delivery apps
- Lower commission fees (aggregators often charge 18–30%)
- Own customer database for remarketing
- Exclusive rewards, offers, and loyalty programs
- Brand-building opportunity
- Better control over menu, pricing, and customer experience
For a single restaurant, the goal is usually simple: online ordering + delivery management + loyalty system—which makes development faster and more affordable compared to full‑scale aggregator apps.
2. Cost Overview: How Much Does It Really Cost?
Here’s a quick snapshot of typical cost ranges in India (2026):
| App Type | Estimated Cost (₹) |
|---|---|
| Basic Food Ordering App (MVP) | ₹2.5 – ₹5 lakh |
| Mid-Level App (with tracking + offers) | ₹5 – ₹12 lakh |
| Advanced App (loyalty, CRM, delivery management) | ₹12 – ₹25 lakh |
Your exact cost depends on features, UI quality, backend requirements, delivery workflow, and tech stack.
3. Must‑Have Features for a Single Restaurant App
A) Customer App Features
- App login (phone OTP/social login)
- Digital menu with photos & customizations
- Add to cart + smart recommendations
- Order scheduling
- Apply promo codes
- Online payments (UPI, cards, wallets)
- Order tracking
- Push notifications
- Ratings & feedback
B) Admin Panel / Restaurant Dashboard
- Update menu items, prices, availability
- Track orders in real time
- Assign delivery staff
- View customer details
- Sales analytics & reports
- Manage offers/coupon codes
C) Delivery Agent App (Optional if using in‑house delivery staff)
- Accept/decline delivery requests
- Map navigation
- Delivery status updates
- Earnings summary
4. Feature‑Wise Cost Breakdown
| Feature / Module | Estimated Cost (₹) |
|---|---|
| UI/UX Design | 40,000 – 1,00,000 |
| Customer App | 1,50,000 – 6,00,000 |
| Delivery Partner App | 80,000 – 3,00,000 |
| Restaurant Dashboard | 60,000 – 3,00,000 |
| Payments Integration | 20,000 – 75,000 |
| Order Tracking + Maps | 40,000 – 2,00,000 |
| Offers, Loyalty & Rewards | 50,000 – 1,50,000 |
| Push Notifications | 10,000 – 50,000 |
| Testing & QA | 25,000 – 1,00,000 |
| Hosting & Backend Setup | 20,000 – 1,00,000 |
5. Factors That Affect the Cost
a) Number of Platforms
- Android only = Lower cost
- Android + iOS = Higher cost
- Cross-platform (Flutter/React Native) = Cost‑efficient
b) Design Complexity
Minimalist themes cost less; premium branded designs cost more.
c) Payment Integrations
UPI-only is cheaper; multi-gateway setup adds cost.
d) Delivery Logic
- Single outlet with few delivery staff = Simple
- Multi‑zone delivery + time slots = Higher cost
e) Backend Complexity
Real‑time order tracking, CRM, loyalty, and analytics add to backend workload.
6. Technology Stack (Recommended)
Frontend
- Flutter / React Native (for cross‑platform)
- Kotlin (Android)
- Swift (iOS)
Backend
- Node.js / Python
- Firebase or AWS-based backend
- MySQL/PostgreSQL for databases
Integrations
- Razorpay/Stripe/Paytm for payments
- Google Maps
- Firebase notifications
7. Development Timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Planning & Wireframing | 1–2 weeks |
| UI/UX Design | 1–2 weeks |
| Development (App + Backend) | 4–10 weeks |
| Testing & QA | 1–2 weeks |
| Deployment (App Store + Play Store) | 1 week |
Total time: 7–16 weeks depending on complexity.
8. Monthly Maintenance Cost
After launch, budgeting for monthly maintenance is essential:
| Expense | Monthly Cost (₹) |
|---|---|
| Server Hosting | 2,000 – 15,000 |
| Bug fixes & updates | 10,000 – 30,000 |
| Security patches | 5,000 – 20,000 |
| Adding new features | variable |
| Third-party subscriptions | 500 – 5,000 |
Average monthly maintenance: ₹12,000 – ₹40,000
9. Optional Add‑Ons (Increase Cost but Boost ROI)
- Loyalty points system
- QR-table ordering
- WhatsApp ordering chatbot
- Social media login
- AI-powered recommendations
- Multi-language support
- In‑app wallet
These features enhance customer retention and average order value.
Final Budget Recommendation
If you are a single restaurant planning to launch your branded food delivery app:
- ₹2.5 – ₹5 lakh → MVP with essential ordering
- ₹5 – ₹12 lakh → Tracking + coupons + delivery app
- ₹12 – ₹25 lakh → Full-scale branded experience with loyalty, CRM, delivery automation
Your choice depends on your business goals, delivery operations, and growth expectations.
