ChowNow
ChowNow is a US-based SaaS platform that provides commission-free online ordering, branded mobile apps, marketing automation, and operational tooling to over 22,000 independent restaurants, enabling them to bypass third-party delivery marketplace commissions and own their diner relationships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersCulver City, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What ChowNow does
ChowNow is a US-based, privately-held SaaS platform that provides commission-free online ordering, marketing, and operational tooling to independent restaurants. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Culver City, California, the company serves more than 22,000 restaurant partners ranging from single-location SMBs to multi-location groups, helping them bypass the 22-30% commissions charged by third-party delivery marketplaces such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. ChowNow claims to have helped its partners save over $650M in cumulative commissions.
The product is organized into three suites — Ordering (direct online ordering, branded iOS/Android apps, Squarespace-powered websites, ChowNow Marketplace, the multi-channel Discovery Network on Google/Apple Maps/Yelp, catering storefronts, and QR code dine-in ordering), Marketing (behavior-segmented email and SMS automation plus a customizable rewards program), and Operations (Flex Delivery dispatching across Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive, order aggregation with a 99.9% acceptance rate and 0.1-second auto-accept, 20+ POS integrations, advanced reporting, and 100% fraud/chargeback protection). The technology layer is built on a Squarespace-powered restaurant website infrastructure with a cloud-based order management system that consolidates direct orders and third-party marketplace orders into a single dashboard.
ChowNow monetizes through a three-tier subscription (Launch $229, Grow $319, Elevate $409 per month on annual billing), one-time setup fees of $119-$499, a 2.95% + $0.29 per-transaction processing fee, flat-rate Flex Delivery charges, and a 5% commission on catering orders. Distribution is hybrid — enterprise/territory field sales (Chicago, Louisville, Richmond, St. Petersburg, Tampa) for mid-market and multi-location accounts, inside sales and demo-driven conversion for SMBs, self-serve signup, and a PartnerStack referral program paying $500 per restaurant signed. Strategic distribution partners include US Foods, Pepsi, Resy, and Square/Toast/Clover/Revel. Leadership transitioned in December 2024 with Kanika Soni (ex-Tripadvisor, ex-Disney) appointed CEO, succeeding founder Chris Webb who remains Chairman.
ChowNow firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ChowNow
- Legal name
- ChowNow
- Website
- https://get.chownow.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ChowNow is a US-based SaaS platform that provides commission-free online ordering, branded mobile apps, marketing automation, and operational tooling to over 22,000 independent restaurants, enabling them to bypass third-party delivery marketplace commissions and own their diner relationships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where ChowNow is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Culver City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
ChowNow business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans: Three-tier subscription model (Launch, Grow, Elevate) ranging from $229-$449/month. Revenue is recurring and predictable, allowing restaurants to take unlimited commission-free orders. Additional revenue from setup fees ($119-$499).
- Transaction Processing: Standard card processing fee of 2.95% + $0.29 per transaction on all orders, including direct orders. This is the only per-order cost as there are no marketplace commissions on direct ordering.
- Flex Delivery: Flat-rate delivery fee of $7.98 per order for delivery orders. Revenue comes from the delivery service with no commissions on orders, just the flat delivery fee.
- Catering Orders: Catering orders have a competitive 5% commission rate, which is significantly lower than third-party marketplace rates. Average catering order value is $360, which is 9-10x larger than typical takeout orders.
- Branded Mobile Apps: iOS and Android branded apps included in all plans at no additional platform cost. Only separate fee is $99 annual Apple Developer fee paid directly to Apple by restaurant.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Foundation tier for restaurants starting with direct ordering |
| Subscription | Monthly | Mid-tier with full channel control and marketing capabilities |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium tier for scaling restaurants with full brand presence |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
ChowNow product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ChowNow provides a commission-free online ordering and restaurant management platform for independent restaurants, including a direct ordering website, branded mobile apps, a multi-platform discovery network, third-party order aggregation, marketing automation, loyalty rewards, and flat-rate delivery. It is sold on a tiered monthly subscription (Launch, Grow, Elevate) with usage-based card processing and optional add-on modules.
Product overview
ChowNow is a commission-free online ordering and restaurant management platform for independent restaurants. The platform operates as a unified three-suite architecture: the Ordering Suite (Direct Online Ordering, Branded Mobile Apps, Restaurant Websites, ChowNow Marketplace, Discovery Network, Catering, and QR Code Ordering), the Marketing Suite (Email & SMS Marketing and Rewards Program), and the Operations Suite (Flex Delivery, Order Aggregation, Advanced Reporting, 20+ POS Integrations, and 100% Fraud & Chargeback Protection). All products integrate into a single dashboard with 24/7 customer support. The core value proposition is 0% commission on orders versus 22-30% charged by third-party marketplaces, with full ownership of diner data and customer relationships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Direct Online Ordering Commission-free online ordering tool embedded on the restaurant's own website, enabling unlimited orders with 0% commission, full diner data ownership, custom promotions, and no mandatory diner fees.
- Branded Mobile Apps Custom iOS and Android apps built, published, and maintained by ChowNow for individual restaurants, with full branding (colors, logo, menu) included in all subscription plans.
- Restaurant Websites SEO-optimized website builder built on Squarespace with three restaurant-tailored templates, built and managed by the ChowNow team with built-in SEO features and integrated commission-free ordering.
- ChowNow Marketplace Commission-free restaurant marketplace app connecting diners with independent restaurants, with full diner data ownership on every order and flexible pickup/delivery options.
- Discovery Network Multi-platform ordering network listing restaurant menus on 9+ high-traffic platforms including Google, Apple Maps, Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Snap, with full diner data capture.
- Catering Dedicated catering storefront for high-value orders with average $360 order value, including lead times up to 30 days, order minimums, prep window scheduling, and a 5% commission rate.
- QR Code Ordering Tableside QR code ordering for dine-in that captures guest data, enables self-service ordering and payment, and increases average check size by 9%.
- Email & SMS Marketing Automated email and SMS marketing powered by real ordering data, with pre-built automations (Welcome, Win Back, VIP, Seasonal) and a custom campaign editor.
- Rewards Program Customizable loyalty program with sticker-based rewards across all ChowNow channels; restaurants set minimum order qualifications, sticker thresholds, and reward values, auto-applied at checkout.
- Flex Delivery Flat-rate delivery service using Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive driver networks, at $3.99 per order with automatic failover between networks.
- Order Aggregation Unified dashboard consolidating direct and third-party orders from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, with 99.9% order success rate and 0.1s auto-accept.
- Advanced Reporting Analytics dashboard with sales performance insights, margin reporting, and customer data access across first and third-party channels.
- Q2 Feature Release (Spring 2026) Q2 2026 product release bundling enhanced Email & SMS Marketing, expanded Catering capabilities, and QR Code Ordering with diner loyalty features.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average annual commission savings of $16K per restaurant (based on 22% third-party app commission rates)
- +13 more outcomes
Companies that use ChowNow
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ChowNow technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration35 records
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
ChowNow partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- US FoodscoreLeading foodservice distributor partnering with 300,000+ restaurants, providing innovative food solutions and e-commerce tools. Strategic partnership offering team management software integration with 7shifts.
- Dining AllianceminorDiscounts and cash-back on 175K+ restaurant food, supplies, and back-office solutions. Free access for ChowNow restaurants.
- PepsicoreExclusive 20% discount on plans, free menu optimization, and $200 Google Ads credit to help drive more orders for independent restaurants.
- SquarecorePOS integration allowing ChowNow orders to flow directly to Square POS and kitchen printers with auto-accept and menu sync capabilities.
- ToastcorePOS integration for Toast restaurant POS system. Orders sync directly to POS and kitchen with automated acceptance.
- ClovercorePOS integration for Clover POS system. Auto-accept and send orders directly to POS and printers with no manual entry.
- RevelcorePOS integration for Revel cloud POS platform. Orders flow directly to POS and kitchen. Revel Partner Connect subscription required.
- DoorDashcoreOrder aggregation and delivery integration. ChowNow aggregates DoorDash orders with other channels into one dashboard. Also provides Flex Delivery via DoorDash Drive.
- Uber EatscoreOrder aggregation and delivery integration. ChowNow aggregates Uber Eats orders with other channels. Also provides Flex Delivery via Uber Direct.
- GrubhubcoreOrder aggregation integration allowing ChowNow to pull Grubhub orders into unified dashboard alongside direct orders.
- GooglecoreDiscovery Network integration putting restaurant menus and ordering on Google. Includes Profit Protector feature to offset standard fees.
- Apple MapscoreDiscovery Network integration for Apple Maps. Restaurant menus visible and orderable through Apple Maps integration.
- YelpcoreDiscovery Network integration for Yelp. Restaurants can list menus and enable ordering through Yelp platform.
- SquarespacecoreWebsite platform powering ChowNow restaurant websites with built-in SEO tools and templates.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ChowNow competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Olo: Olo is the most direct comparable to ChowNow — a SaaS provider of online ordering, dispatch, and guest data solutions for chain and multi-location restaurants. Both target the restaurant direct-ordering opportunity with similar product suites (branded ordering, aggregator, POS integrations). Olo is publicly traded and serves larger chains, while ChowNow focuses on independents.
- Menufy: Menufy is a direct commission-free online ordering competitor focused on independent restaurants. It offers website ordering, marketing tools, and POS integrations — closely mirroring ChowNow's core value proposition and target customer.
- Bbot: Bbot provides online ordering, tableside QR ordering, and payment solutions for independent restaurants. It overlaps with ChowNow's QR code ordering and direct online ordering modules, particularly in the dine-in use case.
- GloriaFood: GloriaFood offers commission-free online ordering and table reservations for restaurants, with a freemium pricing model. It targets small independent restaurants with limited budgets — competing directly with ChowNow's lower-tier Launch offering.
- Popmenu: Popmenu combines online ordering, marketing automation, and guest engagement tools for independent restaurants. It overlaps with ChowNow's marketing suite (email/SMS, loyalty) and direct ordering, targeting the same SMB restaurateur customer.
- Otter: Otter (acquired by DoorDash) is an online-ordering management and aggregator platform helping restaurants manage orders across multiple delivery apps. It overlaps with ChowNow's Order Aggregation module and competes for restaurants seeking consolidated channel management.
Broad incumbents
- Toast: Toast is a leading restaurant POS platform with integrated online ordering, marketing, and payments. It competes with ChowNow for restaurant software dollars, particularly among multi-location groups, and bundles online ordering as part of its broader restaurant operating system.
- Block (Square for Restaurants): Square's restaurant offering includes POS, online ordering, and delivery integrations targeting SMB restaurants. ChowNow integrates with Square as a POS partner but Square's bundled offering competes for the same online-ordering wallet share.
Emerging players
- Lightspeed Restaurant: Lightspeed Restaurant (K-Series) is a cloud POS for restaurants, bars, and cafes with built-in online ordering. It is a ChowNow POS integration partner but also competes in the broader restaurant technology stack for multi-location operators.
- Resy (American Express): Resy is a dining platform focused on reservations and restaurant discovery, with growing ordering capabilities. It is a ChowNow partner for diner engagement but operates in adjacent restaurant software territory with overlapping GTM into independent restaurants.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ChowNow social profiles
Digital presenceChowNow financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ChowNow leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
ChowNow funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ChowNow M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ChowNow
What does ChowNow do?
ChowNow provides a commission-free online ordering and restaurant management platform for independent restaurants, including a direct ordering website, branded mobile apps, a multi-platform discovery network, third-party order aggregation, marketing automation, loyalty rewards, and flat-rate delivery. It is sold on a tiered monthly subscription (Launch, Grow, Elevate) with usage-based card processing and optional add-on modules.
Is ChowNow a public or private company?
ChowNow is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ChowNow founded?
ChowNow was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ChowNow based?
ChowNow is headquartered in Culver City, United States, in the North America region.
How does ChowNow make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Subscription Plans are the primary driver. The others are transaction Processing, flex Delivery, catering Orders and branded Mobile Apps.
Who are ChowNow's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Olo, Menufy, Bbot, GloriaFood, Popmenu and Otter. Broad incumbents are Toast and Block (Square for Restaurants). Emerging players are Lightspeed Restaurant and Resy (American Express).
Does ChowNow have an API?
No public API is recorded for ChowNow.