Shopify For Restaurants: Best Practices to Revamp Your Restaurant Business

In the article, we will explore the benefits of taking your Shopify restaurant online.

Key Takeaways

• Shopify is a versatile platform that offers customizable themes, online ordering, payment processing, and marketing tools suitable for restaurants.
• Prioritizing customer trust, providing order options, offering quality support, automating order management, and optimizing the website are crucial for success.
• Shopify offers themes like “Crave,” “Vantage,” “Taste,” and “Fresh,”  which can enhance the visual appeal and functionality of restaurant websites.

Reasons and Benefits of Bringing Your Restaurant Online

In today’s digitally-driven landscape, transitioning your eatery business into the online realm is more than just a choice; it’s a strategic necessity. Here are 9 compelling reasons why you should embrace the idea of taking your eatery business online:

1. Expansive Reach: Shopify has become a robust and influential marketplace. It offers companies the invaluable opportunity to swiftly create bespoke digital storefronts, all while retaining crucial customer data for future marketing endeavors.
2. Unparalleled Convenience: Online ordering and reservations offer unmatched convenience to your patrons. They can browse your menu, place orders, and make reservations from the comfort of their homes or on the go, enhancing their overall dining experience.
3. Enhanced Visibility: A well-optimized website and active social media presence can significantly improve your restaurant’s visibility. When potential customers search for dining options in your area, you want your eatery to be among the top choices.
4. Cost-Effective Marketing: Traditional advertising can be costly and may yield different results. Conversely, online marketing provides cost-effective avenues like social media campaigns and email marketing, allowing you to target your audience without breaking the bank.
5. Data-Driven Insights: The digital landscape provides valuable data on customer preferences, order history, and website traffic. This data can help you tailor your offerings and marketing strategies for maximum impact.
6. Streamlined Operations: Various online tools and applications can streamline your restaurant’s operations. These digital solutions enhance efficiency and minimize errors from order management to inventory control.
7. Competitive Advantage: Staying ahead of the curve is vital in a competitive industry. Embracing online ordering and delivery services can give you a competitive edge by meeting the evolving demands of tech-savvy customers.
8. Sustainability: Digital menus and receipts are environmentally friendly alternatives to their paper counterparts, aligning with the growing trend of eco-conscious dining choices.
9. Customer Engagement: Building an online community around your restaurant through social media and email marketing fosters customer loyalty. Engaging with your patrons keeps them coming back for more. This article will explore the benefits of taking your restaurant to Shopify.

Shopify for Restaurants: Pricing Breakdown

Subscription Costs

Shopify’s pricing model is designed to be flexible, making it accessible to restaurants of varying sizes and budgets. 

1. Shopify Basic – $39 per month

The Shopify Basic plan is an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses. At $39 per month, it provides everything necessary to create your online store, manage product listings, and process payments efficiently.

2. Shopify – $105 per month

The Standard Shopify plan, priced at $105 per month, is designed for small businesses looking to level up their online operations. It offers professional reporting capabilities and additional staff accounts to support your restaurant’s growth.

3. Advanced Shopify – $399 per month

For medium to large restaurant businesses, the Advanced Shopify plan at $399 per month delivers the most comprehensive features. 

This plan includes custom report-building tools, allowing you to analyze your restaurant’s performance in detail. It also offers the lowest transaction fees, making it an attractive option for high-volume restaurants.

Initial Costs for Setting up the Website

Building your restaurant’s website on Shopify involves a few initial costs essential for creating a compelling online presence.

1. Domain Name

Shopify simplifies the domain acquisition process by including it as an integral part of its service across all plans. This means you won’t need to worry about hosting or installing your domain separately. 

Shopify allows you to register a custom domain if you prefer a more unique and branded web address for your restaurant. The cost of a custom field on Shopify typically ranges from $11/year to $81/year, depending on factors such as the domain’s popularity and the chosen domain registrar. 

2. Themes

Shopify offers a selection of free themes that you can use to design your restaurant’s website. These themes are a cost-effective option for those on a budget. They come with basic customization options and can provide a good starting point for your online presence.

Consider purchasing a premium theme if you want more advanced design options and a unique look for your restaurant website. Premium themes on Shopify can range in price from $150 to $350, depending on the complexity and features they offer. These themes often provide greater flexibility and customization capabilities.

3. Apps

Shopify offers a diverse marketplace of apps designed to empower your restaurant’s website with additional capabilities and features. While many apps have free versions that provide basic functionalities, some may require a monthly subscription fee to access advanced features and premium services.

Shopify’s app store boasts an impressive catalog of over 8,000 apps, each catering to different business needs. These apps cover a broad spectrum, from improving the user experience to enhancing backend operations.

If you’re considering premium apps with advanced functionalities for your restaurant’s website, you must be aware of the potential costs. Premium app pricing on Shopify can vary widely, typically within the $15 to $60 per month.

Shopify Transaction Fees

These fees come into play when you use a third-party payment provider to process customer payments on your Shopify restaurant website. The percentage of these fees depends on your chosen subscription plan:

• Basic Plan: If you’re on the Basic plan, you can expect a 2% transaction fee on every customer transaction through a third-party payment service.
• Shopify Plan: For the Shopify plan, the transaction fee is reduced to 1% for each transaction processed through a third-party payment provider.
• Advanced Shopify Plan: The Advanced Shopify plan offers the lowest transaction fee among the subscription tiers, with only 0.5% charged on transactions made via third-party payment services.

It’s important to note that you can bypass these transaction fees entirely by utilizing Shopify Payments from the outset. Shopify Payments is an integrated payment solution offering seamless and cost-effective payment processing through the Shopify platform.

Shopify Credit Card Rates

When it comes to credit card rates on Shopify, they are generally tied to your chosen subscription plan. Here’s an overview of the expected credit card processing fees:

Basic Shopify Plan:

• For online credit card payments, you can anticipate an average charge of approximately 2.9% plus a flat fee of $0.30 per transaction.
• If your restaurant accepts credit card payments in person, the rate is around 2.7%.

Shopify Plan:

• With the Shopify Plan, the fees for online credit card payments decrease to approximately 2.6%, plus a flat fee of $0.30 per transaction.
• In the case of in-person credit card payments, the rate usually reduces further to approximately 2.5%.

Advanced Shopify Plan:

• For online transactions, you can expect an average charge of approximately 2.4% plus a flat fee of $0.30 per transaction.
• Similarly, in-person credit card payments on the Advanced plan are also charged at roughly 2.4%.

It’s worth noting that with Shopify, you can start accepting major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and Discover right from the moment you launch your restaurant’s online shop. This convenience ensures that customers can easily make payments, whether ordering online or dining at your establishment.

Pros and Cons: Shopify for Restaurants

Considering Shopify as the platform for your restaurant’s online presence, weighing its advantages and disadvantages is essential. Here’s a comprehensive review of the pros and cons of using Shopify for restaurant websites:

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface: Shopify is renowned for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible for restaurant owners with varying technical expertise. You can easily set up and manage your online store without extensive web development skills.
• Robust eCommerce Features: Shopify offers many eCommerce features tailored to restaurant businesses. This includes menu management, order processing, reservation systems, and integration with delivery services, ensuring a seamless customer experience.
• Responsive Design: Shopify’s themes are designed to be mobile-responsive, allowing your restaurant’s website to look and function beautifully on various devices, from smartphones to desktops.
• Extensive App Ecosystem: With over 7,000 apps in the Shopify app store, you can further enhance your restaurant’s website functionality. Whether you need marketing tools, analytics, or inventory management, an app will likely suit your needs.
• Secure Payment Processing: Shopify offers robust security measures to protect customers’ payment information. Additionally, it provides integration with multiple payment gateways, offering flexibility to your customers in how they pay for orders.
• SEO-Friendly: Shopify is designed with SEO in mind, allowing you to optimize your restaurant website for search engines. This helps potential customers find your eatery when searching online.
• 24/7 Customer Support: Shopify provides round-the-clock customer support to assist you with any technical issues or questions.

Cons:

• Subscription Costs: While Shopify offers various pricing plans, the monthly subscription costs can add up, impacting your restaurant’s overhead expenses.
• Transaction Fees: If you choose not to use Shopify Payments, you may incur transaction fees, particularly for credit card payments. These fees can cut into your restaurant’s profits.
• Customization Limitations: While Shopify offers customization options, highly unique design elements may require advanced coding skills or additional costs for professional design services.
• App Costs: While many free apps are available, some premium apps come with monthly subscription fees, potentially increasing your operational expenses.

5 Expert Tips for Optimizing Your Restaurant Website on Shopify

Here are five essential strategies to enhance your restaurant’s Shopify website:

01. Expand Ordering Options

In the age of convenience, offering diverse ordering options can significantly boost your restaurant’s appeal. Beyond traditional dine-in, consider integrating features like online ordering, delivery, and takeout.

You can leverage the Store Pickup + Delivery App – a powerful tool designed to streamline and optimize order management for delivery, pickup, and shipping. Here’s how this app can benefit your restaurant:

• Optimized Order Management: The “Store Pickup + Delivery App” offers a comprehensive solution for managing various order types, including delivery, pickup, and shipping. This optimization ensures that you can efficiently cater to different customer preferences.
• Flexible Date and Time Selection: Customers appreciate the ability to choose the date and time for pickup, delivery, or shipping. This feature allows them to align their orders with their schedules, promoting convenience and satisfaction.
• Unified Dashboard: Simplify the management of all scheduled orders with the app’s unified dashboard. It provides a centralized view of all orders, making tracking, processing, and accurately fulfilling customer requests easier.
• Customized Control: You can control delivery zones, pricing, and order limits, tailoring these parameters to suit your restaurant’s requirements and geographic reach.
• Effortless Export: Streamline your data management by exporting orders to various formats, including CSV, Google Calendar, Zapier, and Klaviyo. This flexibility facilitates efficient record-keeping and integration with other essential tools.

02. Deliver Outstanding Customer Support

Providing exceptional customer support is crucial for your restaurant’s success, especially when customers have questions about your menu items. Making it easy for customers to ask questions and receive prompt answers is essential for boosting customer satisfaction and retention. 

Tidio Live Chat & Chatbot offers a comprehensive customer support solution, combining live chat, chatbots, and multichannel communication.

• Live Chat: Resolve issues quickly and proactively sell, ensuring customers receive immediate assistance.
• Predefined Chatbot Strategies: Employ chatbots to address issues and boost sales, enhancing the overall customer experience.
• Cart Previews, Order History, Product Recommendations: Provide customers with personalized shopping experiences, improving their satisfaction and boosting sales.
• Easy Installation: Setting up live chat and chatbots is straightforward and can be accomplished in just a few minutes, allowing you to initiate conversations with your customers swiftly.
• Ticketing System: Manage and address customer requests efficiently through a simple ticketing system.

03. Build Trust with Your Customers

In the world of online shopping, trust is a precious commodity. Due to security concerns, many customers need help to provide their card details at the checkout page, leading to cart abandonment. 

One effective way to build trust and reassure your customers is by displaying trust badges prominently on your Shopify website. These badges communicate that your website is safe and equipped with an encrypted payment gateway, effectively preventing hacking and fraudulent activities.

To implement trust badges, you can use the ShopClimb ‑ Trust Badges app, which allows you to enable trust badges, especially on your checkout page.

Key Features:

• Increase Sales and Conversions: You can boost sales and drive higher conversion rates by displaying payment icons and trust badges that customers recognize and trust.
• Build Trust Quickly: In online shopping, you have a limited window to build trust with potential buyers. Trust badges are among the most proven methods to establish trust during the customer’s sales journey.
• Multiple Design Options: The app offers various designs, ensuring you can select the correct payment badges that fit seamlessly with your restaurant’s website.
• Geolocation Awareness: Trust badges are geolocation-aware, meaning customers will see the local payment options they trust most, further enhancing their confidence in purchasing.
• Simple Setup: The app provides a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface that requires no coding expertise. You can easily install trust badges and customize their placement to align with your restaurant’s branding and design.

04. Have Efficient Order Automation

Managing food orders efficiently can be complex, especially when using the standard Shopify dashboard. To streamline order management and delivery processes for restaurant owners, there’s a dedicated Shopify app called Foodee.

This app is designed exclusively to assist restaurant businesses in handling their food orders more effectively. Here’s how it can benefit your restaurant:

• Specialized Restaurant Management Dashboard: Foodee provides a specialized restaurant management dashboard tailored to the unique needs of restaurant store owners. This dashboard offers a clear and organized view of current orders, highlighting incoming orders and their specific items.
• Efficient Order Processing: With the “Foodee” dashboard, your team can efficiently manage and process food orders, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery to your customers.
• Onboarding for Online Orders: The app’s onboarding process helps configure your store correctly based on your chosen delivery methods (in-store pickup or local delivery), reducing the risk of customers placing orders that cannot be fulfilled.

05. Master Onsite Optimization

When transitioning your restaurant business to the online sphere, retaining some key management features from your physical storefront is essential. One such feature is the ability for customers to leave tips. You can accomplish this by using the Tip Cup app. Here’s how it can enhance your online restaurant experience:

• Compatibility with Payment Providers: The app is compatible with various third-party payment providers, including PayPal, Shop Pay, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. This versatility ensures customers can leave cashless tips using their preferred payment method.
• Customization and Design: You can easily customize the design of the tip cup to align with your restaurant’s branding and storefront aesthetics. This ensures a cohesive and visually appealing experience for your customers.
• Upsell and Donation Options: Beyond tips, “Tip Cup” enables you to make upsell offers or accept donations by customizing the wording and messaging. This versatility allows you to explore additional revenue streams and support charitable causes if desired.

4 Best Shopify Themes for Your Restaurant

Selecting a suitable theme for your Shopify restaurant website is crucial for creating an attractive and functional online presence. Here are four top Shopify themes tailored to enhance your restaurant’s digital storefront:

01. Crave

If you want your restaurant’s online presence to exude vibrancy and playfulness, the Crave Shopify theme is an excellent choice. This theme combines bold colors and distinct shadows to create a design that captures potential buyers’ attention while reflecting your brand’s unique personality.

Crave offers advanced customization options, allowing you to tailor the design to your specific vision and brand without coding. This flexibility ensures that your restaurant’s website can stand out and align perfectly with your branding and style.

02. Vantage

Vantage provides various product and collection-focused sections, giving you the tools to showcase your restaurant’s menu items creatively. Whether you want to highlight daily specials, featured dishes, or your entire menu, this theme offers flexibility.

This theme is designed with a strong emphasis on product discovery and conversion-focused design. It’s optimized to enhance conversions and increase your restaurant’s online orders’ average order value (AOV). The intuitive layout and design make it easy for customers to explore your offerings and make purchases.

03. Taste

The spacious design of Taste, with bold headlines, industrial fonts, and a high-contrast color palette, can create a visually appealing and engaging online environment. In a restaurant context, this design can showcase your dishes, making them visually enticing for customers.

The theme’s support for larger product cards and specialty product highlights aligns with the need for restaurants to highlight their menu items. This feature can emphasize daily specials, featured dishes, or seasonal offerings, helping customers make informed choices.

04. Fresh

The Fresh Shopify theme is purpose-built for Food and drink stores, making it an ideal choice for your restaurant’s online presence. It offers a range of features tailored to enhance the presentation of your restaurant’s menu and improve the shopping experience for your customers.

This theme includes advanced product filtering capabilities, allowing customers to navigate your menu and refine their searches quickly. They can filter by brand, type, color, size, or other relevant criteria, improving the user experience.

FAQs: Shopify Restaurants

Conclusion: Shopify Restaurants

In conclusion, Shopify restaurants is a dynamic and versatile platform that can benefit eateries in the digital age. With its extensive customization options, online ordering capabilities, and support for various restaurant-related functions, Shopify empowers restaurants to thrive in the competitive online landscape.