Every week, restaurant owners tell us the same story. The orders come in, the food goes out, but at the end of the month, after the platform takes its share, the profit is gone. If that is your life with Bolt Food, this guide is for you.
Here is how to move your orders home to your own store, step by step, without losing the customers you worked hard to win.
The quick answer
You move in stages, not overnight. Set up your own Dingo store (free, takes about 3 minutes), tell your existing customers one by one on WhatsApp, put your store link on every package, reward people who order direct, and keep a marketplace listing for new customers while your direct orders grow. Most restaurants can complete the move within a month.
Why restaurants are moving their orders home
Three reasons come up again and again:
- The commission never sleeps. Bolt takes around 20% of every order in Ghana. On GH₵2,000 of weekly orders, that is about GH₵1,600 every month going to somebody else.
- You lose control of your prices. Between the platform's commission and its rules, running promotions or adjusting for food costs becomes a fight.
- The customer is not really yours. The app keeps the data. You cannot message that customer next week when you have a new dish on the menu.
Platform history also teaches a lesson. Jumia Food shut down, Glovo left Ghana, and the market leaders changed twice in three years. Restaurants that owned their customer relationships slept well through all of it.
Step 1: Set up your own storefront
Before you announce anything, you need somewhere for customers to land. A Dingo store page is free forever and takes about 3 minutes to create: your menu, your photos, your prices, and a WhatsApp AI assistant that answers customers and takes orders even when you are busy cooking.
Claim a shop name that matches your brand, because this link will be your new home address: madingo.store.
Step 2: Tell your customers, one by one
Your regulars already love your food. They just need the new address.
- Post the link on your WhatsApp status for a week straight. Status views are free advertising to people who already trust you.
- Send a polite broadcast to customers who have ordered before. Something warm: "Boss, now you can order direct from us and skip the middleman. Same sweet food, better prices."
- Pin the link in your Instagram bio and Facebook page, so every profile visit finds the door.
Do not rush this step. A week of consistent status posts does more than one desperate blast.
Step 3: Put your link on everything that leaves your kitchen
Every order that goes out through the app is still a customer you can win over. Add a small sticker or card inside every package: "Love this meal? Order direct next time at yourshop.madingo.store and enjoy your loyalty discount."
A simple QR code works wonders. The customer who just enjoyed your food is the warmest lead you will ever have, and this is the cheapest marketing you will ever run.
Step 4: Reward direct orders
Give people a reason to change their habit:
- A small discount on direct orders that still leaves you better off than paying 20% commission
- A free drink or side on every fifth direct order
- Early access to new dishes for direct customers only
The maths works in your favour. Even a 10% direct-order discount costs you far less than the platform's cut.
Step 5: Keep one discovery channel while you grow
Here is the part many owners get wrong: they delete their Bolt listing in anger on day one. Please don't. Marketplaces are still where new customers discover restaurants. Keep the listing if it brings new faces, but treat it as advertising, not as your home.
Your goal is a simple ratio: every month, more orders direct, fewer orders rented. When the direct side carries the business, the marketplace becomes optional.
Mistakes to avoid
- Going quiet on WhatsApp status. Out of sight, out of order. Post three to four times a week.
- Making direct ordering harder than the app. If your link is broken or your prices are outdated, customers crawl back to the app. Keep the store fresh.
- Ignoring the people who already ordered direct. A short thank-you message on WhatsApp turns a first order into a habit.
Frequently asked questions
Will Bolt Food penalise me for moving customers off?
Platforms prefer you keep everything on-app, but nothing stops you from marketing your own store. Keep the listing in good standing while you transition.
How long does the full move take?
Most restaurants see direct orders becoming meaningful within a month of consistent status posting and package inserts. It grows from there.
What does my own store cost?
Nothing to start. Dingo's Free plan is GH₵0 forever and includes the store page, WhatsApp selling AI, and unlimited orders. When you want a custom website and Instagram and Facebook selling, Pro is GH₵250 per month, or GH₵2,400 for the whole year.
Ready to bring your orders home?
Create your free store at madingo.store, share the link on your status tonight, and let your regulars follow the food.